The Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care
The Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care is an interfaith ministry that promotes wholeness and healing by offering affordable counseling services that integrate the mental, spiritual, emotional, physical and community dimensions of life. The Center provides professional mental health and pastoral counseling services for the child, adolescent, adult and geriatric populations. Payment is based on a sliding scale, and no one is turned away because of inability to pay.
The Center deals with a wide range of issues including grief, relational discord, depression, anxiety, parenting, divorce, abuse, disaster recovery, career counseling and life transitions. Counseling sessions are available in individual, couple, family and group formats. Also available are educational seminars to individuals, employers and congregations on topics such as stress management, conflict management, preparing for marriage and parenting after divorce.
To subsidize services for low-income clients, the Center must depend on contributions from private foundations, congregations, individual donations and special events. Last year the center provided $241,887 in uncompensated care to 669 underserved, low-income and uninsured persons. Over the past two years, demand for services has doubled and the Center is now providing nearly 2,000 individuals over 12,000 counseling sessions per year.
Currently the Center is experiencing a period of change and growth requiring the addition of new staff, new board members and new programs. In response to this rapid growth, the Center will soon begin construction of a new building in the fall of 2007 at the intersection of 183 and Burnet Road. The proposed building will be equipped with 16 therapist offices, 4 administrative offices, two child play-therapy rooms, a group counseling room, and a chapel for prayer and meditation. Most importantly, this new building is expected to double the Center’s capacity to serve low-income individuals in the Austin area. The Center has launched a five year, $1.3 million dollar Capital Campaign to cover construction costs and increase the endowment fund for annual income to cover additional expenses expected in a larger facility. This new building will help to ensure the success of The Samaritan Counseling Center for years to come.
There are also many exciting events planned for the upcoming months. On Monday, September 24th, the Center will host the 8th Annual Minister’s Cup golf tournament at the Circle C Golf Club. Although anyone in the community is invited to play, if a congregation forms a team that includes a minister, the minister plays for free! Additionally the Center organizes the annual Ethics in Business program to further the belief that ethical workplaces lead to healthy families and communities. This year, The McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas as well as Concordia University will be joining the Center in support of The 2007 Ethics in Business Program. The award recognizes outstanding businesses, individuals and non-profit agencies in the practice of ethical standards.
The transformations taking place will ultimately place The Samaritan Center in a position to help thousands of Central Texans in desperate need of counseling services. Because of the work provided by the Center, they provide individuals and families with the services necessary to avert crisis, build healthy relationships and lead productive lives. Healthy and productive individuals leads to healthy and productive communities that affects us all.
Previous Ministries:
The Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care
Capital Idea and Casa Marianella
Capital Area Food Bank of Texas
Honduras International Mission
Alternative Gifts Market
