New KPCC Board Members are welcomed by Board
Member Bishop William Boyd
Grove is honored
to help announce our newest
members to our Board of
Directors (left to right):
Mandeep Singh, Belle Manjong,
Keith Jones, and Dr. Faisal
Khan.
We have no better reason for
existing
than to help couples and
individuals
keep their love alive.
KPCC Counselor,
Rev. Ric Hardison
now certified by the
International Board
of Christian Counselors.
Ric is the
author of the book
Only Six Things
to Remember: A Guide to
Grace-Filled Parenting
Helping people recover from
Domestic Violence
The work of KPCC staff members
Rose Ann Hefner, Kim Eagle,
and Sabrina Rollins, to help
victims of domestic violence
recover from the spiritual
scaring, was highlighted this
week by Channel 13 news.
Save that Date!
The Jim Dent Dinner
Comedian
Jeff Allen
Oct 14, 2008, 6
- 9pm
_________________________________________________
News from KPCC
Fall 2007
Jim Dent Dinner 2007:
Tuesday Oct 16, 2007, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
KPCC's main fund raising event is the Jim Dent Dinner. Proceeds from the Dent Dinner fund our client subsidy
program.
KPCC offers fee subsidies to over 2/3rds of our 900 clients a year. Half of our clients have no health insurance.
We help people have better
relationships with themselves and others.
This year's Dinner features
the return of Emmy Award winning comedian
Taylor Mason
Thank you to this year's Signature Sponsor:
The BB&T WV Foundation!
Taylor Mason is a gifted artist with a
truckload of talent and an array of foam rubber friends who take nothing,
including each other, seriously. Together the group puts on a "one-man show"
that won the Star Search Comedy "Grand Prize" of $100,000.
It
was his parents who introduced Taylor Mason to puppets when he was just
nine years old. By the time he entered college, he was proficient enough to be
making money as an entertainer. It was a football injury at the University of
Illinois that gave him the five-month rest he needed to fine-tune his craft.
After that, he was in demand to open for every touring act on campus, at the
piano, in front of the mike or beside a puppet. One of the troupes for which he
opened was SECOND CITY, which he later joined as Musical Director, writer and
eventually, stand-up comic.
Taylor's
combination of comedy, music and ventriloquism make him a club and campus
favorite. His "Flintstones" theme song as done by Bob Dylan,
Bruce Spingsteen and Lou Reed must be seen and heard to be believed. When
his hands aren't on the piano, they are busy musically manipulating his bizarre
band of foam rubber friends, which include Romeo, Juliet, Sumo the shy wrestler
and Jose Pigg, the lawyer.
His favorite comedians are Steve Martin, Robert Klein, Jonathan
Winters and Victor Borge. There is a little bit of each of these comic geniuses
in Taylor, but somehow his delivery and intelligent style make him unique – a
musical master at parody and puppetry.
Individual Tickets are $75 each. Approx 50% of this cost is a charitable donation to the work of the Center. KPCC offers fee subsidies to over 66% of our 900 clients a year.
Half of our clients have no health insurance.
For more information, call us at 346-9689, or
click here
Corporate Sponsorships are available several levels
Corporate Sponsorships include a listing in the program and other benefits.
Kathleen DuBois (Progressity)
David Hardesty (WVU)
and Beth Walker (Bowles Rice)
John Chapman is
ready to celebrate another Dent Dinner!
The
starting of a new school year signals for many of us the beginning of an intense
period of business and productivity in our work. The lazy days of summer are now
falling behind us, and the engines of fall are revving up.
At the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center we also find that the number of calls
from people looking for counseling and coaching begins to increase. Problems
that have been simmering over the summer are now starting to boil; goals for
growth that have been on hold, now take on a new sense of meaning.
One of the best indicators of a successful outcome in coaching and counseling is
a client's motivation. Now is one of the best times to think about what
you want for
your life and how they are going to get there.
Thank you, as always, for your confidence in us and the work we do helping
people meet their life goals. You are a vital link in our success. The motivated
people you send us for counseling and coaching are the core of our ability to
fulfill our mission. We appreciate you and the collaboration we have with you.
Sky Kershner
Executive Director, KPCC
Eco-Spirituality
Being
Eco-Friendly to Self and Others
KPCC staff frequently work together with area congregations.
Our Eco-Spirituality workshop is designed to help those who sometimes a response to global warming can seem overwhelming. There are many
small ways one can make a response and together we can make a major difference.
Rev. Rose Eddington, Diana Masso, Ann Martin,
and Sr. Rosie Hefner
at the
Unitarian Universalist Congregation
KPCC is an extension of the ministry of local
congregations.
Special Thanks to our Dent Dinner
Sponsoring Congregations
The following congregations have bought a table for the Dent Dinner
First Presbyterian Church, Charleston
St. Marks' United Methodist Church
St. George's Orthodox Cathedral
Blessed Sacrament RC Church
Christ Church United Methodist
The Islamic Association of WV
Kanawha United Presbyterian
Unity of Kanawha Valley
The WV Conference of the United Methodist
Church
The Straight and Gay Alliance (St. John's)
The United Methodist Foundation of WV
The WV Council of Churches
The Presbytery of WV
Charleston clergy meeting at St. George's
Orthodox Cathedral.
KPCC Client Satisfaction Ratings
A recent survey of KPCC clients reveals that
96 out of a 100 clients
reported an overall positive satisfaction rate.
Most clients felt there relationships with
themselves and with others
were improved in many ways.
Client's especially appreciated our
counselor's availability,
our accepting, non-judging and positive approach,
and our including matters of faith in the conversations.
Many of our clients appreciate that prayer
can be part of the session
Here is what some of our satisfied clients
have said:
He has
provided constant insight and backed it up with helpful books and or
handouts that have provided a solid base for my growth. He has been very
influential in my change. I can honestly say that my time with
my counselor has been most beneficial and "life
changing".
