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Sandra has office hours at:
Grand Haven, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Personal Statement: I believe in providing quality service with respect for others classes and values. It is my duty to use use knowledge to help individuals and families to grow, by empowering them using their strengths and values, to overcome obstacles, and effectively deal with lifes day to day challenges to achieve their goals.&&&&&&&&&&&&&In addition to providing professional counseling services, Sandra is also available for public speaking and conducting didactic and group therapy on the topics of, job stress, parenting, anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and grief / loss, divorce. Sandra is qualified and available to provide supervision at the bachelor and masters level for Michigan licensure in social work, and for the National Association of Social Workers, ACSW credential. Sandra also is available to provide consultation presentations for groups in the community and at Job sites. 
Sandra Alger
LMSW/ACSW 

on this saturday (october 22) it will mark the three years since my dad has died.

he died due to complications with surgery that he had done to make his care easier (he had muscular dystrufy)

i am finding it very hard to cope with this year. and i do not know who to go to or how to go to them. i just feel very lost and very alone, even though i have great friends who have dealt with loss. it still feels like no one really wants to listen, as i tend to ramble on sometimes when i talk about my dad.

a friend -who recently lost his twin sister- told me i really should go to counseling -since he is and i guess it helps.
the problem is that i cant afford counseling, since my dad died my mom and i are having great financial difficulties -to the point that we are having problems paying our bills this month. and my town is small so there arent any local support groups or anything.

i am extremely stressed out because i do not do well in school at this time of year. i have no motivation around the time of my dad's death. but i am taking a class this semester due to the fact that my mother wishes me to. i recently quit my second job due to the fact that it was cutting into my class time. so now i feel horrible because i cant help my mom with any of our bills.

i am so stressed out!!! i am way behind in my classes and starting to feel like a complete failure.. i really need something that will help me take hold of my situation before my life falls apart!

Note: This aidpage was started as a comment on "Home page of Sandi1"

Sandra Alger, LMSW, ACSW is available to provide psychiatric counseling services in Grand Haven and Muskegon Michigan. Most insurances accepted and competative self pay rates.  Contact:  algershelp@yahoo.com. 

 Bio:
Overview: After passing the required Michigan Board of Social Workers exam, Sandra Alger was fully Licensed as a Masters Social Worker with a Clinical and Macro endorsement. Her nine years experience providing human services for Muskegon and Ottawa County area residents gave her clinical experience with groups, couples, families and individuals of all ages. Sandra has office hours at:
Grand Haven, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
 You may call for a free consultation with her at either location. Sandra received her masters degree in social work from Grand Valley State University. She also received continued education certificates in; Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Treatment of Anxiety Disorders, Working with the Self Injurer, and Effective Couples and Family Therapy.     Sandra accepts most insurances, including, Blue/ Cross Blue Shield, MESSA, Magellan, PPOM, Medicare Tri-care ect...and self pay.

Treatment Modalities: Clients benefit from Sandra's client centered approach to treatment, using the clients strengths with a focus on solutions. She uses an eclectic approach using the model which best fits the needs of the individual and family. -Treatment areas: Some of the issues Sandra provides treatment for include, Adjustment difficulties, Anxiety, Depression, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Job Stress, and Grief / Loss from death or divorce, and life adjustments. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Clients have expressed appreciation for her genuineness, her listening, ----------empowering, and advocacy skills with a focus on client strengths. Personal Statement: I believe in providing quality service with respect for others classes and values. It is my duty to use use knowledge to help individuals and families to grow, by empowering them using their strengths and values, to overcome obstacles, and effectively deal with lifes day to day challenges to achieve their goals. Some of the groups Sandra is active with are the Grand Haven area Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Ottawa Area United Way. She is actively involved with Toast-Masters International, and WSSN, a professionals net work group. Sandra also dabbles with Legislation when issues arise to help the under-served / poor, elderly, and children. &&&&&&&In addition to providing professional counseling services, Sandra is also available for public speaking and conducting didactic and group therapy on the topics of, job stress, parenting, anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and grief / loss, divorce. Sandra is qualified and available to provide supervision at the bachelor and masters level for Michigan licensure in social work, and for the National Association of Social Workers, ACSW credential. Sandra also is available to provide consultation presentations for groups in the community and at Job sites.
Sandra Alger
LMSW/ACSW 

