Wellness Workshops


Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Training Group

Acceptance and change through the modification of
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Mindfulness.

For individuals who have difficulty regulating their emotions and who engage in compulsive behaviors such as cutting and other forms of self injury, suicidal ideation, urges and attempts, substance abuse, disordered eating and other high risk behaviors. Many of the group participants suffer with Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), other Anxiety Disorders, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

LEARN TO:

  • Control your emotions, instead of your emotions controlling you
  • Reduce and then eliminate life-threatening behaviors
  • Reduce and then eliminate behaviors that interfere with therapy
  • Decrease behaviors that destroy the quality of your life
  • Build a life worth living
  • Focus on the present moment, notice judgments and practice acceptance
  • Preserve your relationships and end destructive ones
  • Tolerate distress
  • Get “unstuck” from extreme views
  • Experience feelings without dissociating or avoiding life
  • Build an ordinary life and solve ordinary problems
  • Move from incompleteness to completeness and feel connected

Facilitated by several licensed clinicians all extensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Women’s Group - Thursday mornings at 10:30am
Women’s Group - Thursday evenings at 6:00pm
Men’s Group - Tuesday evenings at 7:00pm

For more information or to schedule an intake appointment,
please call our intake line at
 609-844-0452 extension 713.


Therapeutic Group for Men

A dynamic process group focusing on men’s issues associated
with depression, anxiety, addiction, relationships and power.

For individuals who have difficulty regulating their emotions and who engage in compulsive behaviors such as cutting and other forms of self injury, suicidal ideation, urges and attempts, substance abuse, disordered eating and other high risk behaviors. Many of the group participants suffer with Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), other Anxiety Disorders, and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

LEARN ABOUT:

  • Congruence – thoughts, words and actions all lining up
  • Being authentic - being who we really are without hiding
  • How to take responsibility
  • Openness and open heartedness -
    really listening to, and understanding, others
  • Feeling our feelings
  • Speaking our truth with skillful communication
  • Developing awareness of our thoughts, emotions and behaviors
    that tend to limit us
  • Tolerating distress and regulating emotions
  • Decrease behaviors that destroy the quality of our lives
  • Increasing our positive emotions
  • Practicing mindfulness

Facilitated by Craig Haft, MSW, LSW, a licensed social worker who utilizes cognitive behavior Therapy (CBT); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (AC); and a client-centered approach with clients in individual, couples, and group therapy.

Craig has personally explored various mind/body/spirit disciplines such as mindfulness/meditation, yoga, energy psychology, and eastern medicine; and he continues to incorporate these philosophies and practices in his work with clients. He has completed trainings, seminars, and retreats with many leaders in these fields including Jon Kabat-Zinn, Jack Kornfeld, Dr. Vasant Lad, and John Welwood.

Before his own life transition to a career in psychotherapy, Craig had a significant career in the world of corporate management and business consulting; developing business processes and systems with evolving focus on human relations and teamwork. In addition to his Masters in Social Work, Craig previously received his Bachelors of Science in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University and his Masters in Business Administration from the University of California at Berkeley. He continues to enhance his knowledge and experience within the psycho-spiritual arena, currently participating in the three-year professional enrichment program at the Center for Intentional Living.

Tuesdays evenings from 7:00pm to 8:30pm

For more information or to schedule an intake appointment,
please call our intake line at
 609-844-0452 extension 713.


8-Week Mindfulness Practice Series

Mindfulness Skills have emerged as an important focus of several empirically supported treatments. Their roots of which are in the contemplative practices common to both eastern and western spiritual disciplines and to the emerging scientific knowledge about the benefits of “allowing” experiences rather than suppressing or avoiding them.

Our Mindfulness Practice Series is similar to those initiated by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Marsha Linehan, and others. We offer training that has shown to be effective for alleviating depression, anxiety, pain, emotional reactivity and stress. Fundamentally, our series is about practicing and training our minds to stay with and accept our here-and-now circumstances, whether pleasant or unpleasant, without judgment.

When we cultivate mindfulness, we learn the difference between primary pain (existential pain such as cold, loss, sickness) and secondary pain (our reactivity to primary pain such as being angry, depressed or fearful about our circumstances). From our direct experiences, we can see that primary pain becomes acceptable and secondary pain becomes optional. Concentration and relaxation are also common byproducts of the practice. Over time, with practice, mindfulness becomes a psychological power and skill that we can apply most anywhere and anytime in our lives to increase ease and reduce distress. It affords us awareness and the freedom to choose how to relate to difficult physical, emotional and mental states.

Daily practice is required.

Monday evenings from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
New series begin in January, March, May and October
.

For more information or to schedule an intake appointment,
please call our intake line at
 609-844-0452 extension 713.


12-Week Social Skills Training Group

For grade school children diagnosed with asperger syndrome, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and developmental disabilities.

