TIMH- Newsletter of the Anna Keefe's Women's Center

"Journeys Happen Here" The Newsletter of the Anna Keefe Women's Center     Welcome to the inaugural issue of "Journeys Happen Here," a newsletter dedicated to sharing information from the Anna Keefe Women's Center.  The name was inspired by a poem written by the late Anna Keefe, and we dedicate this first issue to her memory.

COMING UP at AKWC                                         Going Solo:  Trending Toward a Table for One. In ever increasing numbers women are by choice or circumstance, living single. This engaging, provocative program will explore both the societal shift toward partner-free living as well as the personal implications of this growing reality.  TIMH faculty member Amy Lieberman, LCSW, and AKWC Director Dayna M. Kurtz, LMSW, CPT will present, followed by a Q/A. When:  May 8, 2015 at 6pm Where:  TIMH 115 West 27th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10001 Suggested donation of $10.  Space is strictly limited and attendees are encouraged to RSVP to akwomenscenter@gmail.com or 212.627.8181 The Training Institute for Mental Health is currently applying for CEU certification for our programs.  CEUs will not be available for this workshop, but a Certificate of Attendance can be provided by emailing a request to akwomenscenter@gmail.com  on or before May 16th, 2015.     RECENT EVENTS: Last January, the AKWC hosted"Ladies' Night (Men Included): An evening of swag, singing and sipping cocktails!"  The mixer marked a new beginning for the Center. Under the leadership of newly appointed Director, Dayna M. Kurtz, LMSW, CPT, the evening attracted a full-capacity crowd to the Training Institute.  Broadway veteran Dorothy Lahm, LCSW wooed guests with a stellar cabaret performance.  The evening also included the presentation of the 2015 AKWC scholarship award to recipient Heather Cetto, a candidate in TI's four year training program in psychoanalysis.  (See an interview with Heather in the "Get to Know"  section of this issue.)  Dorothy Lahm, LCSW Get to Know:  Heather Cetto, LMSW Heather Cetto, LMSW is the 2015 recipient of the first annual Anna Keefe Memorial Scholarship, awarded to a female candidate at the Training Institute.  The Scholarship is made possible through the generosity of the family of Anna Keefe.   1.) Why did you choose to continue your education and clinical experience at The Training Institute? Deciding to continue at TIMH was a gradual choice. Outside of the learning opportunities that TI offered, the amazing support of colleagues, teachers, and supervisors is really what helped me finalize my decision. I knew I couldn’t get that sense of community at many other places, if any, which was something that I really wanted in the workplace. TI is unlike some of the other institutes in the city in the sense that it is inclusive not exclusive, which is why I genuinely enjoy coming to work everyday. The patients that come in are remarkable and I think the type of patients TI attracts has a lot to do with the culture of the staff and the Institute as a whole. I never take my role here for granted! (Continued in the next column.)   Connect with us! We welcome your thoughts, comments and questions. Correspondence may be addressed to akwomenscenter@gmail.com.   Heather Cetto, LMSW (Continued from previous column.) 2.)  What do you hope to gain in your work with the AKWC? The AKWC offers many different vantage points of womanhood, which is crucial in my work, especially given that my caseload is mostly female. On a larger level, the AKWC Committee embodies women’s development as an evolving conversation, part of the parallel processes of therapy and in many ways, of life.  I am hoping to gain from the experience of meeting women from all different walks of life, in many stages of development. I think this exposure will help me become a stronger therapist and human being.  The events we are planning are put together with a lot of care, passion, and integrity so I’m also hoping to discover how to channel my love for mental health and turn it into advocacy. Luckily, I am learning from some of the best.  3.)  How do you enjoy spending your time away from TI and the AKWC? I love movies and spend a lot of time at my favorite theatres—Anthology Film Archives and my favorite, Spectacle Theatre, in South Williamsburg. It’s a film collective that is run completely by volunteers, essentially walking film encyclopedias. It’s a complete hole in the wall but my home away from home! I also love hanging out with friends: mostly sitting around on the floor, sharing wine, reading magazines, snacking, and laughing as much, and as loudly, as humanly possible. Also, reading, painting, and my cats come to mind! Journeys Happen Here is published by members of the Executive Committee of the Anna Keefe Women's Center.  No part may be reproduced without written consent.  The views expressed are solely those of the authors.