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It's clear in the high level of anxiety exhibited by unemployed 50- to 60-year-olds still looking for a job. It's obvious in the number of marriages that seem to be on the rocks.
And, they say, it's absolutely evident in the spike of suicide attempts reported at hospital emergency rooms.
Times are tough throughout western Nevada County and beyond, say a trio of counselors from Selah Counseling Services in south county.
“There is a lot of anxiety, high anxiety that families are facing with financial crises,” said Kate Pieper, founder and executive director of Selah Counseling, which recently marked its 10th anniversary.
“And those crises only exacerbate situations already in the family that have been lying under the surface.”
Loss of jobs, retirement funds and health care insurance are taking people to the brink.
But that's where services provided at places like Selah Counseling can make a difference, Pieper said.
“Selah” is a Biblical phrase that means to pause and reflect, she added, which occurred to her in one of those middle of the night realizations would be the perfect name for the practice she founded a decade ago.
“I sat up in the middle of the night,” Pieper said. “Selah Counseling Services, a safe place to pause and reflect on life.”
It fits well with the sentiment she and her teammates, Todd Arvidson, Margy Grebe and Ryan Walsh are trying to deliver to those in the thick of tough times.
“Pause and digest everything you learn,” Walsh said. “What a perfect metaphor for life and our life nowadays, with how busy things are.”
The faith-based nonprofit organization doesn't demand its clients be of any religious persuasion, having worked with all churches in the area to provide counseling services in both Nevada and Placer counties.
And there's not much doubt, they say, that mental health is directly tied to a person's general level of health.
“Research shows that the majority of health visits to the doctor are emotionally related — whether with anxiety or depression, for example,” Pieper said. “We feel as though we're on the front lines of helping people with a piece of their health.
“If they're depressed. If they're suffering anxiety, they're going to perform differently on the job.”
A key message shared at Selah Counseling is that no matter the dilemma someone is facing, it doesn't have to define who they are or determine their future.
Suggesting in a sense similar to the Biblical “this too shall pass,” such struggles are just “seasons” of someone's life, Pieper said.“Every generation has its season,” she said. “And every long-term marriage has its season, though many times they just don't talk about it openly.”
Opening the lines of communication is key, however, to coming to a better place, they said.
At Selah Counseling, the group tries to treat the entire family, bringing each member's perspective into the fold.
Recognizing patterns of behavior passed down from parents to child has the potential for change beyond those being treated, Arvidson said.
“A healthy family is a happy family,” Arvidson said. “And emotional health is key in that. The most enjoyable part of our work is watching families get stable.
“You know you've just affected generations.”
“When one person gets healthy,” Walsh adds, “it makes a shift in the entire family.”
Some suggestions Selah's staff offers for those struggling financially are to not focus on what they don't have, but what they do.
Wealth, in general, might alleviate some stress over financial worries, but “happiness doesn't depend on how wealthy you are,” Pieper said.
Arvidson said those out of work might do well to look for ways to serve the community and help those even less fortunate than themselves.
Perhaps, it's a good time to reconnect with friends or to focus on additional time available to your family, he said.
“This isn't a good place to come if you're not wanting change in your life,” said Pieper. “The people we can help say ‘I'm wanting change in my life, I just don't how to get there.”
To contact City Editor Brian Hamilton, e-mail bhamilton@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4249.
And, they say, it's absolutely evident in the spike of suicide attempts reported at hospital emergency rooms.
Times are tough throughout western Nevada County and beyond, say a trio of counselors from Selah Counseling Services in south county.
“There is a lot of anxiety, high anxiety that families are facing with financial crises,” said Kate Pieper, founder and executive director of Selah Counseling, which recently marked its 10th anniversary.
“And those crises only exacerbate situations already in the family that have been lying under the surface.”
Loss of jobs, retirement funds and health care insurance are taking people to the brink.
But that's where services provided at places like Selah Counseling can make a difference, Pieper said.
“Selah” is a Biblical phrase that means to pause and reflect, she added, which occurred to her in one of those middle of the night realizations would be the perfect name for the practice she founded a decade ago.
“I sat up in the middle of the night,” Pieper said. “Selah Counseling Services, a safe place to pause and reflect on life.”
It fits well with the sentiment she and her teammates, Todd Arvidson, Margy Grebe and Ryan Walsh are trying to deliver to those in the thick of tough times.
“Pause and digest everything you learn,” Walsh said. “What a perfect metaphor for life and our life nowadays, with how busy things are.”
The faith-based nonprofit organization doesn't demand its clients be of any religious persuasion, having worked with all churches in the area to provide counseling services in both Nevada and Placer counties.
And there's not much doubt, they say, that mental health is directly tied to a person's general level of health.
“Research shows that the majority of health visits to the doctor are emotionally related — whether with anxiety or depression, for example,” Pieper said. “We feel as though we're on the front lines of helping people with a piece of their health.
“If they're depressed. If they're suffering anxiety, they're going to perform differently on the job.”
A key message shared at Selah Counseling is that no matter the dilemma someone is facing, it doesn't have to define who they are or determine their future.
Suggesting in a sense similar to the Biblical “this too shall pass,” such struggles are just “seasons” of someone's life, Pieper said.“Every generation has its season,” she said. “And every long-term marriage has its season, though many times they just don't talk about it openly.”
Opening the lines of communication is key, however, to coming to a better place, they said.
At Selah Counseling, the group tries to treat the entire family, bringing each member's perspective into the fold.
Recognizing patterns of behavior passed down from parents to child has the potential for change beyond those being treated, Arvidson said.
“A healthy family is a happy family,” Arvidson said. “And emotional health is key in that. The most enjoyable part of our work is watching families get stable.
“You know you've just affected generations.”
“When one person gets healthy,” Walsh adds, “it makes a shift in the entire family.”
Some suggestions Selah's staff offers for those struggling financially are to not focus on what they don't have, but what they do.
Wealth, in general, might alleviate some stress over financial worries, but “happiness doesn't depend on how wealthy you are,” Pieper said.
Arvidson said those out of work might do well to look for ways to serve the community and help those even less fortunate than themselves.
Perhaps, it's a good time to reconnect with friends or to focus on additional time available to your family, he said.
“This isn't a good place to come if you're not wanting change in your life,” said Pieper. “The people we can help say ‘I'm wanting change in my life, I just don't how to get there.”
To contact City Editor Brian Hamilton, e-mail bhamilton@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4249.