My counselor made me feel so relaxed and
comfortable. She let me set a goal for my counseling and made sure it was
met in about two months. I appreciate the fact
that she listened and did not judge me and made me focus on me and what I
could change, not on those around me.
As
my counselor says, he just "tosses up balloons"
from time to time, to help me better address the issues confronting me. It
really helps to think of different ways to resolve what I perceive as
problems in my life. He also seems like a caring individual,
who genuinely wants to see me get past the issues that trouble me.
KPCC helps people have better
relationships
with themselves and others. We reach out to all persons
by providing professional counseling,
education, and consultation,
at an affordable cost,
in the context of a spiritual understanding of life.
KPCC Reaches Within The KPCC staff is an interfaith, compassion based group,
with representative of many faith traditions including
Jewish, Christian, and Muslim.
Our staff prays together on a weekly basis.
"Managing Your Moods" A 5 week group for women and men who have bipolar
disorder.
Sessions will be held Thursdays from 5:00 PM until 6:30 PM at
Cabin Creek Health Center beginning October 18 and ending November 15. For more
information call Ann Martin MA LPC(ext 32) or Diana Masso MA LPC (ext 40) at
Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center 346-9689, or Betsy Kent MSW LICSW (ext 245)
at Cabin Creek Health Center 595-5006.
Charleston Gazette describes the Dent
Dinner
September 30, 2007
Ventriloquist returns to Dent Dinner
Charleston’s 14th annual Jim Dent Dinner — a fundraiser named for the Gazette’s
late humor columnist, which helps support the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center
— is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Embassy Suites hotel in downtown Charleston.
This year’s comic speaker is ventriloquist-musician Taylor Mason, who
previously appeared at the 2004 Dent Dinner.
Mason dubs himself “a G-rated comedian in an X-rated world.” His wholesome
wit has made him popular with church groups across America. He recently appeared
in a church-oriented Warner Home Video film, “Thou Shalt Laugh.” Previously, he
made “Bananas” and “Bananas Round 2” videos.
Mason has been a high-paid touring comic ever since he won the $100,000 grand
prize in the 1991 “Star Search.” He has played everywhere from Las Vegas casinos
to church basements to the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
The Pastoral Counseling Center — based at First Presbyterian Church, with
branches at Cabin Creek, Dunbar and Ravenswood, as well as offices in Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran Church and Christ Church United Methodist — is a nonprofit
agency with specially trained ministers giving low-cost psychological guidance
to troubled families and individuals. Much of the care is subsidized by donated
money.
Dent, a lighthearted Gazette columnist and cartoonist, was popular throughout
West Virginia until his death in 1992. Soon afterward, various friends launched
the annual Jim Dent Dinner, a spoofy night of comedy, in his memory. It usually
raises about $30,000 to sustain the Pastoral Center. The event begins with a
cocktail hour, followed by dinner, followed by the guest comedian.
Corporate tables are available for the Oct. 16 dinner. Individual tickets
cost $75. Interested people may call the center at 346-9689 or visit its Web
site,
www.kpcc.com.
KPCC helps ordinary people deal with extraordinary circumstances.
Community Workshops offered by KPCC
Empowering Your Enlightened Heart
a support group for women involved in
domestic violence situations
for women who have "been there and are moving
forward"
sponsored by Kanawha Pastoral Counseling
Center
Meeting every Monday beginning September 17,
2007 at 5:30 P.M.
St. Marks United Methodist Church
900 Washington Street
For more information call Rose Ann Hefner
346-9689 x15.
Rebuilding Group – Fall 2007
Do you need some friends to help you through
divorce?
Does divorce in the past still give you
trouble?
Do you need a chance to talk about it, work
through it, and find some solid answers and some productive new directions
for your life?
The group meets for eight Monday evenings, 6:00 to
7:15 p.m., in the Ruffner Room, First Presbyterian Church at the corner of
Kanawha Blvd & Leon Sullivan Way. The group begins October 8, 2007 and runs for
8 Monday evenings. There is no cost, and no reservation is necessary. Easy
parking is in the church lot next to the Activities Building (enter from Leon
Sullivan Way or Kanawha Boulevard). Call Bob Schacht, 346-9689
x18 for further information.
Children & Adolescents
Ready for Empowerment
KPCC's CARE group, is
support groups are for young people whose parents have been involved in Domestic
Violence. The CARE Group meets on Monday evenings at 7pm.
Sabrina Rollins, KPCC's Child and Adolescent
Specialist, is our group facilitator. The
groups are arranged according to the age of the child, ages 3-17. Please contact Sabrina
at 346-9689, x19, if you are interested or have more
questions. We are excited about this new opportunity to serve our
community!
Charleston Gazette focuses on
KPCC's efforts to help with Rebuilding after Divorce
Bob Schacht was managing a technical group at the
DuPont plant in Belle when his marriage came apart in 1986.
"I was at
loose ends and didn't know what to do," he recalled. "No one in my
family had ever been divorced before. I felt alone."
Schacht was already attending First Presbyterian Church in
Charleston, where the Rev. Doug Heidt led a program called Rebuilding.
The program helped divorced people heal over eight weekly sessions.
Schacht signed up for the fall 1986 group, which he remembers had
close to 15 people.
"Good people get divorced too," he said. "That was a discovery for
me. It was a relief to meet a bunch of nice people who were in the same
boat."
The class ended and the holiday season began. It was a tough time for
all, Schacht recalled. Then Valentine's Day approached.
"Two of the men and four of the women rented a cabin for the weekend
at Bluestone State Park. We had a good time, walked in the woods."
Schacht skipped the spring 1987 Rebuilding session, then returned for
the fall 1987 session. "Was I ready? Had I gotten over my divorce enough
that I could have another relationship?"
