On June 4, 2010, National Counseling Group hosted an Open House at our Manassas Office.
The site leaders-Regional Director, Stephanie Ney, Site Director, Marie Thomas- and Manassas staff were introduced and got to know many local referral sources and community professionals.
Click on the images below to view the event photos.
Of those who attended, special guests included Virginia State Senator, Charles Colgan, Vice Mayor of Manassas City, Andrew Harrover, Manassas City Councilman, Johnathan Way, and Delegate, Miller Jackson.
Interview with Alani Franis, Kelly Athey, and Kim Stanley, Vice President of Operations at COX Roanoke
From National Counseling Group Roanoke Office, Alani Francis, Community-Based Counselor, and Kelly Athey, Foster Parent Trainer and Case Manager, appeared on COX Connections, a news station exclusively broadcasted in Roanoke, Virginia. Alani and Kelly discussed community-based and therapuetic foster care services and opportunities in the June 2010.
On July 3, 2010, Brenda Ridley-Garris, NCG Virginia Beach Clinical Supervisor, participated in a "Pre-Parade" breakfast for Delegate Lionell Spruill before the City of Chesapeake Annual Fourth of July Parade.
This was a National Counseling Group hosted event.
Frank Valentine, NCG Fredericksburg Site Director, will be conducting two workshops on Teen Self-Esteem for the Tree of Life Teen Summit on Saturday June 5, 2010.
The event is sponsored by the Fredericksburg Boys and Girls Club. For more information please visit their website www.bgcgw.org
Director of Training for National Counseling Group, Patrick Slifka, presented to Goodwill Industries of Virginia on the topic of Motivational Interviewing. He presented at the GI headquarters in Richmond on Friday, May 28th, 2010 from 9am-12pm.
On Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 from 2pm-3:30pm, Patrick Slifka, NCG's Director of Training, will present to the Community Services Board, District 19, a private training to the agency Social Workers called Brief Strategic Family Therapy.
Why Are So Many Youth Cutting Themselves?
On May 10, Cumberland CSA Office and National Counseling Group are supporting a training event to help professionals and parents understand the growing number of youth who cut or otherwise harm themselves. Patrick Slifka, LCSW, CAC, and training specialist for National Counseling Group will be talking about the reasons involved, discussing how to assist these youth, and answering the questions of those who attend. Patrick has worked with these youth and has shared his experiences in trainings in other areas of Virginia.
It has been noted, particularly by local guidance counselors, that more and more youth seem to be cutting or injuring themselves, but adults often don’t realize this behavior is occurring. Many try to hide this behavior or only share it with their best friends. When it is discovered, often the youth is quite involved in the process. It can also be a copied behavior or a shared experience between friends. Mr. Slifka explains the signs, symptoms, and some of the rational youth use when involved in self harm or cutting behaviors.
The session for professionals who work with youth will be held at the Cartersville Rescue Squad Building, 1667 Cartersville Road, Cartersville, (between Rt. 60 and Cartersville) beginning at 1:30. This free event should be very helpful to any who are involved in schools, mental health professionals, social workers, clergy, and juvenile justice. Even if you have not met or worked with someone with this issue, the information is pertinent in today’s society.
A second session for parents and relatives of children who self harm, or others who are interested in learning more about helping youth, will be held the same day at 6 PM at the Luther P. Jackson Center at Cumberland High School.
To register for either session, please call Alice Metts, 804-492-3561, and leave your name and the number of people attending with you. Please share this information with others who might be interested or concerned.
Working with Substance Abuse in a Culturally Diverse Family
J. Patrick Slifka, LCSW, CAC
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM May 13, 2010
CACVA Multidisciplinary Child Abuse Conference
Roanoke College
Learning Objectives
Participants completing this workshop will be able to:
Understand and discuss the association between substance use and child abuse/neglect
Define what constitutes a “problem” with substances – regardless of culture
Describe typical and atypical dynamics of substance use in family systems
Provide a rationale for cultural awareness, sensitivity and competence in work with substance use disorders
Explain behavioral characteristics and communication patterns across cultures
Cite strategies for identification, assessment and intervention of substance use within a culturally diverse family system
National Counseling Group is partnering with Dr. Houston's church and community through the Garden of Hope on their counseling initiative and community development projects. We attended their fundraiser event and were a Gold Level sponsor in April 2010.
NCG Team Warrenton chose "Go Green" as their motivational theme in April 2010.
Throughout the month, they have continued to bring in "recycled" clothing and have collected at least four heaping piles of clothes. The collection will be donated to the Warrenton Thrift Store/Community Clothes bank on behalf of National Counseling Group. On April 26, Team Warrenton cleaned up the NCG adopted highway located off of Blackwell Road in the heart of beautiful Fauquier County. They picked up 10 large bags of trash.
Prince William Regional Counselors Association - Spring 2010
National Counseling Group participated in and donated $500 to the Fairfax Partnership on Youth "Bridging the Gap Conference" in April 2010. NCG has participated in previous years as well, and George Young, Director of NOVA Outpatient Services, participated again this year in the conference.
Business Development Specialist, Randy Wilson, is a member of the Advisory Council for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Senior Connections under The Capitol Area Agency on Aging. Randy was featured in their 1st quarter 2010 newsletter.
On Wednesday, Thursday, April 1st, 2010, Randy Wilson and Jeanne Slifka from NCG attended the Richmond Chamber of Commerce meeting at which they listended to a talk given by Senior Economic Advisor for Gov. McDonnell Bob Sledd.
