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Everybody needs a safe space to share their thoughts and heal.
With that in mind, Guiding Hearts Counseling has begun a program that provides mental health support for teens in the area. Sponsored by Turtle Wing, the sessions are being held at St. Paul Lutheran Church and being led by Keisha Brown-Moore, psychotherapist, and are held every Monday from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
“The goal of the Mental Health Summer Groups is to provide mental health services to teens who may not have a consistent support network during the summer months. School provides a great resource with interaction with counselors, teachers, and peers that is not available when school is out. Continuity of care is vital as it provides ongoing support and reduces the risk of setbacks,” Brown-Moore said.
The sessions focus on peer support and allow area teens to connect with others who understand the issues they are facing and going through.
“This is the third year that Guiding Hearts has provided summer groups. We have had a good response from the com- munity, including from parents, teachers, as well as organizations requesting additional groups. As a result, we have added a group on Mondays from 5:30-6:30 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Columbus.,” Brown- Moore said.
The sessions are led by mental health professionals and are confidential. A fee of $10 per session is charged.
“The summer groups are mostly focused on mental health; however, we embrace any topics that the participants would like to discuss,” Brown-Moore said.
She said that the groups mostly focus on the following: -Anger Management -Stress Management -Suicide/Grief -Conflict Resolution -Effective Communication Skills -Self-Regulation -Pillars of Good Character -Depression/Anxiety She said that the sessions are held in confidence and that the teens know they can speak freely during the meetings.
“Confidentiality is very important in therapy. Before each group session, group rules are discussed and confidentiality is one of those rules,” Brown-Moore said, who added that a confidentiality form is also provided for the parents to sign.
According to medical experts, mental health in rural areas presents unique challenges and disparities. Rural residents experience higher rates of depression and suicide compared to their urban counterparts, but they also face significant barriers to accessing mental healthcare, including limited availability of services, transportation difficulties, and social stigma.
“Therapy is needed in all areas but especially needed in rural areas as mental health services are scarce at times. Rural areas have unique challenges as there is limited access to care, social isolation, and stigma surrounding mental health issues. Growing up in a rural area, I understand that there is a need to provide these services to our youth who are dealing with tough issues in their lives,” Brown-Moore said.
Brown encourages parents to come to the sessions and see what they are about and take a proactive approach to their teen mental health issues.
Mental health groups provide an opportunity for teens to have an outlet, support, and to learn ways to cope with life,” Brown-Moore said. “Mental health costs could be expensive, and the nonprofit organization Turtle Wing is graciously sponsoring these groups. For this reason, these groups are provided for a small fee of $10 per group session. Take advantage of this resource.”
Anyone seeking more information can contact Brown-Moore at 512-308-7929 or email at kmoore@guidingheartscm. com.