Schacht remarried in 1989. When he retired from DuPont in 2001, he
retrained himself for a second career and now is a counselor at the
Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center.
In the meantime, Heidt retired from First Presby. When the next
Rebuilding group starts at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 at First Presby, Schacht will
lead.
"It helps my credibility with the group that I'm divorced," Schacht
said.
In any divorce, both the man and woman have some culpability, Schacht
said. "It's the ones who blame it all on the spouse who have a harder
time adjusting.
"Forgive. Move on," Schacht said. "You have to forgive yourself too.
Then you have the strength to forgive the other person and move on with
your life."
The group meets 75 minutes for eight straight Mondays. There is no
cost. Call 346-9689, ext. 18.
To contact staff writer Bob Schwarz, use e-mail or call 348-1249.
KPCC helps people move from
pain to peace, from hurting to healing.
The Staff of KPCC believes in hope, wishes, dreams,
destiny, imagination, creativity,
prayer, and fun!
We wish you a wonder-filled fall!
Thank you for talking to our daughter today. You
really helped her turn things around. She was in a good mood again after
she spoke with you, and she let us hug her. We are so fortunate to have
met you. You have taught us so much about how to make our lives better.
The counseling was very helpful to me and to my
wife of 30+ years as we experienced marriage difficulties. The counselor
provided about the right amount of direction, while helping us find our
own way.
To see our Client
Satisfaction scores and read more Testimonials written by clients click here.
Have you benefited from
a service of KPCC? Click here if you would like to give us some feedback or leave us a
testimonial
Give us your feedback
Kanawha United Presbyterian hosts Pilot Project KPCC recently led a 12 week study of the skills of "Non-Violent
Communication"
based on the book of the same name by Marshall Rosenberg.
This was the pilot of a project to help members of congregations
develop better skills in communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
Interested in hosting the next group? Call us at 346-9689.
(Steve Payne, Diana Masso, Gina Rugeley, Sr.
Rosie Hefner, Marjorie Cook, Peggy
Londeree,
Dr. Ed Woodall , Rev. John Davis)
Save that Date!
The Jim Dent Dinner
Comedian Taylor Mason
returns to the Jim Dent Dinner
Kathleen DuBois (Progressity)
David Hardesty (WVU)
and Beth Walker (Bowles Rice)
KPCC Reaches Out
KPCC was recently awarded a Victims of Crimes Act grant to help children
who are affected by
domestic violence. We are working in partnership with
the YWCA's
Resolve Family Abuse Program, and the Charleston Police Department.
(Major John Shannon, Lynn Hartsog, Kim Eagle, Dot Henry, Georgie Ann Grubb,
and Sky Kershner)
KPCC helps people move from
pain to peace, from hurting to healing.
KPCC hosts Swami G While in residence in Charleston for the month of April, Swami Vidyadhishananda
Giri spoke at First Presby on the Vedic Tradition
of Spiritual Healing.
KPCC promotes Kindness,
Peace, Caring, and Connections.
KPCC Reaches Within The KPCC staff is an interfaith, compassion based group,
with representative of many faith traditions including
Jewish, Christian, and Muslim.
We pray together on a weekly basis.
How did we get so lucky to have this
diversity on our staff?
We intended it as part of our mission.
KPCC helps individuals, couples, families,
congregations and organizations
reconnect with what gives them life.
Our goal is to help people experience the abundance of life!
"The glory of God is the human person, fully alive!"
-- Irenaeus
KPCC helps people have better
relationships
with themselves and others. We reach out to all persons
by providing professional counseling,
education, and consultation,
at an affordable cost,
in the context of a spiritual understanding of life.
We help ordinary people deal with extraordinary circumstances.
The Staff of KPCC believes in hope, wishes, dreams,
destiny, imagination, creativity,
prayer, and fun!
We wish you a wonder-filled summer!
KPCC's Board of Directors
The KPCC Strategic Planning Committee
(Fazal Shere, Chair, Rita Cobb, Joanna Tabbitt, Paula Bickham,
Erin McGee, Rosie Hefner, Bishop William Boyd Grove)
The KPCC Board at work
What makes a Board effective?
KPCC Board Member, William Grove, meets with UC President
Ed Welch to discuss what makes a Board effective.
has an article
published in
Kanawha Valley Parent Magazine
called "The Meaning of Daddy-hood"
Congratulations Nathan!
Former KPCC staff Dr. Judith Wilkinson and Lucia James join
Sister
Rosie
Hefner
for lunch at the WV Social Workers Convention.
Rev.
Sky Kershner and Dr. Priscilla F Leavitt (front, right) speak to
United Methodist
clergy
on stress, wellness and peace,
at the UM Order of Elders assembly,
WV Wesleyan College Chapel.
KPCC's quiet presence at the Susan B Koman
Race/Walk for the Cure.
KPCC Psychologist, Dr. Paula Bickham (left),
developing relationships
with the Presbytery of West Virginia's Commission on Ordained Ministry.
KPCC provides psychological testing and
leadership skills coaching
for clergy and other professionals in our area.
Sky Kershner spoke at Thomas Hospital's
Chaplains Appreciation Luncheon,
on the theme of "The Chaplain as an Appreciative Presence"
KPCC Therapist, Sr. Rose Ann Hefner teaches
the Enneagram.
The Enneagram is a personality type indicator that provides users
with insight into their spiritual gifts and growing edges.
Rev.
Ric Hardison with some
of the staff of River Valley Health and Wellness Center (Ravenswood) who do a
great job of supporting his opportunity to provide
counseling there one day a
week. (And now KPCC Intern, Hope Sharps,
sees clients there as well on an additional day!)
Charleston clergy meeting at St. George's
Orthodox Cathedral.
KPCC helps people move from
pain to peace, from hurting to healing.
KPCC promotes Kindness,
Peace, Caring, and Connections.
Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center
We know the journey can be hard
We are here to walk it with you
and help you find your way.
