Central Counseling Services

🌟 New Beginnings Await! 🌟

Struggling with a breakup or divorce? Our Virtual Divorce Support Group is here to help you find comfort, hope, and healing. Join us for an 8-week journey starting July 11, 2024, where you’ll receive support and guidance every step of the way.

✨ What you’ll get:
- Emotional support and understanding
- Practical strategies for moving forward
- Connection with others on a similar path

🗓️When: Thursdays at 6 PM
💵Cost: Only $10 per session

Tap the link in our bio to sign up and start your healing journey. You deserve a better you. 💕

🌟 Attention All Sweet Souls! 🌟

We have a delightful new fundraiser with See's Candies. From today onwards, indulge in a delectable array of chocolates, lollipops, and more, all while supporting CCS Education and Wellness Center.

Why should you care? Let me unwrap the reasons for you. See's Candies has been delighting taste buds for generations with its premium-quality sweets, crafted with love and care. By purchasing from See's, you're not only treating yourself to irresistible treats but also contributing to a cause that's close to our hearts.
Every purchase you make directly supports our mission to make mental health services accessible to everyone, regardless of their insurance status. Plus, your generosity helps us nurture and train the next generation of compassionate therapists, addressing the critical shortage of mental health professionals nationwide.
So, here's the sweet deal: satisfy your cravings with See's Candies and help us make a real difference in the lives of those in need. It's a guilt-free indulgence that spreads joy and support in equal measure!
Your support is the cherry on top of our fundraising efforts. Let's make this partnership with See's Candies a sweet success for CCS Education and Wellness Center.

Order now, and let's sweeten the world together! 🍬🌟

https://bit.ly/3xYLrqa

🌟 Riverside Rockstars! 🌟

Just a friendly reminder that tonight's the night to turn your dinner into a delicious act of kindness at Panera in Riverside Plaza!

Don't forget to use promo code "Fund4U" when you order, and 25% of the sales will go to CCS Education and Wellness Center. 🥰 Let's make a difference together, one bite at a time!

🌟 Calling all Riverside Rockstars! 🌟
Get ready to turn your dinner into a delicious act of kindness next Thursday, May 2nd, at Panera in Riverside Plaza. Just use promo code "Fund4U" when you order, and boom! CCS Education and Wellness Center gets a mouthwatering 25% of the sales. It's a win-win meal plan you won't want to miss!

But why should you be a part of this culinary crusade? Let me fill you in on the delectable details. We're on a mission to ensure that mental health services are accessible to all, especially those without proper insurance. And guess what? Your support is training the next generation of superstar therapists, filling a critical need in our nation's shortage of mental health professionals.

So, here's the dish: come indulge in a scrumptious meal and help us create real change in people's lives. It's not just about food; it's about spreading love and making a difference, one bite at a time! 🥰

Riverside, your support is our secret ingredient for success. Let's make this dinner one to remember! See you there, and let's rock Riverside Plaza together! 🍽️✨

Riverside Rockstars, mark your calendars! 🍽️🌟

Next Thursday, May 2nd, we're turning dinner into a delicious act of kindness at Panera in Riverside Plaza. How, you ask? Just use promo code "Fund4U" when you order, and voila! CCS Education and Wellness Center receives a tasty 25% of the sales. Now, that's what I call a win-win meal plan!

But hey, why should you join us? Well, let me dish out the details. We're on a mission to make mental health services accessible to everyone, especially those who are underinsured or uninsured. Plus, we're nurturing the next generation of superstar therapists through one-on-one training. And with a nationwide shortage of therapists, your support is more important than ever!

So, here's the scoop: come enjoy a scrumptious meal and help us make a real difference in people's lives. It's the tastiest way to spread some love! 🥰

See you there, Riverside! Your support means everything to us. Let's make this dinner one to remember!

Cheers

¿Busca un grupo de apoyo para sobrevivientes de cáncer de mama? Lo tenemos cubierto. Llámanos para registrarte.

Rain or shine, we will be playing Bingo. Come join us and have some fun while supporting a great cause.

Estamos ofreciendo un grupo de apoyo gratuito para sobrevivientes de cáncer. Llámanos hoy para unirte

Please join us for this fun day to play bingo and do good too.

https://www.theheartofhospice.com/podcast/episode/2c2454d0/jill-johnson-young-discusses-intimacy-at-end-of-life-episode-131

Podcast | The Heart of Hospice | End of Life & Hospice Education Services The Heart of Hospice is an end of life education and support company. Whether you’re a patient, a personal caregiver, or a hospice professional, The Heart of Hospice provides information, support, and encouragement for each step of your hospice journey.

And on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/3iv4pdOP8EHMSs7045OIpA?si=f02767a100b64e92

Need a little extra help with parenting? We have the resources for you. Starting this Saturday, January 6th.

https://www.nextavenue.org/breaking-the-widow-rules/

Breaking the 'Widow Rules' I've lost two wives and I know there can be a better end-of-life experience and a better grieving process

For all who celebrate

Join Jill at the Purple Boat Float today. Jill is our expert in dementia and thete is an entire community of dementia supporters here today.

Today an article caught my eye titled something like what happens if your partner develops dementia? As a dementia speaker and provider, I heard the “Ping! You need to read this!” voice.

The more I read, the more disheartened I became. And the more I worried about who might be reading it and would follow the directions thinking they could manage dementia well with that advice. It was so simple!
• Get a diagnosis
• Expect the patient to accept it and believe it immediately
• Expect a doctor to tell you it is dementia and to care enough to tell you what kind of dementia (did you know there are twelve?)
• Go get all the papers done. Tell your loved one they need a DNR right now. Expect them to sign it.
• Go set up long term care insurance and savings because in a short time they will need memory care and you can buy a plan that will cover it after they have a diagnosis.

