News

Feeling weary, anxious, and overwhelmed by life?

For so many of us, the last few years have been full of upheaval, uncertainty, and
anxiety. The constant unpredictability, barrage of bad news, and division in our society, and even our families, has led many of us to a point of feeling overloaded, exhausted, and uncertain how to care for ourselves. We know we need to make a change, but are not always sure what our next right step is.

Consider Renew, a group forming now at Vital Sources in Frederick, led by Peter Wolff, LCPC. Peter is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Therapist and will help you to focus on the small steps you can take to help cultivate and preserve your mental health in the midst of a mentally unhealthy world. Renew will meet entirely online, Mondays at 6:00pm, beginning in September. Each session lasts an hour and will be experiential, practical, and equipping. The investment is $50 per session and 12 consecutive weeks. Renew will be accepting new members now throughout the late summer; open for anyone who realizes that they could use a little soul care in this season. Group size is limited, so please reserve your spot today.

For more information or to schedule a free initial consultation, please contact Vital
Sources through email at [email protected].

Clinical Psychology Externship and Counseling Internship
August 2022 -June 2023

Objectives of training program:

• To give students a quality professional experience in the provision of psychological services with a spectrum of patients
• To provide active, consistent, and relational supervision and training
• To give an experience of a group psychological practice that functions as a dynamic team
• To invite trainees into a living integration of faith and psychological practice

Description of the training program:

• Up to three trainees will be accepted for the 2022-2023 cohort, which may be either psychology doctoral students (externship) or counseling graduate students (internship).
• Psychology externs will have licensed psychologists as primary supervisors and may receive additional supervision / consultation from other professionals.
  • The primary responsibility for these externs will be to provide psychotherapy to individuals and couples, with the possibility of conducting family and / or group psychotherapy. They will additionally be asked to assist with the completion of full psychological evaluations for seminary candidates and/or current seminarians in need of further evaluation.
• Counseling interns will have a licensed clinical professional counselor as a primary supervisor and may receive additional supervision / consultation from other professionals.
  • Their primary responsibility will be to conduct various psychotherapies with individuals and couples, with the possibility of conducting family and /or group psychotherapy.
• Time and schedule commitments:
  • Days in the office are Tuesday and Thursday, with required training and team meetings occurring from 12:15 – 1:50 on those days. Training times include opportunities for interns and externs to receive consultation and to act in the role of consultant. If a student cannot be in the office for the entirety of the day on Tuesday or Thursday, he or she is still welcome to apply as long as attendance at meetings is possible.
    The time commitment is 16 hours / week.
    Externship/internship will commence in mid- August, 2022 and continue through mid June, 2023 (exact dates TBA).
• Requirements:
  • For PsyD applicants: A minimum of one year of clinical experience (i.e., this is the second or later year externship).
  • For MS and MA counseling applicants: A minimum of 1 semester of clinical experience.
  • Professional attire and presentation befitting a professional psychological practice.
• Stipend: A stipend of $500 each semester ($1,000 for the training year) is offered to each intern and extern.

Distinctive features of Vital Sources:

• We are a multidisciplinary group of mental health professionals, providing various modalities of therapy (individual, couples, family, and group) and assessment services to people struggling with mental health needs from acute episodes to chronic disabilities.
• We seek to provide services to individuals and families of all racial, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds. We work to honor people in the name of Christ as we serve them.
• We serve the City of Frederick, the surrounding county of Frederick, including the neighboring counties and all those who consider the general Baltimore/Washington corridor their home.
• We are Christian professionals. Our relationship to Christ and the church is central in our identity and mission. Out of this Christ-centered identity, we seek to respect the various religious values and orientations of all our patients.
• We value practicing in a team and believe that the professional services offered in this context are not only efficacious but also provide significant health and support for the providers. In one sense, a team is in fact treating the patient and the power of this unit is not to be overstated.