We are a place for
healing and hope
... for everyone
Did you know that KPCC has 14 counselors
serving in 7 locations in Kanawha, Logan, and Jackson Counties
Charleston Area Religious
Leaders (CARLA) meeting at First Presby.
KPCC is a Compassion-based
interfaith organization with Christian roots.
We are pleased to call First
Presbyterian Church in Charleston WV our home for the past 35 years.
Recent Testimonies
Here is what some clients have written about us
recently:
"I
just want to thank you for the wonderful journey I had with Diana Masso,
Therapist. When I came to Diana I was in a very deep depression due to a beta
blocker. A dear friend of mine I had found dead in her home,
plus I had lost two cousins within three weeks of each other. I didn't
understand why I was the way I was. I just want you to know how very grateful I
am to have this kind of service in helping people in the Kanawha Valley. Diana
let me talk, and listened, and prayed with me. She knew exactly where I was
hurting and how I actually felt. She suggested various books to read, that
brought me healing. Thanks to Diana & God I have found a place that passes all
understanding. For the first time in my life I have the ultimate peace. It is
worth it all. God bless each and everyone of you. In Christian Love. (P.S. It
only took three sessions.)" Fri, 6/8/07 1:10
PM
"I
found the mediation process to be very helpful. The guidance received reinforced
previous learning in the area of communication that I had allowed to lapse. From
my perspective, the process has allowed me to feel that I can once again work
with my colleague for the good of the church regardless of our personal
opinions." Thu, 5/31/07 7:24 PM
"My
husband and I had been having some behavioral problems with our 11 yr old son.
He was previously diagnosed as bi polar, ADHD and OCD. We had our doubts that he
would even talk to a counselor but he loved Sabrina. She showed compassion and
humor and hope for our situation." Fri, 5/11/07
8:44 AM
"I
received counseling from Diana Masso. I was not myself at all and very depressed
when I came in December 2006. I had lost my boyfriend as a result of a car
accident that we had together. For four years I have been another person. My
pastor gave me the number to call KPCC and that is the best phone number I have
ever called. Diana guided me so that I made all of the decisions in turning my
experience into a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block. I will be forever
grateful to Diana and KPCC. They are truly God sent to help people like me who
have lost themselves in depression. Thank you again!!"
Tue, 4/3/07 1:29 PM
"I
just wanted to let you know, the help and insight you have given me over a two
year period is and was greatly appreciated. Things are much clearer, I feel more
at ease, and at peace. My wife and I have made a complete recovery, she is back
in love with me after nearly four years of divorce. With your help, and God's
love, I have reached the goal I had set out to obtain. I am so glad that you
returned my initial call to you, and am very pleased with your services, and a
well as KPCC. I have to give credit where credit is due, I couldn't have reached
this goal with out you, as well as God's love. You are a wonderful blessing,
Thank you from the bottom of the depths of my soul." Tue, 4/3/07 1:14 PM
To see our Client
Satisfaction scores and read more Testimonials written by clients click here.
Have you benefited from
a service of KPCC? Click here if you would like to give us some feedback or leave us a
testimonial
Give us your feedback
KPCC has
Neighborhood Investment
Program (NIP) WV State Tax Credits available
for donors. This tax credit gives the donor a direct reduction
in their state taxes and is a great way to support the KPCC and
our community. Last year this program brought in over
$10,000 in donations to the Center. Contact
our Business Manager, if you are interested in more
information. 346-9689
KPCC Executive Director,
Sky Kershner
is a Clinical Member and Approved Supervisor
of the American Association of
Marriage and Family Therapists
www.aamft.org
KPCC is an Accredidated Center of the
Samaritan Network
of Pastoral Counseling Centers www.samaritaninstitute.org
KPCC received funding from private sources, including
the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation www.tgkvf.org
KPCC also received generous funding for the Congregation of
the Sisters of ST. Joseph
www.ssjwhg.org/
KPCC's
annual fundraising dinner is The Jim Dent
Memorial DInner
www.kpcc.com/dentdinner.htm
For more information about Pastoral Counseling, see
www.aapc.org
Interesting Statistics
Public
Opinion about Health and Spirituality (Time Magazine and Gallop Polls)
* 79% of Americans think of faith as important to health.
* 76% of Americans think faith has helped them.
* 63% of Americans think doctors should talk to them about spirit; only 10% say that doctors have done so.
* 82% believe in healing with prayer.
* 67% think doctors should pray with patients if asked.
* 96% of Americans believe in God, and 52% pray daily.
KPCC
We
know the journey can be hard
we are here to walk it with you
and help you find your way.
A place for healing and hope
for everyone.
News from KPCC
April - May 2007
Welcome Paula Bickham!
KPCC is very pleased to welcome
Dr. Paula Bickham, PhD to our staff!
Prior to joining KPCC,
Paula was Clinical Director for Psychology at the Marshall University
Graduate College Community Clinical Services Center; Associate Professor at MUGC
and Eastern Kentucky University; and Interim Director
for Resolve Family Abuse Program at the YWCA.
We help people have better relationships with
themselves and others.
Spring is a time for new energy
And with that energy come ideas for new directions
KPCC helps individuals, couples, families,
congregations and organizations
reconnect with what gives them life.
Our goal is to help people experience the abundance of life!
"The glory of God is the human person, fully alive!"
-- Irenaeus
Welcome Rita Cobb!
New Business Manager
Rita Cobb
with Board Treasurer
Skip Harless
Save that Date!
Comedian Taylor Mason
returns to the Jim Dent Dinner
Sister Rose Ann Hefner
teaching at a Dunbar Church
about Problem Gambling
Sky Kershner teaching on
The Psychological Functions
of the
God Concept
at a Mental Health Association event.
Staff therapist Diana Masso (on right) teaching relaxation techniques
and contemplative prayer.
