40th Anniversary Fun Fact |
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Catholic Charities Bloomington is celebrating 40 years of providing affordable, quality mental health services to the Bloomington community. In honor of this anniversary, we are going to look back over the coming months on some key moments in CCB’s history.
CCB was born when priests and staff in the Bloomington area expressed the need for “a solid professional marriage and family counseling service” that they could confidently recommend. Mary Miner, an experienced professional counselor, began seeing clients in Bloomington full time in July 1983 out of office space that was provided to by St. John the Apostle parish. The agency was initially called Catholic Social Services Bloomington
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Intern Program a Vital Part of Agency Success |
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Catholic Charities Bloomington Counseling Services hosts a comprehensive training program for students from Indiana University Bloomington and other colleges who are striving to become therapists. CCB partners with the School of Education Mental Health Counseling Program, School of Social Work, School of Psychology, and Ivy Tech Human Services Program in Bloomington to provide real world learning opportunities in the field of clinical mental health therapy. These interns are a big reason we serve the number of children and families we do in our agency.
Each therapist intern begins seeing clients by shadowing a staff therapist to observe sessions, scribe for intake assessments, and provide co-therapy for individuals, couples, and families. The intern then transitions to seeing their own clients within the first month being full supported with task instructors that support them in their learning. Each intern receives individual supervision as well as group supervision to ensure they are receiving the most comprehensive support for their learning as well as their client’s therapeutic progress.
The success of our intern program shows in multiple ways with the most humbling being that many interns wish to remain at CCB as full-time therapists upon graduation. The other way is the number of clients served in their time at CCB. Each intern therapist sees on average 15 unique clients providing weekly sessions to children, adults, and families who need support the most. Each intern provides on average 200 sessions annually for our agency. This therapy is often provided at no cost to the families as well.
CCB is known to provide well trained and very sought after therapists who easily secure positions throughout our region including two therapists currently employed with Catholic Charities Indianapolis’s mental health services. Our staff is also comprised of former interns who graduated and were able to be hired which helps to keep the continuity of care for our clients. CCB is currently hosting six interns and are planning on welcoming three more in August. This program is one of the key components of our success as an agency for meeting our mission of providing access to affordable mental health services to those who are in need.
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Maya's Therapy Journey Towards Healing |
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Maya* has faced many transitions in her long and wonderful life. She experienced significant trauma growing up, having to rely on herself for most of her formative years. Despite this series of adverse childhood experiences, Maya followed her dreams and met the man she would spend the rest of her life with. Together for nearly 40 years, they were spouse and partner and felt that this life would carry on forever. Maya and her husband were abruptly faced with a significant challenge when he was diagnosed with terminal illness. Maya was his main health care provider, life manager, spiritual supporter, and friend. She engaged completely in supporting him for 6 years until he passed away. This was a devastating moment. Maya was facing life alone and having to manage challenges, including large amounts of debt due to medical bills and the development of her own physical health issues that were co-occurring from the grief, anxiety, and depression that had formed over the years.
Maya suffered stoically and in silence for an additional 6 years relying on her pets as her main source of support, companionship, and purpose. Then, she realized that with her physical health issues mounting and still being in the grieving process, it was time to seek support. She reached out to Catholic Charities Bloomington Counseling Services. She waited patiently on the waiting list calling weekly until she was able to be matched with a therapist. This act of patience and courage would change her life.
Maya began opening up for the first time about her life, the death of her husband, the challenges of his passing, and the abuse and neglect that she experienced as a child. She and her therapist processed through the grief of the past and present while addressing the fear of the future. Maya noticed that therapy exacerbated the feelings of grief, anxiety, and depression for a time, but then it became less painful to remember all the challenges and loss. Maya also noticed that as her emotional pain healed, her outlook regarding her physical health challenges began to lighten as well.
Maya learned that the mind, body, and soul are connected. Finally taking the step to look at herself, say the difficult things out loud to a trained and caring mental health provider as a witness, and live in the vulnerable place where healing occurs will ease the transition into the next stage of her journey. Maya knows she will still face challenges in the future, but she now has an increased sense of self-esteem, self-worth, and overall balance in her life. She has learned that her suffering is not a burden to others, but an opportunity to have the strong connection with her friends and that her purpose in life is taking care of herself with love, compassion, and acceptance.
*Name changed for privacy
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Be sure to follow us on Instagram at CatholicCharitiesBloomington. Here you can find content directly from therapists like book recommendations, winter mental health tips, and more. You’ll also stay personally connected with weekly stories and content.
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NEW DATE
11th Annual CCB Benefit
Mental Health Wellness Luncheon
Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Time: 11:30am
Location: Ivy Tech Bloomington Community College Bloomington
Shreve Hall
200 Daniels Way, Bloomington, IN 47404
Details: Join us for a celebration of our 40th anniversary. Hear from a client about his story of overcoming mental health issues. Practice techniques for quickly lowering stress. Door prizes and more. There is no cost to attend but there will be opportunity to pledge your support for the work of Catholic Charities Bloomington. More information and registration can be found here
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Thank you to our sponsors! |
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Anonymous
Steve & LeAnn Luce
Mark & Mary Clare Bauman
Ray Van der Schans
Judy Williams
Bunger & Robertson
Mark & Eileen Crain
Matt Russell And Family
Ivy Tech Community College Bloomington
St. John the Apostle Catholic Church
St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church
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Are you interested in a planned gift
that pays you for life?
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Life income gifts serve a dual purpose: They provide an income stream for donors or their loved ones with fixed payments for life and lend financial support for your favorite Catholic organization – such as your parish, a school or Archdiocesan ministry.
There are three main types of income gifts:
- Charitable Gift Annuities (CGA)
- Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts (CRAT)
- Charitable Remainder Unitrusts (CRUT)
A CGA is established through our Catholic Community Foundation. The donor transfers assets (cash, stock or other appreciated assets) to a Catholic organization in exchange for fixed payments for life. When you pass, whatever funds are left in the fund will benefit the Catholic organization of your choice. You must be 60 years old to apply. At 70 ½, you can use a qualified charitable distribution to set up the fund.
CRATs and CRUTs need to be established through the donor’s attorney and/or financial advisor. A CRAT can provide you with fixed income payments for life and then distribute at least 10% of the value of the fund to a Catholic organization. You get to choose the annual payment amount, how long the income will be paid and the trustee to oversee the trust. A CRUT operates much like a CRAT, however, you can add to the value of a unitrust - as opposed to an annuity. Annual payments vary with the value of the trust.
For more information, please contact the Catholic Community Foundation at
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To inquire about donating to Catholic Charities Bloomington, contact Cheri Bush at cbush@archindy.org
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Provide Mental Health Services |
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Walmart Spark Good
Did you know that every time you shop on Walmart.com, you can round up your change and donate it to Catholic Charities Bloomington? Click here to learn how small acts can lead to big impact at #WalmartSparkGood
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CCB also recently received a generous $1,000 gift from Walmart. |
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Help Catholic Charities by shopping for groceries at no extra cost to you!
1. Register your Kroger Plus Card at Kroger.com/communityrewards (if you do not have one, they are available at the Customer Service desk at any Kroger).
2. Click on "Sign In" or "Create an Account".
3. Search for "Catholic Charities Bloomington" or enter CL196.
4. Click "enroll".
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