Application Process:

• Materials: Please provide a cover letter, resume or CV and two letters of recommendation. The cover letter is to address the reasons this externship/internship opportunity would enhance your training and development as a professional and how your involvement would enhance the distinctive features of Vital Sources Psychological Services. One of the two letters of recommendation must be from a clinical supervisor who has observed your work.
• Letters can be addressed to Pamela R. Shepp, LCPC, Internship/Externship Program Director. Please send all materials electronically to Autumn Pante at [email protected]. Be sure to include your mobile phone number and a frequently checked email address. Any questions about the process may be addressed to Autumn Pante by email or by phone at 301-620-8700 x 114 (Monday to Friday 8-4).
• Applications must be received by Friday, February 11, 2022.
• Interviews will be held at Vital Sources on February 21 and 22, 2022.
• Offers will be extended by March 11, 2022. For psychology externs, the DC Consortium Guidelines will be followed. Offers may be made prior to March 11, but students will not be required to accept until that date. If an offer is made prior to March 11, we ask students to accept or decline by 9am on that date.
• A sample contract will be given to each applicant during the interview so as to clarify Vital Sources’ expectations and in anticipation of the signing of an individual contract.

Feeling weary, anxious, and overwhelmed by life?

For so many of us, the last two years have been full of upheaval, uncertainty, and anxiety. The constant unpredictability, barrage of bad news, and division in our society, and even our families, has led many of us to a point of feeling overloaded, exhausted, and uncertain how to care for ourselves. We know we need to make a change, but are not always sure what our next right step is.

Consider Renew, a group forming now at Vital Sources in Frederick, led by Peter Wolff, LCPC. Peter is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Therapist and will help you to focus on the small steps you can take to help cultivate and preserve your mental health in the midst of a mentally unhealthy world. Renew will meet entirely online, with the option of two different times – Mondays at 6:00pm or Tuesdays at 10:30am. Each session lasts an hour and will be experiential, practical, and equipping. The investment is $50 per session and you have the ability to attend as many sessions as you need to feel renewed. Beginning in January, Renew will be accepting new members throughout the winter and spring; open for anyone who realizes that they could use a little soul care in this season.

For more information or to schedule a free initial consultation, please contact Vital Sources. You can call us at 301-620-8700 and follow the prompts for a first-time caller or email us at [email protected].

Jennifer Lanuzga, Psy.D, is our newest therapist who is now accepting clients. You can read more about Jennifer’s training and experience below, or in her bio under our Staff page.

Please call our Intake Coordinator at (301) 620-8700 for more information about scheduling an appointment with Jennifer.

“‘Are you in pain, Frodo?’ said Gandalf quietly as he rode by Frodo’s side. ‘Well, yes I am,’ said Frodo.’ […] The wound aches, and the memory of darkness is heavy on me. […] Where shall I find rest?’” (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King).

Are you experiencing challenges or pain in your life? Have you felt stuck, or standing at a crossroads in life? Perhaps you are searching for help for your family, with parenting a child, or you experience struggles in relationships. I am privileged in my work as a psychotherapist to walk alongside those I meet to provide support, and to work together towards healing, problem solving, and gaining clarity.

Jennifer is a registered postdoctoral Psychology Associate (PA) of Maryland and a clinician with the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. Qualified by a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Institute for the Psychological Sciences at Divine Mercy University and four years of supervised clinical experience, she brings a wide spectrum of training and expertise to her work with clients. Jennifer works with individuals, couples, and families, including children (ages 4+), adolescents, and women and men of all ages. She is also trained to provide psychological evaluation in cognitive (intelligence, achievement, ADHD, memory) and vocational (applying to seminary, diaconate, Religious Life) assessments. In addition to her work as a generalist, Jennifer has received specialized training in treating trauma (including EMDR), Child-Centered Play Therapy, Relationship Enhancement Therapy, CBT, DBT, Psychodynamic Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy, and in treating mild eating disorders and substance abuse disorders. She has spent time working with a wide range of populations, diagnoses, and ethnicities, including working with translators as a psychotherapist.

Jennifer lives in Frederick, where she enjoys the beautiful, natural surroundings and involvement in her community. She was formed by the experience of growing up in a military family, both stateside and overseas, as well as by several years living in a Religious Community. Jennifer has traveled extensively and has many interests, including music, art, photography, gardening, and spending time in nature. She is inspired to meet each client with compassion, understanding, and empathy and enjoys her work as a psychotherapist, as she facilitates healing and growth towards wholeness and peace.

Vital Sources is offering an NBCC approved class on Saturday, December 5th from 10am-1pm! This webinar, “Not Your Grandma’s Freud – A Fresh Look at Psychodynamic Theory and Practice”, will be taught by Erik Hadden, LCPC, and is available for $49. Participants will receive 3 NBCC credit hours.
To sign up, click on this link: https://not-your-grandmas-freud-registration.eventbrite.com

Sabrina Hernandez, LGPC, is our newest counselor who will be accepting clients in August. You can read more about Sabrina’s training and experience below, or in her bio under our Staff page.