Sky Kershner and Trish Hatfield
will be leading a two day Appreciative Inquiry
Retreat for 80 chaplains in Kentucky
around the themes of Respect, Calling,
and Team Building.
Ric Hardison staffs
our office at the
River Valley
Health and Wellness Center
in Jackson County.
Made possible thanks to a grant from the Sisters of St.
Joseph.
KPCC Child Specialist
Nathan Arnett (right)
meets with the physicians at
South Charleston Pediatrics
KPCC's Board of Directors
Hard at work!
At Charleston Rotary
Bishop William Grove, Rev. Monty Brown, Dr. Stephen Jubelirer, Dr. Dan Foster
(former member), Karl Agsten. Missing from photo: Susan Thompson, and Jim Long.
KPCC helps people move from
pain to peace, from hurting to healing.
KPCC promotes Kindness,
Peace, Caring, and Connections.
My counselor
and I had a really good talk yesterday. It was very helpful, and I am
feeling more at peace about many things than I have in some time.
Anyway, I just want again to express my gratitude for my counselor and
for his patience and his help. He has a gift. His ability to talk about
life's challenges in a spiritual context without it being formally
religious has been a huge benefit to me. I am more than pleased to have
my great experience at KPCC shared with others, anytime.
I have been
a client of various members of your staff of and on for many years. For
the past 15 years or so I have met with my counselor sometimes regularly
and sometimes very occasionally. I recently wrote a meditation for a
Lenten Lectionary at my church. It includes a paragraph that describes
the wonderful help given to me by your staff in general and Sky in
particular. Here it is. "Recently I stumbled onto a means of
experiencing God which has become a daily exercise. It began with my
counselor telling me that research had shown that thankfulness is
physically helpful to the heart. Having had bypass surgery a few years
ago, that caught my attention and I decided to experiment. I began
spending a few minutes a day focusing on specific things for which I am
thankful. I found that this practice made a big difference in my mood.
As I consciously brought thankfulness into my mind, I began to realize
that thanking implies one who is thanked, which for me is God. I did not
initiate this practice as a means of seeking God but having a greater
sense of God's presence is certainly what happened. This practice of
thankfulness has had other results as well. I am much less prone to feel
slighted. Relations with key people in my life have become much more
comfortable.
I just
wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all you have done for us.
The help over the years has always been excellent, but this past week
you have surpassed yourself. How much our therapist cared touched us
very much. Today is a day for you to give yourself a pat on the back.
It's been
over one year since I have been to KPCC for counseling (it's not easy
blending families, is it?). However, I use what I learned every day. I
often find myself saying, "W.W.S.S." (What Would Sabrina Say?)
I am very
appreciative for the opportunity to work with my counselor. His wisdom
and gentle spirit provided a safe and encouraging environment on which
to explore my soul.
With out my
counselors help, I would still be walking in the dark side of things; I
have become a better person because of the help from kpcc. I am more
stable, able to tolerate things much better and am able to see the
"other side" of things much clearer
I feel
really good about contributing to KPCC. My gift does what I want my gift
to do, it helps people. I have been blessed in my life, and I want to
share my blessing. KPCC has made a big difference in my life. I am
grateful.
The services
of KPCC are many and varied. Our group of twenty individuals received
enlightenment and new understanding on a subject perplexing all of us.
All of us face dealing with intangible questions, and great benefit was
derived from opening new pathways of thought. The discussion was of
great interest and benefit to our group and was greatly appreciated. We
thank you very much.
News from KPCC
January - February 2007
Our Board of Directors for 2007
Our Dream Team: Kathleen DuBois, Linda ,
Barbara Hopta, Jim Long, Emma Eisenhower, Carl Agsten, Erin Magee, Bishop
William Grove, Skip Harless, Tom Martin, Jim Strawn, JoAnna Tabit, Gladys Kuhn,
Fazal Shere
(not shown: Dr. Steven
Jubilierer, Rev. Monty Brown, Rev. John Davis, Laura Ellis,
Wally Suttle, Mo Khan)
What makes our Board a highly effective
Team of Directors?
1. Great Leadership!
KPCC President Erin Magee with outgoing Board President Skip
Harless (left),
and our newest members, Carl Agsten and Joanna Tabit (right)
2. Highly committed Members!
4.
Developing a clear Mission, and an inspiring Vision!
Bowles Rice Attorney, Tom Heywood, leading us
through a visioning exercise
at our annual retreat at the offices of Jackson Kelly, on Jan 13, 2007.
One dream:
Full life and fulfilling
relationships
... for everyone!
Developing a Vision in
the New Year!
2012 seems like a long
way off at first,
but time does have a way
of flying by.
What can we accomplish in
five years?
What dreams can become
real, what hopes for the future of our community,
our country, our
families, our children?
We at KPCC hope each
person is able to take a moment to take stock,
dream a dream, and
share it with a supportive person.
Our wish is for full life
and fulfilling relationships,
for everyone!
Comedian Susan Vass was a hit
at KPCC's Annual Jim Dent dinner
Susan visiting the Mystery
Hole!
Award Recipients
Former KPCC board Members:
Beth Walker of
Bowles Rice
and
Rob Nelson of
Huntington Banks
received KPCC Award Logos for
their on-going dedication to the Center and its Mission.
KPCC Staff and
area clergy received special training in responding to Domestic
Violence from Laurie of the Coalition Against Domestic Violence
KPCC helps people move from
pain to peace, from hurting to healing.
KPCC Executive Director,
Rev. Sky Kershner, presenting
research to Charleston Rotary:
"What makes the heart happy"
(the answer is gratitude!)
KPCC Therapists
Bob Schacht and
Sr Rosie Hefner,
promoting KPCC and
Keeping the Love Alive!
We help people have better
relationships with themselves and others.
