LATEST NEWS

May 17, 2012 - The Samaritan Center has hired a new clinician - Deb Felio. See her bio on this website. Deb works particularly with children with attachment disorders. We are very excited to have her on our team.

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Annual Report 2008

Our Mission

We provide emotional healing, guidance and support through professional, spiritually-integrated, counseling and education.

Vision

The Samaritan Counseling Center (SCC) provides an environment in which the client’s spiritual and religious beliefs are honored and integrated into the healing process by professional counselors who receive on-going theological training.  In the image of “The Good Samaritan”, the Center serves anyone who seeks counseling, with financial assistance available for those in need.

Organizational Background

The Center was founded in 1997 as one of more than 300 counseling centers across the United States, and now the world, accredited by the Samaritan Institute.  Since 1972, the Institute has been establishing professional non-profit counseling centers founded on the premise of providing quality mental health care through cost-effective management strategies.  In over 11 years of operation, the Center has provided thousands of hours of professional counseling and education services to individuals, families and organizations in the Eagle River Valley and surrounding counties.

Our Staff

Elizabeth Myers, MBA – Executive Director - Elizabeth brings her deep commitment to the mission of helping others to the Center.  Her extensive business experience has helped shape the SCC into an agency-model counseling center with professional business practices, a clear fund raising strategy and a clear identity.

Randy Simmonds, PhD, LPC – Clinical Supervisor - Randy founded the Samaritan Center of the Rockies in 1997, serving as Executive Director until 2006.  Since resigning as Executive Director, Randy has focused his efforts on the Yarmony Ranch Retreat Center, specifically in the HorizonQuest mission.  He is also utilizing his extensive knowledge in supervising the clinical staff and continues to directly influence the therapeutic work and direction of the Center.

Vanessa Lewis, MSW, LCSW - Vanessa is an alumnus of Denver University School   of Social Work. She practices a brief solution model of therapy with a focus on systems. She works with adults, adolescents, and families. She brings a wonderful sense of humor and knowledge to her practice. She is also the social worker for the Shaw Regional Cancer Center.

Kate Glerup, MA, LPC, CACII - Kate brings 17 years of rich psychotherapy experience working with adolescents, adults, and families. She is a Certified Addictions Counselor, has her Masters at Denver Seminary, and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Vincent Center. She also has extensive experience in integrating clients’ faith practices into her counseling.

Kristen Ellis, MA - Kris graduated from Lesley University in 1999 with a Masters in Art Therapy and specializes in working with school-aged children and their families. She also works in the school setting to make counseling sessions more accessible to children. Kris uses various forms of art to ease the children into a working relationship with her.

Nicholas J. Hoeger, MAE, NCC, LPC - Nic received his Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of Northern Iowa in 2005. He is a published researcher who has extensive experience working with adolescents, families, and adults. In addition, Nic is a board certified counselor, licensed school counselor, and licensed psychotherapist.  He makes therapy accessible through his pleasant demeanor and by providing services in the center, in the homes of clients, and at local schools.

April Wilson, MSW - April received her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2000, graduating as a University Scholar from the University of Texas at Arlington.  She has spent the last eight years working with both the severely mentally ill and the chemically dependent in a correctional setting.  Additionally she has done extensive work in crisis settings and with trauma survivors.  She uses a variety of therapeutic models to help clients realize their potential by coming to terms with the issues that are interfering with their growth and success in life. 

Our Clients

65% Female    
35% Male
35% are under 18 years of age

2009 Goals

Ongoing Individual counseling - We expect, due to the increase in need for our services, that we will provide approximately 2800 counseling hours.  We are now positioned to be able to meet this demand.

Ongoing Groups –We will continue to conduct Brush Creek Elementary School groups for children whose parents will not or cannot pay for individual visits. We will continue working with the Eagle County Jail by offering processing and life skills groups, a program we would like to offer to the general community as well.

Additional Groups starting January 2009 – We will be working with the local high schools (Battle Mountain High School, Eagle Valley High School and Vail Christian High School) offering adolescent behavioral and/or addiction counseling. We will be starting a Divorce Recovery group focusing on rebuilding one’s life after divorce.  We will also be presenting The Twelve Steps, A Spiritual Journey, a twelve-week program for attaining mental health and healing.  Finally, for the first time we will be providing a group for the rehabilitation of sex offenders.

Psycho-educational workshops for 2009 will include:

• “Everything you want to know about substance abuse”
• “Reviving Ophelia” parenting adolescent girls.
• “Mindfulness” with an emphasis on spiritual life, deep breathing, and centered prayer.
• “The Heart of Parenting”
• Others as requested by area churches, schools or the community at large.

Donations to the Center are tax-deductible.  Contributions may be mailed to Samaritan Counseling Center, PMB 240, PO Box 19000, Avon, CO 81620