Please call our Intake Coordinator at (301) 620-8700 for more information about scheduling an appointment with Sabrina.

My goal is to create a safe space where healing can begin. Through the gift of therapy, I aim to encourage and empower you to enjoy life at your full potential in the hopes of leading you to greater personal discovery of inner resources and perspectives that will lead to contentedness and healthier relationships. I invite you to allow me to help you build awareness, compassion, understanding, respect, empathy, and acceptance toward yourself and others.

Sabrina is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) who received her training through the Hood College clinical mental health counseling graduate program. She offers individual therapy to adults dealing with anxiety, depression, life transitions and more. Practicing from a person-centered theoretical framework, Sabrina aims to help her clients discover their ability to function at their best– in life and in relationships through warmth, compassion, encouragement, and collaboration. She is passionate about helping individuals identify the source of their struggles and make life-changing choices. Through individualized treatment plans she aims to help clients set and accomplish goals for improving the quality of their lives. Sabrina also has a special interest in helping clients have more loving and connected families and marriages by cultivating fulfilling relationships and intimacy. She works with families and couples experiencing general relationship issues, communication problems, moving past affairs and infidelity as well as intense conflict. Major life transitions including marriage, divorce, adjusting to co-parenting and step-families after divorce or separation are areas of focus in her family work. Sabrina offers an outside perspective to help couples and families figure out what strengths and skills they can use to help them through difficult situations.

Originally from New York, Sabrina moved to Washington, DC to attend Howard University where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in interior design. After working in the design field, Sabrina changed her focus and began working with children. Soon after getting married, Sabrina and her husband moved to Frederick where they started their family. Sabrina, her husband and their two sons have called Frederick home for the last 8 years. Sabrina enjoyed her role as a stay-at-home mother before enrolling in graduate school to pursue her Master’s degree in counseling, feeling called to the work of helping others improve their lives and relationships. Sabrina enjoys reading, crafting, cooking, baking, traveling and spending time with family and friends in her spare time.

Vital Sources is offering its first NBCC approved class on Saturday Aug 8th from 10am-1pm and will give 3 CE units to Counselors! This webinar, “Ethical Issues When Addressing Religion and Spirituality in Mental Health Treatment”, will be taught by Erik Hadden, LCPC, and is available for $49. To sign up, click on this link: https://ethical-issues.eventbrite.com

Do you find it difficult to slow your mind down at times? Does stress seem to be a constant theme in your life these days?

You are not alone! Many people have difficulty slowing down and dealing with stress. No matter what the source of stress, sometimes it can be hard to know how to handle it.

Perhaps you have tried to be still and practice meditation but you find it difficult to sit still. Maybe you have tried a variety of things to relieve some stress but to no avail.

Creativity can be a powerful tool to help you slow down your mind, reduce stress and be in the moment.
So we are offering a free webinar called “Creating Your Way to Joy” on Apr 28, 2020 07:00 PM EST.

In this webinar you will learn:

-How creativity can help you to slow down your mind, learn to be in the moment and let go of stress and worries.

-Different ways in which you can incorporate art into your daily life

-What kinds of art supplies you might need to create various projects

-One short practical example of an art activity you can do at home with just a pen and a few markers

Not an artist? No worries!

This webinar is set up to be an introductory course to show you how anyone can incorporate these techniques into practice. By the end of this seminar, you will have a better idea of tools and methods that you can use on your own and also decide if you would like to learn more about using art as a therapeutic tool.

Click on this link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VcMt0Mc5S9GzBK0RjGg8HQ

Free webinar for kids! Join us and learn how to express healthy emotions through dance. For elementary age kids (and brave parents!). Wednesday, April 22 at 10:30am (EST).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA5Hb5zmS7I&t=1s

Parents! Helping kids stay calm and focused at any time can be a challenge. Add to that the disruption caused by the pandemic and it doesn’t take long before it feels like chaos is king. How do you tame that chaos and help you and your children feel a sense of calm?

Join this free hour long webinar led by staff therapist Laura Williams, LGPC. Laura will guide parents through some necessary skills for practicing emotional regulation, both for themselves and with their children. Webinar will be live at 8:30pm (EST) on April 14th, but will be recorded for those who can’t attend live. Go here to register for “Calm in the Midst of Corona-Chaos”: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XZ5C7d-iSqK21uKFMnjfCA