Therapist Verbie Ann Heyliger
(center), with Bishop Emmanuel Heyliger and his wife Grace, help celebrate the opening of a new KPCC office at the KISRA Center in Dunbar.
(With thanks for a grant from
the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation)
KPCC co-sponsored, with the
WV Institute for Spirituality, a wonderful workshop on Jungian approaches to
Dreams by Brother Donald Bison, OFM.
KPCC therapists working on
their dreams
KPCC promotes Kindness,
Peace, Caring, and Connections.
KPCC Therapist Ann Martin
(seated left), at Christ Church UM, facilitating on ongoing workshop on prayer.
Contemplative Prayer
Facilitator Enrichment in Charleston
with Susan Komis, Mary
Fitzgerald, KPCC Therapist Diana Masso,
Sr Molly Bauer SSJ, and KPCC
Therapist Sr Rose Ann Hefner SSJ
KPCC Therapist Ric Hardison (right)
on site at a deep coal mine in WV.
We help ordinary people deal with extraordinary circumstances.
Charleston Area Religious
Leaders (CARLA) meeting at First Presby.
KPCC is a Compassion-based
interfaith organization with Christian roots.
We are pleased to call First
Presbyterian Church in Charleston WV our home for the past 35 years.
News from KPCC - September 2006
Anniversary
Reactions and the Holiday Season
This Fall is a busy time for
many of the congregations and religious communities of our area. In the Jewish
tradition, the High Holy Days are here; in Islam, Ramadan starts this month; Christian congregations are already making plans for Advent and
Christmas. And the time of Thanksgiving, for all of us, is almost in the air.
This approach of annual
holidays can also bring on a difficult time for those of us who have experienced
a major loss or transition over the past year. We remember the connections of
the past and feel an empty place in our hearts. Often these anniversary grief
reactions will be with us for a lifetime, but will be especially intense in the
first three years after a major loss.
We know the journey can be
hard
we are here to walk it with you
and help you find your way.
Much of what we do in Pastoral
Counseling is helping people adjust to and work through difficult transitions in
their lives. If you are feeling this may be a difficult holiday season for
yourself or someone you know, this is a great time to seek extra support.
Getting extra support early can mean the difference between having a being
understandably sad and being immobilized.
Thank you, as always, for your confidence in us
and the work we do helping people meet their life goals. When
you send someone to us for counseling and coaching you
become a vital link in our ability to
fulfill our mission of helping people be fully alive. We appreciate you and the collaboration we have with you.
Sky Kershner
Executive Director, KPCC
The Jim Dent Dinner, Tuesday Oct
17, 2006, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
KPCC's main fund raising event is the Jim Dent Dinner. Proceeds from the Dent Dinner fund our client subsidy
program.
KPCC offers fee subsidies to over 2/3rds of our 900 clients a year.
Half of our clients have no health insurance.
This year's Dent Dinner will be Tuesday Oct
17, 2006, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
at the Charleston Marriott,
and will feature the return of comedian
Susan Vass. This is Susan's third time
speaking at the event. Vass wrote the book "Laughing Your Way
to Good Health!"
Vass writes: "Ice cream is my great
downfall on any kind of weight loss program. Have you ever taken one of
those long handled ice tea spoons and gone mining for the fudge in the Fudge
Ripple? I like to eat all the fudge in a kind of surgical strike, squish the
remaining ice cream down, and then tell the family it was Vanilla."
"Our
whole house is a salute to electricity. My motto is 'It's better to leave all
the lights on than to curse the darkness.'" each light is a tiny eternal flame
to all the money we could have saved. In Minnesota the power company gets
a rate hike approximately every twenty minutes. Then they use this money to put
out helpful brochures with great ideas for cutting down your electric bill."
This promises to a be a very
funny evening!
For more information on the event and tickets,
click here.
CARLA visits Emergency Services
CARLA,
the Charleston Area clergy and Religious Leaders 'Alliance' met
this month at the Kanawha County Ambulance Corp. Chaplain Mike
Jarret, who is doing a wonderful job, was our host.
From left: Rev. Dana Holter, Chaplain Mike Jarret,
Fr. Karl Ruttan, Imam Jamal Daoudi, Rev. Sky Kershner, Rev. Joyce
Wilkinson, Fr. Bill Thomas, Rev. Mel Hoover, Re. Earnest
Watkins, Rabbi Helen Bar-Yaacov, Rev. Rose Edington, Fr. Chapin
Engler, Very Rev. Father Olaf Scott, and Rev. Randy Flanagan.
KPCC
coordinates the meetings for the CARLA group
www.carlawv.org
KPCC Initiative: The Negative
Effects of Gambling
KPCC
newcomer Rev. Ric Hardison
has been visiting pastors in the area discussing
with them ways to help reduce and eliminate the negative effects
of gambling on our state. Ric was recently certified as a
Gambling Addictions specialist. If you would like Ric to speak
to your organization or congregation, please call him at
346-9689.
This project is based on a generous grant from an
anonymous donor at St. Mark's United Methodist Church.
KPCC
counselors Sabrina Rollins, Diana Masso, and Ric Hardison
recently completed their Gambling Addictions Specialist
training.
KPCC's African
American Counseling Outreach Project
KPCC counselor Verbie Ann
Heyleger (right) recently presented to the Black Ministerial
Alliance on KPCC's project to help make counseling resources
more available to African American Communities.
Enneagram
Personality Type Workshop
KPCC therapist
Sister Rose Ann Hefner, SSJ (left) joined forces with former
KPCC therapist Dr. Judith Smith Wilkinson (now in Morgantown) to
present a workshop on the Enneagram at Mount St. Joseph Retreat
House in Wheeling on Sept 17-17.
Those attending
from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California found it
helpful in understanding their own personality and their
relationships with other.
KPCC and
Centering Prayer
On August 26th Diana Masso co-presented an Introduction to
Centering Prayer Course with Sr. Molly Bauer, SSJ. in
Charleston.
