The Samaritan Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs

We all go through difficult times ~ in our home life or workplace, as a parent or partner, or when despair, trauma, anger or grief feels overwhelming. At the Samaritan Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs, professional counselors help individuals, couples and families achieve emotional, mental and spiritual well-being through psychotherapy, behavior modification, mediation and educational programs. We recognize the tremendous role faith can play in healing, and honor your spiritual journey. We also recognize that spirituality is not part of everyone’s life, and do not promote any religious perspective on those who come for help.

The Samaritan Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs is a safe place for everyone, no matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey.

Call us ~ we can help.

847.382.HOPE (4673) New clients, dial extension 316.

To view the Samaritan Counseling Center Northwest brochure - View PDF/Click Here



Our Mission:

The Samaritan Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs offers excellence in professional counseling, consulting and education by embracing faith, hope and wholeness.
For information call:
847-382-HOPE (4673) x313


MAIN OFFICE:
Samaritan Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs
1000 Hart Road, Suite 201
Barrington, Illinois 60010

ALGONQUIN OFFICE
Samaritan Counseling Center
Advantage EAP
Located behind the Good Shepherd Hospital Outpatient Center
2296 County Line Road
Suite 2296, Algonquin, IL 60102

Other Locations:

The Pointe Christian Outreach Center
5650 Northwest Highway
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church
404 N. Green Street
McHenry, IL 60050

St. Barnabas Lutheran Church
8901 Cary-Algonquin Road
Cary, IL 60013


Arrange an Appointment:
Call 1-847-382-HOPE (4673) x316 or email scampbell@sccnw.org
THAILAND SAMARITAN

Sponsored by Samaritan Counseling of Northwest Suburbs, this Thailand Tour will give you the opportunity to encounter and absorb Thai culture and religious tradition. You will experience the Thai way of life, its ancient culture and its rich Buddhist heritage. This all inclusive travel package is very reasonably priced CLICK HERE
Featured Article:

Posted May 20, 2013 11:43PM

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
By Paula Briedis, LCPC



Last of a Three Part Series My life is taking a difficult turn – my mother is in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s. Gone is the mother I used to know. While there are still a few glimpses of the fun-loving, spontaneous, and wise woman of years ago, for the most part I am watching her retreat into a dark place characterized by vacant looks and disconnected conversations. Her current state and the reality of the continuing decline makes it even more precious when I find evidence of the past.

My mother always loved quotes and sayings – probably where I get my penchant for words. While cleaning out a drawer, I found an index card with faded letters written in my mother’s handwriting. The message was timely as the topic of this series has been self-image, and it reminded me of both how my mother struggled with her self-esteem and worked to improve her picture of herself. It was like having a ‘mini’ talk with her again. The card read:

“Low self-esteem is Satan’s deadliest weapon – a weapon of the enemy that:
- Paralyzes my potential
- Destroys my dreams
- Ruins my relationships
- Sabotages my Christian service”

How true this is! When our beliefs about ourselves are inaccurate, it is difficult to take steps to ‘plumb the depths’ of our gifts and talents. Perhaps we settle for mediocrity, or think we don’t have what it takes to succeed. We end up stuck, never knowing what could have been.

Dreams are essential to the human spirit. Who hasn’t looked up in the sky and saw a bird fly and wished they could soar like that? Big or small, dreams are our hopes for a better tomorrow. If we don’t see ourselves as worthy, hopes can shrivel up and blow away. No longer able to envision a better future, we again are stuck in the cycle that feeds hopelessness and lies about our worth.

Lies about our worth will also fray the fabric of our relationships. Insecurities, fear, neediness and unrealistic expectations added to distorted beliefs undermine the intimacy and mutuality necessary for a healthy relationship. Not many relationships, whether romantic, family, or friendships, can survive an unhealthy environment of low self-esteem.

Satan loves to see us believe his lies! He knows he can keep us stuck in despair and hopelessness when he gets us to see ourselves through his web of untruths. How can we possibly challenge the darkness of this world if our own light is dim and hidden? Held captive by poor self-esteem, we hesitate to venture out of our limited comfort zone, never finding out what could have been if we had a true and healthy self-image.

OK, so we know we don’t think very highly of ourselves. What now? As was said in the previous articles, there are ways to change your beliefs. As my mother used to say, ‘anything worthwhile takes effort’. So it is with changing the foundation of your beliefs. But the truth is that with consistent effort, you can experience life differently! Do a little online research – the internet is loaded with ideas and methods to help you identify a plan for improvement. Read, talk with friends, join a group! Consider talking to a therapist. Take a chance that you might just be better than you think. Maybe I am biased, but I think my mother was one of the wisest women I have ever known. She knew that life was a gift to be experienced fully. Even now in the shadow of Alzheimer’s, I still hear her saying ‘how will you know if you don’t try’?

