January 2005

New Year’s Day always brings with it thoughts of a fresh start. Resolutions are made. Often those ideas revolve around health habits we want to improve such as nutrition or exercise, or things we want to handle differently such as stress. For others, January brings the “winter blues.” For many, the holidays also bring renewed sadness over a loss.

This month we will focus on Resolutions and New Beginnings. Several of our articles will feature information from Rebecca Lowry, a therapist on ACC’s staff who brings many years of experience as a counselor in the health care field. She offers insights that may make those resolutions more successful or the winter less “blue.” For good measure, we are including a special piece about navigating through grief.

Please be sure to share this e-newsletter with a friend, or go to our website and register them to receive their own edition next month.

Dr. Joe Verga
Executive Director
I Resolve…

When the last of the decorations are snug in their boxes, visions of changes dance in our heads! “Fifty-nine million people every year resolve to lose weight,” says Amy O’Connor of Prevention magazine. For others, the visions may be of better nutrition, more exercise (or starting to exercise!), quitting smoking, etc. In our daydream, we see our goal achieved. What happens between the vision and the reality? Robert Burns’ has said, “The best laid schemes of Mice and Men, oft go awry; and leave us nothing but grief and pain, for promised joy!” Our ACC therapist, Rebecca Lowry, shares some ideas on how to have some of those schemes succeed.
Read more

SAD or sad?

For some people, after the festivities come the “winter blahs.” They may be suffering from cabin fever as winter weather keeps them housebound. The sadness, however, may really be clinical depression. If the depression is limited to the winter months, it may be SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Read More

Is Your Camel Overloaded?

We’ve all heard the saying about the straw that broke the camel’s back. If you imagine your life as that camel, how are things going for you? Do you fear an approaching straw that will push your camel into collapse?
Read More


A New Year with an Empty Place

Death and grief are an inevitable part of everyone’s journey through life. If you have not personally dealt with grief, then someone close to you has.

Carolyn Barlow, a friend of ACC, lost her beloved husband, Dean, in 1996. An article about “Driving in the Snow” prompted her to write about her own grief journey, which she has graciously permitted us to reprint.

Click here to read



Renewing the Mind

ACC will offer an educational group on overcoming negative patterns in thinking.

If you or a loved one struggle with excessive worry, negative self-image, doubt, or related issues, this group can help. The group will be led by Mr. Kim Whitehurst, LPC.

For fees and other information, please call 896-0065, x204.


Measuring the Mind?

ACC offers psychological testing for both children and adults in the areas of AD/HD, learning disabilities, as well as personality and intelligence testing.

For more information call 896-0065, x209


Go For It Guys!

A therapy group for men is being offered by Dr. Heath Greene. If you are seeking personal and emotional growth, needing community or accountability in a safe environment, this is the group for you.

For information, call 896-0065, x209

BOOK REVIEWS

Boundaries
Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. Zondervan, 2002 revised.

Describes the purpose of personal boundaries, how they develop, how they are damaged, and how to develop healthy ones.

Boundaries in Marriage
Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, Zondervan, 2002.

Helps couples move beyond friction points to mutual caring, respect and intimacy.

Boundaries with Kids
Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend, Zondervan, 2001.

Describes how to have healthy boundaries with and teach them to children.

Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives
Richard A. Swenson, NavPress Publishing Group, 1995.

Being besieged by anxiety, stress, and fatigue, this book explores the four
areas of emotional energy, physical energy, time, and finances in a way to encourage simplicity and balance to life.

Unveiling Depression in Women: A Practical Guide to Overcoming Depression.
Dr. Arch Hart and Catherine Hart Weber, Baker Publishing Group, 2001.

Describes the symptoms, causes, and remedies of depression which will impact nearly every woman at some point in her life. This proactive, holistic approach to counseling, health care, and faith provides hope and encouragement.



Special Gifts

ACC received gifts in honor of:

Dodie Caudill
given by Jone Reid

Scott & Pam Reed
given by John & Betty Watson

ACC Board of Directors
given by Heather Verga

Just Say Yes!
Sponsorships are the heart of our banquet’s success.

For information on business and table sponsorships,
Click Here

Reservation and ticket information coming in February.

ACC Banquet
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
Featured speaker: Ruth Graham

Wish List

At this time, ACC is in need of:

2 laptop computers,
Pentium 2 or newer

If you’re in a position to help, we’d love to hear from you!