The Villadom Times Weekly Newspaper Online-Jun 9, 2010 Issue

Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES II, III & IV • June 9, 2010 Where health comes to mind �� the SOAR Experience. I am so glad that I investigated and made the decision to enroll Leonard this summer. When I would pick him up you could tell he had had a good day. The most remarkable thing is that Leonard took part in social activities with several of the campers. When particular campers left after the first session, Leonard said that he wished they weren’t leaving. This is the closest he has ever come to saying that he liked one of his peers. I’m so glad that there was a therapeutic – yet fun environment for Leonard to experience over the summer vacation.” -- From Leonard’s mom. Alex, a counselor-in-training, said, “For the past few weeks, I’ve been working as a counselor-in-training at the SOAR Experience. In the beginning, I was nervous about the idea of working at this camp…my mind created a scenario of me attempting to manage a group of wild children. Thankfully, this was dispelled by the four-day orientation conducted by the staff. This experience has given me insight into the work world. I encountered situations I had not expected to and I feel I have grown in the past few weeks. I highly recommend working at the SOAR Experience.” “The basic concept of the SOAR Experience is brilliant, for while the program appears to exist for benefit of the campers, in reality it equally existed for the CITs. Brian’s personal growth through this experience was outstanding and much more than any of us had anticipated. The directors and adult counselors did a phenomenal job of juggling the needs of the campers and the agenda to give the CITs a taste of a real job and the opportunity for real responsibility.” -- From Brian’s mom. Asperger’s related services is among the specialized programs offered by West This summer, West Bergen’s Asperger’s related services will again sponsor The SOAR Experience, a summer program for individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome and other related disorders who are ages six through 16. This therapeutic social skills program is offered in a day camp-like environment at the Center for Children and Youth, One Cherry Lane in Ramsey. There is one six week session, July 5 through Aug. 13; and two, three-week sessions: July 5 through 23, and July 26 through Aug. 13. “We are so pleased to be able to again offer this unique program to youngsters in the community,” said Dr. Jeanne Marron, clinical director of Asperger’s related services at West Bergen. “The SOAR Experience is a small, nurturing program, specifically designed to help children with social challenges thrive and succeed in a supportive environment.” Under the direction of West Bergen’s professional staff, participants will expand their skills in a number of important areas including: building relationships, increasing flexibility, resolving conflicts, successful transitions, improving social scanning, decreasing anxiety, experiencing newness and change, and coping with sensory issues. The SOAR Experience received wonderful reviews from campers, counselorsin-training and parents. Here are excerpts from just a few of the letters West Bergen has received. “I can’t thank you enough for the support and services provided to Leonard during his six weeks at the SOAR Experience. Leonard had a very difficult year at his middle school. He was taunted and teased to the point of anger and frustration. Our school guidance office recommended Coming this summer: The SOAR Experience Children enjoying the activities at The SOAR Experience in 2009. Bergen Mental Healthcare. Since its inception in 1999, the Asperger’s related services department has become a leader in this field and has served more than 1,000 children and adults. The department offers a con- tinuum of special programs and services. For information on The SOAR Experience or West Bergen, call Phyllis Strohmeyer at (201) 934-1160, extension 7203, or visit www.westbergen.org. Meet the doctors (continued from page 18) at the Post-Graduate Center for Mental Health in New York City and served at mental health counseling centers and college counseling centers in the area. She has been trained in various approaches to mental illness including cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy. In addition to advanced training in depressive disorders through Columbia University, Dr. Sudol has also had specific training in psychological first aid and traumatic stress management. She is a member of the Traumatic Loss Coalition in Bergen County. A graduate of Montclair State University, Dr. Sudol graduated from Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. She is a member of the New Jersey, Bergen County, and the American psychological associations. Paul D. Trautman, M.D. joined the staff of the Center for Children and Youth in 2005. A board certified child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Trautman has served as assistant professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University and as assistant attending psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian Hospital. A specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of depression in children, he has been the recipient of many prestigious fellowships. He is also a member of numerous professional organizations and has authored countless articles and books on anxiety disorders and depression in children and adolescents. Mayer’s Karate and Fitness is offering a free summer program for all area children between the ages of 4 and 14 at its North Haledon location. Mayer’s will try to accommodate as many children as possible on a ﬁrst-come, ﬁrst-served basis. The program is ﬂexible as far as days and times, depending on the age of the participant. Please call Mayer’s for the schedule and registration. Mayer’s Karate and Fitness is the area’s leader in martial arts, cardio-kickboxing and personal training. Mark Mayer, the school director, has been training and teaching the martial arts for over 30 years and holds a seventh degree Black Belt. Mayer instructs daily in his karate and ﬁtness facility and conducts programs in corporations and schools as well. Registration is required for this free program, and classes are now forming. Please reserve your child’s place early, since space is limited. Mayer’s Karate & Fitness is located in the High Mountain Plaza Shopping Center at 5 Sicomac Road, North Haledon (just 2 miles from the Franklin Lakes Market Basket). Call (973) 238-8600 for information. Free Karate program offered this summer �� KEANE FIT & WELLNESS �� Sheila Keane �� • EDUCATED - MA in exercise science • CERTIFIED - ACSM, NASM, Post Rehab Specialist, MAT Specialist • EXPERIENCED - 15 years one-to-one personal training 201-341-0183 • CALL NOW Fitness, Weight Loss, Bariatrics, Geriatrics & Parkinson’s Programs