Ecumenical Center For Religion And Health

Programs: Clincial: the center offers professional help and hope in a caring atmosphere. Counselors and educators recognize that the body, mind and spirit are interrelated. The counselors and educators are people of personal faith with an openness and understanding of other faith expressions, trained to incorporate, when requested, the understandings and traditions of the client's individual beliefs in the growing and healing process. Fee adjustments are available based on personal financial need and available funding. The counseling services have received grants to assist in treating children, military personnel (including veterans and their families), and victims of domestic abuse. The center provides many services and opportunities, including neurofeedback, eye movement desensitization reprocessing (emdr), and clergy wellness conversations, along with an expressive therapeutic arts program that incorporates art, poetry, and music. Satellite locations at alamo heights united methodist church, christ episcopal church in san antonio, and schertz united methodist church allow the center to bring its services to a wider population, particularly those who might have difficulty traveling to its main office. The number of participants served was approximately 1,400. The total number of counselor visits during 2014 was approximately 8,400.

education: the center has a long history of preparing medical and counseling professionals and enhancing the skills of clergy and lay leaders in the ministry of counseling and pastoral care in san antonio, reaching out down to laredo and the rio grande valley. The center extends that outreach to our greater community by offering programs for business professionals, students, individuals, families and couples on a variety of life issues such as ethics in business, medical ethics, child and adult therapeutic professional education. Many of these programs are underwritten in whole or in part by businesses, organizations and ministries. The number of participants served was approximately 3,400.

outreach: the center collaborates with a variety of organizations to reach out to the greater community and provide both therapeutic care and educational opportunities. These take a variety of forms, including providing crisis intervention, participating in community training opportunities and providing speakers for faith communities and other community gatherings. Therapeutic arts programs provide unique opportunities for participants to express and process their experiences. Additionally, the facilities are made available for a number of ongoing support groups and for presentations sponsored by non-profit organizations, along with board/staff retreats, community meetings, and religious services. The estimated number of people served was approximately 6,100.