Upcoming Events

We offer a variety of dynamic, healing and helpful programming for our clients and for the community. Please join us at any time!

Mind-Body Classes

Stress Reduction Anyone?

Statistics indicate that the stressors in our lives continue to be on the rise, with an increasingly faster-paced and stimulus-overloaded lifestyle for most Americans. Therefore it is increasingly important to find ways to manage, and reduce this level of stress.

A recent research from the National Institute of Health indicates that meditation can decreased a number of symptoms including: anxiety, depression, chronic pain, pre-menstrual symptoms, insomnia, high blood pressure, headaches and obesity Research further indicates that meditation can increase the strength of our immune system, feelings of calmness, relaxation, concentration, productivity, and the rate at which we heal from illness.

For these reasons PCS has been committed to offering a variety of meditation/stress reduction programs. PCS has been teaching these classes for over 10 years in a variety of settings: in groups, schools, medical centers, homeless shelters and prisons.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was developed at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Mindfulness training develops the ability to stay fully present, moment by moment. This type of attention can play a critical role in navigating stress, allowing one to be calm and less reactive in times of turbulence.

An on-going adult meditation class led by Carol Knieriem, MSW, LICSW. Contact her at 627-2702 x130 or via email cknieriem@pcs-nh.org for detailed information.

The Rev. Bayard Herndon, MA, M.Div., LPP, utilizes meditation practices in his work with parents and children. He can be reached by calling 603-627-2702 x120 or via email at bherndon@pcs-nh.org.

Good Samaritan Awards Banquet

Pastoral Counseling Services (PCS), a non-profit agency, that provides healing and hope to all in the New Hampshire by providing cutting edge psychotherapy services that integrate the body, mind and spirit. We recognize and attend to the natural connection within the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of human life.

Our vision is of a community where all people can achieve peace, healing and wholeness, which is why we embrace the root word of religion – "religio," which means to mend or bind back together. To this end, in 2010 we provided close to 1,700 hours of service to children, teens, families, women and men, this translates into our impacting 5% of the population in Greater Manchester.

Over the years, thousands have shared their stories and have trusted our 17 licensed psychotherapists to hold this sacred and to provide the highest quality psychotherapy, educational and consultation services possible. Unlike other centers, PCS has, within its mission, a strong commitment to the greater New Hampshire community and has taken services from within its walls to the least likely places-the homeless, incarcerated women and Sununu Youth Center Services.

Each year Pastoral Counseling Services proudly hosts the Annual Good Samaritan Awards Banquet. This unique celebration brings together six distinct segments of the community and honors an individual in each category who has "gone above and beyond" what is expected.

Proceeds from the Good Samaritan Awards Banquet will:

• Assist those individuals and families who do not have the financial means necessary to secure the counseling services they need and
• Support programs and services that meet the ever changing needs of our community.

The wellness of our friends and neighbors is the core of what keeps our community positive and productive.

Check back for the 2012 Sponsorship Information!

Our 2011 Good Samaritan Award Recipients

Business & Industry
Brad Cook

Bradford E. Cook is a shareholder and past President of Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green PA where he has practiced law since 1973. He currently chairs the firm's Estate Planning and Probate, Government Relations and Not-for-Profit, Charitable and Religious Institutions Practice Groups. In 2001, Brad was recognized by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year and also received the Eugene M. Van Loan III Leadership Award form Easter Seals NH. In 2008, he received the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association's 'Above and Beyond' Award and repeatedly has been recognized by Woodward/White as one of the Best Lawyers in America.

Brad's list of professional and civic involvement is extensive. He current involvement includes serving as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Southern NH University, as Secretary and member of the Executive Committee of the Business and Industry Association, a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of New Hampshire School of Law (formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center), President of the Little Sunapee Protective Association, Secretary of the Bishop's Charitable Assistance Fund, Chairman of the Board of Easter Seals Vermont, Chairman of the Board of The Harbor Schools, officer of Easter Seals New Hampshire, and board member of Easter Seals Coastal Fairfield County (Connecticut). Brad is also a board member and Chair of the state Ballot Law Commission, and Vice President of Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Manchester.

He is married to Kathleen D. Cook and they have three adult children, Richard, James and Thomas.

Education
Kathy Staub

Kathy Schofield Staub is a native of Manchester and President of Manchester Foundation for Education. She is married to Ed Staub and has two children, a daughter Madeleine who recently graduated from Georgetown University, and a son Jacob who is a senior at Central High School. Kathy graduated from Central High School and holds a B.A. from U.N.H. and an M.A. from Boston College.

In 2000 Kathy was one of 10 parent leaders from around the city who founded the Manchester Coalition for Quality Education to advocate for better schools. Since that time the organization has advocated for improving school facilities, conducted a district-wide parent involvement survey, and worked to engage families from the minority and refugee communities. Kathy has served as the President of MCQE since its inception. Currently she is a member of the Manchester School District Leadership Team.

Recently Kathy and a group of parents founded the Manchester Foundation for Education, an independent community non-profit which seeks to strengthen public education in Manchester by engaging community members as partners. She also serves on the boards of Women for Women Coalition and PeopleFest.

Media & the Arts
Christopher Courage

Chris Courage, Founding & Current Artistic and Education Director of The Acting Loft, is a native of Milford, NH. He attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in NYC.

In 1988, he returned to NH to put his passion for youth arts education to use. His goal was to create a college level preparatory training program for NH students in an effort to better prepare them for higher education. He wanted to make sure that NH students received the opportunity to train at the same level as students from larger cities.

