Samaritan Counseling Center of the Southern Tier

11/05/2026

The holidays aren't always the most wonderful time of the year - and that's okay! 💙

Between family expectations, financial pressure, changing traditions, and the grief of missing loved ones, the holiday season can bring complicated emotions.

Two of our Clinicians, Jan and Dominic, recently joined Rev. Jeff Kellam on Encounter - a program of the The Broome County Council of Churches - to talk about navigating holiday stress, supporting loved ones in difficult times, and the importance of compassion.

They also shared a little bit about what therapy really looks like, how counseling can help us recognize our strengths, and the value of having someone who listens without judgement or trying to "fix" everything.

We are so grateful to the The Broome County Council of Churches for inviting us into this important conversation, and for the opportunity to highlight how Samaritan Counseling Center of the Southern Tier supports mental health in our community.

Watch the full conversation below! ▶️

11/03/2026

Hello, November. 🍂

Days are growing shorter and temperatures are dropping, and you might notice yourself craving more rest, quiet, or comfort.

We're mammals, after all! While we don't hibernate in quite the same way that animals do, our bodies and minds respond to seasonal changes in light and temperature. It's natural for our routines, energy, and needs to shift with the season.

In a world that pushes us to keep going, doing, and producing, November comes with a gentle reminder that slowing down is part of life, too.

Grab a cozy blanket, make some tea, and give yourself permission to find solace in the slower moments of this season. ☕

10/30/2026

🎃

This Halloween, carve out some time for yourself. We all deserve kindness and respect during spooky season. Which pumpkin are you carrying into the weekend? 🎃

10/26/2026

For some, the holiday season isn't so jolly.

Samaritan Counseling Center of the Southern Tier is pleased to host a support group for seniors (50+) focused on navigating grief through the holiday season.

This group is designed to support senior citizens who have experienced relational loss through death, divorce, or estrangement.

Group consists of 5 90-minute meetings where participants will be invited to share experiences and challenges of grief that arise during the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to New Years.

When: Mondays from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, November 16 through December 14, 2026

Where: The Atkinson House of Samaritan Counseling Center,
2 South Knight Avenue, Endwell

Group is limited to 10 participants. If you would like to register, please call our main office at 607-754-2660 by November 13, 2026.

This group is facilitated by Yvonne M. Lucia, LMHC and offered at no cost to participants through a generous grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

10/08/2026

October is full of thresholds - in-between moments of light and darkness, warmth and cold, growth and rest. Liminal describes the in-between spaces in our lives, too: the strange time between when something has ended, and what comes next is still uncertain.

Transitions can leave us feeling unsteady and uncomfortable. They also carry the possibility of something new.

This season, let yourself move slowly through the in-between.

10/07/2026

What little win can you celebrate today?

Stayed hydrated. 💧

Took meds. 💊

Called a friend. ☎️

Chose to rest. 💤

Made time for gentle movement. 🧘‍♀️

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

Tell us about your little win! 🏆

10/06/2026

From Mental Health America -

For lots of people, being spiritual means observing rituals, studying texts, and attending religious services, well, religiously. For others, it’s not about traditional structures or notions at all.

Today, on the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding, we encourage you to think of spirituality as connecting to whatever you consider meaningful and holy. You can find it in a higher power, in yourself, in other people, in nature, art, or kindness. Whatever you focus on, spirituality can offer many benefits for your mental health.

💙

For lots of people, being spiritual means observing rituals, studying texts, and attending religious services, well, religiously. For others, it’s not about traditional structures or notions at all.

Today, on the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding, we encourage you to think of spirituality as connecting to whatever you consider meaningful and holy. You can find it in a higher power, in yourself, in other people, in nature, art, or kindness. Whatever you focus on, spirituality can offer many benefits for your mental health.

Read more about spirituality and mental health at the link below.

https://mhanational.org/resources/take-care-of-your-spirit

10/02/2026

10/02/2026

Fall is the season of change - a fiery reminder that letting go is part of growing.

Perfectionism can look like high standards, achievements, and accolades. Underneath perfectionism, we often find fear: fear of failure, judgment, uncertainty, or not being enough. Sometimes growth means loosening our grip on how things should go and letting them unfold naturally.

Therapy can help us notice rigid expectations, question all-or-nothing thinking, and practice showing up even when something is messy, uncertain, or a just a little different than we imagined.

What becomes possible when "perfect" is no longer the price of admission to our own lives?

10/01/2026

An increasing number of senior citizens are struggling with the painful experience of having their relationship with an adult child cut off by that child. There are many factors contributing to this current cultural phenomenon. Community members are invited to join a small group of other estranged parents for exploration, conversation and support.

Group will be held on Mondays from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM from October 26 through November 23 at Samaritan Counseling Center's Atkinson House, 2 South Knight Avenue, Endwell.

This will be a closed group, limited to 10 participants. To register, please call 607-754-2660 by Friday October 23, 2026.

Group is facilitated by Yvonne M. Lucia, LMHC.

This group is offered at no cost to participants through a generous grant from the Mother Cabrini Foundation.