Offerings listed below can be facilitated within a weekly group setting as well as a one or two day workshop setting.
Workshops are $250 per person per day and require a minimum of 6 people to schedule.
Weekly group sessions are $40/pp and require a minimum of 6 people to schedule.
Workshops are $250 per person per day and require a minimum of 6 people to schedule.
Weekly group sessions are $40/pp and require a minimum of 6 people to schedule.
Understanding Substance Abuse Through the Biochemical Paradigm
An 8 week psychoeducational support group designed for young adults between the ages of
14 and 19; and 18 and 25 who may have answered 'yes' to any of the following questions:
Can you always find money for drugs or alcohol but not for food, rent or bills?
Do you feel like you have to drink or use drugs to feel better?
When you drink or use drugs do you keep it a secret or hide it from others?
Have you ever missed school or work because of drinking or drugs?
Have you ever been involved in the legal system because of drinking or drugs?
Have your friends or family been negatively impacted by your substance abuse?
Have you ever received treatment for alcohol or drug abuse?
Group members will learn about neurons, neurotransmitters, and the brain's reward system; the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain; which neurotransmitters become depleted depending on the individual's drug of choice; how to restore the proper biochemical balance in the brain and the body's physiology through proper nutrition; the genetic and biological factors that put a person at risk for substance abuse and addiction; how to identify environmental cues that trigger relapse as well as strategies for eliminating those cues, and how to minimize cravings and avoid relapse.
Group is limited to 8 individuals at a cost of $240 each
To refer a client, contact Kate O'Connell, LPC at 540-447-6051 or [email protected]
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Compassion Fatigue
A 3 hour workshop designed for mental health professionals to explore the complex subject of
second-hand trauma and subsequent 'burnout' as a consequence of working with traumatized individuals.
Compassion Fatigue is a state experienced by those helping people in distress. It is an extreme state of chronic tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it is traumatizing for the helper. Participants will have the opportunity to assess their own level of fatigue; complete a motivational inquiry into professional/personal relationships; identify unhealthy relationship patterns that contribute to compassion fatigue; learn the Twelve Stages of Burnout; understand the mechanics of 'compassion fatigue; and discover what is needed for recovery.
Workshop is offered on an agency basis at cost of $300 or to individual professionals at a cost of $40 each.
To book this workshop, contact Kate O'Connell, LPC at 540-447-6051 or [email protected]
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Deconstructing the Personal Fable
A Weekly Support Group for Male and Female Adolescents
Adolescence is one of the most complex and challenging stages of development an individual will ever have to navigate. Rapid physical, hormonal, and neuronal changes are occuring every day, resulting in an increased vulnerability to environmental stressors which can often result in emotional and behavioral issues manifesting as a response mechanism to those perceived stressors. Depression, substance abuse, anxiety, suicidal ideation, truancy, cutting, and increased oppositional defiance are just some of the issues that can manifest as coping mechanisms in response to this increased psychological and physiological vulnerability. An additional reinforcement to the potential instability of adolescence is the emergence of newly sophisticated metacognitive abilities which lead to increased egocentrism, self-absorption and the development of "The Personal Fable". "The Personal Fable" is the view of the adolescent that what happens to them is unique, exceptional, and shared by no one else. They may feel that no one has ever experienced the hurt they feel; that no one has ever been treated so badly; or that no one can understand what they are going through. This perceptual framework can lead to feelings of isolation, despair, and disconnect, further increasing the adolescent's vulnerability to manifest maladaptive behaviors.
In "Deconstructing The Personal Fable", the adolescent has the opportunity to participate in a dynamic, experiential support group of peers who do, in fact, share similar stories of perceived isolation, despair, and disconnect. Through the use of psychodrama, psychoeducation, cognitive/behavioral, art, music, as well as "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" and "shoot-from-the-hip" therapy; the adolescent will be led on a dynamic and experiential journey in reframing through deconstructing their own "Personal Fable" that he or she is alone in their experience and that no one would understand if they knew. The goal of this support group is to connect the individual to a sense of community through shared experiences, thereby increasing their coping mechanisms while decreasing their sense of isolation.
Group is 90 minutes long, offered on an open-enrollment basis, and limited to 10 members at a time.
