đHappy Pride!đ
This Pride Month, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and authenticity of our LGBTQ+ community members in Rochester. Your mental health matters. Your identity matters. You matter. Creating safe, affirming spaces where everyone can thrive is at the heart of what we do. Whether you're seeking support, celebrating your journey, or standing with loved ones - we're here for you.
Tree of Hope Counseling
Co-Owners: Kara Juszczak, LCSWR & Pete Navratil, LCSWR
Humans are not meant to be saved or fixed....
It's been more than a few weeks of this theme in my office - "I thought I could fix them" or "I just want someone to save me" I understand this longing - fixing or saving seems like it will make us feel better, but instead it sets us up for the impossible, and in turn, resentment, disappointment, guilt... Through a schema lens (my go-to way of understanding unmet needs), I ask my clients "who taught you that you are broken and need to be fixed?" Many times this is a child part that is hurting, feeling unheard/unseen, feeling rejected and neglected, and it's a parent or other adult that gave this message when we were younger - and to heal that wound, we tend to look to others... instead of within. We cannot expect our friends and partners to save the part of us that someone else harmed. Our desperation to alleviate emotional pain becomes reliant on others to meet years and years of unmet needs, when the expectation of being fixed is, on its own, unreasonable to put on someone else. When I try to offer this insight, I often hear, "Well, my father won't ever apologize" or "My grandmother isn't here anymore to make amends with me" - proving that someone that has caused emotional harm can't always come around to appropriately repair that damage.
When we notice how unmet emotional needs translate into adult relationships, sense of self, and perceptions of the world around us, we can absolutely surround ourselves with corrective experiences, but not people that we ask to fix and save - instead, people that can teach us about healthy relationships, show us genuine love and care, and bring compassion to our insecurities. This is where we learn to tolerate some of our pain, but the most important relationship to the process of healing is that with ourselves - the adult self with the child self. Schema would ask "What did that vulnerable child need to hear?" Being able to go to the source of that unmet need, and express the love, compassion, and care to ourselves is so powerful. It helps us practice expressing and receiving positive, corrective, and healthy messages to allow the vulnerable child part to feel heard, seen, and loved - and having hope that we can comfort and hold ourselves. This approach takes the burden off of relationships to fix the emotional wounds, and instead empowers us to own our story and hold all of our parts of self.
As with many themes that arise with my clients, this encourages reflection as providers - that we do our own "work" on the parts of us - so that we can bring the best version to our work, but also to have an awareness of the humanness of this longing to be free of emotional wounds. At the end of the day, we are all human, and have much more in common that we realize. - Kara
Don't miss out on getting your professional development hours in. Check out our upcoming offerings!
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Tree of Hope Counseling, LCSW, PLLC, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers (#SW-0322).
NEW! Families in Transition: A Support Group for Parents of Transgender Kids: Are you a parent navigating the journey of supporting your transgender child? Join our parent support group, led by Ryan Roy, MSW Intern, where you can share experiences, find guidance, and receive emotional support. This group is designed for parents like you who may be processing new family dynamics, grief over changing expectations, and uncertainties about the future. Join us for education, resources, support, and community. Group will start Monday 6/20-8/4 from 5:30pm-6:30pm. We would love to have you! Email: newclient@quietmindtherapyservices.com to sign up
Daughters of Emotionally Unavailable Mothers: This is a 11 week group for daughters ages 25-40 who grew up with an emotionally absent mother. The attachment wounds that this causes can be far reaching and life long. Often, relationships in adulthood are effected, and daughters struggle with anxiety, depression and expression of their own emotions. You are not alone. This group is a supportive and educational group which will explore boundaries, healing and re-mothering yourself and is trauma focused. Join Bennet Ockun, LCSW starting Fall 2025 . A brief screening with Bennett is required to ensure appropriateness for the group. Sign up now! newclient@quietmindthearpyservices.com
Womenâs Healing From Trauma Group: This is a 10 week group for women who have experienced trauma in their lives. Using the book Healing From Trauma: A Survivorâs Guide, we will look at the neuroscience of trauma and how it effects the brain and body, learn skills for coping with the post traumatic experience, learn and understand grounding and empowerment strategies to take your life back! All group members will be screened by Erin Weingart LCSW-R, the group leader, to ensure the safety and appropriateness of group members. Limit of 6 participants. Mondays from 5:30-6:30pm, starting June 16 2025. Sign up Now! Newclient@quietmindtherapyservices.com
Menâs Healing from Trauma Group: This is a 12 week group for men who have experienced trauma in their lives. Using the book Healing From Trauma: A Survivorâs Guide, we will look at the neuroscience of trauma and how it effects the brain and body, learn skills for coping with the post traumatic experience, learn and understand grounding and empowerment strategies to take your life back! All group members will be screened by Erin Weingart LCSW-R, the group leader, to ensure the safety and appropriateness of group members. Limit of 6 participants. Thursdays from 5-6:15pm starting May 2025. Sign up at newclient@quietmindtherapyservices.com
Grief Group for Parents of Adult Children
Life doesnât make sense after the death of a child of any age. Traumatic circumstances make coping especially difficult. Listen, share and grieve with the supportive guidance of a grief counselor and other parents. This small, confidential support group is for parents who are overwhelmed by depression, anxiety, anger, guilt, flashbacks or emotional numbness.
