Tag Archive for: illness

Liberation from Addiction Recovery Support Group

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Every Sunday at 1:30pm

Our vision is to provide a safe, inclusive space for anyone who is looking to recover from addiction. You are not alone. Please join us as we walk the path of overcoming addiction together..

Facilitators: Kelsey Jenson, MFT Trainee & Clay David, MFT Trainee
Bio: CLAY PAUL DAVID: Golden Gate University I am not a recent college graduate but a seasoned professional whose wide-ranging career has spanned many callings linked by a dedication to service. I have served as director, professor, manager, mentor, coach, and counselor in the arenas of arts education and production, enrichment for adults with disabilities, community development and fundraising, and support for those in recovery from substance abuse. My personal and professional journey has led me to focus now on counseling, as the culmination of a lifelong commitment to service, mentoring and nurturance. I am also a member of the alcohol and substance abuse recovery community, I am grateful for the clean and sober resilience I have gained from nurturing residential, inpatient, outpatient, and relapse-prevention programs. I continue to provide ongoing post-treatment sober support for recovering post-traumatic stress disorder victims in groups across California who resorted to self-medicating. I have taught, counseled, and coached diverse student populations, ranging across all socio-economic backgrounds, nationalities, cultural individualities, gender identities and sexual orientations, working with disabled students, young teens from an on-campus middle and high school, and non-English speakers. As a professor, counselor, coach, and mentor, I have sought to foster and advocate for self-expression and cultural competence with sensitivity and humility. I believe my own life challenges and broad exposure to differing personalities and communities, grappling with substance abuse and family-related problems, have engendered an empathetic nature, supportive skillset, and sense of dedication to those who struggle with their families. I feel that long-term recovery can be both a liberating and an integrative force; helps bring meanings into conscious awareness and enables integration with waking life identity.

KELSEY JENSON: As a longtime member of the 12 step community, I understand first-hand the challenges and gifts of a clean and sober life. I am passionate about creating a community of support as individuals seek a life free from the bondage of addiction. In counseling, I have focused my attention on treating trauma, disordered eating, and addiction to provide comprehensive support across all areas of life. By working in collaboration with clients, I hope to support individuals as they create a life of meaning based on their own needs and values. Is it our goal to provide a safe and supportive space for you as you navigate the road of recovery, leveraging the strength of one another to support you along the way.

Supervisor Name: Josie Valderrama, Psy.D. License # Psy27913
RVSP/Contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org
Location: California
Who this group is for: Anyone looking to live life sober and clean from addiction
How many weeks will the group run for: Drop in group (On-going)

New In Town Support Group

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Every Wednesday from 10-11 AM

Moving to a new place can be very exciting, but it can also be one of the most stressful events in our lives. This group is a space where people new to their area can share their experiences, discuss challenges, and connect with others in the same situation. Whether you moved here this week, or several years ago, this group welcomes anyone new in town! Please email us at shellyh@liberationinstitute.org and carolinea@liberationinstitute.org.

Facilitators: Caroline Anton, MFT Trainee & Shelly Holland, MFT Trainee
Bio: Shelly is a MFT Trainee with Liberation Institute and a graduate student at Alliant International University. She previously worked for a Planned Parenthood clinic in Denver, at biosecurity and neuromodulation start-ups here in the Bay Area, and with environmental education youth groups near her hometown, Half Moon Bay. Shelly studied communication and human sexuality at UC Santa Barbara, and has several years of experience working in human sexuality education groups. When Shelly isn’t exercising her mind, she’s running, rock climbing, and gardening.

Caroline is a MFT Trainee with Liberation Institute and a Counseling Psychology graduate student with an emphasis in depth psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. Her previous experience in mental health includes volunteering as a Crisis Counselor at Crisis Text Line, as well as minoring in Psychology at Cal Poly SLO. At Cal Poly SLO, she majored in Agricultural Communication, learning about agricultural practices and applying that to communicating between farmers and consumers. She has worked in numerous settings, such as as a hostess and server in restaurants, an intern at a nonprofit studying nutrition, and a swim instructor. When Caroline is not with clients, she is hiking, doing yoga, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.
Supervisor Name: Crystal Haviland, LPCC7633 Josie Valderrama, PsyD27913
RVSP/Contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org
Location: California, online
Who this group is for: Must be experiencing challenges associated with moving to a new place
How many weeks will the group run for: Drop in group (On-going)

Art Group

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Every Wednesday at 9:30-11:00am PST

Looking to the muse inside of us for inspiration. Art as a way to know ourselves and see beyond the literal. Awake dreaming. Strengthening our creative muscle which resources us in other areas of our life. Art therapy is a lot like Jungian Analysis in that we live inside of the questions, breathing life into what wants to be expressed being careful not to interpret or analyze, but just be with what is present here now.

Facilitators: Laura Miola
Bio: Laura Miola is MFT trainee, trained as a somatic based expressive arts therapist through the Tamalpa institute. Laura is interested in working with dream images and helping individuals become their true authentic self. As an artist she has danced, created theatre performances and has had a painting practice since childhood. She is passionate about creativity in therapy and working with images from a decentered approach.
Supervisor Name: Josie Valderrama, Psy.D. License # Psy27913
RVSP/Contact: groups@liberationinstitute.org
Location: California
Who this group is for: anyone
How many weeks will the group run for: Drop in group (On-going)