Fall

The PULSE of Perspectives

Perspectives Counseling Centers Newsletter

February 2013

In This Issue
Our Groups & Workshops
* Parenting the Self-Destructive Teen
* Codependency Workshop
* Self-Esteem For Girls
* HEART of a Family
* Article: Depression

Groups & Workshops

 

  groups

 CHILDREN 

 

Social Skills EDGE
Hands on learning as they practice valuable social skills needed to function in society. 
 
Anger
Focuses on ways to decrease anger outbursts and manage emotions effectively.

 

  

Anxiety EDGE
Teach important skills to help children cope with their anxiety.  

 

TEENS 

 

Teen EDGE

For teens who struggle with depression, anxiety and self-destructive behaviors.

 

Cutting EDGE

Helping teens overcome the urge for self-injurious behavior.

 

Social Skills EDGE

Hands on learning as they practice valuable social skills needed to function in society

.   

 

Self-Esteem EDGE

Focusing on increasing all aspects of self-esteem for girls presented in a fun "girl empowerment" workshop.

 

Anger EDGE

Teen anger management program to learn about anger styles, ways to decrease anger outbursts and manage  emotions effectively.

 

 

ADULTS

 

Parenting the Self- Destructive Teen

Learn the truth about self-destructive behavior; learn how to help your teen.

 

The Young Women's EDGE

For ages 18-25.  Exploring women's issues including anxiety, relationships, career & life transitions.

 

Breaking Free from

Co-Dependency

Learn to assertively communicate wants, needs, thoughts & feelings; skillfully manage conflict.

 

The HEART of Marriage

Have a stronger, healthier, more satisfying & fulfilling marriage!

 

The HEART of a Family

Learn how to work through conflict in the family.  Find solutions for complicated family dynamics.   

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Greetings! Perspectives Counseling Centers

 

Did you know that February is one of the most intense months for those struggling with depression?  How is Chronic or Major Depression different from feeling sad or blue?  Eric Nordquist, MA, LPC explains it all in his great article below. 

 

Perspectives' Spring Open House for our referral sources is coming soon!  Details will follow next week!  Our Newsletters for our Children & Adolescent Departments are just about ready!  Watch your mailbox!  They will also be posted to our website for your convenience!

 

 Perspectives Counseling Centers

The Parenting E.D.G.E.
Parenting the Self-Destructive Teen
 
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
7:30 - 9:00 pm
   
with Leslie Johnsen, MA, LLP
Clinical Director & Director of Adolescent Services

 

Learn:

  

~  The truth about self-injurious behavior

~  Common mistakes parents make

~  How to help your teen 

 

 Just $30 per person or $50 per couple

  

 

This workshop is filling fast!

 

You MUST Call to Reserve Your Spot with Payment
Space is Limited!

 

248.244.8644
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
 
 
Breaking Free from Codependency
Setting Limits of Responsibility

 

For Adults 18 years & Over

 

with Elaine Booth, LMSW
 
Friday, March 15, 2013,  7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
 Snacks included!

 

Saturday, March 16, 2013, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Continental Breakfast included!

 

~ Learn to  say "No" without guilt

~ Assertively communicate wants, needs, thoughts & feelings

~ Skillfully manage conflict

~ Responsibly rebel against depressed, anxious and other troubling thoughts and feelings  

 

Just $149 for over 8 hours of

Professional Skill Building Tools

 

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!!
 
You must call to reserve your seat! 
Space is limited!!
 
248.244.8644 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
 
Self-Esteem 
Just for Girls
 
Spend the day learning strategies to build confidence & challenge the negative influences on your self-esteem

 

For Girls 12 to 18 years old
  
with Mary Johnson-Palazzolo, LMSW

 
Saturday, March 23, 2013
10:00 am - 3:00 pm
 Lunch included!

 

Just $75 per person
 
Topics include:
 
Challenging Negative Thinking
~  Creating Healthier Relationships
~  Building a Better Body Image
~ Recognizing the Media's Influence
~ Goal Setting for Future Growth 

 

 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
 
You MUST Call to Reserve your Spot
Space is Limited!
 
 248.244.8644
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
The HEART of a Family 
a companion seminar to the HEART of Marriage 
 
Learn how to work through conflict 
within your family.  

 

with Beth Atwell, MA, LPC
 
Saturday, April 13, 2013
9:00 am - 2:00 pm

 

Just $89 per person/$129 per couple
 light lunch included!
 
Topics include:
 

~  Learn techniques for resolving conflicts among adults, teens, kids, even step-families!
 
~  Learn positive ways to communicate
 
~ Establish healthy coping skills as a family

 

 
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
 
You MUST Call to Reserve your Spot
Space is Limited!
 
 248.244.8644
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Understanding Chronic Depression  by Eric Nordquist, MA, LPC, NCC

compass

 

 

"Why can't he/she just get over it?" is a commonly heard phrase in the life of a person suffering from depression for a long period of time.  Depression is capable of lingering for months or years, and those who don't understand the real cause are perplexed.  Family and friends may think, "I've been depressed before and I just had to stop feeling sorry for myself."

 

Depression is caused by different sources and ranges in severity from mild to severe: 

  1. Adjustment to loss.  For example, the loss of a loved one, a job, a role, a change in financial status. 
  2. Difficulty coping and exhaustion.  Many life changes in a short period of time or maybe being overwhelmed at work by too many demands. 
  3. Physical changes.  An inability to sleep; also, change in hormone levels possibly due to the birth of a child or a low thyroid.
  4. Endogenous or biologically based depression.  Occurs within the brain itself.  Sometimes, there is not a tangible cause when a person becomes (and stays) depressed.

The symptoms of depression are:  a persistently sad or empty mood; a diminished interest in daily activities; decreased concentration; the inability to sleep or oversleeping; changes in appetite; persistent fatigue; the inability to sit still or also significantly slowed movements; feelings of worthlessness and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.  More times than not, someone who meets 5 or more of these symptoms for 2 or more weeks is diagnosed as having major depression. 

 

All of the body's organs have a specific function.  For example, the pancreas helps the body take sugar and use it as energy; when it fails to do this, diabetes results.  The kidneys take toxins out of the bloodstream and remove them from the body.  The brain is no different.  It is another body organ which controls, among other things, the nervous system and a person's mood.  It requires certain chemicals (called neurotransmitters) to work correctly for a person to maintain a normal mood.  When the brain does not produce or use its chemicals properly, then the result is disease.  If the brain's functioning itself is the cause of depression, it is termed biologically based or endogenous depression. 

 

Well known people who have suffered from biologically based depression include Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt, television producer Ted Turner, recording artist James Taylor, actress Marilyn Monroe, composer Ludwig van Beethoven, and England's Prime Minister during WWII, Winston Churchill.

 

Depression often runs in families.  Scientists have pinpointed specific genes which cause biologically based depression.  Approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder involving depression. 

 

The next time a friend or loved one is going through a long bout of depression, do your best to be patient.  Remember, it may not be his or her fault.   

 

If you or someone you know may be suffering from major depression, please call Eric Nordquist, MA, LPC, NCC

 or one of our other therapists at

 

Perspectives Counseling Centers 

248-244-8644

Thank you for your continued trust and confidence!
Sincerely,

 

 Perspectives Counseling Centers