Greetings!

See below for an encouraging personal reflection from our Executive Director, Dr. Harry Broomfield. 

Perspectives is gearing up for another jam-packed school year just like everyone else!  Our groups will be in full swing!   Among our many offerings are: 

* Self-Esteem for Girls, a popular workshop by Mary Johnson-Palazzolo, LMSW

* Parenting the Self-Destructive Teen, an extremely valuable workshop by our

  Clinical Director, Leslie Johnsen, MA, LLP

* Breaking Free from Codependency, a bold workshop by Elaine Booth, LMSW 

* Heart of Marriage, a restorative workshop by Les Morrison, MA, LPC   

Also, we are hard at work on our Fall Open House presentation and the Child & Adolescent Newsletters.  Stay tuned for more information!

Perspectives continues to grow, change and improve.  Some of the changes we are making will be obvious to our clients and the community; others might not be. Our commitment to stay ahead of the trends will continue.  What will not change is our reliable service and timely information that benefit the community in which we live.   

We are always grateful for your continued support and referrals!

 Perspectives Counseling Centers

 

It was time for the friendship to come to a conclusion; to move on, each to their different goals. Just a few small entanglements remained for my daughter and her now ex-boyfriend to work out.  

However, the return of our car and keys after an extended use by the friend proved to be difficult.  It turned out that the threat of legal involvement was necessary to bring about his cooperation. Then, an arranged pick-up time for the vehicle was determined.

We drove to the boyfriend's home on a moonless night in a neighboring community.  The streets were poorly illuminated; the lawns needed to be mowed.  

While clearly we were unwelcome, we stood on the front porch of the home and requested our keys. The response was quick and decisive! A defiant toss of the car key onto the front lawn, the front door slammed shut and the porch light was turned off.  Now, my daughter and I found ourselves standing in near total darkness on the front porch. We were quite certain however, that there were a set of eyes peering out at us through the darkened windows.

Now what?  We were faced with a large lawn, grass that was tall and in need of cutting, and a car key hiding somewhere in the yard. The old cliché "needle in a haystack" came to mind.

We immediately tackled the task at hand. Beginning at one corner of the yard and crawling along on hand and knee, shoulder to shoulder, we methodically crossed back and forth from one side of the yard to the other. Ever so carefully crawling and feeling the dew-laden grass for that unique gem, "the car key".

After what seemed like hours, my daughter recognized that her father could probably use a dose of an anti-depressant.  She encouragingly commented, "Dad, just think, this isn't so bad, we are making a memory!"  With that proclamation, we paused, looked at each other, although barely visible in the darkness, and enjoyed the most spontaneous laughter that I have ever had. 

And with that, how quickly the time seemed to pass as we continued on with our mission.  To be truthful, I don't recall which one of us actually found the car key, but we eventually did and a celebratory daddy/daughter hug followed.

For many years since that eventful 'midnight cruise' we have used the term "making a memory" more times than I can remember...always with a smile and a warm recollection.

 Perspectives Counseling Centers