Posted by Volunteer

SECOND ANNUAL 

CHALLENGE INTO CHANGE

ESSAY CONTEST

Honor a woman who has transformed a life challenge into change. 

Write an essay of 500 words or less honoring a woman who has transformed a life challenge into change. Submit the essay to essaycontest@thewomensinitiative.org by July 31st. 

The winning essay will be announced on August 14th. 

Click here for rules and details.

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GODDESS QUEST ~ A SUCCESS!

Posted by Michelle Brown

Since GODDESS QUEST took place on Saturday, May 8^th, we have received many emails, letters and phone calls celebrating the occasion. One attendee wrote, “We are still talking about how much fun we had last night.  Bravo!”  and “What a masterful combination of being the entertainment and being entertained.   Congratulations on pulling off a fun and unique event!” 

In the end, more than 75 people attended this fundraiser.  We thank all attendees for stepping out of their comfort zone and opening themselves up to adventure.  As team members THEY: donned wigs, climbed statues, sang songs, interviewed the mayor, cajoled street performers, rolled with the Roller Derby Dames, danced wildly, waxed poetic, and more.  

While the evening was fun and enticing… we’re also pleased to report that this event helped us raise critical funds and increase awareness about the need for affordable mental health services in our community.

Funds raised will enable us to bring essential counseling services to uninsured/underinsured women in our community.  The majority of women served through our individual counseling program are uninsured and the most common diagnosis include anxiety, depression and post traumatic stress syndrome.  By breaking down barriers to mental health services and promoting wellness, our programs are improving the health of our entire community. 

In 2009, our agency hopes to serve 1,000 women through our core programs.  Funds raised at GODDESS QUEST will help us accomplish this goal!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR AMAZING EVENT COMMITTEE

Bill Atwood, Co-Chair

Nina Ozbey, Co-Chair

Kristina Banks

John Conover

Joyce Holt

Barbara Lee

Ginger McKee

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How Our Counseling Program Works

Posted by Volunteer

Women who contact us in need of counseling services receive a call-back within 24 hours. Our compassionate therapists ascertain severity of distress, past history, suicidal tendencies, and primary reason for seeking help. An appointment is then scheduled as quickly as possible.

Sessions are 50-minutes and occur weekly. A variety of treatment modalities are used including but not limited to: brief term psychodynamic, long term psychodynamic, EMDR, mind/body medicine, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Our Individual Counseling Program helps women address and gain freedom from mental illnesses that are affecting their lives. 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of depression may include: 

• difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions 

• insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping 

• loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex 

• persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems 

• feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness 

• fatigue and decreased energy 

• feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism 

• persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings 

• overeating or appetite loss 

• irritability, restlessness 

• thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts

Our Year in Review

Posted by Michelle Brown

• The Women’s Initiative served more than 700 individuals in our first year through our core programs. Women range in age from 18-65+.

• The majority of women have been presenting moderate to severe symptoms and the most common diagnoses are anxiety & depression.

• The majority of women receiving counseling services are either uninsured or underinsured. Your support makes it all possible. More than 85% of our funding comes from individual supporters. Grants and fees for services are also critical to our success.

• Referrals come from friends, family, physicians, therapists, partner agencies & more. A woman recently found us through a referral from her cab driver… the word is getting around!

• The Women’s Initiative collaborated with more than 25 agencies! Most recently, we offered our Life Empowerment Course to women at AIDS/HIV Services and the Adult Learning Center. We thank our partners for helping us reach women in need.

We believe that our success is reflected most accurately in the personal stories of transformation in the lives of the women we serve:

• women in abusive relationships who find the strength to break away from harm,

• women who fear interaction and find the courage to engage with the outside world,

• and women suffering from depression who find the bravery to reach out for help and reconnect with those they love.

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Economic Downturn Increases Need

Posted by Michelle Brown

At The Women’s Initiative, we are paying close attention to the economic downturn. The increase in unemployment, loss in health insurance, rising costs in rent, utilities and food all contribute to unbearable stress. These painful circumstances create an increased demand for mental health services as women and their families struggle to survive. We need your help to respond to this growing need. Please make a gift and help ensure that vital mental health services are available to women in our community.

We also encourage you to look for our next newsletter.  This newsletter will focus on how our programs like Women Connect, our Life Empowerment Courses and our Stress Management Workshops for front-line providers are responding to this need.

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