The Association for Community Counseling

As Tamara Mitchel knows, it's the group effort that makes the difference at the Association for Community Counseling. "It's like having several therapists instead of just one," said Mitchel, a counselor for the Association, who lives west of Boca Raton.

At no or low cost to clients, Mitchel and others at the all-volunteer Delray Beach organization provide group therapy to community members from children to seniors.

Licensed psychologists, mental health counselors and social workers supervise the counseling groups, working side-by-side with trained volunteers known as facilitators.

The 7-year old nonprofit organization serves the community on a more intimate scale than larger organizations.

"Although we do need those organizations, I think we need more of the smaller groups as well, and this is a unique group, with incredible dedication," said Merrilee Middleton of Boca Raton, one of the founding members and certified group psychotherapist and an honorary board member of the group, who works with families and young people.

Sessions for children, teens, families, adults and seniors take place in the office, in schools and throughout the community.

Social worker Mitchel said their approach is "guiding them to their own solutions, rather than giving advice."

Volunteers must complete a 30-hour training course during a six-week period. Licensed professionals teach courses in counseling skills, play therapy and working with a group.

"We pair up and do role-playing--I would play the part of a child, and my partner would be the facilitator, then we would reverse roles," said Edith Fiegerman, a retired nurse who recently completed the training program.

Course graduates may choose their group. People with master or doctoral degrees in psychology, counseling or social work, many of whom are retired professionals, may become volunteer counselors. Others may volunteer as facilitators. Many of them are student interns seeking degrees in the field. Issues vary from relationship problems, abuse, behavioral problems and depression, with separate groups for survivors of sexual abuse.

"People get in touch with their buried feelings and learn it's OK to care about themselves and to take responsibility. This means sometimes they have to shut toxic people out of their lives, or learn to say no and set limits," Mitchel said.

Simply providing caring support to senior adults in independent and assisted living facilities is the goal of other groups.

"We talk about whatever they bring up. They talk about current events, things that happened in the past. The goal is to improve their lives and get acquainted with other people, become involved in the community," said Martha Lemcoe, a counselor who lives west of Boca Raton.

Clients are encouraged to help one another.

"They can relate to one another's problems. They cross the barriers of age and gender. People are really listening. It is a caring, supportive, surrogate family." Mitchel said.

"Some people feel very vulnerable. They're reluctant to join a group. We encourage them to just try it for four weeks and almost invariably, they stay." said Joan Dollinger, a counselor who lives west of Boca Raton.

Children's groups engage in sand tray play therapy, playing with toys in the sand to work through feelings.

"They build worlds in the sand. If a toy dinosaur is fighting or hiding, for instance, that can express anger or fear. We do active listening and observation. We follow their lead, not judging or asking questions. We let them come to their own answers," said Linda Hunter, a licensed psychologist and marriage, family and child counselor and a registered play therapist.

The volunteers and professionals get good feedback.

"I especially hear good things from parents who have learned to communicate better with their children. And I see so much improvement in people. It's just fascinating and has helped me grow in my life," said Tony Berardo, a facilitator and President of the Association's Board of Directors, who lives west of Delray Beach.