After working as a director in community and regional theatre, he started directing and teaching for The Peacock Players in Nashua, NH. Three years later, with the help and support of Amy Eckman and Emily Shakra, funding was in place to start The Acting Loft Academy of Performing Arts as a program of The NH Institute of Art. At this time, The Acting Loft started produced two shows annually. Theatre arts classes and camps were quickly added and three years later The Acting Loft registered its not-for-profit status and became an independent organization. Today The Acting Loft produces over 16 shows annually and offers more than 40 classes and camps.

Today, through The Acting Loft, Christopher ensures that any child with an interest in the arts has an opportunity to learn and participate regardless of their financial means. He offers low cost arts outreach training to students in the Manchester elementary and middle schools as part of the 21st Century program and has scholarship programs in place to allow participation as students and performers at The Acting Loft facilities. Over the years he has partnered with numerous not-for-profit organizations to provide free training and complimentary tickets. These groups have included, The Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc., Child and Family Services, and various NH health organizations.

Another passion of his is interior design. Last year he participated with his good friends Lee Preczewski, Ron Dieter, Nathan Barnes and Bob Gehling, to renovate a room for the Building on Hope organization's remodel of the Easter Seals White House. His team was the only "non-professional" designers working on this project.

His family includes: parents Nancy & Dave; grandmother Mary; sister, Kelly; brother Bill; his two favorite nephews, Colby and Jordan and his beautiful niece Emma.

Chris lives in Manchester with his partner Nathan of 18 years, his two dogs and two cats. In his spare time he likes to read, bake, and most importantly golf! He's terrible at it, but figures he can only get better.

Medicine & Healing
Robert Provencher, Jr., DDS

Dr. Robert Provencher is the Medical Director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Center in the Elliot Hospital. This unit began in January 2006 and is the creation of Mr. Douglas Dean, CEO of Elliot Health System. It continues and supports his vision of complete healthcare, not only for the citizens of Manchester, but also from every region of the state, for anyone in need of these specific surgical services.

Prior to this undertaking, Dr. Provencher had been in private practice in Manchester offering Oral Surgical and Trauma Services for 30 years. He has served on and chaired a multitude of hospital committees and was the first Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in the State to be elected President of the Medical Staff of a Community Hospital!

He has been married to Rachel for over 45 years and they have 3 children and 4 grandchildren, all of whom live and work in the New England area. Dr. Provencher and Rachel enjoy traveling to visit them, along with yearly vacations that include the entire family.

Religion
Rabbi Beth D. Davidson

Beth D. Davidson was born in New York City and moved to East Hampton when she was ten. After graduation from the local high school, where she did extensive research on Aaron Isaacs, an early 18th Century merchant who was among the first Jews to settle on Long Island, Beth attended Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, graduating with a degree in religion; she was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1987.

From 1987-1993 Rabbi Davidson served The Temple Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Nashville, Tennessee. During that time she counseled Jewish prisoners and lead a successful court battle to provide them with kosher and holiday foods. She was also a founding member of an Interfaith AIDS Pastoral Support Group. In 1993, Rabbi Davidson returned to Long Island to become the rabbi at the Port Jewish Center in Port Washington where she was active in interfaith programs; contributed articles to publications produced by such groups as the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), and allowed her life-long devotion to the nearby New York Mets to flower. She came to Temple Adath Yeshurun in July, 2005, and has developed into a Fisher Cats fan.

In addition to her duties at Temple Adath Yeshurun, Rabbi Davidson is active in the Greater Manchester Clergy Association and currently serves as president; she has taught for the Osher Life Long Learning Institute; was honored in 2010 by WZID as one of the 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know; serves on the Board of the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire, and is a committed supporter of New Horizons and Planned Parenthood.

Rabbi Davidson is married to astrophysicist Dr. Clifford Lopate, Research Associate Professor in the Physics Department and in The Space Science Center at University of New Hampshire, Durham. The rabbi and the rocket scientist attempt to answer the same 'big' questions, though they begin from different starting points.

Rising Star
Rob Saitow

Robert (Rob) Saitow was born in Southern New Hampshire, and currently resides in Nashua, NH. Rob has been very active in his community volunteering with the Salem Boys and Girls Club, the Pelham Police Explorers, Crossroads Baptist Church, the American Red Cross, and several other organizations. In 2006, Rob graduated from Pelham High School and went on to receive his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Hesser College, graduating as a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society.

In 2007, he was employed at an Auburn, NH, business with his father Robert (Bob) M. Saitow. After a day of collecting donations for the NH Food Bank, Rob and Bob walked out of work together to go home in their separate vehicles. Unfortunately, his father did not make it home having been killed in a tragic car accident.

Rob wanted to take this tragic turn of events and honor his father by carrying on his legacy. At the young age of 19, Rob started the Robert M. Saitow Memorial Fund. Each year, a benefit concert is held in his father's honor to benefit the NH Food Bank. To date, the Robert M. Saitow Memorial Fund has raised close to $20,000 for the NH Food Bank.

He participated in a mission trip to Haiti returning just one month before the devastating earthquake. Rob has also traveled to Louisiana to assist with Katrina relief efforts and has organized several successful bone marrow drives.

When Rob isn't working, he enjoys fishing, weaponry, New England sports and having fun.

Our 2010 Good Samaritan Award Recipients

Nick Soggu, Dave Bastien, Robert Baines, Richard Boulanger and Monsignor John Quinn