Established in 1996, the Aisling Center's main principle is to assist Irish immigrants in their transition to life in the USA. We do this by offering a number of programs and services including social, cultural, educational, and recreational. Aisling Irish Center is one of the largest Irish immigrant resource centers in the tri-state area and the main provider of services for the elderly Irish and Irish-American community in Yonkers and Woodlawn.
Services Offered
Counseling - Our full-time registered licensed clinical social worker has many years experience as a psychotherapist and LifeSkills coach. She has experience working as an individual, family and group counselor and is really looking forward to working with Irish emigrants and the local community here in Yonkers.
Preventative Mental Health Programs - Programs include a health and wellness campaign in the Irish/Irish American community and a suicide prevention program targeted at the entire community. Throughout the winter season, monthly workshops on various mental health issues take place at the center. Topics recently discussed in an open forum include depression, domestic violence, drug and alcohol dependency, and suicide.
Physical and Mental Well-Being - Several classes for the mental and physical wellbeing of people of all ages who are living or working in the community are held at the center. We offer classes in Yoga, Chair Yoga for seniors, Yoga and Journaling for Teenagers, Yoga for Preschoolers, Boot Camp and Karate (for KIDS).
Young at Heart - Our senior group, Young at Heart, meets every Tuesday and Friday at 1:00pm. Socialization among peers is one of the key components of our very lively group at the Aisling Center . A registered nurse comes to the center on a monthly basis and provides individual and group health counseling, nutrition advice; blood pressure monitoring and educational programs to help our senior population better maintain their health and well-being.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
