Spotlight:  Dupont Counseling Group Therapists

Dawn T. Sweeten, LCSW

Therapist
M.S.W. in Social Work, Florida State University
B.S. in Sociology, Florida State University

Ms. Sweeten has been a long time advocate for families facing chronic or acute illnesses.   As a therapist, she specializes in working with families facing life-threatening diagnoses such as cancer, muscular dystrophy, HIV/AIDS, blood disorders and senile dementia.

She works both with the individual and the family to address the difficult questions that often come with these life-changing medical diagnoses.  In addition, her treatment focuses on addressing the depression, anxiety, fear and/or guilt that may also accompany these conditions.

Ms. Sweeten is sensitive to unique cultural and spiritual frameworks of each of her clients.

For more information, contact the Dupont Counseling Group at  904-394-5706.

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Tuesday, February 7th, 2012
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Dupont Counseling Group
Sue Ann Weber, Therapist

Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, Southern Illinois University

M.S. in Educational Psychology, Southern Illinois University

Dr. Weber has strong ties to the Jewish community. She has worked in the mental health field for over 17 years serving clients within various outpatient settings.  She has been designated as a National Certified Counselor since 1994 and is licensed in Illinois and Florida as a mental health counselor.

Dr. Weber completed her post-doctoral residency in Marriage and Family Therapy specializing in a Systems approach. This clinical perspective allows for work with relationships of all types – spousal, parent/child and siblings.

Dr. Weber approaches the therapeutic process with respect for all people and the belief in the resiliency of the human spirit.

For more information, contact the Dupont Counseling Group at 904-394-5706.

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Wednesday, January 4th, 2012
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Giving: \giv·ing\ verb (used with object, action). To present voluntarily and without expecting compensation; bestow.

This time of year your mail and email boxes are usually full with requests from social service agencies, educational institutions, homelessness needs, children programs, seniors, environmental causes and of course those cute and fuzzy kittens. Who doesn’t love a fluffy kitten, right?

However, based on the definition of giving, it is an action word.  So I ask the question… not just about your giving but your actionable giving. Can you define YOUR actionable giving?

Raymond Chandler said: “Ability is what you are capable of doing.  Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.”

I often hear, “it is my obligation to give” however, your attitude sets the tone and the motive should be an indicator of where your heart is drawn too. What action lies within your attitude and that motivation? Is it short term? Is it exclusive? What do your actions tell you about your own giving? Is it an afterthought? Do you only view it as an obligation?  How do we make giving more about actions and not just about going through the motions?

We know times are tough. Every charity around the globe is reminding you – through email and mail – that the budget is smaller, services are scaling back, layoffs are on the horizon, etc. But this is not our first rodeo. History has proven over and over that the gift, the giver and the giving will continue on no matter how difficult times can be. There are a lot of painful decisions being made within nonprofits every day across our country and even in our own backyard on the First Coast. There’s no denying it; these economic hardships are affecting so many in our community which is continuing to create an urgent and important need for providing more than ever.

So again, I ask you, how is your actionable giving lately? Does your Tzedakah (“religious obligation to perform charity”) and philanthropy (“the practice of performing charitable or benevolent actions”) collide into actionable giving?

Don’t just let your giving be the status quo. Add action, add heartfelt attitude, add empowering motivation… Make your giving actionable.

By Heather R. Corey
JFCS Director of Development & Marketing

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
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It is during this season in particular, that the reality of “basic needs” is on the forefront of our minds. Between food drives, making gift baskets or supporting a needy family over the holidays, this community is truly generous and always willing to participate. Giving during this time of year gives us all an extra special feeling of being altruistic and a sense of feeling good.  But for our clients in need, it’s not just about Thanksgiving. It’s about getting through each and every day being hungry.

 
The issue of hunger in Jacksonville is terrifying.  According to the Hunger SWAT Team of Jacksonville, one out of eight people are hungry in our city and one out of six are hungry children.  Three million meals were served last year to these individuals.  We are familiar with seeing people in crisis every day at JFCS.  And within our counseling program, the emotional crises of our clients are common and expected. However within the past several months, we are seeing an increasing number of clients who are struggling with basic needs. We literally have clients coming to counseling hungry. These are individuals who can’t afford to put food on their tables and send their children to relatives to eat one of their meals a day in order to preserve their food supply for the week. Sometimes these are traditional families; families we would never expect to see at a food pantry. During these stressful economic times, more and more people are utilizing resources they never imagined they would have to use. So therapeutically speaking, this has become a change for our counseling staff. How can we even begin addressing any emotional or mental health needs, when someone is literally hungry?  It has really shifted how we can approach therapy with many of our clients. We must respond to this immediate basic need first. Luckily for us, we are able to alleviate some of their stress (at least temporarily) as we have our emergency food pantry on site and we are able to assist them. However with the increasing requests for financial assistance and food, our resources become limited. We have to put a cap on visits in order to be able to serve all of those who need our help.  You may ask: how are these clients affording therapy if they can’t eat? Well, many of these folks are on government assisted programs, such as Medicaid, which doesn’t address the food issue. Food stamps cover only so much.

