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Training the next generation of mental health counselors
"We are thrilled to welcome Erin and Emily," said Dr. Christine Dietz, who directs the training program and is also a licensed clinical social worker and spiritual director at the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center. "The training program adds another layer of richness to the Center's culture of learning as we all learn from one other."
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The Opportunity of Loneliness
By Billie Wade, guest writer and PrairieFire graduate
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"Living alone can lead to feelings of freedom and independence or trigger feelings of isolation and loneliness. While aloneness and loneliness are often used interchangeably, and often travel together, they are very different..." READ MORE
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Announcing our 2020 Women Helping Women co-chairs
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"Our mission of hope and healing is deeply rooted in a community that cares," said Laurie Sloterdyk, the Center's director of development. "We are so grateful that Stephanie, Anne and Whitney have stepped up in a big way to lead an effort so more women and families in our community may access critical services."
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Introduction to Trauma Sensitive Practice
Fridays, October 11 - December 20, 2019 - 10:30am-12pm
Professional development opportunity for mental health professionals, including current graduate students. Class is available in person or via Zoom.
 "An understanding of trauma provides a good foundation for work with any client. Statistics indicate that 30%- 80% of clients seen by psychotherapists have experienced some form of trauma. Yet many practitioners have received little education about the impact of trauma on clients' lives and the therapeutic relationship. This 8 week class provides an introduction to
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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction - MBSR™
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| Taught by Allison Peet - Qualified UMass MBSR Instructor |
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Winter 2020 Cycle:
Orientation is February 3
Class begins February 10
Mondays: Morning or Afternoon
9 - 11:30 a.m. or 1 - 3:30 p.m.
MBSR™ is an 8-week intensive course, backed by 40 years of research, proven to reduce the symptoms of stress and anxiety. Utilizing curriculum developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD at UMASS Center for Mindfulness, this non-clinical (i.e. not group therapy) course is designed to teach mind-body awareness, recognize and put to use our inner psychological resources to respond to toxic stress.
READ MORE.
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ASIST™ is an award winning two-day interactive workshop that prepares participants to provide life-assisting suicide first-aid intervention. It is open to all community members, including teachers, police, EMS workers, health care providers, faith leaders, anyone over the age of 16...
READ MORE.
Friday, November 1, 2019 and Saturday, November 2, 2019
Location: Mason City, IA
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The Center is hiring!
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| Click image for more information |
- Adult Therapist
- Psychiatrist, Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner
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We are now happy and proud to be listed on GIVEdsm, a community-wide platform that highlights Central Iowa charities! We are proud to be included in such a caring and generous city.
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Support group for survivors of suicide loss
The group meets every third Tuesday of the month and is facilitated by two professional counselors from the Center. All are welcome.
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Mental Health First Aid
Learning Opportunity
This class teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders.
Classes coming up in January and April 2020.
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More classes and groups at the Center:
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How to schedule a counseling appointment
To better serve our clients, we've added a new, secure online intake form.
The first step in scheduling an appointment is to help us understand your concerns by completing this brief form.
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2018 Annual Report
We gratefully acknowledge and thank all who so kindly contributed to the Center in 2018. This generosity brings hope and healing to children, teens and adults in need of high quality mental health services.
2018 service highlights include:
- 24,000 sessions of counseling, psychiatry or psychological testing
- 651 children and adolescents plus their families served through C.O.O.L.™ (Children Overcoming the Obstacles in Life™)
- 50 percent of presenting concerns include depression and anxiety
- 1,164 hours of MBSR™ (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction™) classes
- 55 participants in PrairieFire™ renewal program
- 753 hours of ASIST™ (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
- 40 percent of clients access services through subsidies, thanks to generous community donors
- 714 faith leaders participated in Clergy Boundary Trainings™
- and more!
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You can change lives all year with a recurring donation.
You can save lives. With thanks to your support, the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center provides holistic, high quality counseling and education to all who enter our doors -- including children and adults from low income households. For as little as $10 per month, you can make a big impact by setting up a recurring donation. Thank you!
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Mission: We walk with people through counseling and education to find hope and healing, and live a fulfilling life.
Vision: The Center will be recognized as the welcoming place for those seeking inspiration, hope, and healing of mind, body, and spirit.
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Key services:
Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization
serving more than 5,000 individuals annually including children, adolescents, adults, couples and families through 30 multidisciplinary clinicians.
Although best known for its 47 years of quality, professional mental health therapy, the Center is a multi-faceted organization providing a range of services:
- Counseling, including specialized services for children and adolescents
- Psychological testing and assessment
- Psychiatry (medication management)
- Biofeedback therapy, Healing Touch and other holistic approaches
- Training for clinical professionals
- Leadership and spiritual life programming
- Career Coaching
- Conflict transformation and strategic planning services for congregations, nonprofits and businesses
- And so much more!
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Hello friend of the Center,
Thank you for your interest in the Center and for catching up with our newsletter. We truly appreciate your partnership in serving the community.
For me, it was especially joyful to write extended blog posts for this newsletter to introduce our
new training students and the
2020 Women Helping Women co-chairs. It is a privilege to meet so many amazing people from so many walks of like, and to try to communicate this mission we share. Please stay tuned because there is so much more to tell.
In gratitude,
Terri Mork Speirs, she/hers
Director of Community Relations
Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center
515-251-6670
P.S. A reminder to see me for chocolate. Code word: newsletter
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