Russian River
Empowerment Center

The Russian River Empowerment Center is a consumer-driven mental health and wellness drop-in center that provides a safe and supportive haven for those who want to transcend serious and persistent mental illness. With peer support, we nurture positive self-worth, recovery, self-determination, responsibility, and choice.

Choosing your own path Empowers you to move from surviving to Thriving.

Our Philosophy

If we see ourselves as a mosaic of our life experiences, mental illness is only part of the picture. We have relationships and experiences that might be influenced by the illness, but are not dominated by it. The colors of the illness don't dominate the picture.

You are more than your illness.

It does not define who you are.

Our intention is to create a supportive community where who you really are is seen and accepted. You have the support to discover a new, life-affirming story.

Services We Offer

We offer a variety of services to support our members. All of our activities and support groups are provided by our staff and volunteers. We share the things we have learned in their own process of recovering from mental illness.

• Open Support Group: The Open Support group is a safe space where members can come and work through issues and challenges in a confidential group setting.
• Compassionate Communication: We offer training and practice of Compassionate Communication (NVC) to help our members learn about how to communicate clearly and listen intently.
• Stress Management: Learn new stress reduction skills that will help our members have a life that is healthy and happy and stress free.
• Creative Writing and Journalling: We offer writing groups for those who want to use writing to explore topics of healing.
• Life Skills: Community is important to us, so we offer guidance to our members who want to learn new ways of interacting with others and who want to learn more life skills so they can be more successful in their daily lives.
• Peer Counseling: We offer peer counseling to our members as needed, to support and guide members interested in making changes in their life and create lasting healing.
• Workshops: Come find out about topics related to mental health and wellness.
• Volunteering: We have a lot of opportunities for our members to volunteer and help around the Center.
• Socialization
  - Share meals
  - Friday Night Social
  - Movies and games
  - Being with friends
  - and Much More!
• Art Projects - Explore the nonverbal world through artistic expression.

Since our opening in July 2007, the Center has already had a profound effect on the community. With the help of the caring and professional staff, and a welcoming, supportive environment, lives have been and continue to be positvely transformed. Please read a member's testimonial letter.

The Center is currently open Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is located at 16390 Main Street, Guerneville, CA 95446.

Please check out our monthly calendar: RREC Activity Calendar.

For more information please contact us at 707-604-7264 or email us at empowerment@westcountyservices.org.