A peer, mutual aid counseling program...
Hello ,
In 2019, a group of community organizers and therapists came together to address the mental health crisis in our country, a crisis that existed even before the pandemic. Studies show alarming numbers of people diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. Beyond medical diagnoses, many people in the United States experience a loss of community, increased isolation, and loneliness.
These organizers recognized that, in these challenging times, many seek mental health support from professionally trained psychotherapists or social workers. The work of these professionals is more essential than ever due to the tremendous need. However, the cost of these services makes them inaccessible to many.
Even for those who can afford it, the existing model—typically providing one hour a week with a professional—is often insufficient to address many individuals' needs and does not help build a supportive community. Alternatively, many people turn to mutual aid, where individuals help one another outside of professional services. Emotional mutual aid occurs within families, friend networks, neighborhoods, churches, volunteer organizations, and other formal and informal social groups. While these supports are valuable, they are often insufficient because many traditional social networks have been declining. Moreover, ad hoc personal networks may lack the skills and knowledge needed to fully meet people's needs, often resulting in further harm.
Community Counseling began as an experiment to create a model for emotional support, healing, and personal growth that can be integrated into communities and everyday relationships. We believe in a model that goes beyond informal mutual aid by providing new skills and knowledge that can be learned and practiced without professional training. This model should have no financial barriers, making it accessible to all individuals and communities in need. The early founders of Community Counseling started with beta groups, testing and learning from various traditions that provide similar approaches. They drew inspiration from neuroscience, Indigenous wisdom, community organizing, psychotherapy, and other fields to create this model in 2021.
The Ayni Institute participated in some of the beta testing. As part of this process, we decided to take a stewardship role in the project, working to support and develop it further. We've been running our own beta tests and cohorts, and we now invite you to join us in creating a community that embraces vulnerability, a healing culture, and embodies unconditional positive regard, empathy, and healthy relationships.
Enroll in Community Counseling Level 1: Mending the Heart
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This is our vision for Community Counseling as we launch it more publicly. Our hope is that it will grow into a widely accessible model of mutual aid that benefits many communities. It is an effort to provide a well-developed process of personal growth and relationship building that can be easily integrated into organizations and social movements.
If you are interested in Community Counseling, we suggest starting with our first-level cohort called Mending the Heart, where participants join together to learn new tools, share vulnerable stories, be tenderly supported, and are challenged to grow. As one participant put it, “Mending the Heart is a journey I recommend for anyone interested in healing their relationship with community, whether for yourself or for your organization. This learning experience pulled me out from a place of fear and hesitancy and into a place of empowerment and hope”.
In the coming months we will share more about our fall Cohort. In the meantime, check out our new webpage here ([link removed] ) and sign up for the Cohort here ([link removed] ) .
In reciprocity,
Fhatima Paulino
The Mending the Heart Cohort is tailored for people who are doing social change work so you can get a framework (an understanding or perspective) on emotional resiliency that is based on psychotherapy, neuroscience, Indigenous wisdom, and community work. That can honor all of these perspectives and addresses both individual and group resiliency. Join us ([link removed] ) to learn simple, key practices that you can do regularly to build resiliency for yourself and for a group. Want to learn more first? Click here ([link removed] ) .
Training Cost: Gift Economy
Schedule: [1] Orientation (In Person October 4-5th or Online October 12th), [2] then 6-9pmEST virtually on October 23 & 30th, and November 6, 13, 20 & 25
Ayni Institute, Maverick Square, East Boston, MA
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