Support Groups & Workshops
Women In Transition Support Group
Mindfulness Meditation and Emotions Free Talk
Transforming Anxiety A 4-week psychoeducational group
or email us at contact@petalumacounseling.com
Treating Depression: 6-week Education and Support Group
Led by Jill Silverman, MFT
Wednesdays, 7:15–8:45 pm
Oct. 13, 20, 27, Nov. 3 , 10 and 17
Cost: Sliding Scale $35–$0 per week.
No one turned away for lack of funds
Pre-registration for the group is neccessary.
Recent research is showing that therapy is the most effective way to treat depression. There are no side effects and relapse rates are much lower than using anti-depressants.
This group will teach practical skills that research has found to be most effective for overcoming depression. The group will offer support for you to explore your own particular struggles with depression. Past participants have found great benefit from the group.
Depression affects one in ten people. Don’t suffer alone with depression. It is highly treatable. This group will be a gentle, supportive and encouraging place to learn about and help overcome depression through a variety of methods:
MIND - We will focus on ways of working with the "inner critic." Mindfulness meditation will be taught for managing difficult emotions and moods. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Buddhist Psychology will be utilized to become more skilled at recognizing and correcting distorted thoughts that create depression.
BODY - Education about nutrition, exercise, yoga, Chinese herbs and other alternative medicine approaches will be given. We will commit to trying one new self-care practice during the course of the 6 weeks. We will keep it simple and easy.
SPIRIT - We will look at what is inspiring and how to cultivate this more in one’s life. The role of having a spiritual belief system and developing meaning in life wi ll be explored. No particular spiritual belief system will be emphasized.
COMMUNITY - This will be a supportive group to explore feelings and connect with others with similar struggles.. We will look at how isolation can lead to depression. There will be opportunities to learn how to get connected in the larger community.
Led by Jill Silverman, MFT, director of the Petaluma Counseling Center. In private practice for over 15 years, Jill specializes in treating depression. She has worked for many agencies in San Francisco as a therapist, clinical consultant, and supervisor of interns. She has worked with clients from many different walks of life and enjoys helping people find inner resources and learn effective ways to overcome depression.
Women In Transition: A Support Group
Led by Rachel Honey, MFT
Wednesday Evenings, 5:00–6:30pm
Cost: $40 per week
Transitions offer us a great opportunity to wake up and see our lives and ourselves in surprising new ways. Many people find times of change unsettling as well as enlivening. This group will help participants to embrace the challenge of change through support and connection with others.
Rachel Honey, MFT is a Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice in Santa Rosa and Petaluma, where she works with adults, children and young people. She has worked extensively with adults experiencing depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties or who have experienced childhood or other trauma. Rachel has led groups through the Women’s Therapy Center in London, England as well as in the Bay Area.
Mindfulness Meditation and Emotions : FREE TALK
Led by Sharman Cippa, LCSW
Dates to be announced.
This talk will explore how mindfulness meditation is an effective tool for managing difficult emotions. Mindfulness is an approach that helps you learn to observe your thoughts, feelings, sensations and behaviors with compassionate awareness. We will talk about how to identify and understand states of mind along with skills to help you access your Wise Mind to make more effective choices. We will also explore urges and impulses and ways to work with them. No previous experience with mindfulness meditation is necessary.
Sharman Cippa, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker. She has practiced psychotherapy in the Bay Area since 1983 in hospitals, outpatient mental health clinics, schools and private practice. Sharman has worked with children, adolescents and adults offering individual, couples and group therapy. She is impassioned about teaching mindfulness coupled with cognitive-behavioral skills to address such issues as depression, anxiety, impulse control, mood regulation and addictions. Sharman has worked in the Kaiser Santa Rosa psychiatry department for 11 years. She designed Mindful Recovery, a weekly skills based class for the Chemical Dependency program, which she thoroughly enjoys teaching.
Transforming Anxiety: A 4-week psychoeducational group
Led by Jill Silverman, MFT
Wednesday 7:15–8:45 p.m.
September 1, 8, 15 and 22, 2010
Pre-registration for the group is necessary.
Sliding scale $35–$0. No one turned away for lack of funds.
This group will teach skills to manage mild to severe anxiety. The group will use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Meditation and relaxation techniques to learn how to better tolerate and transform anxiety. We will work on trying to differentiate when one should listen to anxiety as an important signal and when one has to work around the sensations of anxiety to move forward with life.
Jill Silverman, MFT, is the founder and director of The Petaluma Counseling Center.