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Date Posted: Mon Sep 24th, 2007
Willow Grove, PA: Aldersgate Youth Service Bureau (“Aldersgate”), a community social service agency established 35 years ago to assist children, individuals, and their families in Eastern Montgomery County, recently named Laura P. Handler its new clinical INTAKE COORDINATOR.
Aldersgate’s clinical counseling program is one of the most respected throughout Montgomery County, with a strong emphasis on serving children, adolescents, and families, as well as individuals and couples. Counseling fees are VERY REASONABLE at $65 per session – about half the cost of average local rates – and in some cases, county subsidies are available. A large percentage of Aldersgate's clients come with drug and alcohol issues, many referred by District Judges and the DUI Administration. Other referrals come from school counselors or other community contacts, family members, and the clients themselves. Aldersgate serves clients ages six and older, mostly children, teens, adults, couples, and their families. Issues include anger management, life transition and loss, family issues, parenting difficulties, school-related behavioral situations, and substance abuse.
Handler, as INTAKE COORDINATOR, is responsible for all initial information gathering and appointment-setting with outside individuals requesting counseling service. Anyone seeking an appointment generally has his or her first face-to-face interaction within one week.
Having earned her undergraduate degree in psychology from the College of William & Mary, and later her master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Virginia, Handler recently moved to the Philadelphia area having lived out-of-state the past 13 years. Her most recent past work experiences include service in mental health and medical hospitals, work with college students, substance-abuse prevention efforts with families and children, service in a psycho-social day rehabilitation program, individual counseling, and facilitating group meetings for substance abusers.
Handler says, “My goals are to work with and help clients cope with whatever life stressors or problems they bring in. I also hope to take every opportunity to learn as much from clients as they learn from me. I come from a strength-based model and I try to help client's realize the potential they already have.”
Aldersgate counseling programs include: individual, family and marital therapy focusing on developing stronger self-esteem, improving communication and conflict resolution skills, and maximizing peer and family relationships. Topics of expertise include: anger management, life transitions and loss, family issues, play therapy with young children, parenting difficulties, school-related behavioral situations, and substance abuse. Additionally, Aldersgate clinical services also include individualized short-term intervention programs recommended by area justices, schools, and youth aid panels as alternative sentencing for underage drinking violations and drug abuse issues. Clients can also complete individual counseling and education requirements related to mandated DUI offenses. Lastly, SCOH services (“Services to Children in their Own Home”) offer intensive family therapy and case management to at-risk families who are referred by the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth.
Aldersgate Youth Service Bureau supports area residents’ mental health and emotional well being through the provision of individual, family, and marital counseling, foster care placement, drug and alcohol prevention education and programming in area schools and the community at-large, and community outreach services which target at-risk minority youth. To learn more about Aldersgate and its different programs, to become a foster care parent, or to make a donation, please call officer manager Janet Zaro at 215.657.4545. Visit Aldersgate online at www.aldersgateservices.org for agency information, a staff directory, and more.