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Christian Mission and Ministry Distinctives
We view
our efforts as both a business and a mission/ministry. We focus on advancing
and building God’s kingdom and providing kingdom services. The stewardship
of many in the Christian community is working through this mission. How
does this happen? We believe it happens through our response to felt client
spiritual needs and use of spiritual resources, staffing, financial accessibility
of services and charitable posture, and services tailored to address prevention
of and treatment for short-term, long-term, and complex problems, difficulties,
and issues.
- A majority
of our clients seek us out because we are a “Christian Counseling
Center.” Many but not all of our clients are from a Christian
background. Some are coming from another faith tradition but are hungry
and seeking spiritual answers and grounding. Though we focus on the
presented mental health needs and do not pursue proselytizing per se
sometimes that hunger results in spiritual conversion. Scientific research
supports the notion that counselees become like their counselors and
therapists. Some clients come because other mental health professionals
are hostile to or fail to understand spiritual issues. Some centers
require their clinicians to avoid using spiritual practices as part
of treatment or even the discussion of spiritual issues. All of the
professionals at the Center have interest and expertise in and understand
the benefits of using spiritual resources as part of the treatment and
in addressing religious issues and the spiritual aspects of problems.
- We
are committed Christians, professional and support staff and Board,
with diverse backgrounds and specialties teaming together to provide
quality services “in the name of Jesus.”
- We actively
and intentionally collaborate and cooperate with local churches and
church leaders in the provision of services, addressing community needs
(CCCU Board and Committees composed of Christian leaders with diverse
backgrounds, pastoral and church leader consultations, presentations
and workshops for area churches, office space “shared” by
churches).
- We accept
third party payment (insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.), use a sliding
fee scale (the top of our sliding fee scale is consistent with corresponding
“going rates,” bottom end fees are up to 45% of going rates),
and provide further discounts for services provided by supervised graduate
students to maximize access to services. This is consistent with our
incorporation as a non-profit charitable organization and active pursuit
of charitable sources of funding to enable our services to be provided
on a sliding scale basis.
- We emphasize,
support, and provide preventive services (website listing of Christian
12-step, recovery, support, and miscellaneous groups open to the public
and public presentations and workshops by our clinicians, many available
for no charge).
- Services
are tailored to the needs of our clients and include addressing short
term problems as well as long term and complex issues.
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