Present Position:
Fran Ferder is the co-founder and co-director of Therapy and Renewal Associates (TARA), a counseling and consultation resource in the Pacific Northwest. Since 1985, she has served as a licensed clinical psychologist in Washington and Oregon, and as adjunct faculty in the graduate School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University, where she teaches courses related to human relationships, intimacy, sexuality, ethics, and communication.
Fran is a frequent presenter at workshops, conferences, and retreats; she is engaged in national renewal ministry among career ministers, members of religious congregations and other professional groups. She also gives presentations on mental health and spirituality, domestic violence, and recovery from sexual abuse.
Since 2006, Fran has been a member of the Board of Trustees for Viterbo University in LaCrosse, WI. where she is Chair of the Student Development Committee for the Board and also sits on the Executive Committee. In 2010 she was appointed by the Governor of Oregon to the Oregon Board of Psychologist Examiners, where she is currently Vice Chair.
Education and Professional Experience:
- BSN (nursing), College of St. Teresa/Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN., 1968.
- MA (psychology), Loyola University, Chicago, ILL., 1971.
- Ph.D. (clinical Psychology), Loyola University, Chicago, ILL., 1973.
- D. Min. (Scripture Studies), Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, MO., 1978.
- Additional post-graduate courses, workshops, and continuing education in psychology, theology and biblical studies, 1980-2010.
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist, State of Washington, 1987.
- Licensed Psychologist, State of Oregon, 1990.
Fran is a native of Salem, Oregon, and a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration since 1962. She has had more than thirty-five years of professional experience as a college professor, director of student counseling, psychotherapist, psychological consultant for various medical, educational and ministerial institutions, and a research director for a major social ministry study.
In 1985, at the invitation of Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, Fran joined Rev. John Heagle in co-founding and co-directing Therapy and Renewal Associates, and began serving as an adjunct faculty at Seattle University.
Fran is a frequent presenter at national and international conferences and workshops. She has written many articles for professional and popular journals on the relationship between psychology and spirituality, sexuality, and ministry.
In 2004, Fran moved back to Oregon full time where she resides on the Oregon coast. In addition to writing and speaking, she maintains a part time psychotherapy practice, and continues to teach part time at Seattle University.
In Dec. 2010, Fran and her colleague, Fr. John Heagle, spent a few weeks in Bangladesh working with a group of Holy Cross sisters and priests that have been teaching literacy skills to women and girls for 150 years. They also spent time with the Bangladesh headquarters of the international organization, “Stop the Traffik”—a group that rescues women and children from sex trade and provides them with resources for recovery.
Teaching at Other Jesuit Schools:
Along with John Heagle, Fran has taught courses and given workshops at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA; Loyola University, New Orleans, LA.; Loyola Marymount, Los Angeles, CA.; Georgetown University, Washington DC.; and Jesuit Universities in Manila, the Philippines, and Seoul, South Korea.
Books:
- Called to Break Bread? A Study of 100 Women Called to Priesthood in the Catholic Church. Baltimore, MD: Quixote Center Publications, 1978.
- Words Made Flesh: Scripture, Psychology and Human Communication, Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1986.
- Partnership: Women and Men in Ministry. (co-authored with John Heagle). Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1989.
- Your Sexual Self: Pathway to Authentic Intimacy. (co-authored with John Heagle). Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1992.
- Tender Fires: The Spiritual Promise of Sexuality (Co-authored with John Heagle). New York: Crossroad Publications, 2002.
- Enter the Story: Biblical Metaphors for Our Lives. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2010.
Original Professional and Ministerial Projects
- Member of original task force (1986-1987) to develop policies, guidelines, and protocol for cases involving sexual misconduct by clergy and other professional ministers in the Archdiocese of Seattle.
- In collaboration with Rev. John Heagle, Fran worked with the Archdiocese of Seattle, and the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence (now the Faith-Trust Institute) in developing and implementing an educational program on professional ethics in the Archdiocese of Seattle.
- With Fr. John Heagle, Fran researched, designed and continues to present a workshop on professional ethics to priests, sisters, deacons, and other career ministers to dioceses, religious congregations nationally and internationally.
- In 2002 she helped initiate the Pastoral Mental Health Outreach Program to support faith communities in responding with greater compassion to those who struggle with mental illness.
- Participated in the planning and implementation of InterAction, an interactive video series on Christian life and growth, originally produced by Franciscan Communications in Los Angeles (now Cincinnati).
Awards:
John XXIII Distinguished Service Award, given by Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI, 1993.