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Support ACS!
During the 2010-2011 school year, ACS saw an increased need for affordable counseling in all of our programs. A gift of any size will help Adolescent Counseling Services meet this growing demand by providing critical interventions to teens struggling with depression or substance abuse, restoring hope - one life at a time.
Adolescent Counseling Services is a charitable organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code. ACS' Tax Identification Number is 51-0192551 |
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Greetings!
As many of you already know, ACS has a new home! If you have not seen the new location, I invite you to come by and take a tour. With the help of Pat McGuire, Anita John, and a team of dedicated and understanding commercial real estate brokers, I spent a good portion of the last year and a half looking for a suitable new home for ACS and its two outpatient programs. The search ended at 1717 Embarcadero Road, Suite 4000 in Palo Alto.
In relocating, our goal was to find an office space that would create a bright, hospitable, clean and professional ambiance for our clients. Atmosphere can be a crucial factor in the mental and emotional development of adolescents and our previous work space did not allow us to maximize the benefits of our programs. Not only does our new office setting improve the quality of treatment for clients, it also makes a positive impact on ACS staff and intern's morale and job satisfaction.
The move has proven to be advantageous from a financial perspective. By streamlining administrative and clinical operations under one roof, we are able to maintain the same costs as the previous fiscal year. We have saved $75,000 in personnel costs, reducing staff in our outpatient counseling programs to one full time person. Savings also come from streamlining administrative processes such as phones, internet services, printing, etc.
In regards to the move itself, I am proud to report that with careful research, prudence, and by keeping over 90% of existing and previously purchased furniture and equipment, we only spent $6,500. This covered the cost of moving, three pieces of furniture and a few decorative items. With the help of savvy friends and spouses with a flair for interior design, we were able to take our old resources, add a few sofas and pictures and turn this space into the beautiful, professional office which looks much more expensive than it really is. However, the most gratifying aspect of our move is catching a smile on a client as they arrive or leave their session. To know that they feel comfortable in our new home and are working toward becoming healthy young adults reminds us that it's all about the teens and families ACS serves.
Sincerely,
Dr. Philippe Rey
Executive Director
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Synthetic Drug Popularity On the Rise
To learn detailed information about Synthetic Marijuana, visit our blog.
K2, Spice, Serenity, Genie, Smoke, Hush - these are just a few on the long list of brand names and nicknames given to synthetic marijuana, the new drug of choice
for many teens and adults across the country. In ACS' Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program, some of our own clients have admitted to using Spice or know of people who do. A drug that was virtually unknown a couple years ago has since become quite popular and easy to obtain.
Synthetic marijuana (or cannabinoids) is a chemical compound that mimics the effects of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis. Synthetic marijuana, or Spice as it is sometimes called, is legal in most states and offers a high up to four times stronger than marijuana. These two factors have a lot to do with its increase in
popularity. These products are often sold at convenience stores and are marketed as incense. While the companies that make these products print on the packaging, "Not for Consumption," it doesn't seem to be enough to deter people from smoking it.
To read the full article click here .
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Spotlight on Connie Mayer
 Please welcome ACS' newest team member, Connie Mayer, MFT! Connie joins ACS as its very first Director of Outpatient Counseling Services, managing both the Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment (ASAT) Program and the After-School Counseling Program out of ACS' new offices. You can learn more about Connie by reading her bio . We asked Connie to participate in a little Q&A session. Here is what she had to say:
What exciting things or changes are you planning to bring to the ASAT Program?
After taking time to look at the type of clients we have in the ASAT Program, I realized we really need a program that meets the needs of the teens and families in our program and that relates to this community. A lot of teens have co-occurring disorders, meaning that they have a mental health disorder and are self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, thus resulting in a substance abuse problem. This is why I am making sure we have strong clinical interns to be a part of this program.
Additionally, in the next few weeks, we are going to begin implementing the Hazelden Intensive Outpatient Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program for Teens and Young Adults. This will provide our clinical staff with a good process to follow, will give teens and parents clear explanations of what they are experience and can expect in the program, and will help us create a preventive education curriculum for teens who come to us for an assessment but do not require treatment. Using this new model, we will also be doing more parent and teen mentoring, groups, and art therapy.
Great! It sounds like these changes will better fit the needs of our community. You are also leading the After-School Counseling Program. Tell us about your plans for that program.
We are bringing on a clinical staff that has a lot of different passions and I want to see those passions put to good use. One intern has a lot of experience in Sand Tray/Sand Play therapy. This type of therapy is especially good for people who have been traumatized. We also have an intern who has specialized experience in issues relating to domestic violence. I envision groups coming out of our interns' passions and interests which will provide a more diverse offering for clients. In addition to teen groups, we are also starting a parenting group that will cover healthy parenting and boundaries.
Do you see the two programs interacting more?
Yes, particularly with the interns. As I mentioned, co-occurring disorders are becoming more and more common in teens. That is why I think it is important for all therapists working with teens to be knowledgeable of substance abuse. I am going to have our After-School interns shadow the ASAT Program groups so they can learn more about substance abuse and become better therapists.
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