Noon Mindfulness Meditation Sessions Thursdays in September and October, 12:00 -1:00 Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Ave. South No meditation experience necessary—just bring an open mind and a desire to sit and do nothing! Led by Westminster Counseling Center therapist Peter Bruhn, LPC, LADC, these sessions are designed to introduce individuals to a tool that can be used to achieve greater emotional balance and peace of mind …which may be the perfect thing when riding the turbulent waves of life. Sessions are designed to explore various mindfulness concepts, such as acceptance, non-judgment, self-compassion, and letting go. * These sessions are free and open to the public.* Dr. John Heefner was an enthusiastic supporter of the counseling center from its very beginnings in the late 1980’s. He became a consultant to the center’s therapists, meeting with them weekly to discuss best practices in working with their clients . In 2009 he started volunteering his time to meet with clients who did not have insurance, assessing their need for medication, writing prescriptions for them and monitoring their progress. His wisdom and kind generosity was part of our growth as a maturing counseling center. We will miss the information he would amass in his biannual trips to Harvard for their symposium on new medications and information on the best use of older drugs. Dr. Heefner was a man of many talents and pursuits in the fields of music, art, and decoration. His paintings hang on the walls of our offices. Like his family, children and grandchildren, we too learned much from him about generosity, love of life and compassion for others. His legacy will continue to strengthen and inform us as we serve the lives and needs of our clients.
“His service of remembrance is Sunday, May 12, 6 pm, at Westminster Presbyterian Church. We encourage you to read his inspiring obituary in the Star Tribune. Westminster Counseling Center is Proud to be a presenting partner for this event.
February 15, March 15, April 19 | 2019 Westminster Hall | Westminster Presbyterian Church JOIN IN FOR A VIBRANT & ENGAGING WORKSHOP SERIES THAT INTEGRATES SCIENCE WITH SOUL You'll learn how to apply a new integrative model for recovery and prevention of depression, anxiety, and inattentiveness. Attend one event or all. NATURAL JOY February 15, 2019 8:30-4:00 Overcoming Depression with Natural Therapies and Mind-Body Skills NATURAL CALM March 15, 2019 8:30-4:00 Overcoming Anxiety with Natural Therapies and Mind-Body Skills NATURAL FOCUS April 19, 2019 8:30-4:00 Overcoming Attention Problems with Natural Therapies and Mind-Body Skills To learn more visit: Nature Mental Health's website. The Westminster Counseling Center supports mental health awareness and education for lay persons and professionals.
The following are two opportunities this fall: Mental Health Across the Life Span. Three Sessions on September 12, 19 and 26 6:30 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Nicollet Avenue, downtown Minneapolis This series focuses on mental health issues arising in childhood, early and middle adulthood and advanced age. Speakers will be from Westminster’s Congregational Care Council, Westminster’s Counseling Center and St. David’s Center, Child and Family Development. Free parking for Westminster events is available in the church’s underground garage. For more information contact Rev. David Shinn. Hope, Humor and Healing. Finding light in dark places. Sunday, October 21 10 am - 4 pm at Temple Israel, 2323 Fremont Avenue South, Minneapolis This is the 18th annual conference on mental health sponsored by the Twin Cities Jewish community. The keynote speaker is humorist and radio personality John Moe, followed by two sessions of workshops on a wide variety of topics related to mental health. Register online at www.jfcsmpls.org Box lunches at no charge to everyone who registers by October 5. Parking is limited and carpooling is suggested. Both of these events are free and open to people of all or no faiths. We were saddened to learn of the passing of Patty Duke, a well-known actress, television star, activist, and the younger person to ever win an Oscar. But important to her legacy is that she was one of the first people to talk openly about mental illness including her own struggle with depression after her diagnosis of bipolar disorder in the early 1980’s. Patty Duke’s autobiography, Call Me Anna, was made into a TV movie in 1990. Her second book a Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depression Illness, was published in 1992. In 2004, she sat down with ABC’s Hugh Downs for an personal discussion of life with mental illness. Visit MPR’s website to view the video at http://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2016/03/patty-dukes-legacy-a-willingness-to-talk-about-mental-health/ On October 13, Westminster Counseling Center sponsored the Westminster Town Hall Forum featuring Patrick Kennedy, former Rhode Island Congressman and mental health champion. Speaking to a full house, Kennedy spoke to his own personal struggles with mental health and addiction, how policy work is still needed to ensure that mental health coverage is a right given to everyone, and how system change is still needed to guarantee everyone has access to mental health services. While serving in Congress, Kennedy authored dozens of bills aimed at increasing the understanding and treatment of neurological and psychiatric disorders. In particular, he was the lead sponsor of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, along with Minnesota Congressman Jim Ramstad, which provided access to mental health treatment for tens of millions of Americans previously denied care. He is co-founder of One Mind for Research, a national coalition seeking new treatments for brain illness and injury, and founder of the Kennedy Forum on Community Mental Health, committed to increasing the availability and quality of care. His latest book, A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction, weaves together Kennedy's private and professional narratives, echoing Kennedy's philosophy that for him, the personal is political and the political personal. Focusing on the years from his 'coming out' about suffering from bipolar disorder and addiction to the present day, the book examines Kennedy's journey toward recovery and reflects on Americans' propensity to treat mental illnesses as "family secrets." Beyond his own story, though, Kennedy creates a roadmap for equality in the mental health community, and outlines a bold plan for the future of mental health policy. Written with award-winning healthcare journalist and best-selling author Stephen Fried, A Common Struggle is both a cry for empathy and a call to action. Click here to hear the broadcast. |