Pictured are Jeanie Slifka, Randy Wilson, Senior Economic Advisor for Governor McDonnell: Bob Sledd, President of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce: Kim Scheeler, and Chamber Employee: Tim Grimes.
Seeing up close the magnitude of the devastation caused by the earthquake…
A bed sheet tent is where Henry and his family are now sleeping. Henry described his life after the earthquake.
NCG Fredericksburg staff counselor, Darius Coulibaly, recently visited Haiti to help with earthquake recovery efforts. Darius has made huge efforts to give himself locally to the Fredericksburg community and internationally to those in need in Haiti. He is raising funds to collect items to forward to those in need. Darius also manages an international non-profit organization called "Empowering the Poor" that helps indigent populations globally. You can contact Darius at darius.coulibaly@nationalcounselinggroup.com.
Lauren Daley, Home Based Counselor for National Counseling Group at our Manassas office received a scholarship and recognition at Virginia School Counselors Association for the top Graduate Student 2010 for National Captial Region Virginia Tech's Counselor Education Program. Congratulations, Lauren!!!
Community Awareness Event
On Saturday, March 20th from 11 am- 3 pm at Martinsville Liberty Fair Mall, Martinsville Site Director, Bobbie Jo Seamster, and Clinical Supervisor, Sarah Hamblen, attended the "Community Awareness" event to showcase NCG to the community and discuss with other businesses the services which we offer at NCG. This event was sponsored by the Starting Place and Project Connect-Mental Health coalition for Health and Wellness. The event was a huge success! At the NCG booth, an Easter bunny was given away to individuals who signed up for the door prize. The big prize, an Easter bunny and candy, were given to a child who won the drawing.
In January 2010, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) held their annual breakfast in Richmond, VA, as a part of Small Business Day in the capitol. Staff and leaders from National Counseling Group were in attendance.
Pictured from left to right: Katie Weaks (NCG), Randy Wilson (NCG), Paul Lawrence (NCG),
Reverend Joe Ellison, Sam Gray (NCG), and Antoine Green
(Photo Credit): Photo by TR Cook of Cook's Photo Art Studio, Vienna, Virginia
National Counseling Group's Randy Wilson, Business Development Specialist, and Ashley Kemnitz, NCG Petersburg Site Director, and Jim Rankin, NCG Harrisonburg and Staunton Site Director, attended Congressman Eric Cantor's Campaign Breakfast on Friday, March 5th, 2010 in Richmond, VA.
Also in attendance were Secertary of Education Gerard Robinson, the Deputy Secertary of Administration Charles James, Director of the Daily Planet Dianne Reynolds-Cane, Owens & Minor Consultant Angela Wilkes, and McGuire Woods Partners George Martin and Jackie Stone.
Speakers included Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli and Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling.
Pictured are Randy Wilson, Eric Cantor, and Ashley Kemnitz.
National Counseling Group's Eastern Shore office Site Director, John Konkel, will be providing a presentation to the Eastern Shore Rural Health Systems group at their Quarterly Clinicians Meeting on April 15th, 2010, discussing NCGs services.
The meeting will be attended by 30 to 40 physicians who work in the ES community health care system.
Holly Duggan, NCG's Regional Director of the Tidewater Region, has recently donated $250 to the Newport News Healthy Families Organization to show National Counseling Group's enduring support of the organization.
Holly is also a member of the Community Advisory Board of the Newport News Healthy Families Intiatives and participates on the Blue Ribbon Committee to coordinate events for Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention month in April.
Come join us in celebrating the counseling profession and in recognizing counselors in the community.
LOCATION:
Backyard Grill
7421 Sudley Road
Manassas, VA 20109
703-365-0932
National Counseling Group staff Patrick Slifka, James Rankin, and Melinda Baker-Morris were featured in the Advocate, Winter 2010 edition, a publication of the Virginia Juvenile Justice Association.
On February 6th, 2010, thousands braved the chilly Atlantic Ocean wearing nothing but swimsuits and zany costumes - all for a good cause - including National Counseling Group's Virginia Beach Office Clinical Supervisor, Denielle Warner, and Community Based Counselor, Kristi Robinson. Proceeds from Saturday's Polar Plunge benefit Special Olympics Virginia. Since 1993, more than 26,000 plungers have raised more than $4.7 million for Special Olympics Virginia. Both Kristi and Denielle pledged to raise $200 for the Special Olympics.
National Counseling Group's Virginia Beach office is having a clothing drive to aid the victims of the disaster in Haiti in January 2009.
Please send any clothing that you would like to donate to the Haitian relief efforts to our office located at 4099 Foxwood Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 before February 12th, 2010 care of Karen Matthews, Site Director. Thank you for your support!
Director of Training for National Counseling Group, Patrick Slifka, will be facilitating a Motivational Interviewing training on February 19, 2010 from 9-4pm at the Lawrenceville Correctional Center.
On January 21st, 2010, Melinda Baker-Morris, along with a few members of the local human service agencies in Front Royal and the surrounding Shenandoah Valley community, were on the radio to talk about foster care as well as the many services that are offered by National Counseling Group.
National Counseling Group's Director of Training, Patrick Slifka, will be presenting at the VCA Counselor of the Year event in Manassas, VA on March 2nd, 2010.
He will be discussing Compassion Fatigue how professonal counselors deal with the experience.
Click here to view…
NCG Team Warrenton chose "Go Green" as their motivational theme in April 2010.
