As community copes with Dobbs decision, GLO Center and mental health experts want to help

Susan Szuch, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read

In response to the Dobbs decision on June 24, the GLO Center is partnering with local mental health providers to offer community support group sessions to those who are asking the question "What do we do now?"

The support group is meant to help people cope with the decisions that have been made, and "the threats to their rights that are yet to come," according to the GLO Center press release.

GLO Center co-president Arianna Beckman was inspired to start it after a conversation with a friend about the Supreme Court's decision. In Justice Clarence Thomas's opinion, he suggested that the court should also review the cases Griswold v. Connecticut, Lawrence v. Texas and Obergefell v. Hodges, which deal with access to contraception, same-sex sexual activity and same-sex marriage, respectively.

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"She said something about, 'It's not a great time to be alive in America.' And that struck me instantly. How many people wholeheartedly believe that right now?" Beckman said. "How many people, because of the Supreme Court decisions and opinions, don't want to be alive?"

Beckman, who has a degree in psychology and is a proponent of therapy, decided to reach out to area therapists and counselors in order to help people in the community process the recent events.

The center has partnered PFLAG Springfield as well as mental health providers at Ozarks Counseling Center, Gay Resources of the Ozarks, WheelHouse Therapy LLC, Sarah Fry Counseling Services LLC, and other individuals.

Anyone is welcome to attend, and they are able to attend multiple sessions, if needed. There is no cost to attend the session. Mental health experts will lead the groups, and will share information on how to connect with additional resources at the end of the group.

The GLO Center has partnered with area organizations to set up community support group sessions starting Monday, July 11, 2022.
The GLO Center has partnered with area organizations to set up community support group sessions starting Monday, July 11, 2022.

The support groups will take place starting Monday, July 11, and will run through Sunday, July 17, during lunch hours and in the evenings so that people have a wide range of opportunities to attend, according to the GLO Center press release.

The sessions will be at the GLO Center, 518 E. Commercial St.; the Schweitzer-Brentwood Library Center, 2214 Brentwood Boulevard; the Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave.; and at Jordan Valley's Tampa location, 440 E. Tampa St.

Information on specific sessions can be found on the GLO Center's website or its Facebook page.

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: GLO Center, experts offer support groups in aftermath of Roe v. Wade