Offering Healing, Wholeness and Hope to Those in Need and Educating Others for This Service    June 2015

 

1814 Clairmont Rd  ·  Decatur GA  · 30033  · 404.636.1457 ·  www.cccgeorgia.org

SUMMER DOWNTIME

 

  

Mark your calendars for June 21, the summer solstice!   Though summer is traditionally associated with relaxation, evidence suggests that our society is caught in a dialectic between productivity and chill time.

 

Educators disagree about the merits and demerits of long summer breaks from school.  According to researcher Bridget Ansel at the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, summer learning loss negatively affects all students, with low income kids disproportionately impacted, since they are less likely to attend summer enrichment programs.   Ansel is among a number of educators and activists who support longer school years and less vacation time.  Their argument is bolstered by statistics that indicate the United States may lag behind our most robust international competitors in length of school day and duration of school year.  

 

On the opposite side of the argument are health and psychology experts who cite the pitfalls of overscheduling kids; overscheduling can lead to childhood anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, and somatic symptoms.  This viewpoint stresses the importance of unstructured time for kids to decompress, galvanize creativity, and have fun.  According to a recent study from researchers at the University of Colorado, children who spend time participating in less-structured activities have better goal-setting abilities and an easier time meeting those goals without prompting from adults. 
 
Meanwhile, data suggests that U.S. adults need to rethink their downtime habits as well.  According to a recent story on CNN.com, adults are taking significantly less vacation today than at any point in the past four decades.  The reasons are myriad.  For instance, many adults don't receive paid time off from employers.  Those entitled to paid vacation are afraid to use it, citing concerns about losing their job or getting behind on unrealistic workloads. 

The benefits of vacation time, as reported by the Deseret News, include improved physical and mental health, increased productivity, improved relationships, fresh perspectives, and increased mental power.

 

As with most things, perhaps the middle way is the right solution for the whole family.  So as you map your family's summer productivity and enrichment goals, be sure to make time for kicking back and relishing the season.  

 

 

SLEEP AND MENTAL HEALTH

 

  

Looking for ways to kick back and reduce stress this summer?  Improving your nightly sleep might be a great place to start.   

  
According to the Sleep Foundation, insomnia is a symptom, and a possible precipitating factor, for numerous mental health disorders including substance abuse, mood disorders, anxiety, and psychotic disorders.   Insufficient sleep has also been linked to chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.  

 

Scientists have identified key factors that contribute to optimal sleep including sleep rhythms, eating habits, pre-sleep rituals, and sleep environment.  Click here for more about sleep and sleep hygiene tips.  Improving your health never felt so good!   

 

 

POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY:  ZEST

 

 

 

Are you living zestfully?   Zest is defined in the VIA character strengths manual as vitality, enthusiasm, vigor, and energy; approaching life with excitement and energy; feeling alive and activated.  Take this mini-quiz to find out whether you are living with zest.

 

According to Park, Peterson, and Seligman, "heart" strengths such as zest, gratitude, hope, and the ability to love and be loved are more strongly associated with life satisfaction than "head" strengths such as judgment and love of learning.

 

Stress and resilience expert Paula Davis-Laack identifies job burnout as the absence of zest.  "Burnout is caused by a combination of too many job demands (things like high pressure and workload and emotionally demanding interactions with clients), too few job resources (things like autonomy, opportunities to learn new things, a supportive leader, and high-quality relationships with colleagues) and not enough recovery (things like physical activities and connecting with other people)."  If you're looking to build your zest and re-energize, try this Energy Busters and Builders exercise.

 

  
Dr. Lynn D. Johnson recommends journaling to increase zest.  Identify a simple pleasure that you have experienced and then write about it.  "Try to describe it in such a way so that you are almost reliving the sensations, the sights and sounds, as you write it," says Johnson, who credits the writing process with enhancing awareness of our simple joys and improving our ability to savor them with zest.
 
   

CCCG is going green - with the help of Grants to Green!  

 

   

CCCG is thrilled to have been awarded this special grant to help us create more efficient ways to use energy, implement green building practices, recycle, and be good energy citizens.  Grants to Green provides environmentally focused knowledge and funding to strengthen nonprofits in the Atlanta region. The foundation partners of Grants to Green are the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta (www.cfgreateratlanta.org) providing expertise in grantmaking and Southface (www.southface.org) providing expertise in energy efficiency.   

 

provides environmentally focused knowledge and funding to strengthen

nonprofits in the Atlanta region. The founding partners of Grants to Green are The Community

Foundation for Greater Atlanta (www.cfgreateratlanta.org) providing expertise in grantmaking,

and Southface (www.southface.org) providing expertise in energy

 

to Green provides environmentally focused knowledge and funding to strengthen

nonprofits in the Atlanta region. The founding partners of Grants to Green are The Community

Foundation for Greater Atlanta (www.cfgreateratlanta.org) providing expertise in grantmaking,

and Southface (www.southface.org) providing expertise in energy efficiency.

 

 

 

Grants to Green provides environmentally focused knowledge and funding to strengthen

nonprofits in the Atlanta region. The founding partners of Grants to Green are The Community

Foundation for Greater Atlanta (www.cfgreateratlanta.org) providing expertise in grantmaking,

and Southface (www.southface.org) providing expertise in energy efficiency.

 

 

  
   

Giving back  

couldn't be easier!  