Hi, Im really struggling. i have so many bills to pay. i have my student fees, and travel fees and rent and electiricity and water and food. I cant get a job as when im not at uni i am looking after children. and i wont be able to finish my course at this rate. im so stressed dont know what to do. Im in debt $5,500  already and now cant even afford to get to uni. cant get centrelink payments. they say im not classified independant or something???

I am not sure how to do this - you guess it - I'm a newbie!

Well, first off all I am a single parent of four awesome kids. My oldest is 13 yrs old, then I have twin boys who are 11 yrs old and my little one just turned 7 yrs old. I can't believe that coming this new school yr I will have three in middle school! I feel so old...

We have been struggling on and off for the past four yrs but have mangaged to surface and stay afloat. I married pretty young and I had the whole illusion that I would live happily ever after but that wasn't the case. After our 10 yr anniversary we decided to split and I found myself an apartment for myself and my kids. It wasn't until 2 yrs ago that things turned for the worst. My then astrange husband threaten me and tried to run us off the road and that was it. I was granted a permanant restraining order against him and I haven't seen him since but he sure has made my life a misery. I am constantly paranoid and looking over my shoulder. I live in fear that he will kidnap my kids. I have nightmares almost every night that he is trying to kill me so in some ways I think he has succeeded. I have yet to find an answer to my daily struggles (emotional ones). I have seen myself struggle with our daily expenses and my low income is no help...  The last time our electricity got shut off - I had to lie to the kids and say that the whole apartment complex was without power for some reason. We spent almost 30 hrs w/o power. It's amazing how much we depend on electricity and wouldn't you know it that my apartment is equipped with an electric stove... *sigh*

Well, I apologize for long entry but hopefully this will be a place where I can let out all my emotional stress day in and day out. 

Thank you for reading/hearing my post.

