Help Women Remember who They Wanted to be.

Beth struggled with alcoholism, bipolar disorder and other mental health troubles after leaving her corporate job. As Beth recalls, her life was filled with depression and a series of relapses that almost took her life.

Until she saw an advertisement in a local paper for Crossroads for Women™ that reminded her to remember who she wanted to be.

Are you inspired by our blog and the work that we do here in Maine? Are you willing to donate to Crossroads for Women this year so that we can help more women like Beth?

Beth has been a client at Kennebunk Counseling Center for more than a year now. For Beth, attending the intensive outpatient program (IOP), individual counseling sessions and receiving medication management services in one place has been “a beneficial and lifesaving experience.”

Crossroads for Women™ has managed to thrive in an otherwise gloomy economy. As a reader of our blog, you may have read about our successes throughout the year. Our board of directors and senior management team has worked together to trim excess costs, focusing on maintaining the high quality programs that help women like Beth remember who they wanted to be.

Crossroads for Women™ remains successful because we are always looking at the future of treatment. We hope that you will support our efforts, because we can’t do it without you.

We ask you to go to our secure donation site or simply send a check to Crossroads for Women™, attn: Lisa Merrill, 66 Pearl Street, Suite 326, Portland, ME 04101.

Thank you for your continued support by simply reading this blog!

Crossroads for Women is where you would send your mother, sister or daughter for outpatient or residential treatment for substance abuse and mental health so she can remember who she wanted to be. Your contribution will directly affect women, their families and the community around them and is tax deductible.

Non-alcoholic Holiday Drink Recipes

We’re right in the middle of the holiday party season. Being a person in recovery can be particularly difficult during this time. It seems like everything revolves around drinking alcohol.

Here are some yummy drink recipes, that are also alcohol free, that anyone can enjoy.

Pink Grapefruit “Margaritas” (Serves 6)

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons colored sanding sugar (sanding sugar is a large-grain decorative sugar; granulated sugar may be substituted.)
• 1 lime
• 6 teaspoons pomegranate syrup or grenadine
• 1 1/2 cups pink grapefruit juice

Directions

• Place sanding sugar in a shallow dish or plate. Slice six thin rounds from the middle of lime; set aside. Rub lime wedge around rims of six glasses; dip each rim in sugar to coat. Pour 1 teaspoon pomegranate syrup into bottom of each glass.
• Place grapefruit juice and 2 cups ice cubes in a blender. Process on high speed until ice is crushed. Pour frozen mixture into glasses, and stir to combine with syrup. Garnish with reserved lime rounds, and serve immediately.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Pink Grapefruit “Margaritas” – Martha Stewart Recipes

Apple Sparkler (serves 5)

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon red or green colored sugar (optional)
• 10 unpeeled orange wedges or chunks
• 5 unpeeled lime wedges or chunks
• 5 6-inch wooden skewers
• 2/3 cup  raspberry juice blend
• 1 750 ml bottle sparkling apple cider or sparkling pear-apple juice, chilled

Directions

• Sprinkle colored sugar on a piece of waxed paper. Moisten the rims of five wine glasses, one at a time, with a little water. Dip each rim in sugar and set aside for 5 to 10 minutes to dry.
• For fruit garnish, place 2 orange wedges and 1 lime wedge onto each skewer; set aside.
• Divide raspberry juice blend among prepared wine glasses. Being careful not to disturb the sugar on the rim, gently pour sparkling cider into each glass. Place a citrus skewer in each glass.

Read more at BHG.com: Apple Sparkler Recipe

Spiced Holiday Tea Recipe (serves 4 )

Ingredients

• 2 cups  water
• 3 tea bags (unflavored black tea)
• 4 star anise
• 1 3-inch-long cinnamon stick
• 1 cup  passion fruit nectar
• 3 tablespoons  honey
• 2 tablespoons  lemon juice

Directions

• In a medium saucepan bring water to boiling. Add tea bags, anise, and cinnamon stick. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 3 to 5 minutes. Discard tea bags and cinnamon stick. Stir in nectar, honey, and lemon juice. Heat through.
• Pour tea mixture into four heat-proof cups, floating a star anise on top of each.

Read more at BHG.com: Spiced Holiday Tea Recipe

Have a non-alcoholic holiday drink recipe of your own? Please share in the comments section!

Dealing with Grief and Loss During the Holiday Season

The holiday season can be especially lonely and challenging for those dealing with the loss of a loved one. To help, Crossroads for Women will be offering Grief and Loss During the Holiday Season in the Portland, Maine area from December 7, 2010 – January 11, 2011.

The 6-week outpatient therapy group offers support during this holiday season to adult women who have lost a loved one. It provides a safe, confidential atmosphere to share experiences of loss and grief at a time when the focus is on happiness, family and celebration.

We encourage women to reach out and take this opportunity to connect with others in this healing process.

Grief and Loss During the Holiday Season Outpatient Therapy Group

when:
December 7, 2010 – January 11, 2011 (6 weeks)
Tuesdays, 5:30pm – 7:00pm

where:
Greater Portland Counseling Center
66 Pearl Street, Suite 202
Portland, Maine 04101
counselor: Marianne Donahue, LCSW
Get Directions

FMI: 207.773.9931 or email

Crossroads for Women accepts private insurance, MaineCare and self-pay.

View a full list of therapy groups currently being offered (PDF)

HRASM Helps Halfway House Clients Reshape Their Employment Outlook

Last month, the clients of our halfway house program were visited by a few caring human resources professionals involved with the Human Resources Association of Southern Maine (HRASM). They came in without judgment and ready to work.

Women from various Portland area companies, including Unum, Portland Public Library, Maine Eye Center and RM Davis, shared their expertise on everything from resume writing, to job searching, to presenting yourself to a potential employer over the course of three very informative educational sessions.

Clients learned how to address tricky subjects like employment gaps or past convictions due to their addiction. They were taught how to reshape their language when presenting themselves in an interview. They created resumes and worked with each other to assess their strengths, weaknesses and how to identify and break the barriers that were keeping them from getting a job.

In the end, both the clients and the human resources professionals were elated with the results of the workshop. Almost immediately, three clients were able to see positive results from the work they completed in the workshop via job leads and actually obtaining employment. The facilitators of the group loved working with the women and were inspired by their positive energy and eagerness to learn.

We are looking forward to continuing this partnership in the future!

Find out more about Crossroads for Women’s halfway house program