Ryan Scott Ottney

PDT Staff Writer

The Counseling Center, Inc., of Portsmouth, announced Monday a new 7-week program for family members, friends and loved ones of persons who are currently dealing with alcohol or substance abuse addiction.

The program is being hosted at St. John Lutheran Church, 5600 Junior Furnace-Powellsville Road in Powellsville. An orientation session will be held for interested participants at the church on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013 at 6 p.m., with featured guest speaker Ed Hughes, Executive Director of The Counseling Center.

The seven weekly sessions will be held at the church each Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Trainers and/or family members who have participated in similar programs or who have dealt with such issues within their own family will provide the leadership at each weekly session. At the final session on Feb. 14, a decision will be made as to whether the participants wish to form a “Loved Ones” group for ongoing support and assistance as they begin to implement ways to help their loved one.

The Counseling Center said Hughes is an experienced facilitator who has conducted a number of such programs in southern Ohio and Huntington, W.Va.

This free program is open to anyone in the southern Ohio/northern Kentucky area. Interested participants may pre-register by leaving a message on the St. John Lutheran Church answering machine at 740-574-8028, or by coming to the church for the regular Thursday sessions at 6 p.m.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 287, or rottney@portsmouth-dailytimes.com.