 Hello,  My name is Jeanie.  I am  57 years old, and at the very end of my emotional rope! I am out of money out of time, and out of options. I do not know where to turn!  God help me Please!!  I have been separated from my husband for over a year.  Since then I have held several jobs all of which were complete dead ends. My husband is a retired factory worker living on a very fixed income, and he is unable to support me financially outside of our marriage.
 When he retired from his job we moved South, and I gave up a full time job. I had to move from there back to my home state where I am originally from, because I could not afford to live in a separate residence in the South. Nor could either one of us afford to get a divorce, because we could not afford to pay lawyers.  I gave up my home, and  all rights to it because my husband had promised me that he would “help me out”,  NOT!!  I was naïve in assuming that he would. He had promised me that he would pay off my credit cards and give me a substantial part of what our home was worth. I was very stupid not to have obtained this in writing.  Needless to say he didn’t do what he promised. I moved back to my home state using credit I did not really have to use. 
 Once I had gotten settled I did obtain a good job, but I was seriously under qualified for it.  I accepted the job because I desperately needed an income at the time.  I lasted at that job for approx.. 5 months, and it was very it was a very stressful period trying to fit into a job that I did not have the experience for.  My employer finally let me go, with assurances that I would be able to get unemployment.  NOT!!  I did not qualify for unemployment because I did not make enough within a certain period, and because I had not worked long enough. Since then I have been working the odd jobs for a temp agency, but those odd jobs were few. 
 I come from an era where the wife stayed at home while the husband went out and earned a paycheck.  I would have worked outside our home, but my husband preferred me at home. I was a housewife and mother for many years and I do not regret those years.  My children are now grown and doing well in their own lives.  But because I stayed home and took care of my home and raised my children, I have not the “marketable” skills that would make it possible for me to obtain a good job and earn a comfortable living.  I also have several age related ailments, while not disabling, make it very difficult for me to work a full-time job outside my home.  I would love to get training in a marketable skill and develop a business, and work from my home. I could possibly obtain a grant, (impossible to get unless you hire someone),  or educational loan for training,….(govt. grants)……“this is also a huge money making machine for internet scammers!!!” 
 I am unable to hold down a full-time job and go to school at the same time. It is more than I can handle at my age, considering my current health situation.  I have a disease called, “cervical spondylosis”.  It is very painful and debilitating.  I also have bone spurs in the heels and pads of my feet, osteoarthritis, and a small tumor at the base of my brain. Thankfully this tumor is, as far as I know, benign.  I have been told by my doctor that I need to have yet another MRI, of which I have had many!  I can not afford it!   I tried to get help from a community organization called, “Volunteers In Medicine”, but …..again I do not qualify because I have to be completely uninsured. This is another reason I have not yet tried to obtain a divorce,  as long as I remain married, I am still under his insurance. 
 I am not a lazy person, I exercise and try to keep myself in shape, but I have been so severely depressed that some days I can not even function. I have scoured the internet in hopes of finding some kind of work at home, for an online job.  God help me!  Several months ago….as now,  I was so desperate for a way to make some money that I fell for an internet scam.  It was one of those “Nigerian” scams.  I was very stupid and very naïve, and very desperate.  Desperate people will do stupid stuff, as I well know.  As a result of that scam my bank account was wiped out, along with some of the banks money.  I tried everything to get help.  I called all the Federal offices I could think of.  Secret Service, CIA, FBI, etc., you name it and I called it.  No one would help me.  I understand how being involved might have made me look less than innocent, but I truly did not realize until it was too late.  I was an unknowing participant.  I have always been a very trusting individual and willing to believe that there are honest people in this world.  But, my trust has been betrayed time and again. Just a couple of weeks ago now I was talked into investing money I don’t even have on an internet business that I was promised would earn me quick money. I had one credit card with some credit left on it, now I have none!  Scammed again!!! I am sick to death of all the lies, and untruths that are flooding the internet!!  These people were very smooth and they know just what to say to have you believing them!!  How do these people sleep at night knowing what they do to people!!! I am not a dummy, just way too trusting.
 My trust in our Government to protect its American Citizens against fraud and other unscrupulous acts has been broken.  Our government officials and the politicians who are running this United States Government are all out for themselves, first and foremost.  They sit around giving themselves raises probably with our tax dollars, while people like me are lost in the shuffle of government bureaucracy. 
 Now I find myself in the position of having to beg someone to save me from living in the streets.  I have been living off credit for some months just to survive. Now my credit is shot and I can not obtain a loan, needless to say.  I do at least have a good vehicle, about the only thing I got from my marriage worth anything,  but even it is going to need maintenance soon.  I am praying for a miracle because I am all out of time and money.  I am tired and my spirit is broken, and I am very scared.  I have registered with 2 websites where folks are allowed to “beg for money”.  On one of them I have yet to receive any help, and the other site, I paid for the opportunity to tell my story, they took my money and never did publish the story!! I do at least have this computer and I have been working as a, “chat host”,  for a couple of internet sites. Basically chat hosting means stripping for money. It is NOT what I want to do, but was forced to do to survive!  I do not want to live this way!!! 
 Someone please help me to make my life worth living.  I just want a chance to be someone before its too late for me!!  I have rent due in 2 days, and I do not have the money to pay for it.  God help me!!  Please!!!  If anyone can find it in their heart to help me I know that it could change my life for the better!  Is there anyone out there who really cares????  If there is, please renew my faith, and I will get down on my knee’s and pray to God to bless you, and Thank You All!!!!!

Sincerely,
Jeanie

Hello.  I am new to this so I am not even sure if I am doing this properly but its worth a shot.  I am very stressed and I may vent so I apologize.

