News

January 2012 Newsletter

Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year, everyone!

Wouldn't you like to enter a new year with new skills and tools to handle the challenges in your life? Here's the but ... do you think you are worth the effort it will take? Effort means stepping out of the excuses and stepping up to creating change. Let's face it, if you do nothing then nothing is going to change. So how about clicking on the link above and see what Discovery has to offer as you begin a new year filled with the opportunity to create meaningful and lasting change in your life.

For example, there is no owner's manual for parenting, and this is especially true for step families. Who could be ready for the challenge of feeling torn between children and a significant other? If you're not careful, better yet - experienced, home life can become a battlefield, and casualties fall on all sides. Being part of a step-family can be challenging, but it can also be rewarding. Discovery's "Smart Steps" group is designed to help you and your significant other learn effective skills and tools to blend your family in the best possible way. Check out this new offering, facilitated by Jessica Stebbins.

Do you think you are worth the effort it takes to change? Seriously, none of us are much interested in change until something about us or our behavior causes issues ... in our relationships, or in our jobs. But what happens when you discover that something about you rubs someone else the wrong way? What choice do you exercise, because choice is just what you do whether you realize it or not.

You make a choice ... to become defensive, stubborn, argumentative, closed off and withdrawn, or open, willing and responsive. Just when we find ourselves in a low spot, self- esteem is low, energy is low, life is hard, is when we need to embrace the possibility of change. It's too easy to choose a negative path for we, like everything else in nature, usually flow along the path of least resistance.

What if, though, you plan ahead and take some proactive steps? What if, you take an inventory of yourself, your life, your goals, your relationships and all the rest. What if you fearlessly take a look at what you're doing with your life; you know, the ways in which you are spending the days of your life. Are you doing what you want to be doing? Are your relationships as reciprocal and satisfying as they can be? What can you do about those things?

Create change, that's what. Change comes from within and it begins with that first tiny step of awakening. A new year offers us the opportunity to wake up and smell the roses. Take stock, step up, don't settle for excuses. Whether you're a person who makes a long list of resolutions, or someone who can tackle one thing at a time, step into this New Year with a new frame of mind.

Whether you call it two-thousand-and-twelve, or twenty-twelve, I wish you a year filled with promise - embrace what it takes to move forward, whether that means making big decisions, rededicating yourself to existing one's, or helping the highest and best you emerge. Peace, health and prosperity to you, and however you approach this New Year, travel safe and be well.

Connie Porter-Richard

Upcoming news and events

Introducing for the first time: "Smart Steps"

A Step-parenting Educational & Support Group
Being part of a stepfamily is challenging, but it can also be very rewarding. The "Smart Steps" group is designed to teach you and your partner the skills necessary to effectively manage your stepfamily, discuss the skills and receive feedback about them with a professional counselor, as well as providing and receiving support from other couples who likely encountering the same kinds of challenges you may be facing.

Meets: Thursdays, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Cost: $160 per couple
Facilitator: Jessica Stebbins, M.S., Registered Marriage & Family Therapist Intern
This group is limited to 5 couples - hurry to reserve your spot!

Enrollment is now open for the next Pathfinders Women's Group:
January 18 - April 4, 2012.

Pathfinder I: This 12-week psychotherapy group is dedicated to helping women learn basic life management skills. It has been designed for women struggling with transitions related to major life and/or mental health issues. Basic life management skills can improve your ability to cope with life's challenges and include such things as:

• mindfulness - how it can set the stage for change • interpersonal effectiveness - how it can improve relationships • distress tolerance and emotion regulation - how they can help you manage your own thoughts and emotions. Other topics include self-esteem, assertiveness and stress management. This group offers an opportunity to gain personal strength, develop insight, and learn how to bring lasting change into your life.

Meets: Wednesdays 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Cost: $35.00 per session (some insurance companies cover group psychotherapy - check your eligibility!)
Facilitator: Connie Porter-Richard, PhD, LMHC

Sexual Assault Victims Support Group

Sexual Assault Victims Support Group through the State Attorney's Office SAVS program, is held at Discovery Institute; the first four Tuesdays of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm. This group is free, on- going, and open to any adult woman over the age of 18, who has been the victim of a sexual assault.

Facilitator: Marilyn Bennett, MA, LMHC.

Healing Together

Discovery Institute is proud, once again, to participate in sponsoring the 2nd annual educational and support conference on DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), "Healing Together," to be held in beautiful Lake Buena Vista, FL, on January 28-29, 2012 at the Wyndham Lakes Resort. Therapists, survivors and their support team are invited to join us for an amazing week end of learning, healing and fun. For more information - agenda, speaker biographies and more: www.aninfinitemind.com/healing-together.html

For the Professional Mental Health Community

Florida's only ISSTD (International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation) component group meets at Discovery Institute:

2nd Friday of each month
4:00-6:00 pm
This group is for professionals only and is a valuable source for updated information, case consultation, on-going support and continuing education.

"Round-Table Discussion Series"

Back by popular demand, the: "Round-Table Discussion Series"

Does being a therapist sometimes leave you feeling like you are operating alone-in-the-dark? How do you approach colleagues for help with difficult issues? Want to expand your comfort zone with challenging issues? Want to explore how others face challenges similar to yours? Join us for a series of interesting discussions. Each round-table discussion addresses a topic timely for therapists today. Collegial exploration and discussion is a valuable way to develop and enhance working relationships with other therapists, and develop greater peace of mind.

2012 Topics & Schedule:

February 10, 2012
- "Ethics & Technology: Proceed With Caution!"
March 23, 2012
- "What Counselors Need to Know About Addiction"
May 4, 2012
- "Self-Care: Avoiding Burn-Out"
June 22, 2012
- "Using Creativity in Clinical Practice"
August 3, 2012
- "Mentalization: What's It All About?"
September 14, 2012
- "Working With Dream Imagery"
October 26, 2012
- "Share Your Faux Pas!"
December 7, 2012
- "What's in Your Therapy Tool-Box?"

All Round-Table Discussion sessions meet:

10:00 am - 11:30 am
1.5 ceu's (LMHC, LCSW, LMFT & RN, LPN, CNS, ARNP)
Light Refreshments
$15.00 per session

Discussion Hosts:

Connie Porter-Richard, PhD, LMHC
Marilyn Bennett, MA, LMHC
Jessica Stebbins, MS, Registered Marriage & Family Therapist Intern
Lola Mitchell, MA, Human Relations