Grief

Grief--we all go through it. It is one of the most painful, stressful and often devastating emotions we will experience during our lifetimes. (I lost my beloved mother two years ago to a dreadful disease.) But how do we know if or when it's time to see a counselor?

Grieving is a normal reaction to loss and can occur not only from the loss of a loved one, but also as a result of losing one's health, job or experiencing other traumatic events.

Grieving begins to lessen in intensity as time passes. But if the grieving person does not begin to feel better, is unable to perform daily functions and is thinking that his/her own life isn't worth living, then it's time to seek one-on-one counseling. A therapist who has been trained in bereavement can help people cope in healthy ways, such as by taking care of themselves and avoiding grief triggers. Left unchecked, unhealthy grieving can lead to depression.

Samaritan Counseling Center holds Bereavement Groups which are set to begin again this fall. Groups are appropriate for someone whose loss has occurred at least three months prior to engaging in the first meeting. Studies have indicated that people are still in a crisis state of mind for about three months. Consequently, if they are not coping well and wish to get help, individual counseling is the right choice.

Samaritan's Bereavement Groups follow a six week model and are both therapeutic and educational in nature. Groups entail learning about grief, understanding it and engaging in discussion among others who are experiencing similar feelings. Helpful materials are also provided. Additionally, our Bereavement Groups are free of charge.

If you think you or someone you know can benefit by bereavement counseling, please call 412-741-7430. Click here for dates and times.

Christian Radio

Samaritan Counseling Center is excited to partner again with WORD FM—Christian Radio—as guests on the John and Kathy Talk Show. If you’ve never listened to the show, please give it a try. Not only does this duo facilitate a compelling discussion with their guests on a wide range of topics, but they also provide the opportunity for listeners to phone in and become an integral part of the show. girl w earphones 2

The last time Carl Baughman and Martha Selleck participated in the program—which airs live, BTW—they experienced a unique opportunity to provide professional advice in a large public forum. They were touched by the courage and honesty exhibited by the callers, which is no surprise, since both Carl and Martha are caring Christians who have turned their passion for helping people into their lifelong vocations.

Counseling is very personal and confidential, usually conducted behind closed doors. Yet when given the opportunity to speak directly to a counselor over the airwaves, listeners did not hesitate to call in. Carl and Martha welcomed the chance to offer hope, encouragement and thoughtful advice.

“Being a guest on John and Kathy’s show was a humbling experience.” said Carl, “I was able to speak to such a wide audience about issues such as abuse, depression, marital infidelity, loneliness and grief.”

You Are Not Alone

At Samaritan, the number of calls for help we receive has been dramatically increasing for the past two years. In fact, between 2010 and 2011 our number of sessions has risen by 29%. Issues such as financial struggles, growing demands in both the home and workplace and other stressors are taking their toll on people from all walks of life. We continue to see numerous people suffering from bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, marital and family crises and many other issues as well.

There are people, however, who are reluctant to call a counselor for a variety of reasons, such as feeling scared, embarrassed or believing that their situation is hopeless. If you are one of those people or know someone who needs help, consider the following facts:

You are not alone and you do NOT need to suffer in silence.

Suffering from a mental health problem is NOT a sign of weakness. Did you know that Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt all suffered from depression?

Professional counseling works. If you desire to work at getting better, you will.

God made us body, mind and spirit. It is important—and makes sense—to seek health and wellness in each of these areas.

In closing, here are your to-dos: 1) Don’t wait for a major crisis to occur before seeking help; 2) Tune into 101.5 WORD FM on Thursday, July 12th at 5 p.m. to learn more.

John and Kathy Show

Our debut on the John and Kathy Show on 101.5 WORD FM radio was such a success that we were invited back! Tune in to listen at 5 p.m. of July 12th to hear Carl Baughman, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Samaritan's Executive Director. Carl will be available to answer your questions on the air.

Going Through a Phase

How do you know if your child is just "going through a phase" or if he/she needs help? There are signs to look for, including: isolating/not connecting with friends, frequent crying, slipping grades, changes in behavior, refusing to go to school. Your child may be suffering from depression, anxiety or other disorders. Talk to your child about it--and don't hesitate to seek professional help. According to research, if--for example--depression is left untreated, if often continues into adulthood. It can also be a "predictor of more severe illnesses in adulthood." Here is a link to a good article on this subject. If you have questions, we have a great opportunity for you! Tune in to 101.5 WORD FM radio at 5:10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5 to hear Samaritan's Carl Baughman and Martha Selleck on the John and Kathy Show. You can call in with your questions to have them answered by professional counselors.

Silent Samaritans

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. It is also the time of year Samaritan is blessed by many compassionate, caring women—our Silent Samaritans—who give generously to help other women in need.

Of the 2,000 individuals the Samaritan Counseling Center served last year, more than half were women. Looking at statistics, it is not surprising. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, women are 60% more likely to experience an anxiety disorder and 70% more likely to develop depression than men. Reasons include: brain chemistry, hormonal changes, poverty, domestic abuse, body image/self-esteem and the additional responsibilities of caring for children as well as aging parents. Again—these facts are hardly surprising.

Thanks to our faithful Silent Samaritans, over 1,200 women in need were empowered last year to recover and improve their lives. With newfound hope, spiritual direction and professional guidance, these women are now armed to be their strongest, best selves.

But the need for counseling never diminishes. In fact, not only did the number of women qualifying for fee subsidies increase by more than 30% from 2010 to 2011, but we anticipate that number will continue to climb. As women struggle in this uncertain economy, Samaritan must be prepared to help—both therapeutically and financially.

“The Samaritan Counseling Center cannot exist without people willing to support it financially. I was blessed to be able to pay for counseling—but many cannot.”

- A former Samaritan client

Women seeking help at Samaritan want to be their strongest, best selves for their families and themselves. Realizing they need help and making the effort to get it is the vital first step—and a sign of personal strength. Your gift will ensure that first step will not be their last.

Please become a Silent Samaritan today. To show our sincere thanks and appreciation, we invite our Silent Samaritans to a special luncheon which will be hosted this year by Newlin Archinal. To learn more, call Beth at 412-741-7430, ext. 404, or register now.

Pre-Marital Counseling: A Good Idea!

Isn't it interesting that we devote significant time, effort and dollars into planning weddings but often fail to think about equipping ourselves to build strong, happy marriages? When you look at statistics on divorce and the top reasons why relationships get into trouble, you would think more people would seek to learn preventative measures before tying the knot.

How does one determine what constitutes a quality pre-marital counseling program? Here are some things to think about.

First, effective tools have been developed to assess a couple's strengths and weaknesses. They are not a one-size-fits-all variety, but are designed for various types of couples, such as those planning second marriages, marriages with children, first time marriages and couples over 50.

Once a couple gets their results, they can begin to explore their similarities and differences in important areas such as spiritual beliefs, sexuality, finances, relationship dynamics and more. Led by a professionally trained counselor, couples can benefit from group discussions as well as one-on-one sessions focusing on addressing their individual issues.

So whether or not you're planning your first wedding, or are about to remarry, you would help yourself and your spouse-to-be by making the effort to prepare for success!