Wellness and Emotional Self-Reliance
At different times we all feel sad or alone. The number of individuals who suffer from mental health issues is growing world-wide. Mental health professionals do what they can but there are several difficulties for struggling individuals to get the help they need — a lack of services, costs, and even finding a counselor they trust.
Counseling in the Streets (CIS) provides a viable, sustainable option that can help those who suffer with mental health issues. CIS is also for those who would like to help and support those family members and friends who struggle, and anyone who would like to become more emotionally self-reliant.
Community wellness groups, led by local facilitators yields amazing results. While mental health professionals are doing the best they can, they are limited in numbers. However, by training local individuals in basic counseling techniques, providing them with a wellness program guide, and helping them organize and run community wellness groups, more people can be reached while at the same time developing supportive connections with others in their own communities.
Members of these wellness groups serve as “peer counselors” for each other. As group members reach out to and help those in their wellness groups, they in-turn help themselves in their own struggles.
With user-friendly, participatory materials, training and consultation, Counseling in the Streets empowers local neighborhood-level leaders to become group facilitators and peer counselors. Through this innovative approach, CIS enables individuals, families and partner organizations to provide self-directed, interactive and highly-effective therapeutic and emotional support for anyone who may be experiencing mental health or emotional struggles.
Although Interweave Solutions’ original focus was to create this resource for developing countries, mental health professionals from the United States are also requesting access to Counseling in the Streets to use with their clients. We have seen remarkable success in our local community groups and schools throughout the United States as well as Africa, South America and India and many ore countries around the world.
Upon completion of the Counseling in the Streets course, participants will become “Certified Wellness Facilitators.” These facilitators will then be able to create new or augment existing self-reliance groups with the CIS wellness curriculum.
Counseling in the Streets is also a gateway to Interweave Solutions literacy and business self-reliance curriculum and vice versa. Interweave Solutions’ conversational approach that has been so successful with business startups around the world has given birth to an excellent opportunity for people to continue their conversations regarding emotional literacy.
Please contact Interweave Solutions to learn how you or your organization can initiate your own Counseling in the Streets program.
Interweave’s Counseling in the Streets program.
What Does the Program Looks Like?
Counseling in the Streets consists of 18 units. After the introductory unit, the next three units (Units 2-4) focus on basic counseling skills — How you feel, listen and speak. The following 14 units each focus on a specific “barrier to wellness” (i.e. depression, anxiety, substance use, etc.). Each unit contains a story, illustration, discussion prompts, important concepts, bounce-back strategies, activities, reflection, commitment and plan for the next meeting. Through this group dialogue process, neighborhood groups develop self-help wellness capacity.
Are the counseling in the streets programs for youth children?
Yes! We have 4 different levels: Adults (18 and older), High School (14-18 years old), Middle School (11-14 years old) and Primary School (5-11 years old). Each manual contains age appropriate stories, discussion questions and activities that are applicable to that particular age group.
Who can benefit from this program?
We have utilized this program with children as young as 5 years old and adults who are in their 80s, and every age in between! We have shared Counseling in the Streets with friends living in the most humble of circumstances with little education as well as with those living in affluent circumstances and college degrees. We have run groups in hospitals, villages, schools, business, prisons, and many, many more places! Anyone and everyone will benefit from this program!
Interweave’s CIS “Certified Wellness Facilitators” course.
Is the Cis wellness facilitator course accredited?
The Counseling in the Streets Wellness Facilitator course is accredited through Interweave Solutions. Upon completion of this program, you will become a “Certified Interweave Wellness Facilitator”.
How long does it take to complete the course
The program is self-paced. There are 8 lessons. It is reasonable to complete 2 lessons per week. So, 4 weeks would be a realistic expectation. However, depending on your circumstances, it is possible to finish at a quicker pace or to take a bit longer.
Will there be any in-person requirements (i.e not on-line) with this course?
- You will need to organize a pilot group where you will recruit several friends and family members to participate. You will conduct a minimum of 3 wellness sessions with this group.
- There will be several assignments throughout the course where you will need to enlist a partner to help you complete the assignments.
Are those who complete the course considered "professional counselors"?
Upon completion of this course, you will not be a professional counselor. You will be a “Certified Interweave Wellness Facilitator” and will have the skills to organize and facilitate a wellness group. Your group members will work together as peer counselors for one another. After participating in a minimum of 5 group sessions, your group members can become “Certified Peer Counselors”.
Can i work or volunteer after taking the course?
While completion of the Counseling in the Streets Wellness Facilitator Training course can’t guarantee you a job, it does greatly enhance your skills and your resume. Upon completion of this program, you will become a “Certified Wellness Facilitator”. This will enable you to create your own wellness groups or apply for jobs in which you can facilitate wellness groups within the organization.