 
So as you prepare with your own family in celebrating Thanksgiving this year, please remember the families we serve who would certainly consider this holiday dinner to be a luxury.  These are our neighbors; individuals and families within our own community. We are grateful and want to thank our generous donors to the food pantry. And without you we would be unable to provide the help we do. We also welcome ongoing support and contributions throughout the year. It starts here, with each of us, everyday.

Rachel Weinstein, LMHC
Manager of Clinical Services

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011
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While we are in the midst of celebrating many important Jewish holidays during this month, let’s also honor another serious, yet downplayed topic within our community—domestic violence.  October is considered to be National Domestic Violence Awareness month.

An issue so painful and real, yet for many the denial is greater, making it easier to avoid and ignore.  Most of us know someone who is being abused within a relationship. Whether it is physical, sexual, emotional or financial, abuse is abuse. And the statistics particularly within the Jewish community are startling.  According to JCADA (Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Violence), although domestic violence within the Jewish community occurs at the same rate of the general population, Jewish women stay in abusive relationships two-three times longer than non-Jewish women.  The reasons vary, however the bottom line is a need for more education, advocacy and awareness training about this issue.

As we know, domestic violence includes many forms of abuse and issues of power and control. Financial abuse is a common example.  Often the women (who are usually the victims) are intelligent, educated, well-connected with support and bear a secret of being emotionally and economically abused.

Within our local community, the therapeutic team at Dupont Counseling Group helps people deal with issues of domestic violence on a daily basis. Whether it’s assisting the individual or the family or working with an estranged couple on co-parenting issues, we see it across the board –  across all socioeconomic statuses, religions and cultures. We educate our youth within the community with prevention techniques to help them recognize signs of unhealthy relationships and learn about how to treat others with respect.  We work in a variety of settings including schools and community groups to reach out to those in need. Shame and safety are huge components as to why individuals often don’t seek help. Dupont Counseling Group is committed to helping to eliminate possible barriers. We are currently partnering with other local agencies, including Hubbard House, to help spread awareness and provide the necessary counseling services to our community.

The impact of violence in the home is critical to children. The effects are tragic. Beyond the issues of misdirected anger (i.e; acting out, bullying others), witnessing domestic violence also deeply affects self-esteem development. Prolonged exposure to unhealthy relationships decreases the child’s ability to build trust and connect positively with others, thus taking longer to develop the skills needed for change.  And as we all know, the older we become the more challenging it is to re-learn skills we’ve already been trained to use.

If you are considering counseling for yourself or recommending it to someone you know, the staff at Dupont Counseling Group is ready and able to help with this painful issue. In spite of the difficulties associated with this topic, education and awareness are accessible keys to breaking the cycle of abuse. Please call our confidential intake line at 394-5706 to schedule an appointment.

Rachel Weinstein, LMHC
Dupont Counseling Group
Manager of Clinical Services

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
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Jacksonville, FL – As we rapidly approach the High Holidays, it seems an opportune time to reflect upon the past year and take a moment to anticipate our hopes for the upcoming one.  For some, this is a spiritual journey of self-reflection, for others an emotional one, and for many, maybe a little of both.  Often, for many Jews the High Holidays represent that time of year of “supposed

to’s” – what we should be doing to acknowledge our religion. We should be going to services, we should be fasting on Yom Kippur, etc. The guilt (or keen awareness) seems quite prevalent during this time of year, especially amongst non-religious Jews.  After all, it is these holidays that are known for bringing many people out for their annual public and religious appearance.

So this then brings up the question: What are we doing during the rest of the year?  How are we honoring our faith and religion? We can ask ourselves, what does being Jewish mean to me? And, what does it mean for me within my community? We already know that we each acknowledge Judaism a little differently.  Whether it’s religious, cultural or social, each is equally important to our own sense of identity. We feel the pressures (internal, familial and societal) to engage and connect. And for many, this can happen quite naturally. We are lucky living within this particular community having so many options for involvement to ‘be’ Jewish.  With our many active organizations – synagogues, schools and community programs, there are plenty of choices to participate in through work, play or volunteering. Does this make it easier? For most, I believe it does.  For others, perhaps there may be an unconscious sense of taking things for granted; a sense of being too used to having resources at our fingertips.

