C.R.E.A.T.E!

C.R.E.A.T.E!

Center for Expressive Arts, Therapy and Education, P.L.L.C.

April 2011 Newsletter

AWARD, DOCTORAL STATUS, GROUP, GALLERY AND FOUNDATION

SO MUCH IS HAPPENING AT CREATE!!!

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Hi Everyone,

The newsletter has been delayed….not because there is nothing to report but rather because so much is happening!  Read on to learn about the award CREATE! is being given, Steven’s doctoral status, a new group, a gallery opening, a new foundation and so much more!

NAMI AWARD

CREATE! is being presented the New Hampshire National Alliance for Mental Illness Award this month for Systems Change.  This award is presented each year for a person or organization who is doing exceptional work in changing the way mental health counseling is delivered and providing services beyond the norm.  For all of you who sent in nominations, thank you for your faith in us and your kind words about the center.  We do not know what was written but we are deeply thankful for your recognition.  This award is an affirmation of the teamwork, camaraderie, vision, passion and joy everyone at CREATE! shares.  Thank you deeply.

DOCTORAL STATUS

On Friday, March 11^th, Steven defended and passed his dissertation defense and received the title of Doctor.  In typical Steven style, he said about the defense, “it was fun.”  Congratulations, Steven on a job well done.  Steven’s graduation will be in May and he will be on display at various times that weekend.  Days and times will be posted in upcoming newsletters.

NEW GROUP

Why Weight? Why Wait?  Cathy will be leading a free 5 week group on Wednesday nights starting April 13th from 7-9pm at the Castle.  The group will deal with participant’s relationship to food, uncovering the conflicts that stand between a person and the desire for a healthy body, discovering other pleasures besides food, the difference between physical and emotional hunger and much more.  This group is free.  Just call 625-0010 to register.

CREATE! FOUNDATION

With all the opportunities that non-profit status holds for expanding the services CREATE! provides, the Nikki LaBarge Memorial Fund is going to become a non-profit foundation.  The NLBMF is using the following statement as a guide for its vision and creation…

CREATE! is the premiere center for Expressive Arts, Therapy and Education in New Hampshire.  It was established in 2007 to provide cutting edge therapy in both traditional and arts-based modalities, as well as being a center for educational workshops, groups, seminars in healthy living, counseling interventions, making changes in one’s life, women’s rights, survivor’s rights, trauma recovery and continuing education for therapists.

The Nikki LaBarge Memorial Foundation is being established to help expand the reach and vision of CREATE! by providing funds and services to those who can not afford them and/or who can not access the services elsewhere.  It will also seek to provide therapeutic items for CREATE! as well as help with the renovation and preservation of this unique building as those actions increase the ability to service more people (i.e. wheelchair lift, accessible bathroom, etc.)

Forming, the Nikki LaBarge Memorial Foundation is an exciting step which calls for a board of directors to be established.  If you are interested in making a change in the community and expanding the great work that CREATE! is doing, call or write us…giving to others is the quickest way to happiness…so be happy today and join the Nikki LaBarge Memorial Foundation Board.

GALLERY OPENING

Come join us Friday April 8^th 5-6:30pm for a gallery opening at the Castle.  A local artist, Andrew Marc LeBlanc is displaying his art work in our waiting room through the month of April.  He states he “tries to strike a balance between abstract and realism.”  Come and take a look at Andrew’s work through April and come to see Andrew in person this Friday April 8^th from 5-6:30pm.  Refreshments will be served, tours of the Castle will be given and Andrew will talk about his art.

So much more is happening….we will see you at CREATE!

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Groups, Workshops and Events

See below for more details on each event.

Ongoing Events

Men’s Abuse Survivor’s Support Group

Weekly

Steven has been co-leading this group at the YWCA Women’s Crisis Services. Through funding from the Nikki LaBarge Memorial Fund, this group has been extended and moved to the Castle.  Resources for male survivors are limited and much needed.  We are pleased to have a part in providing hope and healing to all affected by violence and its aftermath.  If you know of someone who would like to join the group or would like more information, please contact us through phone or email at hellosteven@juno.com or 603-625-0010

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Continued Services

Michelle is leaving and Nurse Practitioner services discontinued: CREATE! is sorry to announce that our nurse practitioner, Michelle Stanzler, will be leaving at the end of March.  Michelle has been at CREATE! since September of 2009 and we will be very sad without her presence here.  CREATE! has decided to discontinue Nurse Practitioner services…it just won’t be the same without Michelle.

Low Cost Counseling: CREATE! is also pleased to have Master level interns available.  Through them, CREATE! can offer low cost counseling to clients who do not have insurance and can not pay out of pocket.  Regular private pay price at CREATE! is a very low $60/session.  Through the interns, we are able to offer sessions at $20 each so counseling is made affordable to everyone.

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Help us promote these events

If flyers are attached to the email, please post them (and take them down) and get as many as you can to join the healing, fun and magic at CREATE!

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Volunteering

Ethical guidelines state we can not accept offers of volunteer time from clients.  This guideline seeks to maintain the benefits and boundaries of the therapeutic relationship.  As we are more interested in meeting a client’s healing needs than working on the Castle, we abide by this guideline and offer deep thanks to anyone who would like to help and happens also to be a client.  Everyone, of course, is welcome to all other events and offerings.

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If you know anyone who did not get this email but signed up for it, have them write us at hellosteven@juno.com.  It is likely we were not able to make out their email address clearly but we don’t want to lose the contact.  If you know of anyone who should be on this email list or would like to be, have them email us their request and they will enjoy the updates and events at the Castle just like you.

Check out CREATE! on the web at www.castlecreate.com for upcoming events, services and offerings.

If you would like to be on the email update list, just send us an email and we will make it happen.

C.R.E.A.T.E!

141 Union St, Manchester, NH  03103

hellosteven@juno.com

www.castlecreate.com

603-625-0010

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 If you would like to be added to our email newsletter list, just drop us a line at stevendurost@castlecreate.com and we will add you to the list.