From left,
Barbara Clarke, Diana Masso, Rev. Dr. Karl Ruttan, and Olive
Meyer, discuss Centering Prayer.
In the News
Sky Kershner was interviewed by Natalie Tenant regarding Pastoral
Counseling and the Jim Dent Dinner. The interviewed was part of
Highland Hospital's regular weekly cable TV broadcast.
KPCC Staff and Board
KPCC therapist
Rev. Debbie Higginbotham (center) said a
sad goodbye to her friends at KPCC this month. Deb has done a great
job in both Charleston and Ripley and we will miss her wisdom and
her expertise
KPCC Board of Directors,
Rev. John Davis (center) and retired Bishop William Boyd Grove
(right) were recently active participants in the Center's weekly
Case Conference meetings.
Ric was ordained in 1974 and has a Masters in Religious
Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and an MS in Clinical
Psychology from Illinois State.
He has intensive experience working with parents and families and is the author
of the book: Only 6 Things to remember: a Guide to Grace-full Parenting
Ric will be serving our offices in Charleston and
Ripley/Jackson County.
This year's Dent Dinner will be Tuesday Oct
17, 2006, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
We
will be at the Charleston Marriott, and will feature the return of author and
humorist
Susan Vass. This is Susan's third time
speaking at the event. Vass wrote the book "Laughing Your Way
to Good Health!"
"Our whole house is a salute to electricity. My motto is 'It's better to leave
all the lights on than to curse the darkness.'" each light is a tiny eternal
flame to all the money we could have saved. In
Minnesota the power company gets a rate hike approximately every twenty minutes.
Then they use this money to put out helpful brochures with great ideas for
cutting down your electric bill."
This promises to a be a very
funny evening!
Tickets are available from any KPCC board members or staff (click
here for a listing),
or by phone at main office at 304-346-9689 or via the internet using paypal.
A Season of Productivity
The
starting of a new school year signals for many of us the beginning of an intense
period of business and productivity in our work. The lazy days of summer are now
falling behind us, and the engines of Fall are revving up.
At the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center we also find that the number of calls
from people looking for counseling and coaching begins to increase. Problems
that have been simmering over the summer are now starting to boil; goals for
growth that have been on hold, now take on a new sense of meaning.
One of the best indicators of a successful outcome in coaching and counseling is
a client's motivation. Now is one of the best times for you to help your
patients, parishioners, colleagues and friends think about what they want for
their lives and how they are going to get there.
Thank you, as always, for your confidence in us and the work we do helping
people meet their life goals. You are a vital link in our success. The motivated
people you send us for counseling and coaching are the core of our ability to
fulfill our mission. We appreciate you and the collaboration we have with you.
Sky Kershner
Executive Director, KPCC
With Thanks! We
have received a $5,000 grant from the Sisters of St. Joseph to fund the Good
Samaritan Fund which supports our counseling mission at the Cabin Creek Health
Center.
Sister Rose Ann Hefner staffs our Cabin Creek office.
NIP Tax Credits Available to Donors
KPCC has Neighborhood Investment
Program (NIP) WV State Tax Credits available
for donors. This tax credit gives the donor a direct reduction
in their state taxes and is a great way to suport the KPCC and
our community. Last year this program brought in over
$10,000 in donations to the Center. Contact
our Business manager, Bob Schacht if you are interested in more
information. 346-9689
Community Outreach
KPCC Counselors
Verbie Ann Helyger and Sky Kershner met with the Honorable Mike
Kelly of Kanawha Family Court to discuss our community's needs in
supporting parents and helping families find strength in staying
connected.
Rev. Dennis
Sparks from the WV Council of Churches and Sky Kershner enjoy a
moment at the WV Leadership Conference.
Tom Price
'retires' from KPCC
After
ten wonderful years at KPCC, Rev. Tom Price is retiring to pursue
expanding his radio and preaching ministry in the Kanawha Valley.
Shown here with his wife Debbie and Grand-daughter. (Is that a cake
made out of Twinkies?!).
Tom
started with KPCC as an intern and worked his way up to supervisor
and senior staff. He has been a great asset to the center and we
will miss him.
In
Memoriam
KPCC Volunteer
Bob Wildman passed away on
He was a great
guy with a great sense of humor.
He will be missed
by all of us.
Upcoming
Events
Diana Masso will be doing a presentation with Sister Molly Bauer on
Centering Prayer on Saturday, August 26th at St. John's Episcopal
Church. Registration is at 8:30am and the presentation begins at
9:00am. For more info please contact Diana 304.346.9689 (x40)
or via email at contact
us.
Recent Testimonies
Here is what some clients have written about us
recently:
I am becoming
the person I always wanted to be, and have weathered storms that,
without my counselor's help, I would not successfully sailed smoothly
through. I use skills I have learned every day.
I believe the
help I received from KPCC was literally life-saving. In only a couple of
sessions my partner and I were able to establish a basic stability in
our marriage that I believe will be a first step towards a foundation of
a long life together marked by great happiness. Thank you helping us
find ways to show each other that no matter how stressful something
becomes, we are available to and committed to one another. I am
endlessly grateful for this help.
I really
received a lot of very usable and needed help from my counselor. I was
having a hard time with a relationship and work. I learned a lot more
about myself and fabulous techniques to stay balanced. What a blessing I
received from KPCC. I have recommended KPCC to many people! I hope they
have taken advantage of what great services you have available for them.
My counselor
has the holy spirit and has offered counseling over the phone when I
couldn't get in to see her over my delayed grief. She pulled me through
it.
Here is what
participants in our coaching, consultation, and training services are saying:
Facilitation
of a group processing meeting around a very delicate topic
in our organization. It was
very well done. You were able to adapt your course of leadership to the
needs that were evident in the group.
