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Clark Jaman aims to show others that there is nothing God can’t do
Logo for the CURA Centre For Flourishing
Image courtesy Clark Jaman
November 16, 2024
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Following what he described as a “radical conversion” in the summer after high school, Clark Jaman, now a Catholic counsellor, felt a desire to walk in The Lord's footsteps.
First, the eventual founder of the CURA Centre For Flourishing proclaimed the Gospel message as a National Evangelization Team (NET) Canada missionary. Subsequently, Jaman became a guitar player and a travelling retreat leader for FacetoFace Ministries. Next, he ventured into the United States to join the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word.
Later, after discerning out of this religious community, Jaman returned home to Saskatoon and contemplated his next move. He was unsure of a specific vocation but felt drawn to bolster his education. He pursued a master’s in theology from the Augustine Institute, a private Catholic graduate college based in Greenwood Village, Colorado.
“For me, that (decision) was a commitment to the ministry world,” said Jaman, now 35. “Nobody does a master's degree in theology, especially as a young man, unless you're going to hardcore commit.”
Armed with a new degree, Jaman poured his time and talents into serving St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Saskatoon by guiding Bible studies, guiding parish programs and teaching classes. He also married his beloved Courtney in 2017 and has since welcomed three children – soon to be four – to the world.
Amid the first rough patch of his marriage, Jaman decided to attempt counselling. Though the professional across from him that very first session possessed the requisite skills and wisdom, he felt the therapist “was totally missing the boat” in connecting with his core identity.
“He didn't understand my worldview, my anthropology or the way that I looked at the world as a Catholic,” recalled Jaman. “One of the things he recommended to me was to try masturbation.
“Within the first five minutes of the counselling session, I had this idea in my mind that ‘I could do this,” continued Jaman. “I felt that there was an opportunity here to do this work with a worldview that would reach people who are Catholic.”
He also envisioned that counselling with a Christian mindset and value system would lead to better therapy outcomes for secular clients.
Jaman felt a personal conviction that he could be such a psychotherapist because he felt most comfortable with, and enriched, by one-on-one encounters of faith, whether these meetings occurred in his parish office or in the streets.
Embracing what he perceived as a call from God, Jaman completed a master’s degree in counselling from Briercrest College and Seminary based in Caronport, Sask.
Working as a counsellor for five different kindergarten to Grade 12 schools during his first two years as a credentialed professional provided the needed trial by fire. He was the sole counsellor at each of the learning institutions. To thrive, he was required to develop a wide breadth of competency.
He also grew in confidence by intuiting that “God is the Divine Physician.”
“When I get out of the way and simply facilitate His healing graces, there is nothing He can't do,” said Jaman. “There's no wound that God can't heal.”
This past February, Jaman established the CURA Centre For Flourishing. Verified by Psychology Today and endorsed by Bishop of Saskatoon Mark Hagemoen, his virtual and in-person psychotherapy organization strives to provide many different forms of support.
Addiction, depression, grieving, couples counselling, family therapy, holistic sexual healing and vocational discernment are among the therapy treatment areas in which Jaman possesses expertise.
Growing the brand was slow for the first several months, but CURA gathered momentum during the summer thanks to positive word of mouth and a more favourable Google algorithm.
Beforehand it was tricky for Catholics to find what they were looking for on search engines.
“What they find is random stuff that is not really Catholic counselling," said Jaman. "Like in Saskatoon, the number one hit if you Googled Catholic counselling was the schools.”
Jaman said that over 30 active clients he has gained since February – hailing from every province except B.C. to date – are discovering that he harmonizes the Catholic faith into each session.
“Ninety per cent of the homework I give at the end of the counseling session is some sort of prayer that I want people to take home,” said Jaman. ‘“Can you pray about the way that God is impacting this relationship; or ‘pray about what God is doing in this area of your heart;’ or ‘pray about this experience you had in the past?’”
He aims to fill the gap left by the formerly faith-driven organizations that became secular entities. A notable example is when Catholic Family Services of Saskatoon converted to Navera Community Connections Inc.
To learn more about the CURA Centre For Flourishing, visit https://www.catholiccounsellor.com/
(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)
A version of this story appeared in the November 17, 2024, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "Counselling with CURA-tive prayers".
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