Become A Client

Our Administrative Assistant is in the office Monday through Thursday, 9:00-3:30. If you call during those days and times and she is able to answer the phone, you will be able to speak with her right away. When Kathy is unable to answer your call, and on days when she not available, you will be able to leave a voice mail message on our secure system, giving us your name, phone number and when we can reach you. Kathy will return your call as soon as possible on the days when she is present. She will ask for the person who left the message, for she will not be able to speak with anyone else, nor will she be able to identify herself or the Center to anyone else but the initial caller (due to confidentiality reasons). Once she contacts you directly, she will do an intake with you, gathering the information that we need in order to assign you to one of our intern therapists. Once Kathy has done an intake with you, the Clinical Director will be notified and then assign your case to an intern therapist who is available during one of the times you stated you are available for counseling. You ought to hear from your intern therapist within 24-48 hours following the intake, who will then schedule your first appointment, most often within one week.

We do not take insurance. However, we have a sliding fee scale, ranging from $50.00 to $2.00, based on your annual household gross income and family size. Our resolve is to make counseling affordable to all who need it; therefore, we strive to not turn anyone away due to financial reasons. (We do, however, believe that clients need to pay something.) During the intake, you will be asked your annual household gross income, and you will be told what our suggested fee for you is at that time. If you have extenuating financial circumstances, you will be able to discuss these at that time.

You may ask for a specific counselor and request if you would prefer to see a male or female counselor. We endeavor to accommodate requests and preferences, but due to scheduling and other factors, we are sometimes unable to do so.

All of our services are confidential. (We abide by the AAMFT Code of Ethics.) We do not provide anyone a list of our clients, nor do we tell anyone that you are engaged in counseling with us, unless we have permission to do so. There are two ways that we are required, by law, to break this confidentiality agreement. The first is when there is suspected child abuse or neglect. The second is in cases when someone is in danger to themselves or someone else. If you have any questions, please ask Kathy when you speak to her.

During the intake, when indicated, you may be asked if you have any thoughts of harming yourself. If you reply affirmatively, you will be asked to rate your intent of suicide on a scale from 1 to 10. If someone is “actively suicidal” at the time of intake, we will be unable to take you as a client. The reason is because you need a clinician who is experienced in this area and who will be accessible to your needs. Your mental health and safety are paramount, so we will refer you elsewhere, to make sure you get the help and services that you need. (Please note: if an existing client becomes suicidal for some reason, we will work with that client and not refer him/her elsewhere.) If someone is struggling with schizophrenia or a personality disorder, we will refer you to an agency that specializes in these areas. While our intern therapists understand these difficulties, we acknowledge that these issues are really beyond their scope of practice.

Although we are a faith-based agency, we welcome clients with varying beliefs. We do not limit counseling to Christians. If you prefer to incorporate Christian beliefs, Scripture and prayer during counseling, we would be happy to do so. However, if you prefer not to do this, that is also fine.