At Pelican Cove Counseling Centers,
Our primary goal is providing individual, couple, and group therapy to those who desperately need it but do not have access due to lack of insurance or financial resources. We believe that mental health services should be accessible to all. When clients come to us, we set a fee based on their ability to pay. These payments allow us to run the bare bones operation of Pelican Cove but are often below the minimum hourly rate we need to survive. We run on very little; our supervisors earn less than half their market value. Trainers and some supervisors are donating hours of time without any compensation at all. Staff are doing more than they are paid for and we constantly manage our overhead. However, no matter what we do, there is inevitably a gap between what our clients are able to pay and the resources that we need to continue to serve them.
This year, we are establishing the PELICAN COVE SCHOLARSHIP FUND (PCSF) which will allow us to fill in the difference between what clients can pay and the hourly rate we need to keep our doors open. It will support the most financially vulnerable clients by allowing them to continue to have access to services even if they are unable to pay for them. We are humbly asking for donations to the PCSF as you consider your end of year giving. No amount is too small and we are able to set up payments as a one time donation or as an ongoing commitment.
For many of us, we are compelled to give to Pelican Cove because we have a personal connection to mental illness. We are working on behalf of loved ones we have lost or simply trying to make the world a place where everyone gets the help they need. To honor those people that have helped us turn our hope into action, our scholarship fund will give those donating at the $500 level or higher the ability to name their own honorary scholarship on behalf of a loved one or simply with your individual or family name. Please consider a donation at the $500+ level as this year closes. You will be honoring the person that brought you to this work while providing funding for what are often life saving services to the most vulnerable.
With peace and great hope we thank you,
The Pelican Cove community
The end of the year can be a busy time filled with anxiety, grief, excitement, and everything in between! As the new year approaches, many look for a fresh start and ways they can improve themselves. When New Year’s resolutions are set, we sometimes find ourselves struggling to keep them. No matter what we choose to do in the New Year, it is important that self-care is sprinkled in there! Here are some helpful tips and practices to get you starting 2023 in an intentional way:
Set attainable goals: If you are planning on setting a New Year’s resolution make sure it is achievable. Set SMART goals! (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely) Setting a goal like “feeling better” is setting yourself up for failure. What can you specifically do to feel better? How often can you do it? Is it something you are capable of doing? How much time do you think you need to reach this goal? Having a more specific goal like practicing a new coping skill for anxiety twice a day is definitely lighting a path to guide you in the New Year!
Practice gratitude: It is hard to ignore how difficult these past few years have been, but we can still find ways to feel grateful for all the good we still have. Practicing gratitude looks different for everyone, so do what works best for you. This should not feel dreary, but the intent is to lift the spirit and reframe those negative thoughts. You can keep a gratitude journal bedside and write a few things you are grateful for every morning and/or night. You can also practice gratitude through meditations or writing letters to those that you love.
Practice self-compassion: This is a big one, folks! Self-compassion is exactly what it sounds like: giving compassion and loving kindness to ourselves (in a way you may be used to giving others). Rather than discouraging and beating ourselves up, self-compassion is all about supporting and encouraging ourselves especially during a difficult challenge. Try writing a love letter and providing affirmations to yourself or giving yourself that physical and supportive touch you may need. My absolute favorite place to explore self-compassion exercises is https://self-compassion.org/category/exercises/
Make connections: Reach out to your loved ones in the new year. Go explore a new cafe with a friend you have been meaning to see. Try that new hike you have been meaning to go to with your partner. At the very least, give your loved ones a call. The pandemic caused so much disconnection, so find ways to reconnect and create more intentional and meaningful relationships this year!
Do what is best for you: This sounds easy but it can be a bit tricky when we are caught up in the busyness of our lives. Listen to your body and slow down when you need to. Take breaks when you get overwhelmed. Go to therapy. Be in nature. Be with loved ones. Not everyone has the same strategies when taking care of themselves. You might ask yourself: what am I missing right now that I need and value that could bring me joy or peace? Do your best to provide yourself with whatever that is.
We hope these tips help guide you in being more intentional about yourself and your relationships in the New Year!
