The Divorce Recovery Workshop 2007 at Trinity Friends Church

CHERYL WISTNER The title of the opening session will be “Boundaries In Relationships,” and will feature guest speaker Cheryl Wistner. Cheryl is a licensed independent social worker who is currently employed as a Clinical Director at the Paulding Counseling Center. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wright State University and a Masters of Social Work from Ohio State University. As Clinical Director, Cheryl supervises the clinical staff at Paulding Counseling Center as well as maintaining a small therapy caseload. She specializes in couple and family issues, play therapy for children, and women’s issues. She is a crisis intervention specialist and also facilitates the Parenting After Divorce program for the Paulding County Court System. Cheryl was previously an adjunct instructor of social work at Wright State Lake Campus. She facilitates presentations on various mental health topics, women’s issues and divorce education in the tri-county area. As the opening speaker for this year’s Workshop, Cheryl will be addressing the issue of boundaries for newly separated and divorced individuals.

JUDGE PHIL CAMPBELL The topic of the second session held February 17 will be “Legal Issues After Divorce,” and will feature Van Wert Municipal Judge Phil W. Campbell. Judge Campbell is a graduate of Crestview High School, Bowling Green State University and the Ohio State College of Law. Before becoming the Municipal Judge in 1987, Campbell had an active practice in trial law and domestic relations. In 1979 he was instrumental in establishing the Van Wert Crisis Care Line, which has offered assistance to scores of local individuals in crisis situations. Former attenders of the Divorce Recovery Workshop have evaluated the Judge as a favorite speaker because of the usefulness and clarity of the information he provides. Judge Campbell will include a detailed look at various problems encountered in changing marital status, such as finances, taxes, property rights, wills, guardianship, domestic violence, adoption, and an overview of the legal process involved in divorce.

KAREN CROMWELL The third in the series of sessions, to be held Friday, February 24 will feature Karen Cromwell, who will be speaking on the topic “Divorce and How It Affects the Children.” Mrs. Cromwell is a welcomed new addition to the program this year. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor providing services through the counseling offices of Jules Krizan, Susan Burchfield, located on Washington St. in Van Wert and at the Marsh Foundation. Her counseling services include marriage, family, individual, and group therapy. Karen is certified in divorce mediation. She has provided services for children and families and looks forwards to sharing her expertise with the topic “Divorce and How it Affects the Children.” Karen, her husband, Matt, and their children reside in Celina.

TOM STRICKER The fifth and final in the series of sessions, to be held Friday, March 10.  Featured speaker will be Thomas L. Stricker Sr., Executive Director of Westwood Behavioral Center. The topic of the evening will be “Forgiveness and Healing.” Tom Stricker has served as director of Westwood Behavioral Health Center, Inc. in Van Wert since November of 1990. Prior to taking his current position, he served as a Program Director/Counselor for Koala Hospitals at Caylor Nickel Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center in Indiana. Tom received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Huntington College. He holds a Masters of Divinity Degree from Ashland University with a special two-year clinical program in cooperation with Case Western Reserve University in pastoral counseling and psychology. He has also taken post-masters courses at Heidelberg University, and is a certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor/supervisor holding certification at the highest level in Ohio and on the International scale. Tom is an ordained minister with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ Church and served as a pastor for twelve years. He continues to provide pulpit supply and teaching ministries in Indiana and Ohio. In addition, Tom has presented workshops on marital relationships, lost relationships, family issues, youth leadership, divorce recovery, grief and loss, domestic violence, dysfunctional families, abuse and neglect, Alzheimer’s disease and parenting parents. Tom has been a part of the local Divorce Recovery Workshop since it’s beginning, presenting an annual session on the topic of forgiveness and healing.

KAREN CROMWELL

JAN EDWARDS The fourth in the series of sessions, to be held Friday, March 3 will deal with the topic “Money Management for the Single Parent.” Featured speaker for this week’s session will be Jan Edwards, investment representative with Linsco/Private Ledger in Van Wert. As investment representative, Jan works with clients to meet their financial goals through investing in annuities, mutual funds, stocks, insurance and bonds. Jan has been with Linsco/Private Ledger since 1992 and has been NASD Series 7, Series 63 and life and health insurance licensed since 1994. She currently serves as Elder of Stewardship and is on the Advisory Council at Trinity Friends Church.       In dealing with the topic of finances for the divorced or separated individual, this session  will seek to give assistance in the areas of money management and other financial issues that can cause added stress to the divorced individual. It is seen that in most marriages one spouse typically makes most of the financial decisions, and following a divorce there is sometimes difficulty in dealing with issues involving money management. In these instances, tasks such as balancing a checkbook, refinancing a mortgage, or planning for retirement can be overwhelming. As an experienced investment representative, Mrs. Edwards can offer suggestions in the proper handling of these types of issues.

JAN EDWARDS