The Forge – A New Group for Men
DBT Group Announcement
I am delighted to know of your interested in the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Group. As you may already know, this treatment approach was developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD to address the challenges of borderline personality disorder. For some time now, DBT has also shown great promise for those dealing with chronic depression and anxiety. I have been working with individuals with these issues for the last 20 years. I am committed to alleviating the very real suffering caused by these disorders and empowering individuals to manage their thoughts and emotions in spite of the pain. I have found DBT to be an effective arsenal of skills to address these challenges.
I invite you to join me beginning Thursday, November 8, 2018 from 6 pm to 7:30 pm to commence the next session of DBT Group. We will meet on the following dates from 6 to 7:30 pm:
11/8, 11/15, 11/29, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20, 12/27, 1/3, 1/10, 1/17, 1/24 and 1/31.
While Linehan recommends that one attend DBT for a minimum of one year, our group operates 12 weeks at a time. With this in mind, I ask that you commit to 12 weeks of meetings a time. We use a text called DBT Skills Training: Handouts and Worksheets, 2nd Edition by Marsha Linehan. You may obtain this workbook at Amazon.com. Please plan to bring the workbook to the first meeting.
The cost for the group is $50 per session. This includes the psycho-educational portion of the group as well as the group psychotherapy. The fee is due by the end of each meeting and you may place your credit card on file and it will be charged the following day after the meeting if you prefer. If you have health insurance, Alex, our Practice Manager, will file your claim on your behalf and any reimbursement will be sent to you directly from your insurance company. Please be advised that after the first meeting the weekly fee is due for all of the 12 sessions whether you attend or not.
Our group is limited to 10 members. If you would like to reserve your spot in the group, you will need to pay a $50 deposit (which will be applied to the first night’s meeting). If you see another therapist besides me there will be some initial intake forms for you to complete along with an Release of Information so that I may collaborate with your individual therapist. Please know that you will need to be in individual therapy as well while you are in DBT group. You may see the therapist of your choice. Our 12th meeting will be on January 31, 2019
If you have questions, please reach out to Alex at 214.666.8127 ext 2 or alex@brannonlaforce.com. I look forward to working with you and walking with you for this season of your journey.
Be well,
Brannon La Force
African Adventure update 9/3
African Adventure update 9/1
It’s crunch time. I am packing and getting everything organized for my departure on Tuesday. I have ordered 120 flashlights for the healthcare workers in Uganda. I still need to purchase t shirts and some hygiene products for them when I get to Kampala. I will be providing three workshops for this group: Complex PTSD and Coping Skills; Basic Counseling Skills, and Coping with the Stigma of Living with HIV. I received an email yesterday from my good friend Jeanne in Kigali. I learned that we will be going goat shopping–a first for me for sure. It seems that a goat costs $35 in Kigali and we need to buy 20. The goats will be given to villagers in order to have a supply of milk and even produce more goats. If you would like to support this work, please click on donate and you may make a tax deductible donation to St. Dymphna Global Resources. 100% of your money will go to the items we are purchasing for the people there.
Learn MoreLPCi SUPERVISION
BSL & Associates provides supervision for licensed professional counselor interns in accordance with the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/counselor/. Supervision is offered both one on one and in a group format. In addition to weekly supervision, the LPCi will be provided with office space, business cards, website exposure, referrals, and assistance in developing a private practice. If you are interested in LPCi supervision, please forward a letter of interest as well as a resume below.
Learn MoreAfrican Adventure Update 8/26/2018
My departure to East Africa is fast approaching. I am eager to return to Rwanda for the 4th time and to make my first visit to Uganda. The plan had been to take a group of medical professionals to assist in both Rwanda and Uganda. As it turns out the six individuals who had committed to join me have all canceled for various reasons. Additionally, I purchased airfare for a dentist to accompany me on the trip and he elected not to go on the trip and has refused to reimburse me for the airfare. I had hoped to use this $1000 to hire a local dentist in Rwanda (since the US dentist elected not to go) to assist with dental care for around 100 individuals living with HIV. I am exploring options to recover this money.
Although I am going solo to East Africa, the needs remain. Rev. Emmanuel Ntaganda, an Anglican priest in Uganda, coordinates a group called the Village Health Team. This team provides care and treatment for the HIV patients that I mentioned above. These workers need the following to do their jobs: flashlights and bicycles. Together, these items may be purchased for $80. The individuals living with HIV need flashlights, t shirts, bar soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste. And in addition to the dental treatment, there is a need for these individuals to see an eye doctor.
There’s also a group of women in Uganda who are developing a mushroom farm. They need a “drier” to dry the mushrooms, materials to construct a shed where the mushrooms will grow, and mushroom seeds. This project will cost $950.
Finally, back in Kigali, Rwanda, Rev. Appoline Kabera with Amahoro Builders are engaged in a project to assist two groups in obtaining gainful employment. The first group are women who have experienced domestic violence and the second group are disadvantaged teenagers and young adults. The women want to raise farm animals as a source of income and the young people are looking to establish mobile hair salons. I have included the proposal Rev. Kabera gave me in another post. Please see Kigali’s Amarhoro Builders Project.
If you would like to support these projects a link will be posted to make tax deductible contributions.
100% of your donations will go directly to the projects above and your gifts a tax deductible. An accounting of the donations will be provided upon request as well as a receipt for your contribution. I am grateful for your prayers and support as I make this journey.
Learn MoreDialectical Behavior Therapy Group Offered in Three Locations in DFW by Brannon La Force, LPC-S & Associates
DBT is a treatment approach developed by Marsha Linehan, PhD to address the challenges of Borderline Personality Disorder. DBT has also shown great promise for those dealing with chronic depression and anxiety. This approach seeks to alleviate the very real suffering caused by these disorders and empower individuals to manage their thoughts and feelings in spite of the pain. These skills are often life changing.
Groups commence every 12 weeks and individuals may start the groups in August, November, February and May. The group meets 1 1/2 hours weekly and group members are encouraged to continue in individual therapy while in DBT. There are three locations to choose from: Uptown Dallas, Coppell and West Plano.
If you or someone you know is interested in participating, please contact the Group Coordinator, Alex Antonuik at 214-666-8127 ext 2 or Alex@brannonlaforce.com
Learn More
I am pleased to introduce our Ukrainian translator, Mary.
Mary Podvisnova is an English-Russian/Ukrainian translator with a Bachelor’s degree in English philology obtained from Ternopil Pedagogical University, Ukraine. Working as a translator for seven years, she had the opportunity to work with a variety of companies and private clients doing verbal and written translations in general in the medical, legal, finance and psychological fields. Her interest in psychology led her to cooperation with Brannon La Force and Associates.
Mary stated, “I’ve been able to take part in an incredible charity project. It feels great to be part of this project as I am really fond of volunteering and taking part in projects that help people. During my work I have learned several psychological techniques and had the opportunity to work with a brilliant psychotherapist, Tia Glenn-Honore’. Apart from this, I’ve also enjoyed seeing the progress our clients have made since I have been assisting with their treatment. I find the work greatly rewarding.”