Weekly topics include:
- What to expect when grieving.
- How to cope with grief.
- Parental identity after loss.
- Managing the response of friends, family and strangers.
- Dealing with birthdays and anniversaries
- Guilt.
- Layers of grief.
Therapist Lynn Acquafondata, LMHC, D.Min, M.S.Ed., Grief counselor
Day/Time: Wednesdays 5:30 -7:00 p.m.
Dates: June 11, 18, 25, July 9, 23, 30 Aug 13, 20
Cost: $180 for four sessions (individuals) $240 for four sessions (couples)
Location: 18 Harvard St. , Rochester, NY 14607
Registration: Fill out event registration form or call Lynn at 585-330-1340
Facing Life After the Death of Spouse or Life Partner
Are you feeling overwhelmed with grief, after the death of your spouse or life partner? The isolation and devastation felt by surviving partners is unique, and can leave you feeling sad, depressed, numb, afraid, angry or guilty. Coming together with others who have also lost their partners can help you move through these emotions.
This four week therapy group will help people who are struggling to cope following the death of a spouse or life partner. Led by grief counselor, Lynn Acquafondata. Sessions will include grief education, coping tools and facilitated supportive conversation. Register by contacting
Limited to six participants.
Dates: Mondays June 9, 16, 23 and July 7
Time: 12:30 - 2 p.m.
Cost: $160 total
Location: 18 Harvard St. Rochester, 14607
Registration: Event Registration
Questions: Call Lynn Acquafondata at 585-330-1340
Chronic Illness / Compassionate Care
Itâs okay to not be okay. This is a safe space to be real about the struggles of chronic illness. Whether you're dealing with fatigue, emotional challenges, or simply need to talk about whatâs going on, weâre here for each other. Together, we uplift and offer compassionate supportâtailoring our group to your unique needs, whether youâre living with illness, or supporting someone who is.
Hosted the 1st Saturdays of the month.
Group is 10-11am.
Doors open at 9:30 for coffee & refreshments.
Facilitated by Charlie Everson and Lindsey Graser Everson.
Contact Details
2480 Browncroft Boulevard, Rochester, NY, USA
- 585-383-8338
- info@explorepathforward.com
At Spotted Rabbit Studio we do things differently. There are no âclass catalogsâ here. Classes are developed based on the interest and skill of each individual to provide a truly personalized experienced. Our 1:1 art classes provide participants the opportunity to explore the creative process, expand the technical quality of their work, develop a personal style, and receive guidance in exhibiting, performing, and/or selling their artwork.
We offer visual art classes in just about every medium and are skilled in traditional and non-traditional art making practices. Our goal is to provide a supportive mentoring relationship so that you can bring your creative vision to life regardless of your previous art-making experience. Some of our participants prefer to work in a single medium only, such as painting, while others choose to explore a wide variety of art-making materials and techniques.
We use only professional grade materials, tools, and instruments in our studio. Please check out a partial list of our teaching specialties. If you donât see the medium youâre looking for please contact us. Chances are we offer it.