Telka's Services           Office Location         Participating Insurance             Begin Services                                  Life Solutions Program Description     

                 2009 program calendar           11-Session  Stress Management Programs Now Enrolling                      Free Alumni support group

1.  Do you struggle with anxiety, depression, burnout or stress?                   
2.  Would you like to understand the difference between normal emotional pain and medical mood disorders?
3.  Does your life need a makeover?                              
4.  Would you like to meet interesting people?               
5.  Could your confidence use a boost?                         
6.  Do you worry too much?                                           
7.  Are you struggling with your relationships?                       
8.  Do you or someone you love have a temper problem?                           
9.  Would you like to let go of the past?                         
10. Do you mess up your life with over eating, over spending, bad decisions, procrastination or negative thinking?

 
 Telka's Solution Focused Therapy Services: Telka has established a reputation within the Lansing community as a successful individual, couple and group therapist by healing clients with:  *Mood disorders: depression and anxiety, *Work related stress, *Health concerns,  *Recovery issues  *Past trauma  *Divorce adjustment, *Grief and Loss, *Parenting concerns, *Relationship problems, *Self-defeating behaviors: over-eating, excessive spending and anger management issues. 

Professional Credentials: Telka Arend-Ritter L.M.S.W., A.C.S.W.  Licensed Masters Level Social Worker for the state of Michigan (L.M.S.W.) in good standing for 25 years. Accreditation of Certified Social Workers (A.C.S.W.) since 1986.  During the same year, Telka was also awarded a certification in accredited addictions counselors.   Member of the National Association of Social Workers (N.A.S.W.) for 25 years.

Insurance Coverage Information:  For specific insurance questions, contact the customer service number on the back of your insurance card. Telka is able to participate with any medical insurance company that recognizes and participates with Masters level Licensed Social Workers in private, solo practice.   Telka is a paneled provider for the following insurance companies:

Aetna, BCBS-Blue Choice, BCBS POS,  BCBS-PPOM, BCBS Traditional,  Blue Care Network,  McLaren,  Medicare B,  several Messa policies, Messa Tri Med, PHP, SPHN,  Health Plus, Cofinity.   Telka is also a HMO provider for Magellan, United Behavioral Health and Value Options.

Please note that some policies exclude social workers in solo private practice. (Out of state BCBS, BCBS-Community Blue, Mers, and BCBS-Flexible Blue, BCBS-PPO are examples)  Telka also offers private pay services for the non-insured. 

Telka's medical billing company is Mid-Michigan Medical Management owned by MaryBeth Houpt at 517-676-9788.

Office Location for Telka Arend-Ritter L.M.S.W., P.C.
Hamilton  Center  2109 Hamilton Road, #116 Okemos, Mi 48864
Phone: 517-853-5799  Email: Telkaar@comcast.net  Directions: Map

For first time visitors to Telka's office:  The Hamilton Center is located in Downtown Okemos, 1 block East of the Hamilton Rd and Okemos Rd.       Directions from I 96:  Okemos Exit 110. Head North on Okemos rd for 3 miles,  turn right onto Hamilton Road, just one block on right. 
Directions From Mt Hope:  East on Mt Hope until it dead ends into Okemos Rd.  
Turn North (left) onto Okemos Rd.     Turn  East (right) onto Hamilton Road,  1 block on right .
                                           The Hamilton Center is located on the South side of Hamilton road, directly across from the Marathon gas station. 
2109 Hamilton road  is 1 block East of Okemos rd, and ½ block west of the “round-about” intersection of Hamilton and Marsh.
Most people heading East on Hamilton drive past the building, forgetting that Telka's office is only ONE block east of the Okemos/Hamilton intersection. 
The Hamilton Center  has two front entrances.  Telka's is the East entrance, or more easily described as the entrance WITHOUT the ramp.
Please enter into a lobby/reception area.   You will see signs posted that direct you to  office # 116, which is located at the end of the first hallway off the lobby.  
Telka does not have a separate waiting area or lobby. If you arrive early for your scheduled appointment only to find her office door closed,
please return to the front lobby, have a seat, and relax. Telka will be out to greet you at your scheduled time.

 Telka's Life Solutions: 11-week Solution Focused Program Description:

Session #1 Beginning Life Solutions.    “What is healthy?” “How can I change? Where do I start?” This session explores insights into coping with stress and beginning a personalized strategy plan for life healing, life changing, Life Solutions.

Session #2 Stressful Relationships .   This session defines the difference between assertive, aggressive and passive relationships. Learn how to make the changes in your thoughts and actions that lead to healthy relationship skills both professionally and personally.

Session #3   Emotional Healing: Understanding and healing emotions.    This program differentiates between normal painful emotions and medical mood disorders. Depression and anxiety tests are administered and discussed. Strategies for emotional healing are shared.

