Kenneth R. Downes, D.Min.

Pastoral Counselor / Life & Transitions Coach

Dr. Downes has more than thirty years of experience coaching and supporting individuals, families, and organizations to manage life’s most difficult transitions.  He has done this work in a diverse array of settings:  law office, foundation, non-profits, counseling center, congregations, hospital, and hospice.  As a spiritual care chaplain for Hospice and former church pastor, he has guided families and patients facing illness, end of life issues, bereavement, loss, and grief.  Based on his own experiences with aging parents, he has developed an interest in supporting the partners, children, and caregivers of persons experiencing cognitive decline (dementia) and other issues related to aging.

Finally, Ken finds great joy in guiding people through periods of struggle in their religious/faith experience, whether that is exploring personal doubts/fears, or understanding the ways in which faith communities may have caused unintended emotional harm.  Empowering people to begin the work of healing and discovering tools to manage challenging change have been at the heart of his coaching practice.

Dr. Downes is also a trained musician with a background in music education and an avid hiker and lover of the outdoors.

 

AREAS OF FOCUS

Bereavement, Loss, Grief, End of Life

Aging and Dementia (Supporting Primary and Secondary Caregivers)

Religious/Faith Experience

 

CREDENTIALS

Certified Transition Consultant.  William Bridges & Associates; Linkage, Inc.  August 2004

Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, MA.  Doctor of Ministry, Pastoral Counseling, May 2003.  Doctoral thesis in the field of premarital counseling.

Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, MA.  Master of Divinity, May 1986.   Koinonia Award for Excellence in Preaching