Can we be real for a moment?

That’s not how it works. That’s now how any of it works.

Did you notice how long it took Robin Williams and Bruce Willis to be diagnosed? How hard it was for the family of Johnny Cash? They have (had) more money than God (or at least more than most of us). They still struggled at every turn according to their own accounts.

It takes an average of five neurologists to get an accurate diagnosis. Fully half of all US doctors will not tell a person or the family that they have dementia. (Did you know that?). They do not want to make the patient and family feel hopeless and helpless. But by refusing to do the work up and get the right expert for them, they are leaving the family helpless, and the patient bewildered and afraid.

This is how it works: (and this is condensed)
• The person with dementia tries valiantly to hide it for an average of 2 years.
• The family acclimates and tries not to see it or upset them.
• When a doctor is consulted, we hope the doctor will do all the right work-ups. CT/MRI, labs, Mini Mental Status Exam (which is humiliating, so prepare for the emotional impact), physical work-up, and then hopefully a referral to the right kind of neurologist.
• Neurologists see patient and patient tries not to “fail” the testing and to save their ability to drive and be independent.
• At some point a diagnosis is given, and the stark realization is that there is no cure and meds will, at best, slow it up for some of the population. Dementia is a terminal illness.

At that point the patient is trying to understand what is occurring emotionally and is afraid. The family has a lot to get done, but the person with dementia has to be able to talk through what is needed to be empowered to make decisions.
• A POLST or some form of it is needed, naming someone to act on their behalf when needed. It is more than a DNR and allows for choices. It is kinder and empowering.
• A discussion about how they want to live and with whom, who can be a caregiver, what is feasible financially must be had. Lots of them. A mediator of some sort can be helpful, especially an LCSW or an end of life Doula.
• Bank accounts and property and all the financials need to be handled- quickly but with sensitivity. Make sure someone can access and manage the accounts and pay the bills. Not doing so is to set yourself up for drama and stress. And there is already going to be stress. Lots of it. Do you know you cannot pay bills for others without permission?
• Get the passwords. All the passwords.
• If caring is to be done at home, you need to know who.

Committees generally get complicated and fail. If you will be the carer, you need to know who will be helping you with daily life.
Memory care is EXPENSIVE. Like 10K a month plus expensive. For one person. Many long-term care policies do not cover a lot of it. Memory care units can increase charges as they see needs increase. Be prepared. Board and Care is less expensive but still costs a lot. That means investigating options sooner, not in a crisis.
Living with dementia in your family is hard. There is no other way to put it. Being ahead of the paperwork and getting the diagnosis, lining up help, opening up communication- all of it is necessary. But it will still be hard. You are preparing for the ongoing losses of dementia, and the loss of a loved one. Your loved one is scared and afraid of hurting the family. And dementia is not sweet. It can include psychosis, anger, outbursts, choking, hurting feelings- none with intent.

What do you do with that? The article I read mentioned none of that.

You need support. Your loved one needs support. You need to find your new people who get what is going on. You will be facing loss of sleep. More extra stuff to do than you can imagine. Find your people, and lean in. Watch videos by people who know what they are talking about. Read books that will describe the reality of illness and end of life. Prepare to say goodbye.

I recently lost my mom to Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia. I lost my second wife to Lewy Body Dementia. My grandma has Alzheimer’s. I know dementia both as an LCSW and as a family member. You will find the dementia community can and will provide support and realistic advice. And we have a great sense of humor when it comes to all the things all of us experience. Humor is our saving grace. We tell better potty jokes than a 9-year-old boy!

Dementia is a reality for most people, eventually. Someone you know will develop it. Let’s look at it and get ready. Realistically.

If you would like more information, reach out to Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW here at CCS where we offer a free telehealth dementia support group monthly.
951-778-0230

Come visit us at Riverside convention center for great resources.

Sad. Red state destruction.

Texas A&M recruited a UT professor to revive its journalism program, then backtracked after “DEI hysteria” The university celebrated its decision to hire Kathleen McElroy to revive its journalism program. She says she’s staying at UT after she felt judged because of her race and gender.

Central Counseling Services is excited to announce that one of our founders has been selected to do a TedX talk in October in Canada!

Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW has been a voice for appropriate care and treatment for clients experiencing grief and dementia and chronic illness. She and Ilse Aerts provide a community dementia support group at no cost, and Jill trains our staff in grief and dementia in addition to authoring several books about those topics for children and adults.

Now she will be taking her voice and message to Canada- and sharing it here as well.

If you are coping with losses or the ongoing losses of illness or dementia, you can find help at CCS. Call us at (951) 778-0230.

"An elderly veteran on hospice wanted to get a meal with his wife at a local pizza restaurant. There he sat with his oxygen machine and his cap that identified his branch of service in a long past war. In the same restaurant, a middle school choir was also enjoying lunch. Several of them saw him and started to sing the national anthem. The entire choir stood up, faced him, and joined in singing. This old and broken down warrior struggled to stand, placed his hand/cap over his heart, and wept as the choir sang. The humble and noble expression on his face said everything to me. There stands a true hero. Also, the actions of these kids tell me that there is good all around us.” c: Bling Trend

CCS serves our community by attending Project Food at First Congregational Church in Downtown Riverside. Our MSW students are making a difference in the lives of our community.

Happy Cinco De Mayo!
Remember to stay safe and have fun!
(In that order) 🤣