Samaritan Counseling Center has licensed therapists located throughout the area to help you begin a journey to better self-esteem. With offices in Barrington, Algonquin, McHenry, Crystal Lake, and Cary, help is not far away. For more information about Samaritan or to schedule an appointment, please call (847)382-HOPE (4673). Information is also available online at www.sccnw.org.


Upcoming Samaritan Groups and Workshops

PARENTING WITH PEACE AND PURPOSE: An Award Winning Workshop for Parents Starts April 15th! Does your family life often look like a battlefield? Do you 'lose your cool' and end up yelling? Do you feel like you're not in control of your emotions? Regret what you say and what you do in parenting? Parenting is a skill that requires staying calm, cool and connected - something that you can learn! Based on the best-selling book "ScreamFree Parenting" by Hal Runkel, this workshop offers parents alternatives to the 'same old things' that are not working. Meeting once a week for 5 weeks, you will learn principles that will transform your parenting and your family. Taught by Paula Briedis, LCPC, the workshop meets on Monday evenings from 6:00 - 7:45 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in McHenry. Childcare is available through the church's youth program. Cost for the class is $100 for a couple. Limited scholarships are available. For more information or to sign up, contact Paula at 847.212.1520, or Samaritan at 847.382.4673. Visit our website at sccnw.org.

Living with Bipolar Disorder: a Therapeutic Group for Individuals Diagnosed with Bipolar

Love and Respect: a Class for Couples

Pursuing Wholeness: Life After Abuse A Therapy Group for Women Who Have Experienced Trauma

Wholehearted Living: Finding Deep and Lasting Changes

Solving the Puzzle: Overcoming the Obstacles to Lasting Change

Future Groups — contact Samaritan for information about these options; Boundaries, Assertiveness, ScreamFree Marriage, Improving Self-Esteem, DBT, Improving Interpersonal Effectiveness, Overcoming Depression, Anxiety


VIEW WORKSHOPS PAGE

Samaritan Counseling Center of the Northwest Suburbs has offices located in many convenient locations. Most insurance coverage is accepted, including Meridian (Medicaid).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - DECEMBER 12, 2012
To Your Health

November and December offer many opportunities to connect with family, friends, and faith. Every Thanksgiving, our nation takes a break from normal workday routines to gather with family or friends and give thanks to God for our blessings. Hanukkah, Christmas and Diwali are religious occasions that typically include family and friends. But what if the holidays are so stressful that they disconnect us from the joy of the day? What do we do if we’ve lost faith, lost hope, lost a loved one, or lost the ability to cope with family dynamics? How do we regain our balance and reclaim a sense of calm?

BY REV. JEANNE HANSON


Read the full article PDF Version- click here.

or click here to read the online article
Advantage EAP relocated to new offices at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Algonquin. Michelle Durpetti, Manager and Director of Advantage EAP Services can be reached at (847) 458-4674 or at mdurpetti@sccnw.org

Empowering Leadership Series

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader”- John Quincy Adams


 Back by popular demand! The series is carefully designed to start with basic leadership skills and self-evaluation that build on one another through experiential and practice-based learning. Participants will gain valuable knowledge and skills to take their leadership success to the next level. Concepts are based on leadership principles by Jim Collins “Good to Great”.

Learn more - click here!
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Read the article: http://www.nwherald.com/tablet/article.xml/articles/2012/09/20/r_8f3ddnvltzuwwabwjzjbka/index.xml
How we can help you today?

• Dilemmas of parenting, adolescence and aging

• Pre-marital counseling and education

• Coping with grief or loss

• Emotional problems accompanying illness or unemployment

• Struggles with self-esteem, depression or anxiety

• Reaction to mid-life transitions
• Recovery from domestic violence and sexual abuse

• Addictions assessment and referral

• Questions surrounding faith and meaning

• Organizational consultation and training

• Pastoral leadership consultation for ministers

• Educational courses and workshops on a variety of topics


Join Parents Committed To Being Their Personal Best and register today for the

Parenting With Peace & Purpose Workshop

Here’s what parents are saying about the Parenting With Peace & Purpose Workshop ..Testimonials.


Sponsoring Churches and Organizations - Click

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