Why Cyclical Europe?
Cyclical Europe recognizes that people and communities grow in cycles, thus the name Cyclical Europe. Specifically, Cyclical Europe creates spaces for spiritual and leadership growth for the modern intellectual individual, recognizing that established religious institutions often struggle to stay connected with the surrounding individuals and societies.
The Cycle of Mental Health and Leadership Growth
The Cyclical Europe Counseling Center attempts to show the cycle of mental health and leadership growth that is possible through our anchoring Christian faith. However much life can feel out of control or chaotic, we can remain steady in our faith and know that 1) we are walking through trials like many who have gone before us and 2) there are resources around us and inside us that God can use to redirect and strengthen our steps. For we walk this journey of life by faith.
Click here to view an image visually explaining the cycle of mental health.
What Is Faithful Innovation?
Psychological research gives evidence that faith and spirituality are major protective factors for human beings. However in 21st Century Europe, church buildings are either becoming increasingly empty or they are becoming structures for sightseeing, apartment buildings, breweries, or other types of new uses.
Many people have either been wounded “by” the Church or “for” the Church. Hurtful and aggressive expressions of Christian faith have been major contributing factors to why many in the European context have become increasingly skeptical of religious institutions.
Nonetheless, Europe is full of people who hold quietly to faith and spirituality. If people are not trusting traditional institutions to provide a safe place to foster faith and spiritual dimensions of one’s life, where will they turn?
CYCLICAL EUROPE IS A GROWING NETWORK OF INNOVATIVE CHRISTIANS HELPING OTHERS SHOW GOD’S LOVE TO THE WORLD IN WAYS THAT CREATE NEW CONTEXTS AND RENEWED SPACES FOR EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH.
About Us
Jen Lac
Co-Director, Cyclical Europe Faith Community — Born in England, raised in Canada, and now living in France, Jen has developed a deep understanding of the dynamics of change, letting go, and renewal. Her inspiration to support individuals at the end of life or in bereavement came from accompanying a dear friend through her challenging illness and passing. The profound grief of that experience taught her the importance of not facing the end of life or grief alone.
Professionally, she has worked in community development, leadership training, integration services for refugees, and supporting individuals with rare diseases. Her background also includes studies in the arts and world religions, and she is trained in end-of-life and grief support through the Couleur Plume association.
Jen works in the areas of faith and other community development initiatives. She has a Master’s Degree in Theology from the University of McGill in Montreal, Canada.
Along with her work, Jen is really interested in learning about what it takes to build strong neighborhoods and to increase awareness of environmental issues. For fun, she likes to paint, go out for dinner and read comedy novels. She recently moved from Toronto and now lives with her husband and three children in France.
Lawrence Sharrett
Director, Cyclical Europe Counseling Center & Co-Director, Cyclical Europe Faith Community — Originally from the United States, Lawrence is currently based in Athens, Greece. As a mental health professional, he is working with mental health initiatives for individuals and for groups. With degrees in counseling psychology and psychotherapy, educational leadership, and theological studies, education has been an important part of his personal and professional journey. With over 10 years of counseling experience in contexts ranging from hospitals to classrooms to online sessions, he provides counseling and coaching for adults, adolescents, or children, especially expats and expat families.
Lawrence has lived and worked in four European cities, including Sofia, Athens, Thessaloniki, and Tirana. His vocational background includes experience as a professional educator in international schools, a professional athlete, a pastoral counselor, a cross-cultural program coordinator, a director of community mental health initiatives, a coordinator for social and emotional leadership programs for youth, and a mental health counselor in private practice.
His professional counseling experience includes work with people in several areas: family background, identity development, emotional regulation, conflict and reconciliation, social and emotional leadership skills for youth, expat challenges, being a person of faith in post-faith contexts, acute or chronic stress along with anxiety and depression, accumulated grief from pain and loss in life, leaders seeking innovation support, and people wrestling with guilt and shame in life.
Lawrence is a lifelong learner whose approaches as a counselor are person-centered, existential, and integrative, specifically seeking to empower clients toward innovation and creativity as they discover their way forward in life. He finds joy in the privilege and responsibility of walking alongside others as they grow personally or professionally.
CYCLICAL EUROPE
Pray with us
“When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replied: ‘Love God and love people…'”
– Matthew 22