Cost is $25 a week per person. Each member is required to make a minimum 8-week commitment
To refer a group member, contact Kate O'Connell, LPC at 540-447-6051 or [email protected]
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In "Deconstructing The Personal Fable", the adolescent has the opportunity to participate in a dynamic, experiential support group of peers who do, in fact, share similar stories of perceived isolation, despair, and disconnect. Through the use of psychodrama, psychoeducation, cognitive/behavioral, art, music, as well as "fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants" and "shoot-from-the-hip" therapy; the adolescent will be led on a dynamic and experiential journey in reframing through deconstructing their own "Personal Fable" that he or she is alone in their experience and that no one would understand if they knew. The goal of this support group is to connect the individual to a sense of community through shared experiences, thereby increasing their coping mechanisms while decreasing their sense of isolation.
Group is 90 minutes long, offered on an open-enrollment basis, and limited to 10 members at a time.
Cost is $25 a week per person. Each member is required to make a minimum 8-week commitment
To refer a group member, contact Kate O'Connell, LPC at 540-447-6051 or [email protected]
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Native American Sweat Lodge Ceremony
Native American Sweat Lodge is a ceremony of healing and purification. The Sweat Lodge is a place of prayer, which facilitates purification of Body, Mind, and Spirit. Traditionally, Sweat Lodges were used to prepare tribal members or groups for a higher, deeper plane or dimension through Vision Quest or Sun Dance. Today, the Sweat Lodge is an opportunity for participants to come together and form a spiritual bond with one's own concept of the Creator through the ecosystem of the four elements; Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. Everything on Mother Earth is essential to our being and we honor all Creation as we sit together in a circle, supported by Her, inside the lodge.
The lodge itself is constructed of saplings in a sacred manner in the shape of a circle symbolizing our understanding that with all things there is no beginning and no end. Representing the womb of Mother Earth, the lodge is covered with plastic, blankets, and a tarp to keep the heat and steam from escaping.
Outside the lodge, a Sacred Fire is built to heat the rocks or 'Stone People'. The fire is built in a very sacred manner and is, in itself, a very sacred ceremony. Nothing is to be done or added to the fire unless guided to do so by the lodge leader.
The Stone People have been in a fire condition at one time long ago. As the stones are heated, the energy that they have stored for eons will be changed forever. Once inside the lodge, water is poured on them and their energy is released through the steam. We honor the stones that are willing to give their energy to us at this time for our healing so that we too may be changed forever.
As we enter the lodge, we are humble and modest. We wear clothes in the lodge. Most choose to wear t-shirts, shorts, skirts, or light sweatpants. As we enter, we kneel, connecting to the earth. When we enter we move to the left following the Medicine Person and come to rest in our spot once the leader has made it completely around the circle and everyone is inside.
The flap or 'door' is then closed and everyone is given a moment to become accustomed to the dark and their surroundings. The leader begins by offering prayers. The 'door' is then lifted and the 'fire keeper' brings in the first round of hot stones. The stones are then placed in a pit that has been dug out of the center of the lodge.
There will be four rounds of prayer; each round represents a direction, an animal, an element, and energy. The leader will guide you through each round of prayers. At the end of each round, the 'door' is lifted and more stones are brought in. Throughout the ceremony the lodge leader will be pouring water on the hot stones as she is guided to do so. As a result, it will become hot and steamy inside.
Participants are encouraged to stay throughout the entire ceremony. However, anyone is free to leave at anytime if they become too uncomfortable. If this happens, the participant should simply call out and the ceremony will be halted temporarily to allow the person to leave. Once outside, the person is encouraged to stay by the fire as it is understood that the healing benefits of the ceremony will still be experienced by that person. There is no shame in leaving. Everyone experiences healing in different ways and is welcomed and honored for their presence and participation. For those of you who choose to participate in this Sacred Ceremony with me, I ask only that you bring an open heart, a sincere attitude, and a willingness to share.
When the four rounds of prayer are finished, we emerge from the womb of Mother Earth reborn and now it is time to celebrate and share in a feast of potluck. We then honor the eldest amongst us by allowing them to choose first from the Give-Away blanket. After the eldest has chosen then everyone else takes turns choosing, continuing in order from eldest to youngest. Before the ceremony participants will have placed an offering on the Give-Away blanket brought to the Creator in gratitude for the healing that is about to be experienced. Our offering is something that has value and meaning to us, making sacred with sincere generosity the celebration we are about to experience. Some examples of what people offer are crystals, candles, CD's, jewelry, books, or something that they have crafted. For those participants who are healing practitioners, an offering of a session allows you the opportunity to honor Spirit with your own creative gifts and provides another with the opportunity to experience further healing. These, of course, are only suggestions. Please bring whatever it is you are guided to.
