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Truckee-Tahoe peer counselors available at no cost

Special to the Sun

TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; Sierra Agape Center is pleased to announce trained peer counselors are available for Tahoe-Truckee residents during the holiday season and throughout the New Year at no cost. Walk in hours are noon to 4 p.m. every Monday and noon to 3 p.m. every Thursday at 10111 E St. in Truckee (Project MANA office). Seniors, adults and teens are also invited to call 530-414-1885 to schedule an appointment with a peer counselor. There is no charge.

Peer Counselors listen. They advocate. They are volunteers who accompany people to court or doctor appointments, serve as role models and mentors, connect to Tahoe-Truckeeand#8217;s many social service providers and, ultimately, seek to help people in need help themselves.

and#8220;Weand#8217;re here to let you know you are not alone. We know what itand#8217;s like to go through hard times,and#8221; said one peer counselor. The Peer Counseling programand#8217;s strength-based approach emphasizes self-advocacy, empowerment strategies, physical health management, mutual support and life-skills education. The core goals of the program are to listen, reduce suffering and increase resiliency by focusing on strengths and opportunities.



Eleven compassionate community members have completed a 30-hour training session that emphasizes deep listening, problem solving and crisis intervention. Active Tahoe-Truckee Peer Counselors include Sylvia Doignon, a bi-lingual peer counselor who works primarily with the North Tahoe Family Resource Center in Kings Beach and Dianna Hall, Skyla Hauptman, Karin Johnson, Pati Johnson, Kristin McNamara, Judi Roberts, Mimi Vadasz and Jon L. Weedn. All of the counselors know how challenging life can be and want to do their part.

and#8220;The Peer Counseling Program serves people across socio-economic levels including youth in transition and adults surprised to find themselves in very different economic circumstances than they were in five years ago,and#8221; said clinical supervisor Kimball C. Pier, a marriage and family therapist licensed in California and Nevada. She founded Sierra Agape Center in May of 2010 and adopted the Peer Counseling Program last December. and#8220;Sierra Agape Center was conceived out of a passion to offer people a place to feel welcome and cared for when problems feel overwhelming. We serve all who seek someone to listen to them and offer a safe place to talk through the problems of life regardless of income.and#8221;



Generous donations from Placer County, Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation and community members make the free Peer Counseling program possible. For more information, call 530-414-1885 or visit http://www.sierraagape.org.

Sierra Agape Center is a donation-based nonprofit organization that offers a variety of counseling and well-being services to the Tahoe-Truckee community. People pay what they can. Services include the free Peer Counseling Program, low cost teen yoga, massage therapy and wellness counseling and therapy for individuals, couples and families. and#8220;Agapeand#8221; (pronounced ah-gah-pay) is rooted in ancient Greece and refers to an all-encompassing love of community and family.

Founder Kimball C. Pier is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has provided therapy, addiction recovery treatment, family reconciliation services and divorce mediation in private practice and community mental health settings. For more information, call Kimball Pier at 530-414-1885 or visit http://www.sierraagape.org.


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