On October 10th from 6:00 PM-9:00 PM, Family Service Agency of San Mateo County welcomes anyone interested in becoming a volunteer senior peer counselor to a special training session. Held at the nonprofit's headquarters at 24 Second Avenue in San Mateo, the training will prepare new volunteers to provide free one-on-one and group peer counseling to older adults in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tagalog, and to the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) community. The curriculum, taught in English, will cover the basics of counseling, social and family relationships, self-awareness, listening skills, understanding depression, substance abuse and other topics related to the challenges of aging.

Family Service's Senior Peer Counseling Program aims to assist older adults who are experiencing mental health issues such as loneliness, isolation, grief and depression. Anyone interested in volunteering may register by calling Geri Lustenberg, 650-403-4300, x4389, or emailing glustenberg@fssm.org. To qualify for free counseling via the Senior Peer Counseling Program, older adults must reside in San Mateo County and be 55 years or older. Those seeking counseling may call the aforementioned phone number.

# # #