I am 25 years old and married to a soldier serving in Iraq. I have been very depressed and extremely stressed out since he left.  I have had to take on so much on top of worrying about him everyday.  My stress level has reached a new high.  I just have so much on my plate right now I just cannot handle it anymore.  We have so many bills to pay each month and it never seems like I can pay them all.  I was laid off from my job and I have been trying so hard to find a new one but it seems like there are none in my small town.  My credit as well as my husbands nearly perfect credit is now in the toilet because I would forget to pay a bill all together one month or I would forget to pay a bill and pay extra on another one to try to pay it off and then when that bill would arrive I wouldn't have the money to pay for it anymore.  The people at my husbands bank are not nice at all.  They would not let me change the address on his account even though I have full power of attorney on it, I was told  that they would not recognize it.  I went in this month to pay on his loan, they always have to look up the account for me and the teller was very rude and never mentioned to me that there was a problem with the account.  Now I did not receive the notice in the mail being they did not let me change my address and I received a call saying the account went negative on January 31 and they have been charging me 5 dollars a day ever since.  This was an error that never should have happened in the first place.  I changed a bill that was being taken out directly from that account to another one because it was easier for me to keep track of and I assumed it would stop that month but it did not.  If I was told about it I would have gladly taken care of it right away but I didn't have the chance.  I guess this is what is putting me over the edge right now.  I have more bills than I can keep track of right now.  I have way too much on my mind and I am so lost and have no idea what to do.  My husband and I were married at the court house before he left and are planning to have a wedding for our families this fall when he returns but now I am not sure if this can happen.  To top off the stress with the wedding planning the place where I bought my dress ordered it 4 sizes too big and did not order the wrap that came with it and is being very difficult with me.  I actually had to go to the Better Business Bureau about her and she continues to lie which is so frustrating.  I am just so overwhelmed right now.  I have no clue what to do anymore.  I want to find a consolidation loan but I have bad credit so I cannot get one.  Can anyone help me?  Point me in the direction of away I can get help with my financial trouble?  Is there some place that will give me a loan?  My husband will be home on leave sometime this spring for 2 weeks and I am so afraid we will have no money while he is here and I will have a break down.  If someone could help me out I would be so grateful.  You would save my sanity.  I really feel as though I am going to loose it soon.  I have so much going on on top of everything I have already wrote about.  Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. 

Including my mind!! I am going through the worst time of my life.  My wife left and took the kids. Took them to a ex crack dealers house (her mother)  My business went broke.  I struggle just to keep going and have been taken advantage of by so many contractors now that I need a new profession of some sorts just to pay a bill.  I am about to lose everything else on top of it all.  I have already paid her off and now she wants more more of what. Nothing. Court fees,  psychologist, bills, hospital payments etc, etc.  She won't let me see the kids it just breaks my heart.  I love them and they need some where to stay when they come see dad?  I live a thousand miles away and cannot make it.  My truck is running very poorly. No family support and a hospital bill since all the stress I have been in the hospital with a bleeding ulcer.  No money to pay for it.  I still work everyday.  I still pray everyday.  I still hope everyday. Anything will help   God bless.           Food, money, letters of hope or experience

jer waller 1136 meagher ave bozeman, mt 59718

I am  a mother who is now currently in a big amount of debt from local banks in our country, the Philippines. I have loans from these banks (BPI, Unionbank, Citibank, and HSBC) that I can no longer afford to pay because I am out of work. They are harrassing me big time and I cannot cope with such stress! I am very stressed right now...I need help. Please extend your kindness to me. I am trying my best to work out my problems, but with a child to feed and a household to keep, my efforts are in vain. Please help me...

I can accept any form of help through Western Union. My name is Maria Luisa J. Conti. My email address is mlcj22@gmail.com. I live at Sitio Hilltop, Barangay Simlong, Batangas City. I am asking for kindness from you.