I was recently moved after hearing about my hometown in the Midwest, a small Jewish community of less than 200 members, that recently raised over $1 million to build a new synagogue.  Like any small city, it is filled with various levels of wealth and socio-economic statuses. But mostly, it is simply a middle-class, college town. The fact that so many people came together to contribute, and did so willingly with such commitment, is a testament to the strength of that community. A nice reminder that it really is about the individuals that make it up.

We, of course, have similar individuals residing here.  So as we enter into this new year, let’s think about our ‘wants’ and explore how we define our Jewish selves on both an internal level (self and family) and external one (community). What difference are you going to make this year?  What positive impact will you have? As Rabbi Hillel once quoted: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, who am I for? And if not now, when?”

L’Shana Tova to each of you for a healthy, happy and productive new year.
Rachel Weinstein, LMHC

Manager of Clinical Services

Dupont Counseling Group, a JFCS program

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Wednesday, September 7th, 2011
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It seems hard to believe that the summer is almost other. Just as we are getting into the relaxed schedule (staying up a little later, living in bathing suits and eating popsicles all day), the anxiety of starting the new school year begins to creep up. For many, preparing for this time can often be an overwhelming task. So how do we counteract this? Especially when family vacations and summer camps usually last right up until the time school starts. The answer is simple. Easing in – the key to most successful transitions. But remember, easing in means no procrastinating, not waiting until the day before or the week school begins to get what you need. So then how can we get everything done with little or no stress? The following are some ideas and guidelines to consider:

• Purchase school supplies and school clothing early. You don’t have to wait until you receive the class list. Throughout the year when you see items on sale, purchase them and store in a closet until school starts. It may not be everything you need, but at least it’s a head start. And the more you can do ahead of time, the less stressed you and your child will be.

• If your child is transitioning to a new school this year, make a visit over the summer to get familiar with the surroundings. See the classroom, the building/office, etc. If your child is taking the school bus for the first time, then go for a dry run on the route the bus would travel. The more prepared we are and the more we can predict behavior and situations, the less anxiety we will carry. This is especially true for children.

• Prepare the teacher. If your child has special accommodations or needs let the teacher know before school starts. Emailing the teacher ahead of time, dropping a note or scheduling an appointment are good ways to connect.

• Don’t forget the routine! Maybe about a week before school begins, get back into the school-year structure in the home – earlier dinner or bedtime, or whatever it is for your family to get prepared.

• Reading books about experiences your child may have. Beginning kindergarten, making new friends or dealing with bullies are some examples. Reading is a great way to engage your child in the talking that you will want to continue throughout the school year.

• And most importantly: RELAX! The more your child sees you are excited about their entrance to the school year, the easier it will be. Your positive attitude will only encourage and model the same to your child.

So to all of you families, we wish you a safe and successful upcoming school year and hope your transition to the new beginning is an easy one!

By Rachel Weinstein, LMHC
Manager of Clinical Services

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Monday, August 22nd, 2011
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Many of you have children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. How many of you remember the joy surrounding the birth of each child? A new life is something to be celebrated and cherished.

Imagine being pregnant and knowing you do not have the ability to care for the child. The decision may involve a variety of painful yet very real reasons. Loving a child does not put food on the table.

Many birth parents in this position decide to place their baby for adoption. Not because they don’t love or want the child, but precisely because they do love the child. In fact, they love them enough to make the sacrifice to place the baby into the arms of a loving family. People they may never see again. Can you imagine how that would make you feel? We all experience loss in our lives, this type of loss is truly selfless.

How can you help comfort a birth mother in this position? By helping First Coast Adoption Professionals. We like to bring gift bags to each birth mother after the delivery. They may need a camera to take pictures before leaving the hospital, a soft blanket to make their hospital stay a little more comfortable; necessities the hospital doesn’t provide such as shampoo and personal items. The list is endless and changes depending on the needs of the birth mother.

If you would like to help, donations small and large are greatly appreciated. If you have questions about our program, feel free to email me at kstevens@jfcsjax.org.

By Kathleen Stevens, LCSW
Director of Adoptions

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
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As we recently paid tribute to our mothers, recognizing the significance of this relationship, this month we do the same for our fathers. However, unlike Mother’s Day, this holiday is not as commercialized and tends to get lost in the shuffle. Despite the fact that the role of father is equally important as the mother in the emotional and social development of a child, we tend to overlook the power this parent has in the shaping of their lives.

