Dr. Agnes Ip, B.Th., Ph.D., LMFT (California Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist: MFC #41365)
Dr. Agnes Ip is the Founder and President of Presence Quotient and a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She graduated from Alliance Bible Seminary and received her Masters in Clinical Psychology at Azusa Pacific University and Alliant International University (AIU). She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at AIU with an emphasis in multicultural community clinical psychology. In her earlier years, she was a church minister in Hong Kong and later served as a mental health therapist for government subsidized outpatient clinics. In recent years, Agnes has provided clinical guidance for marriage & family therapist trainees and interns from various universities.
Agnes also served as an intern psychologist at local public schools, domestic violence shelters, and drug addiction rehabilitation centers in the U.S. She also performed psychological assessments for abused children at a government hospital. Agnes is also a very well-received speaker; often interviewed by the media, she has been referred to as the “Blessings Therapist” by Good TV in Taiwan.
Over the past ten years, she has developed an assertive communication training curriculum for parents and children. She has published three training books on the topic. She has also produced a booklet for families entitled, “Essential Concepts of Wise Parenting,” and acts as the Editorial Director for the Presence Family Magazine, in which she frequently writes articles on mental health, family values, youth and culture. For CD, DVD and online versions of her speaking materials, visit www.presencequotient.org.
City and state of residence: Diamond Bar, CA
Speaking Topics:
- Skills for Comforting People: Understanding Emotions and Effective Listening Skills
When people want to help each other they often come across as painful and judgmental. Often times we project onto people our own views. Also, we try to solve people’s pain by our own experiences. Understanding people’s needs and how to listen to them is so important. This workshop will help people communicate with each other on a deeper level. Using Paul’s teaching in Romans as an example of biblical guidance, we will talk about how to build one another up using biblical guidelines and also some professional skills in how to listen and encourage others in practical ways. - Unraveling the Knot: Love-Hate Relationships
Using David’s life as an example and his relationships with Saul, Michal and Jonathan we will see how these three relationships are biblical examples of love-hate relationships. We will talk about how to set healthy boundaries in these kinds of relationships. - Breaking Out of The Clique Mentality
Having friends and being accepted in a group is important for every one of us. Different groups give us a sense of identity and self-affirmation. However, the phenomena and prejudices of cliques can bring people a lot of harm. Using social psychology, we can better understand the mindset behind clique mentalities and behaviors. We will also glean from Romans for guidelines on how we can learn to get along better with those inside and outside the group. - Practical Advice for Christian Dating
Are you dating for marriage? What are the do’s and don’ts of a Christian dating relationship? We will talk about the process of getting into a dating relationship and how to know if he or she is “the one.” You will come up with your own criteria for choosing your spouse. We will also look at the biblical example of Isaac and Rebekah and talk about how God leads people to choose their future husband or wife. We will also take a look at the various myths about marriage including the idea of finding your soulmate. - Boundaries in Dating
Is it okay for your boyfriend or girlfriend to be jealous every time you talk to someone of the opposite sex? Does he or she not like your family members? And is he or she controlling of your finances? We will discuss these questions and talk about the need for boundaries, what they are and why they’re helpful. We will look at major red flags in unhealthy dating relationships (such as the domestic violence cycle) and how to set needed boundaries. - How to Handle Break-Ups
We will talk about how to manage our emotions and pain after a difficult break up. We will also discuss some hard questions: Can we still be friends? Is it a good idea to keep hanging out in the same social circles and going to the same church? Will I ever find healing? Will I ever be able to find someone else? We will look at how to deal with the hurt of a broken relationship and find hope in God. - Understanding The Differences Between Genders
There are many differences between males and females: physical, thinking patterns, way to handle interpersonal relationships, memory, problem solving, etc. We will talk about how to reduce misunderstandings and leverage each other’s strengths to accommodate each other and to build up healthy relationships. - Conflict Resolution
Learn why you are in conflict and know what options you can choose to resolve the conflict. We will also talk about the different ways people handle conflicts, both healthy and unhealthy. Learn how to manage your own emotions and how to respond and react. Understand your own trigger points to better manage future conflicts. - Peer Counseling
There is a difference between being a good friend and peer counseling. When counseling a peer, you need to know your goals, limitations, and what you can and cannot do. We will talk about when to refer a peer to a professional counselor and boundary and respect issues we need to be aware of. We will also address the tendency to project your own problems onto another’s situation. The class will also talk about the skills needed to direct people to God and help a peer use their own resources instead of depending too much on you. - Coping with Stress
Are you juggling too many goals and demands? Do you feel like you can’t take it anymore but can’t stop? We will talk about the causes of stress – both the good and bad. And we will look at the various biological/physical, cognitive and learned components of stressful behavior. We will also talk about practical ways one can manage their own stress. - Maintaining a Healthy Emotional Life: Dealing with Depression and Anxiety
We will talk about how to know if you have depression or anxiety and how to recognize the signs and causes. We will look at the major logical errors that lead to anxiety and depression. And we will address ways to manage your emotions and suggest treatments for more serious cases. - Understanding Sexual Identity and Gender Issues
How do we understand the spectrum of gender roles in society today? Have you ever been confused about your own sexuality? Is sexual orientation biological? We will talk about how to handle the gap between society’s views and the biblical view of sexual identity and gender issues. Many of us go through a time where we doubt our own sexual identity or gender role. We will address how we may resolve these struggles and still find peace with God.
Agnes is also a speaker for Presence Quotient. To view a complete list of her speaking topics (including those more suitable for parents and adults) please contact info@presencequotient.org.