Yes. The
presenter taught an introductory course in pastoral visitation/care for
the Equipping the Saints program for the Episcopal Diocese of WV. He did
a great job of connecting with the group . . . his teaching approach was
great and the exercises he used to illustrate concepts were all well
done. All around a good learning experience.
Your
presentations and the discussions were excellent. As I mentioned I had
just come from an Appreciative Inquiry conference on Small Rural
Churches in London, Ontario and I was thrilled
to spend more time participating in and learning more about AI
techniques. I hope ETS continues to use you at our weekends.
Yes, The
speaker you provided was most informative and interesting. His genuine
caring and respect for the dignity of all persons was clearly evident.
The
presentations at the Equipping the Saints weekend session were superb.
The presenter was very engaging and handled the topic of suicide crisis
prevention wonderfully.
Yes, it was
very helpful to me especially with the issue we were dealing with in
Work Group. It really assisted me in working through my concerns and
issues and gave me some peace with the whole situation. Thank you so
much for taking your time to be with us. I also thought the various
exercises you led us through were very appropriate. Thank you and God
bless.
The
Appreciative Inquiry process was a dynamic and effective experience in
identifying the critical factors of our organization's current state.
The consultants enabled us in naming the essential values that define
what we are about at our core, where we wish to go from this juncture,
and set us on the path towards how best to get there. Thank you for a
valuable experience.
We know the journey can be hard
We are here to walk it with you
and help you find your way.
Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center
a place for healing and hope
for everyone
News from KPCC - July 2006
Project Support
In
a collaborative project with KISRA (the Kanawha Initiative for Social
Research and Action) and KPCC,
KPCC has been awarded a $10,000 grant to develop
relationship health and parenting support services to underserved African
American communities.
KPCC family therapist
Verbie Ann Helyger will be leading this project out of our new office in
Dunbar.
And
who is the grant from?
The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.
Many thanks for supporting and joining in our vision!
The Journey:
Our latest image of how we help
We
know the journey can be hard
we are here to walk it with you
and help you find your way.
KPCC,
A place for healing and hope
for everyone.
Thanks to KPCC Business Manager,
Bob Schacht, for the great photo
And who helped us put this all together?
Board Member Kathleen DuBois,
Michael Teel, and the great folks at www.progressity.org!
A Thought about Time
KPCC therapist Judy Wilkinson, now relocated to Morgantown, reflected recently
how
"One thing leads to two things." While this creates multiple opportunities in
our lives, it also can lead us to create more rush and business that can be
overwhelming. I encourage you (and myself) in this moment to just take a minute
and relax. Listen to the music, close your eyes, take a slow deep breath. We
live in this present moment. There is more than enough time to be who we are at
our best.
-- Sky
This year's Dent Dinner will be Tuesday Oct
17, 2006, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
We
will be at the Charleston Marriott, and will feature the return of author and
humorist
Susan Vass. This is Susan's third time
speaking at the event. Vass wrote the book "Laughing Your Way
to Good Health!"
"Our whole house is a salute to electricity. My motto is 'It's better to leave
all the lights on than to curse the darkness.'" each light is a tiny eternal
flame to all the money we could have saved. In
Minnesota the power company gets a rate hike approximately every twenty minutes.
Then they use this money to put out helpful brochures with great ideas for
cutting down your electric bill."
This promises to a be a very
funny evening!
Tickets are available from any KPCC board members or staff (click
here for a listing),
or by phone at main office at 304-346-9689 or via the internet using paypal.
To date,
even before tickets have gone on sale, we have already
received $2,400 in prepaid Dent 2006 donations!
KPCC Expands
its Coaching / Consulting Service
We are doing more and more consultations with
congregations and denominations.
And are people satisfied with our service?
Very!
(So far we are scoring 5 out of 5 in positive satisfaction!)
"Our Board of Ordained Ministry received a consultative
service from KPCC intended to help us process the
emotions/relationships/events/Board actions over the past several
months and help us build on a strong base to move into the future.
The day was indeed helpful to the Board and I appreciated the
willingness of the KPCC leadership to
allow us to deal with past events in an open manner..."
To read more about our coaching and consultation services,
click here.
In
Memoriam
The Center has
received several gifts in memory of
Lavinia Embelton
Carney. She was a quiet champion of many causes in Charleston,
including the Pastoral Counseling Center.
She will be
missed.
May light
perpetual shine upon her.
Recent KPCC
Logo Awards
To Huntington
Bank and Regional President Mike Comer (left) and former KPCC Board
Member Rob Nelson for their on-going support.
To Jack Suttle at
his retirement party.
Suttle and
Stalnaker has been a contributor to the Jim Dent Dinner for over 10
years!
Thanks to KPCC
Board Member Wally Suttle and former Board Member David Stalnaker
for their support.
To Leslie Clay
(and Carl Agsten) on the occasion of Leslie's retirement from KPCC
in order to focus on her new family!
Recent Visits
Tibetan Buddhist
and former aid to the Dahlia Lama, Lobsang Samten had a wonderful
visit to Charleston, co-sponsored by KPCC. Most memorable was the
freedom of his laughter.
We look forward
to Lobsang making his visits an annual event!
In
a collaborative project with KISRA (the Kanawha Initiative for Social
Research and Action) and KPCC, 
And
who is the grant from? ![[Counseling Hope]](_borders/sunburst.jpg){kind=small}
Taylor's
combination of comedy, music and ventriloquism make him a club and campus
favorite. His "Flintstones" theme song as done 
The
starting of a new school year signals for many of us the beginning of an intense
period of business and productivity in our work. The lazy days of summer are now
falling behind us, and the engines of 
Sky Kershner
.jpg)
This year's Dent Dinner will be Tuesday Oct
17, 2006, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tom
started with KPCC as an intern and worked his way up to supervisor
and senior staff. He has been a great asset to the center and we
will miss him. 
The Center has
received several gifts in memory of
