Lewes Counseling center opens near Lewes

Longtime Lewes resident and medical provider Jeanne Dukes has opened a new counseling business on Route 9 outside Lewes. Dukes works as a medical social worker at Beebe Medical Center, where she assesses and provides for the psychosocial needs of her patients.

In February, Dukes opened Lewes Counseling, with a parenting class to help build family bonds and work on issues within the family unit. She also deals with bullying issues.

Her business is web-based at www.lewescounseling.com, where Dukes advertises her services and provides information for families. Besides parenting classes, Dukes also runs sessions for youth who have experienced trauma in their lives.

“The purpose behind the website was to provide a local, helpful, easy-to-use resource for families,” said Dukes. “Parenting does not come with an instruction manual or a learner’s permit. Yet, all parents have similar questions and concerns regarding their children’s development or behaviors. I am hoping to be a resource for families in Sussex.”

Dukes plans to run workshops on topics including:

• Parenting tips

• HIV/AIDS 101

• American Heart Association First Aid and CPR certification

• Reducing health risks for youth with sexuality questions

• Separating and divorcing parents.

“I have trained and worked through the state with several different agencies serving families in several different capacities, and I consistently heard the same things,” Dukes said. “That was that the services available to families in Sussex, especially eastern Sussex, were more limited than other areas of the state.”

Dukes heard the need and decided she wanted to provide mental health services and educational programs for individuals and families in eastern Sussex County.

“I offer compassionate care and individualized treatment to support the emotional well-being of the client,” Dukes said.

Besides working with parenting skills and youth, she also focuses on:

• Personal growth

• Relationship problems

• Managing stress

• Family transitions

• Career issues.

Dukes hopes to start working with clients regularly at her new location in the building next to Meals on Wheels on Lewes-Georgetown Highway, just east of Nassau Valley Vineyards.

The best way to contact her is via the website at www.lewescounseling.com.