Sand Hills Community
Wellness Center
Sand Hills Community Wellness Center is offering two free workshops focused on mental health and wellness. These sessions will provide valuable insights into addiction, mental health, and the powerful connection between food and your mood. Join us to gain knowledge, tools, and strategies to support your well-being and the health of our community!
The Opiate Epidemic by Alan Shapiro
April 4th | 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
This comprehensive training will present an overview of the current "Opiate Epidemic," including an examination of addiction; mental health and co-occurring disorders. We will also look at the withdrawal process; MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment)/ Harm Reduction; Relapse and how The Grieving Process aligns with treatment. We will look at the disease of addiction as a chronic illness. Mental Health and Mental Illness will be defined and integrated with substance use disorders as co-occurring disorders. The cessation of many drugs often encompasses withdrawal, so we will look at that process, as well as treatment options.
ABOUT ALAN
Alan Shapiro has been working in the Addictions Treatment field since 1987. He is currently in private practice in Bethlehem PA having previously worked at inpatient, outpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, university and community mental health settings. Additionally, he works as a per diem trainer through Rutgers University, facilitating a 4 part Substance Abuse module for Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) caseworkers, as well as a "Fathers are Important" training. He also worked for the New Jersey Prevention Network (NJPN) as a fulltime trainer for those pursuing certification and/or licensure as an addictions counselor.
He received his Bachelor of Arts in Addiction Studies from Alvernia University in 1992, graduating magna cum laude and receiving the Caron Foundation achievement award for the student who best exemplified the Addictions Study Program. He received his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Kutztown University in 1996.
He holds the LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in both PA and NJ as well as the LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor) in NJ and the CAADC (Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor) certificate in PA. Additionally, he holds the MAC (Master Addiction Counselor) from the National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals.
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The Mental Health Connection Between Food and Mood by Jennifer Clearwaters
April 2nd | 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
This session is a 3 hour presentation on the connection between Nutrition and Mental Health. This workshop will focus on the connection between food and mood and the power of food on mental health and wellness. Participants will enhance their knowledge of understanding food labels and learning about ingredients that make up packaged and processed food. They will also explore ways to incorporate food groups that help to boost energy, revitalize and stabilize mood, and improve sleep and clarity.
This session will also address how various foods, chemicals, and additives can be detrimental to health and wellness, and increase symptoms of anxiety, depression, fatigue, weight gain, and lethargy. The ultimate goal of this session is to promote self-awareness. Participants will learn strategies and techniques that support other aspects of mental health including stress reduction, movement, sleep, routines, connection, and life purpose.
ABOUT JENNIFER
Jennifer is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of New Jersey. She is also a
Licensed Yoga Calm® Instructor, RYT200 yoga instructor, Reiki Master Level
practitioner, and a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She has experience
working as an ESL (English as a Second Language) Teacher, Teacher of Alternative
Education, School Counselor, and Director of School Counseling Services. She also
worked as an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Educational Counseling Department at
Monmouth University. Jennifer is a Boston College Alumni, and has completed
advanced degrees and training from Fordham University, New York University, Georgian
Court University, and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. In 2016, Jennifer created
Mindset, LLC, which offers in-person and Telehealth private practice for behavioral
therapy, Health Coaching, Reiki, and workshops on health and wellness. Jennifer has
had the opportunity to work with school districts and professional organizations
throughout the state of New Jersey and across the country. Jennifer is a life-long
athlete, and grew up playing basketball, volleyball, and was a competitive swimmer. As
an adult, she became a marathon runner, and a yoga practitioner. She believes strongly
in connecting the mind, body, and nature daily. She has co-authored with Cynthia
O’Connell a book, The Elevation Principles, and is also the co-host of the Mindset
Connection podcast.
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Social media: @mindsetjen-Instagram, @mindsetconnectionpod-TikTok
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mindsetjen
YouTube::https://www.youtube.com/@TheElevationPrinciples
Podcast: Mindset Connection-on Spotify, Apple, and Youtube