Session #4   Healing Anger.    In this unique program, participants learn to “heal” anger by addressing the more fragile emotions that trigger an anger response.  Participants develop the   skills to manage their own anger as well as to diffuse anger in others. Both personal and professional anger issues are addressed.

Session #5   Coping WITHOUT bad habits.     “It is hard fighting an enemy who has outposts in your head.” Participants discover the power of thoughts and how reframing negative thoughts helps eliminate bad habits such as over eating, spending, co-dependency and low self-esteem.

Session #6   Healing Relationships: Recognizing and maintaining healthy relationships.    What’s healthy love? This program explores healthy trust and how to become, then find an "ideal partner" by learning strategies to build healthy relationships with self or others.

Session #7   Healing Worry and Fear.     Some people make changes only when life gets too painful the way it is. This session addresses the fears related to change by breaking the “worry habit” and overcoming procrastination.

Session #8   Living With Stress.     Learn coping strategies that allow the healing of painful emotions. This session sheds light on how to transform pain into purpose.

Session #9   Confidence Building: "Why do I think that I am not enough?"     In this session participants learn what causes low self esteem, how to develop healthier self esteem, and why many people decide not to embrace a healthier self image.

Session #10   Dealing with difficult people.     From ex-lovers, to in-laws, teenagers, co-workers and bosses, this session addresses the lessons that difficult people bring into our lives and ways to learn from and to celebrate those lessons. 

Session # 11 Letting go: Putting the past behind.    Holding on to past pain serves a purpose. This session explores why we carry yesterday into now. Learn how to release the past if you choose. Letting go is a decision.

 2009 Telka's Life Solutions Stress Management Program Calendar  

Each Monday program continues for 11 weeks.

 January 12  2009  (Full) Winter Monday Evening Program 5:20 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. (Program ended)

 February 2  2009  (Full) Stress Management Mondays 12:00 to 1:20 p.m    (Program ended)
.
 April 13 2009  (Full) Spring Monday Evening Program 5:20 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.  (Program ended)

*May 11th 2009 (Full) Spring Lunch Hour Program 12:00 p.m.-1:20 p.m   (Program currently in progress)

 Now Enrolling

August  03  2009  (Now Enrolling) Summer Monday Evening Program 5:20 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.

8-03-09   #1      Beginning Life Solutions
8-10-09   #2      Stressful Relationships
8-17-09   #3      Emotional Healing: Understanding & coping with emotions.
8-24-09   #4      Healing Anger
8-31-09   #5      Coping WITHOUT  bad habits.
            Skip Labor Day
9-14-09   #6      Healing Relationships
9-21-09   #7      Healing Worry and Fear
9-28-09   #8      Living with Stress. Transform pain into purpose
10-05-09  #9     Confidence Building: Why do I think  that I am not enough?
10-12-09  #10   Dealing with difficult people
10-19-09  #11   Letting go: Putting the past behind

September  14  2009   (Now Enrolling) Stress Management Mondays noon program 12:10 to 1:30 p.m.
9-14-09   #1      Beginning Life Solutions
9-21-09   #2      Stressful Relationships
9-28-09   #3      Emotional Healing: Understanding & coping with emotions.
10-05-09  #4      Healing Anger
10-12-09  #5      Coping WITHOUT  bad habits.
10-19-09  #6      Healing Relationships
10-26-09  #7      Healing Worry and Fear
11-02-09  #8      Living with Stress. Transform pain into purpose
11-09-09  #9      Confidence Building: Why do I think that I am not enough?
11-16-09  #10    Dealing with difficult people
11-23-09  #11    Letting go: Putting the past behind

(* Sessions in progress )  Contact Telka regarding "drop in" attendance in any current ongoing programs. 
Sessions in progress may be attended as "make-up sessions" from missed sessions in a prior series, as a "touch-up' refresher session for graduates of prior programs or on an "as needed" basis if space allows. Group Enrollment is limited to 10 members. These powerful and unique therapy experiences meet weekly for 11 sessions. The cost of this 1 hour and 20 minute cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused group treatment program is covered by most major insurance companies. Private pay rates also available.

*Program dates and times are subject to change. Additional dates and times may be added upon request. Additional locations  also added upon request. Contact Telka for details on how to offer a Life Solutions Stress Management Series or Seminar at your office/company location!

All  of Telka's treatment programs and seminars are  based on her 250 page spiral bound self help manual:  Change Your Thoughts, Heal Your Life: An Eleven Week Self-Help Workbook.   Transform wounds into wisdom, pain into purpose and inspire others to do the same. (Copyright 2006 Telka Arend-Ritter L.M.S.W., A.C.S.W. Revised and updated 2009 edition)   Telka's Life Solutions based seminars have been approved by the Michigan Social Work Collaborative as continuing education credits .  Approval number for Telka's Life Solutions Social Work Continuing education is: 020707-06