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photography by kay soder-alderfer
copyright, 2003
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To contact us:
Write to:
Gentle Pathways
1207 55th Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Call 630-968-4772
Or email us at: gentlepathways@aol.com
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Many people have written wondering who we are. A few of us (I am a Lutheran deaconess who is a counselor especially in the area of grief; a woman concerned about domestic abuse; and a specialist in multicultural communication) met 15 years ago. We shared a concern about people who need counseling services, but are unable to pay for them. We began a modest service, offering low cost counseling and spiritual direction.
Over the years, we have run a number of programs including retreats, workshops, family and individual work. These have included:
-> a group called TEAM (Teens with Epilepsy and Abundant Motivation)
-> a confidential service to women and children facing abuse
-> workshops and support for families facing issues with addictions
-> support for Veterans and others with PTSD
-> grief support for groups and individuals, including people who are terminally ill and their families and friends.
We have changed with changing needs, and have served about 4,000 people through direct services. We have served another 10,000 people through indirect services such as video presentations and books.
With the advent of the computer, we changed some of our focus to job training for women facing domestic abuse. We taught people computer skills that would help them support themselves and their children.
With people giving what they could with the events of September 11, we looked at what we could give. We offered free grief counseling to anyone for 4 weeks, and workshops for children.
We hope to continue the workshops for children so they might see our world from the point of love and hope, rather than fear. You can read more about this under our "Listen to Our Children" section.
We hope this explains a bit about who we are, and we wish you abundant blessings and gentle pathways!
--Sr. Kay Soder-Alderfer, Ph.D.
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