Sharing experiences can produce hope and open up the door to new possibilities.
What does our Friends Group actually entail?
It’s simple. We are a listening ear and we will talk to you and listen, because we know what you’ve been through and how it feels. Our goal is to match you with a friend who is will be available for phone calls, video chats, in-person meetings, and more.
Our free group gives individuals with amputations the opportunity to talk with one another. The peers share their experiences, knowledge, provide emotional support and practical information on everyday concerns. They are living proof that individuals with amputations can recover and continue to have active lives.
We hope to connect like-minded individuals and to empower those who may have had a recent amputation, via our group. By hearing the personal stories of those who have successfully recovered following amputation, we hope their experiences can empower you to do the same for others.
South Beach Prosthetics recommends meeting in a public place, never transporting others into your vehicle, never visiting someone else’s home or going to their home, however, that is completely up to you — including how frequently you meet with your new friend(s)! Zoom, telephone, and video chat methods are preferred and suggested.
Friendship often grows out of shared experiences.
Once an individual has adjusted to limb loss or limb difference, many people want to find ways to provide support to others facing similar experiences. South Beach Prosthetics offers to connect people just needing to talk and be heard with others who can empathize with their journey. These are friendly, casual interactions. The mission of this program is to encourage people with limb loss to enhance their physical and emotional health through peer support and community outreach.
You may be a good fit to be a South Beach Prosthetics Friend if you feel you can live up to the following:
- Remaining neutral
- Recognizing the elements of recovery
- Communicating and listening effectively
- Undergoing a criminal background check
- Understanding the role and boundaries of being a South Beach Prosthetics Friend
The following criteria reflect our commitment to professionalism and delivering an impactful, effective friend interaction.
A South Beach Prosthetics Friend must:
- Have experienced limb loss, live with a limb difference, or are a partner/spouse, family member, or caregiver affected by limb loss
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be able to communicate well with others
- Authorize and be able to pass a criminal background check
- Be 12 months or more post-amputation or be born with a limb difference
- Provide three references, including at least one from a healthcare provider
- Provide to South Beach Prosthetics and keep current information including, but not limited to, name, email, phone, address, date of birth, level of limb loss, cause of amputation, date of amputation, interests, and activities, and the distance willing to travel to conduct a friend visit
If you need more than just a passive listening ear, our friend
Dr. Stephanie Sacks is also available.
Meet Dr. Stephanie Sacks!
Stephanie Sacks, Ph.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy for trauma and stressor-related disorders, anxiety disorders, OCD and mood disorders.
Dr. Sacks is an expert in the area of Traumatic Stress. She has worked in several settings with individuals who have experienced limb loss due to traumatic incidents, including the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center PTSD Clinic. She is a National Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD Trainer and Consultant and is a Quality Rated Provider of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD and a Veterans Affairs Health System Certified Provider in Prolonged Exposure therapy for PTSD. She has led many national and international workshops, trainings, and webinars focusing on trauma and PTSD in a multitude of settings, including scientific conferences, educational institutions, hospitals, state-funded organizations and at the National Center for PTSD.
Dr. Sacks offers a 15-minute complimentary phone consultation where you can discuss any of your needs/concerns, ask questions about her expertise, and to determine if she might be a good fit for your needs.
Call (888) 819-4721 or email info@cbtpalmbeach.com to get in touch with Dr. Sacks.
If a prospective client reaches out to Dr. Sacks, they can expect a response time within two business days.
South Beach Prosthetics’s Friends Group is not a formal group, but is rather a group of compassionate listening ears, who can relate to your journey and experience, and offer emotional support.
If you or someone you know is in a crisis and if you are thinking about harming yourself or attempting suicide, tell someone who can help right away and call 911 for emergency services. You can also call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to be connected to a trained counselor at a suicide crisis center nearest you.
Monday – Friday