Your child will learn how to read social cues (particularly non-verbal ones), how to problem solve, think abstractly, cope with stress, develop self-awareness and improve his or her interactions with peers, both inside and outside school.

Each group is comprised of 4 to 7 children grouped according to language ability. Some of the skills targeted will include:

Conversational Skills
Cooperative Play Skills
Friendship Management
Self-Regulation Coping Skills
Empathy
Conflict Management

Facilitated by Susie Chung, Ph.D., BCBA - Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Susie Chung has a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Cornell University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in clinical psychology from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) at Hahnemann University, now part of Drexel University. In addition to being a licensed psychologist, Dr. Chung is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who has worked in outpatient as well as inpatient settings, including with individuals who have severe and chronic mental illness. Dr. Chung has expertise in the application of empirically-based and systematic methods to the treatment of behavioral problems. She has also had extensive experience in conducting psychological assessments, with specializations in the areas of forensic cases, developmental disabilities, and serious mental disorders. Her training as a therapist has focused on cognitive-behavioral approaches, which includes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), with an emphasis on developing – collaboratively with the client – solutions and life-long skills in dealing with problems. She works with adults and children in her private practice at Village Counseling Services, Additionally; Dr. Chung is a psychologist at a forensic psychiatric hospital in New Jersey. In this capacity, she conducts court-ordered evaluation of mentally-ill criminal defendants throughout the State, testifies in court, and consults with treatment teams within the hospital.

For more information or to schedule an intake appointment,
please call our intake line at
 609-844-0452 extension 713.


Acceptance and Transformation Support Group

For those suffering with both addiction and mental illness.

Learn how to:

Surrender Control and Accept Responsibility
Have Self-Compassion
Tolerate Distress
Use Effective Coping Skills
Experience Emotions Without Becoming the Emotion
Balance Conflict
Preserve Relationships and Experience Self-Respect
Access “CLEAR MIND”
Decrease Urges and Cravings
Build a Life Worth Living
Practice Mindfulness

Facilitated by Jeffrey Weisslitz, PsyD LPC, who has worked with dual diagnosis clients in multiple settings for almost 15 years, using Motivational Enhancement Therapy; Relapse Prevention Education; Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT); and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

For more information or to schedule an intake appointment,
please call our intake line at
 609-844-0452 extension 713.


TAKE THE LEAP
EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO BE THEIR BEST!

6 STEPS TO BETTER CHOICES,
MORE CONFIDENCE &
STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS

1. Beginnings – Who am I?

2. Lead – Identifies purpose, values and desires

3. Excel – Motivates individuals to overcome obstacles in life through leadership principles

4. Act – Connects youth with a powerful force that has the ability to turn goals into reality.

5. Persevere – Provides the opportunity to learn about the behaviors and beliefs that hold students back.

6. New Beginnings – Where do I go from here?

The LEAP Program helps youth and teens identify their purpose, overcome their limiting beliefs, enhance peer relationships, and develop a plan for reaching their true potential. Using a strategic coaching process, the LEAP Program teaches youth how to have greater respect for the choices they make, feel more inner confidence, use better decision making skills, build stronger relationships with friends and loved ones, and have more motivation and commitment towards their school community and future. LEAP is a short-term, solution-focused, strength based counseling group program. The LEAP Program is for anyone who wants to learn more about their life, challenges and dreams.

The Leap Program Includes:

• LEAP Workbook
• 6 Group Coaching Sessions
• 2 Private Coaching Sessions (30 min. ea.)

COACH KRISTINA

Coach Kristina Rago, MSW, CEC, is a certified personal coach and LEAP Facilitator who helps young men and women make empowered choices around personal growth, performance, school, friendship, self-expression, and difficult life issues. She works with youth to create a safe space where they can be themselves and motivates them to move from where they are to where they truly want to be in life. She understands the challenges adolescents confront and the importance of developing strategies to face difficult life issues.

The LEAP Program was created by Coach Randy of Your Personal Coach, LLC, and is a culmination of twenty years of commitment to youth, teens and young adults. Through the Four Cornerstones and the Five Core Principles teens are taken on a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and life fulfillment.

The LEAP Program is offered at

Village Counseling Services
22 Gordon Avenue
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
609.895.0073

 ~LEAP is also offered
at on-site locations~

VALUE ADDED BENEFITS

  • Youth make better choices about friends, family, school and the future
  • Youth experience an increase in confidence and self-esteem
  • Youth develop healthier relationships
  • Youth learn problem solving skills to avoid the pitfalls of peer pressure
  • Youth learn to decrease anger and negativity
  • Youth learn how to unlock their true potential
  • Parents/Guardians provide youth with essential tools and support
  • Parents/Guardians enhance their family experience

Solutions by Coaching, LLC
Kristina D. Rago, Personal Coach, MSW, CEC
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648