Children's Social Skills Group (5-8 years old) - starts Saturday, August 22

Does your child have a difficult time making friends?  Sharing?     Identifying and expressing feelings?

Let Pfeiffer Institute Reach help put a little pep in your child’s back to school step!

This group will provide your child with skills needed to make and maintain friendships, and get along better with their peers!

Children ages 5 to 8 years old.

 Every other weekend starting on Saturday, August 22 from 10:30 AM-11:30 AM

RSVP today! Seating is limited! 919-941-2900

A Stressful Week

What a week it's been! Our front AC unit went out on Monday - the entire unit had to be replaced, and the supervisor to approve this was on vacation. We were short-staffed in the office so there were changes in schedules and long days. Both printers went out and needed new parts ordered - TWICE! Sometimes it seems like everything that can go wrong - does! And that's just the job-related stuff! Murphy is alive and well, I guess. It's enough to make you wonder how much you can handle, and how sane you'll be by the end!

Luckily, Reach has great resources: Even as I write this, the AC unit is being fixed (3 trucks of ARS techs - thank you!). We have helpful office staff, and interns who step up to cover the front when needed. We were able to order the printer parts online and they arrived the next day.

I can also choose to find the bright side of stressful situations:

• It was a little cooler yesterday and last night, so the front office was bearable in the mornings. The back AC units helped cool the whole suite, so at least the session rooms were comfortable. 
• We were short-staffed for a very positive reason - a baby was born healthy and mom did great. The employee was able to take time off, and will be back on schedule soon.
• Any printing that had to be done immediately was emailed to the campus and taken care of in no time.

Still, all these changes and frustrations - much less the heat! - can make anyone feel stressed and overwhelmed! If you've got a lot going on, particularly if you're having trouble coping or seeing any bright side, please come to our FREE Stress Management Workshop next Saturday, July 25, from 10:30am-12pm. You will learn about important skills (mindfulness, guided meditation), share with others, and receive a voucher for a FREE therapy session at Reach. Reserve your spot today: call 919-941-2900 or email contact@pfeifferreach.org.

Stress Management Workshop - One Day Left to RSVP!

RSVP Today - 919-941-2900 or contact@pfeifferreach.org

Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed? Beat down by the heat?

Join us at Pfeiffer Institute Reach for a FREE workshop!

Relax while you learn tools, tips, and techniques to balance stress through mindfulness practice, guided meditation, & breathing exercises!

Saturday, July 25 from 10:30 AM—12:00 PM

RSVP today! Seating is limited!

This workshop is open to everyone; those who attend will also receive a voucher for one FREE therapy session at Pfeiffer Institute Reach.

Relaxation Workshop

Oftentimes we become overwhelmed and consumed with multiple tasks in our daily lives.  During these times, we forget the importance of taking a step back to breathe and take time for ourselves.  What better way to learn to relax than to join us at Pfeiffer Institute Reach Wednesday, July 8^th for a FREE Relaxation Workshop! You will leave with tips on the importance of self-care and stress management skills.

Other topics to be covered will include:

·         Mindfulness techniques

·         Guided Breathing exercises

·         Meditation

We welcome you to join us as we help you to regain inner peace.

 Please contact Pfeiffer Institute Reach at 919-941-2900 to reserve your seat today.

A cheerful frame of mind, reinforced by relaxation... 

is the medicine that puts all ghosts of fear on the run.

                                                                           -George Matthew Adams

Happy Father's Day!

To all the Fathers - biological, adopted, step, grand...they come in many varieties. Some of them eagerly anticipate the role, some come to it unexpectedly, others gradually, and some with great trepidation. All are important and have an influence on their children and partners. While their job is never-ending, at this time of year we pause to say "Thank you," recognize their achievements and shortcomings, and face the year ahead with determination to do better.

For all you do and will do, Happy Father's Day!

Online Therapy at Reach

Pfeiffer Institute Reach is proud to offer a new service: Online Therapy. Sometimes called distance therapy or video therapy, this means of offering mental health services helps eliminate a couple of potential barriers to attending face-to-face sessions.

Breaking Down Barriers

One advantage to online therapy is that it eliminates the need to travel to a specific location to meet with a therapist. Instead, a client can be in a confidential location of his or her own choosing, be it a bedroom, a home office, or a private room reserved at the library. Many clients also find it more convenient, as it cuts down on driving time and dealing with traffic (no small consideration in the Raleigh/Durham area!).

Another advantage to online therapy is that potential clients in rural areas can have access to services they would otherwise have to travel great distances for, or else do without. Many of our rural communities lack mental health services, or those services are offered at inconvenient times or locations.

Requirements for Online Therapy at Reach

Although there are several advantages of online therapy, there are also some concerns, so we have put some safeguards in place. In order to participate in online therapy at Pfeiffer Institute Reach, a potential client must meet the following criteria:

• The client must physically reside in North Carolina, and be within state lines during all online therapy sessions.
• Individual therapy only. Online therapy is not available for couple or family therapy. 
• The client must attend the first session face-to-face. During that first meeting, the therapist will evaluate the client to make sure he/she is appropriate for online therapy. The therapist will assess for issues such as suicidal or homicidal ideation, domestic violence situations, and comfort using technology.
• The client must identify an emergency contact and sign a release for the therapist to confirm with that person that they are willing to serve as the emergency contact during online therapy.

Want to Try It?

If you're interested in Online Therapy and you fit all the requirements above, contact Reach today to schedule your appointment (remember, the first one is face-to-face): 919-941-2900 or contact@pfeifferreach.org.

June Wedding, Lifetime Relationship

June is here, the most popular month for weddings. Did you ever wonder why? According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, "the goddess Juno was the protector of women in almost all aspects of life, but especially in marriage and childbearing, so a wedding in Juno's month was considered most auspicious." Plus the weather is generally cooperative, many people take vacations, and there are plenty of flowers to choose from!

If you're getting married - congratulations!! Planning a wedding takes a lot of time, coordination, and MONEY! The average cost of a wedding is $25,200, although most couples spend less than $10,000 (see http://www.costofwedding.com/). Thousands of dollars and thousands of hours spent on making this most important of days as perfect as possible, as "auspicious" a start as could be imagined.

What if more of that time, effort, and yes, even money, went toward preparing for the marriage? Think about it - the wedding is a single, albeit very important, day, but it's the start of a lifetime commitment. What if couples were able to learn more about how to manage the "for worse" that life will bring, before it actually arrives? That's the idea behind Prepare/Enrich, an online relationship assessment. Each member of the couple completes the assessment separately, then meet together with a trained facilitator to review the personalized results. 

Prepare/Enrich is great for premarital and newlywed couples as a "preventive" measure, and it's also helpful for couples who have been together for a while. Prepare/Enrich highlights areas of strength as well as issues that need attention, then builds skills to manage those issues. The assessment is only $35/couple, and sessions with a trained facilitator at Pfeiffer Institute Reach are only $30 (sliding scale available; see more here). Put your time and resources toward strengthening and improving your relationship - Reach for a better tomorrow...today! 919-941-2900 or contact@pfeifferreach.org.