We are bombarded with the mixed messages received from our media about what it means to be a man. The idea of violence being associated with strength and protection being linked with fear can be confusing concepts for children. It becomes complicated defining gender roles in a way that is reasonable and acceptable within our culture.  In the traditional sense, it’s important that both boys and girls ideally experience a father who has a thorough sense of self, is emotionally aware and has a well-defined role – a knowledge that he is able to provide for and protect his family, while showing love and affection. Picture the image of a teddy bear with a sword –  valiant, strong, warm and accepting. This is a tall order for many. But how a man defines himself will determine his strength as a father.

So, you may ask, what can be done?  How can we counteract these messages that quickly and subconsciously become ingrained in us?  The following are some questions to begin asking yourself:

• What does masculinity mean to me?
• What does being a father mean to me?
• How was communication expressed by my father growing up? By my parents?
• Do I have different expectations of my role based on the gender of my child? (Do I want my son to perceive me one way, and my daughter another?)
• And now, how can this be put into action to strengthen your relationship with your children?

Be honest with yourself. Give some thought into the above questions – are you pleased with your beliefs? Or do you want to change them? Be honest with your kids. Talk to them. Share stories of what you were like as a child at their age so they better understand and relate to you. Often, while men are trying to protect and provide, they may forget about the necessity of connecting.

Learn how to discipline without inducing fear. It’s not just about being the “heavy” in the home, it’s about establishing mutual respect.  Engage in an activity while talking: playing a game together, a sport, fishing, etc. Most meaningful communications with men occur when participating in an activity.

So, to all you fathers out there: hug yourself, hug and kiss your kids. Tell them you love them. But more importantly, show them you do.  Remember . . . you are a teddy bear with a sword.

Rachel Weinstein, LMHC
Manager of Clinical Services
Dupont Counseling Group

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
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It seems ironic that Mother’s Day is considered to be one of the most popular Hallmark holidays, especially in the world of therapists. Because the reality is, for many, the greeting card slogans are simply an idealized representation of how we should feel.  Our relationship with our mother is one of the most important and complex relationships we have in life. Whether we were birthed or adopted at an early age, she was our first significant contact – our first knowledge of human connection and intimacy.

She was our first teacher, influencing our ability to bond with others.  How she was initially able to attach and show love, directly impacted our emotional development.  It is then no wonder that this relationship is one of the most complicated ones we have throughout our lives. Most people have intense emotional experiences with their mothers.  For some this is rooted more in pain and trauma, for others in friendship, for others, in frustration, and for others, it is a seemingly natural and healthy relationship with no major hiccups.

Regardless of how we recognize and celebrate Mother’s Day, it is important to remember that the realities of having a mother are vastly different for everyone, as we see examples of this everyday right here in our own community. Abuse and neglect crosses all socio economic statuses and religions. One may have grown up within a privileged home or community, but behind closed doors was experiencing the same pain and fear as the under-privileged child on the other side of town.  Abandonment comes in various forms – whether it is emotional or physical, a mother with resources can just as easily damage her child as one without.

As therapists at Dupont Counseling Group, we work with many people who fall within this spectrum. Whether it is with the adult children or the children removed from home, attachment issues are dealt with cross-culturally, socially, etc.  In working with people coping with issues related to their mothers, we often spend a great deal of time helping them to accept the painful realities of their past and present.  Particularly in our work with abused and neglected children, we (the JFCS caseworkers), are literally their “custodians,” their “legal guardians,” while the biological parent is complying with tasks in attempt to regain custody of them.  The reality for these children is often one of survival. The reality for the mothers (of these children) often includes tremendous issues of grief and loss that we may never be able to break through. With the children, we address the pain of their abandonment and teach them ways to better adapt – helping them to prevent repeating patterns of abuse in their own lives.  And with the mothers, our work is in attempting to gain their trust in order to help them develop skills to make better choices to protect their children. Many of the mothers we work with are unable to change their reality – they are without the resources or support.  And for most of us, we are familiar with this reality on some level – we do what we know. We do the best we can with the resources and skills we have and hope that things turn out. This is a pretty universal theme – “I’m doing better than my own mother did, so I must be doing something right.”

It is important to remember that no matter who we are, where we came from or how we grew up, we all had a mother at some point in our lives. Whether she was involved, over-involved, disengaged or absent, loving or abusive – she got us here.  So as you celebrate Mother’s Day this year, consider yourself lucky if this holiday evokes positive feelings. Honor and nurture your relationship with your mother and take this as an opportunity to show your love and appreciation toward her.  And if this holiday brings you pain, then sit with the pain (or come and talk with us!) and remind yourself that you are not your mother. You can choose to parent differently. After all, it is just a holiday.

Rachel Weinstein, LMHC
Manager of Clinical Services
Dupont Counseling Group

Filed under: General by jfcsjax.org Thursday, May 5th, 2011
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