 

Register your Kroger card and a % goes to CCCG every time you shop.  

 

 

 

 You can also use Amazon Smiles to shop on Amazon.  Just using this link will make a big difference to CCCG, but is the same great site for you.      

 

 

 

 

Buy Stuff.
  Do Good.  
 Feel Great.
 

 ou got this! 

 

 

 

Contact  Us Today 

(404) 636-1457

 www.cccgeorgia.org 

 

When faced with daily life challenges, it can be hard to distinguish a real problem from a normal struggle everyone faces at some point. In either case, working with a professional counselor can be a positive, healthful experience.

 

If you or a loved one are dealing with issues that might benefit from speaking with a counselor, please contact us to schedule an appointment. 

 

And join our growing Facebook and Twitter Community. Get tips on mental health, wellness,
 new groups and workshops, and some positive inspiration.


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In This Issue
Summer Downtime
CCCG Launches New EMR
Contact us today
eChaplaincy
Team CCCG Runs the Peachtree
eChaplaincy

 

RUNNING TOWARD TREATMENT: PEACHTREE ROAD RACE

Winning the race looks different for all of us.  Sometimes we are a runner, sometimes a chreerleader and sometimes we can only watch the race from inside.  No matter where you are along your journey, CCCG takes pride in being here for all in need.



Your donation helps provide low cost mental health care. 


 


GRIEF VERSUS DEPRESSION


Grief, though painful and difficult, is a natural and healthy response to significant loss.   When someone we care about is grieving, how can we determine whether bereavement has given way to a clinical depression?  

    

According to the DSM-5, "Bereavement may induce great suffering, but it does not typically induce an episode of major depressive disorder.  When they do occur together, the depressive symptoms and functional impairment tend to be more severe and the prognosis is worse compared with bereavement that is not accompanied by major depressive disorder."  

 

distinguishing grief from depression.  If you or someone you know is grieving, getting support is essential.   Consider joining a grief group or seeking individual counseling.  The counselors at CCCG are here to help.  

  

Professionals can learn more about treating complicated grief at the June 30 CCGG workshop, When Grief Won't Relent. 

 

  

 

 

FINDING BALANCE

 

 

Over 150 supporters attended the CCCG Healing and Hope for the Journey: Finding Balance event. CCCG raised over $30,000 to help provide mental health care services throughout Atlanta and North Georgia.  Three wonderful honorees were recognized for their work Daring to Care for our community. Thanks to our fabulous panel, our gracious emcee, incredible event committee, generous hosts and sponsors and all who participated in this year's event!  

 

   

 

 CCCG cannot do this work without YOUR support.   


 

Waht i

 

Question: Can you change a life for the better? 

 

Answer: Absolutely!  For as little as $10 a month, you can make a difference.  Donate now to provide counseling for children, teens, and adults.  Your help provides support for families and individuals in times of need regardless of ability to pay.

What i

 

   

 

 

 Make a donation in honor of a friend or family member and we'll send them a card acknowledging your thoughtfulness.  

   

Thank you for your generous support! 

 

  

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

Taking care of yourself is critical for a healthy
life and family.

 
CCCG offers ongoing workshops that can help with self-growth and self-care.  You don't have to do it alone.  Here are some of our upcoming workshops:

Free Weekly Grief Support Group at Oak Grove UMC - 
 A group for individuals who have experienced loss and are looking for a community of support. Tuesdays 6:30-7:30pm.  $Free.  Contact Stephanie Foxman at Sfoxman@cccgeorgia.org or 404.636.1457 x 421.

Clases para el manejo de ira en ESPAÃ'OL el segundo sábado de cada mes de 9:00 AM a 5:30 PM. Estas clases cumplen con los requisitos establecidos por la corte para aquellos que así lo necesiten. $250 (incluye la evaluación personalizada, 8 horas contacto de clases, carta de participación y certificado.) Para más información se puede comunicar con Luis R. Alvarez, Terapeuta Asociado, al (404)636-1457, ext. 429 o al correo electrónico lalvarez@cccgeorgia.org .

Adult Survivors of Child Abuse Support Group - At Oak Grove United Methodist Church with Robin Kirkpatrick, Thursdays 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm - $Free.

New series of DBT Mindfulness Groups - with Becky Anne. Contact ranne@cccgeorgia.org or 404.636.1457 x 420 for more information.

Understanding More About Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Relapse Prevention Psychoeducational Group  -
In Decatur, Tuesdays 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm - $45 per group session.

  

Premarital Workshop - At The Cathedral of St. Philip (Atlanta) with Doyle Hamilton - upcoming dates include June 13th, July 11th, August 8th, September 12th, October 17th, November 21st & December 5th,2015. $150 per couple. 

Click here for a complete listing of all CCCG groups and workshops.

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Care and Counseling Center  

of Georgia  

 

 

 

HEALING- CCCG Chaplains meet the needs of people who experience crisis, loss or pain in several of the metro Atlanta hospitals, hospices, and prisons.

 

HOPE - CCCG Counselors and residents with an integration of sound clinical practice and deep understanding and respect for the sacred self are trained and serve those of every age,
gender, race, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity and ethnic background.  CCCG works with the community to raise funds which allow us to make our services affordable to all.   

 

EDUCATION - CCCG educates resident counselors and chaplains to serve in places where lives are falling between the cracks and trains them to help bring healing and hope in to those in need.

 

For more Information go to www.cccgeorgia.org