DANBURY—Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc. offers a variety of mental health and counseling services throughout Fairfield County. With mental health counseling offices located in Norwalk and in Danbury, the nonprofit social services agency is providing therapeutic services to those impacted by behavioral health issues and those in need of support during difficult periods of their life.
In addition to basic counseling, the agency is also providing case management services. The Catholic Charities Community Support Program (CSP), funded by the Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS), is contracted to provide skill building and life skill services to adults with psychiatric disabilities in the Greater Danbury area. The program teaches, coaches and educates clients in the community about mental health and addiction issues. CSP is providing a myriad of services including, but not limited to: skill building, social integration into the community, clinical connections, medical treatment, substance abuse treatment, employment support, and education and rehabilitation services.
Also located in Danbury, New Heights is a wellness and recovery center. The program which is member run and member driven, offers classes, groups and seminars that address every aspect of emotional and physical wellness. This holistic programming includes classes such as food and nutrition, mindfulness, anger management, walking and positive thinking. Community meetings are held daily, during which members and staff come together to discuss announcements, issues, ideas and concerns.
These services are generally open to Catholic Charities’ clients only. However, Catholic Charities recognizes that sometimes expanding services is necessary in order to meet the needs of the community. According to CSP Director Charlie Coretto, “We realized that while we were supporting the individual impacted with mental health issues at an optimal level, our programs wanted to provide support to the family and loves ones that had a person in recovery. We have been providing “Family Night “to the greater Danbury Community for over 10 years to family members. It was through a recent client focus group that the idea was suggested to have two support groups run simultaneously. We would continue the “Family Night “group geared toward loved ones and family members and then begin to run a “Client Family Night” for clients themselves. We wanted the people we serve to be able to be able to attend a peer group at the same time their loved ones attended their own “Family Night “group. There is a great need for a program that offers support to both groups here in the Danbury area. We have the ability to offer support groups that help our clients and their families to expand their knowledge base of resources and promote recovery through peer support, family, involvement and natural supports.
As a result, the Community Support Program, in conjunction with New Heights, is launching a new support group for people with mental health issues to run concurrently with the already running “Family Night” group. Beginning in February, two groups will be facilitated simultaneously, one for the individual impacted with mental health issues and the other for the members of their support system – family and friends. All are welcome!
If you would like more information on the Community Support Program, New Heights or the new Family Support Group, please contact Charlie Coretto at 203.748.0848 ext. 226 or ccoretto@ccfc-ct.org.
(For more information on all of the mental health services provided by Catholic Charities, visit the agency website at www.ccfairfield.org.)