Thank you so much :)

I am a woman of 34 years old looking to get out of debt and I feel ridiculous having a post here. I am a very hard worker, I live on my own and do not have a family.  I went to school for art and then art education and owe about 40,000.00 dollars for my education (Rutgers University undergraduate BFA, Columbia Teachers College graduate, MA). I also currently owe 13,000.00 dollars in credit card debt. I have been bankrupt once before about 5 years ago.  I work full time and have interviewed for many jobs. AT the moment I cannot get out from under the debt enough to go to school, excercise, create art, or kick the daily depression that I am in. I am willing to work two or three jobs but have not had much luck finding something.  I would like some help, thoughts and suggestions are appreciated. My wish is to be debt free and have a decent job, savings and be able to pay my bills without have to scrap for change for spending money. I am a program manager at a non-profit that works with underserved and/or at risk and abused children. I work many hours with no overtime payment. Though I love my position, I will have to leave so that I can afford to live.

Thats the story.

Thank you,

L

I am single mom of five beautiful children. I am contracted by a local newspaper to deliver to home subscribers, and I am in college full-time.

Recently an old judgment came back to bite me in the ....well we all know. Anyways they took every penny in my bank account, it was horrible but I recovered. But last week two weeks after they depleted my bank account they levied my entire paycheck. I took the last 100 I had and paid a lawyer who told me he could basically scare them into giving back the money. Well a week and a half later and they haven't contacted him. I can't afford to pursue because I am literally down to my last 10 dollas.

I have tried to apply for a private student loan but my credit score is not good enough. I don't understand why, its not bad, in fact the only negative thing on it is a 77 dollar collection. I have a few credit cards, the balances are at the limit so I am assuming this is why my credit score is still only 600. The credit cards I have are 200 limit cards to try and increase my score.

I receive child support every other week which is good most times I can make up things with my child support if something happens with my paycheck, however as fate sees it I didn't get child support this week and was informed in two weeks my child support will be half what it usually is. This was due to his lack of hours.

So I find myself in a horrible situation and unable to find help anywhere. My main concern is that to keep my job I have to be able to buy gas to put in my car. I go through about 15 dollars a day in gas. With my gas tank currently on 1/4 tank and 10 in my pocket I forsee I will only be able to work one more day. I can't lose my job, I have five children to support.

We do not get any type of assistance and would not qualify with my income. Problem is I haven't received any of this income in 2 weeks and may not see any income for an additional 2 weeks.

Anyone have any ideas? I was told I could get a loan with a co-signer but I don't know anyone who would do this for me. I don't have any family around so I have noone to ask for a personal loan either.

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WELL IM 25 YEARS OF AGE I HAVE 2 GIRLS 4YRS OLD AND 5 IM A SINGLE PARENT TRYIN TO MY BEST TO RAISE MT GIRLS THE BEST WAY I KNOW HOW I WAS PLANNING ON MOVING ON AUG 1 BUT NOW THE TOLD ME I HAD UNTIL JULY 1 WHICH IS IN 4 DAYS I HAVE NO MONEY TO MOVE OR PAY MY RENT IF I WANTED TO MOVE I WILL NEED 1ST MONTHS RENT A SEC SO IM STRESS OUTDONT KNOW WHAT TO DO

My dream is to be a law enforcement officer but I can't afford to take the classes.  I would love to be a mother but I am going to spend too much time stressing instead of enjoying my family.

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Feel free to participate in this public group space.

Two easy ways to do this:

1. Add a comment or a question here - on this page... or on any other page in this space.
   
2. Or, if you want to start a separate thread - make a new page.

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Feel free to participate in this public group space.

Two easy ways to do this:

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2. Or, if you want to start a separate thread - make a new page.

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Feel free to participate in this public group space.

Two easy ways to do this:

1. Add a comment or a question here - on this page... or on any other page in this space.
   
2. Or, if you want to start a separate thread - make a new page.

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Feel free to participate in this public group space.

Two easy ways to do this:

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Okay, so I'm stressing out just a little bit.  I've been on three different job interviews in the last week and am hopeful that one of them will pan out.

In the meantime, my April rent is still unpaid and I'm freaking out over it.  With the late fee it's up to $1375!!!!

Advice??? Suggestions???  Anything at all welcomed!!

Truly & Sincerely,

Michelle