There is no cost for Sacred Ceremony. However, a suggested donation of $40 is welcome to offset the cost incurred for initial and ongoing supplies including lodge coverings, herbs, tobacco, and firewood as well as acknowledgement and gratitude for the energy spent in preparation for and during the ceremony.
Things to Bring: An open heart, clothes to sweat in, a change of clothes for after the Sweat, a towel,
an item for the Give-Away blanket, and a prepared dish for the potluck feast following the ceremony.
To schedule a Sweat Lodge Ceremony for your group or to find out when the next Sweat Lodge Ceremony is scheduled,
contact Kate O'Connell, LPC at 540-447-6051 or [email protected]. Space is limited to 8 people.
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The lodge itself is constructed of saplings in a sacred manner in the shape of a circle symbolizing our understanding that with all things there is no beginning and no end. Representing the womb of Mother Earth, the lodge is covered with plastic, blankets, and a tarp to keep the heat and steam from escaping.
Outside the lodge, a Sacred Fire is built to heat the rocks or 'Stone People'. The fire is built in a very sacred manner and is, in itself, a very sacred ceremony. Nothing is to be done or added to the fire unless guided to do so by the lodge leader.
The Stone People have been in a fire condition at one time long ago. As the stones are heated, the energy that they have stored for eons will be changed forever. Once inside the lodge, water is poured on them and their energy is released through the steam. We honor the stones that are willing to give their energy to us at this time for our healing so that we too may be changed forever.
As we enter the lodge, we are humble and modest. We wear clothes in the lodge. Most choose to wear t-shirts, shorts, skirts, or light sweatpants. As we enter, we kneel, connecting to the earth. When we enter we move to the left following the Medicine Person and come to rest in our spot once the leader has made it completely around the circle and everyone is inside.
The flap or 'door' is then closed and everyone is given a moment to become accustomed to the dark and their surroundings. The leader begins by offering prayers. The 'door' is then lifted and the 'fire keeper' brings in the first round of hot stones. The stones are then placed in a pit that has been dug out of the center of the lodge.
There will be four rounds of prayer; each round represents a direction, an animal, an element, and energy. The leader will guide you through each round of prayers. At the end of each round, the 'door' is lifted and more stones are brought in. Throughout the ceremony the lodge leader will be pouring water on the hot stones as she is guided to do so. As a result, it will become hot and steamy inside.
Participants are encouraged to stay throughout the entire ceremony. However, anyone is free to leave at anytime if they become too uncomfortable. If this happens, the participant should simply call out and the ceremony will be halted temporarily to allow the person to leave. Once outside, the person is encouraged to stay by the fire as it is understood that the healing benefits of the ceremony will still be experienced by that person. There is no shame in leaving. Everyone experiences healing in different ways and is welcomed and honored for their presence and participation. For those of you who choose to participate in this Sacred Ceremony with me, I ask only that you bring an open heart, a sincere attitude, and a willingness to share.
When the four rounds of prayer are finished, we emerge from the womb of Mother Earth reborn and now it is time to celebrate and share in a feast of potluck. We then honor the eldest amongst us by allowing them to choose first from the Give-Away blanket. After the eldest has chosen then everyone else takes turns choosing, continuing in order from eldest to youngest. Before the ceremony participants will have placed an offering on the Give-Away blanket brought to the Creator in gratitude for the healing that is about to be experienced. Our offering is something that has value and meaning to us, making sacred with sincere generosity the celebration we are about to experience. Some examples of what people offer are crystals, candles, CD's, jewelry, books, or something that they have crafted. For those participants who are healing practitioners, an offering of a session allows you the opportunity to honor Spirit with your own creative gifts and provides another with the opportunity to experience further healing. These, of course, are only suggestions. Please bring whatever it is you are guided to.
There is no cost for Sacred Ceremony. However, a suggested donation of $40 is welcome to offset the cost incurred for initial and ongoing supplies including lodge coverings, herbs, tobacco, and firewood as well as acknowledgement and gratitude for the energy spent in preparation for and during the ceremony.
Things to Bring: An open heart, clothes to sweat in, a change of clothes for after the Sweat, a towel,
an item for the Give-Away blanket, and a prepared dish for the potluck feast following the ceremony.
To schedule a Sweat Lodge Ceremony for your group or to find out when the next Sweat Lodge Ceremony is scheduled,
contact Kate O'Connell, LPC at 540-447-6051 or [email protected]. Space is limited to 8 people.
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Kate O'Connell, LPC * 540-447-6051 * 2425 Gobblers Ridge, Charlottesville, VA 22902 * [email protected]