FSA Peer Counseling: Can we Talk?

Have you ever wondered if anyone is listening? It’s not about having family and friends that you enjoy chatting with and knowing they return the pleasure. It’s not about having far reaching philosophical inquires with classmates or acquaintances. It’s the nitty, gritty of life that I’m talking about.

As we go through life there’s lots to reach for and some to leave behind, and sorting that out may benefit from the willing ears of someone less connected to you and your history. Change is what we all can be sure of in life and sometimes the variety of changes we begin to entertain may be discouraged or minimized by those closest to us.

That’s when counseling can open the door to a deeper sensitivity to our own transformations or reconciliations. We are lucky to have the Family Service Agency of the Central Coast based here in Santa Cruz providing options for our emotional and mental wellness. Within their vast menu of resources are Counseling Services for all and a very specialized Senior Outreach Program.

The Senior Outreach Program is specifically for those over 55 years of age who need an unbiased listener. Some of the transitions for this age group are unique and have certainly changed over the past 50 years. While a ripe old age may have been an 80th birthday twenty-five years ago, more of us are headed toward the territory of the centenarian! The possibility of two extra decades requires planning, funding, and a desire for longer-lasting autonomy.

It’s also true that as we age, so do the children we brought into this world, or otherwise have experienced close and lasting relationships with throughout our lives. These “adultrens” as I prefer to call children that have past the age of majority, often spice up our lives and some times their opinions and assumptions of our transitioning interests become caliente — meaning they may be equally excited and positive about our plans, or on fire against them!

Challenges in these cross-generational views can include, power balancing, historical recollections, and the ever tempting part of role reversal within these important and appreciated relationships. These are vital areas for concern that benefit from a neutral ear, readily available through the Senior Peer Counseling Program, which has been successful for over 40 years.

Peer counseling means that the counselor is your peer, and probably experiences the world at least from a similar historical view and sensitivity. This creates an almost instant rapport. At The Family Service Agency these peer counselors come from all walks of live, are bright, energetic caring people who are willing to go through an extensive training to take part in this program. Counselors visit once a week for an hour in the senior’s home, free of charge, providing skilled support.

Barbara Salata, Volunteer & Program Coordinator puts together an intense 40-hour training and six hours a month of ongoing training and education for the counselors. Within this training volunteers learn non-judgmental listening, and the skill of supporting with encouragement and empathy through challenging times. Ongoing training includes a variety of topics such as aging and sexuality, addictions abuse, family dynamics, grief and loss, medications, depression, anxiety, loneliness and numerous skill-building opportunities. Before taking on the training, individuals make a commitment to about fifteen hours a month for participating in this service. Those interested in taking the training or taking advantage of the counseling, can reach Barbara at 459 9351 extension 206. Additional programs provided can be reviewed at www.fsa-cc.org.