Mental Health Clinics

Peninsula Counseling Center's three licensed outpatients mental health clinics, located in Woodmere, Lawrence and Lynbrook provide psychiatric services for children, adults and the elderly with emotional difficulties or psychiatric disabilities. These services enable individuals to function more effectively within their families, community and workplace. Counselors at the clinics offer short-term crisis resolution. General services include individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, marital counseling, crisis services, post-psychiatric hospital aftercare, psychological testing, psychiatric evaluation, medication supervision, bilingual services, and consultation to schools, social agencies and health care institutions. In addition to generalized services suited to all individuals, specialized services include the following:

The Phobia and Anxiety Relief Center
The Phobia and Anxiety Relief Center at PCC (PARC) offers innovative and effective methods for treating a broad range of anxiety disorders such as fear of enclosed spaces, heights, animals, driving, public transportation, bridges, elevators and being trapped in enclosed spaces. Anxiety can cause physical and emotional reactions that are way out of proportion to the actual situation. PARC provides tools such as breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, thought stopping and desensitization that individuals can use to successfully manage their anxiety in a real-life situation.

Cancer Support Group
The PCC Cancer Support Group helps individuals and families mitigate the emotional difficulties that evolve as cancer progresses. Dealing with cancer is extremely stressful and often results in anxiety or depression. Adults with cancer or other chronic illnesses will find a caring, supportive environment and participate in groups with others who share similar experiences. In this unique setting, participants can learn from and encourage each other. Counseling is also available for individuals, couples and family members.

Bereavement Program
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult life-changing traumas one can face. The bereavement program provides help and support for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Individual counseling and support groups are provided to help address feelings of loss, loneliness, hopelessness and anger.

Counseling for the Homebound
This program is a vital resource for the community, providing visiting counseling services to older adults for whom travel is not possible. Trained therapists provide counseling and, through networking arrangements with other professional agencies, aid individuals by seeking to mobilize and secure additional home care services. The program helps seniors maintain their independence while remaining in the comfort of their own homes.

Later Life Issues Group
Later Life Issues Groups, designed for the elderly, help men and women learn from each other's experiences and offer mutual support as a professional counselor guides them through such topics as changing self image, chronic illness and managing relationships with one's spouse or adult children.

Family Support – Child Abuse Program
The Family Support-Child Abuse Program at PCC was designed to meet the need of sexually abused, neglected or maltreated children. The professional treatment at PCC offers treatment of the child while educating and counseling the non-offending parent. The program targets families where abuse has been reported, or where children may be identified to be at risk. 80% of the cases coming into the program involve reported sexual abuse, primarily interfamilial sexual abuse. The PCC program helps victims heal and rebuild a positive self-image, teach parenting skills that will insure the ongoing protection of the child and link families with appropriate community resources.

Attention Deficit Disorder and Learning Disabilities Program
Established 18 years ago, this special program is a unique, innovative, comprehensive community based service for children ages 5-18 and their families. The programs, conducted by a team composed of a child psychologist, psychiatrist and clinical social workers, offers each child and family a plan focusing on the mastery of skills necessary to attain independence and bolster self- esteem. Aimed at encouraging each child's growth, this non-threatening academic and social training program offer extensive diagnostic evaluations, individual and family counseling, socialization groups for children and discussion groups for parents.

Families of Adult Children with Chronic Mental and Emotional Illness
Families are often not equipped to cope with the problems associated with chronic psychiatric illness. Support groups provide a safe environment where participants can openly share experience and concerns, listen to others, and exchange information about available resources. Peninsula Counseling Center offers a 12-session support group for families of adult children with chronic mental or emotional illness. Relatives and caretakers of adults with chronic or emotional illness cope with issues such as denial of the diagnosis, how to deal with an adult child who is not following prescribed treatment regimens, and how to make time for themselves. Participants are also encouraged to attend the AMI LAMP meetings which are held once a month. These meeting offer group support and seminars whose topics range from the latest medications and therapies, advocacy for the mentally ill and the latest available resources for housing and other specialized needs.

Bilingual Services for Hispanic Families
This program provides out-patient individual, family and group therapy for Hispanic families. Service is also available on-site at local school districts to assist young children and adolescents in their adaptation to a new culture.