Free Counseling Offered for Monmouth Sandy Victims

Monmouth County children, adults and families impacted by Superstorm Sandy have access to free trauma counseling through 180 Turning Lives Around.

180 Turning Lives Around received a $70,000 grant from the Robin Hood Foundation and is offering services including counseling, group support, family sessions, art therapy, trauma-focused counseling, skills for psychological recovery and case managements.

“We are grateful to the thousands of individuals who donated to the Robin Hood Foundation’s Sandy Relief Fund, which in turn has made it possible for us help those hardest hit here at home,” said Anna Diaz-White, executive director of 180 Turning Lives Around. “Based on the successful work we did following 9/11, refined with additional studies and knowledge about working with disaster victims, this funding allows us to re-tool our existing efforts give care to those who need it most.”

Masters level clinicians provide all services with experience in trauma and disasters, according to a news release.

Groups and individuals can be seen at various locations throughout Monmouth County.

Children five years old and up, and families, can visit 180’s Amanda’s Easel Creative Arts Therapy studio where a Creative Coping program is provided. The program was designed to reduce stress, fear and anxiety as well as gaining coping strategies through art, music, movement and play, the news release said.

Treatment will include the appropriate balance of family, individual and group modalities based on family configuration, presentation of trauma symptoms and the developmental stages of children, the news release said.

Call 732-264-4111 for individual services or 732-787-6503 for family services.