EDUCATION
It is said that "knowledge is power". Another great saying is "when we know better we do better". At Dakota Counseling & Mediation Lori strives to create educational classes that help clients become more knowledgeable so they can make better choices in their lives. Listed below are the educational classes offered by Dakota Counseling & Mediation. A minimum of 6 people must be registered in order to hold a group. Please call or e-mail Lori to register.

My Philosophy

• I believe no one knows everything.
• I believe there are resources available to help us learn to be better people, better parents and better friends - particularly to ourselves.
• I believe sometimes we have to humble ourselves and reach out for information and knowledge that can improve our lives, as well as the lives of our loved-ones.
• I believe that knowledge is power, and power used with compassion and good intentions makes the world a better place.
• I believe that being a part of a group provides a unique experience including:
  • Others who understand exactly where you are coming from
  • A group of people who share your desire
  • A group of people who support you unconditionally
  • A place to share thoughts and feelings with others who will validate you and share their thoughts and feelings with you
  • The give and take of "my time" "your time".
  • A place of openness, honesty and trust between fellow human beings.

Moms and Dads Forever
Moms and Dads Forever is an educational course for parents who are either going through a divorce or divorced, or unwed parents who have ended their relationship. During the course of this class you will learn how you can be the best, most loving parents possible no matter what the circumstances are at the present time.

Specifically, you will learn:

• How divorce affects the parents involved.
• How divorce affects the children at different ages and different developmental levels.
• What signs or symptoms to look for that may indicate your child needs help dealing with the divorce.
• What type of parenting plans to consider based on your child's age, temperament, ability to adjust to change, etc.
• How and what to tell you children about your decision to divorce.
• What the two biggest factors are in determining your child's ability to adjust to your divorce.
• How post-divorce affects children.
• How to handle conflict in a constructive rather than destructive manner.
• How you can control your child's exposure to conflict.
• How to maintain a long-distance relationship with your child.
• The importance of self-care.
• Resources for assistance in the divorce-recovery process for you and your child.

Finally, you will have the opportunity to write a letter to your child expressing your commitment to being a better parent in the future and how you plan to follow through with that promise.

Divorce Recovery
Divorce Recovery is a class designed for those individuals who are going through a separation or divorce or who are already divorced but having ongoing difficulties due to the break-up. There are tasks that must be completed as one moves from being a part of a couple to a single person. If these tasks are not completed, it is difficult if not impossible to move into a new relationship as a healthy individual. Your garbage from the past relationship is sure to get in the way of establishing the new relationship. Statistics prove this point - although 50% of first marriages end up in divorce, 63% of second marriages end in divorce. And the percentage goes even higher for third marriages. The reason for these stats is simple - most people do not want to do the work to process their past relationship. They don't want to understand what they did to contribute to the good parts AND THE BAD parts of the marriage. Instead, they choose to blame the previous partner for everything and move into a new, exciting relationship that will surely be completely different and BETTER than the last one. In reality, it doesn't turn out that way because the baggage gets in the way, the habits remain the same, the relationship sours and the common denominator is YOU.

In Divorce Recovery, you will walk through the tasks to heal from your previous relationship. You will learn about yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses. You will become comfortable with who you are unattached and single. You will learn what you need and what you are willing to give in your next significant relationship. You will identify non-negotiable qualities you must have in a life partner.

If you really want to learn and grow as a result of your past relationship, Divorce Recovery is your pathway.

Ultimate Weight Solution
Are you tired of being overweight? Have you tried diet after diet - and still find yourself struggling with your weight on a daily basis?

The Ultimate Weight Solution is a different kind of diet. It's really not a diet at all. Rather, it's an educational course designed to help you understand why, what, and when you eat that is counterproductive to a healthy lifestyle.

The main component in a weight loss program is the emotional/mental component. Interestingly, the far majority of weight loss programs in this country do not include this component at all! No wonder you go back to your old ways even after you have had some success, lost some weight and feel great! You go back to your old ways because the issues that were eating at you before start to eat at you again because you haven't dealt with them!

The Ultimate Weight Solution is a 10 week course that walks you through the seven keys to weight management. The groups are "closed" - meaning that no one is allowed to join the group after the first session. This allows for trust to be established which is essential to successful group dynamics. Also, the groups are kept to a maximum of six participants, allowing everyone to have "talk time" and get to know each other well.

If you are tired of the ups and downs of weight management, the Ultimate Weight Solution offers something other programs don't - the chance to understand yourself better and deeper than you have ever understood yourself before - because that is the key to weight management.