Counseling Services

Counseling can be helpful in many situations. Whether it is a personal issue or a topic that impacts the life within a business, church or an organization, FLRC staff can help with a variety of issues. When it is appropriate, FLRC will assist individuals and organizations to connect with community resources.

Some of the issues that are addressed by the Center's counselors include:

• Family & Parenting 
            Single Parenting, Step-Parenting, Adolescent Adjustment,
            Parent/Child Relationships, Communication Problems,
            Conflict Resolution, Blended Families, Divorce Recovery for  
            Adults and Children

• Marital & Relationships
            Pre-marital, Communication Problems, Sexual Concerns,   
            Role Conflicts, Marriage Enrichment, Co-dependency,
            Domestic Violence, Separation/Divorce

•  Business Management
    Communications Problems, Conflict Resolution, Critical     
    Incident Debriefing, Manager/Supervisor Consultation, Morale,
    Team Building, Grief in the Workplace 

• Older Adults
    Empty Nest Issues, Retirement, Sandwich Generation Concerns, Depression,
    Grief/Loss, Managing Health Changes, Case Management, Long Term Care     
    Decisions, End of Life Concerns

• Personal & Emotional      
    Depression, Suicide, Grief Issues: Loss/Separation/Death, Homicidal/Violence,  
    Pain Chronic, Self-Confidence & Worth, Sexual Harassment, Sleep Problems, Anxiety,
    Withdrawal, Mood Swings, Stress Management, Time Management, Assertiveness
    Training, Anger Management

• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
    Immediate response available to businesses, churches, schools, and other
    organizations during times of unexpected tragedy

Seminars, Training and Groups Offered to the Public

Family Life Resource Center offers seminars, workshops, therapy groups, and support groups to the  public.  The following offerings are available on a regular schedule.  Please call 540.434.8450 for scheduled times, costs and to register

Marriage Maintenance

This five-week seminar is based on the book Lasting Marriage: The Owner's Manual will concentrate on the four areas of problem solving with each partner taking responsibility for the appropriate area. 

Positive Parenting
Five-week course offering help in becoming more confident and effective parents.  The text used is Common Sense Parenting available at the class.

Assertiveness Training

This is a six-session course to increase communication effectiveness.  Topics covered include:  Relationship Enhancement - art of encouragement; to receive compliments; to express love and affection.  Self-protective Assertiveness - to disagree with someone comfortably; to state your own feelings and beliefs; to express anger and deal with another's anger appropriately; to say no without  feeling guilty; to give and receive feedback. 

Children and Media -- How to Avoid Getting Caught in the NET

The average child will witness 200,000 acts of violence before he/she graduates from high school, writes media expert David Walsh of mediawatch.com.  This seminar looks at the effects of this kind of media exposure, especially on the internet and in video games, and increasingly on cell phones.

A Picture of Healing: Group Therapy with Visuals Arts

This new support group will use the dynamics and principles of group therapy coupled with expressive art techniques to promote healing and growth for persons experiencing emotional pain and/or trauma.  This support group is eight-sessions.

Sacred Circle: A Women's Personal and Spiritual Growth Group
A new support group where participants can create an atmosphere where women validate one another's experiences and find power in their connections with each other. 

Act Against Violence: Parents Raising Safe Kids
As parents, we want to raise our children to be competent, peaceful adults.  Many of us can use support as we face this important challenge.  This 8-week program was designed to help parents of young children (babies through elementary school age).  Some of the topics that will be discussed are:  what to expect from your child at each stage of development, how to respond to your child's challenging behaviors, how to solve family conflicts, and ways to deal with community and media violence.  

Engaged Seminar Series: "Five Steps to a Great Marriage" is the theme of a series of five Sunday sessions held at EMU's University Commons for engaged couples..  Registration includes a copy of Harvey Yoder's book, Lasting Marriage: The Owners' Manual.  Topics covered include:
    Introductory session: "Start With Yourself: Be the Best Woman/The Best Man You Can Be"
    Eric and Susan Landis Beck: "Maximize Positive, Problem-Free Times Together"
    Pat and Earl Martin: "Experience Conflict Without Engaging in Combat"
    John and Wendy Beiler (PVFCU): "Practice Fiscal Sobriety and Generous Giving"
    Robyn and Lester Zook: "Become Lifelong Lovers and Best Friends"

Transparenting: The Effects of Divorce on children
The effects of divorce on children can be negative and potentially long term. Transparenting educates parents and family members as to ways they can help their children adjust and handle changes in their family structure. This four-hour workshop is required by the Virginia court system for separating and divorcing couples and is offered twice each month.

Grief Training for Clergy and Congregations
Clergy, lay leaders and congregation members learn about the grief process and effective ways to provide bereavement ministry and support within their church community.

Basic Congregational Care
Lay counselor training in caring for basic congregational needs.

A Griefshare Group
A seminar and support group for anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one.