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Samaritan Counseling Center is the result of a merger, effective January 1, 1999, of the Institute for Living, headquartered in Winnetka and founded in 1969, and the Samaritan Pastoral Counseling Center, established in Evanston in 1983. The 1999 name reflected the merger; Samaritan Institute. Both organizations came to believe that they could best serve their community and clients as a single entity. The Counseling Center’s services include spiritually sensitive individual counseling for children, adolescents and adults, as well as counseling for couples and families. Other services include training for laity and clergy as well as educational programs for the public. In January 2006 the name of the center was changed to Samaritan Counseling Center to more clearly reflect the services offered.
Samaritan Counseling Center is an inter-faith counseling center that is fully accredited by the Samaritan Institute headquartered in Denver, Colorado, a nonprofit organization that sets national standards for pastoral counseling. The Samaritan Institute is the international office for a network of counseling centers called The Samaritan Ministry. Samaritan Counseling Center is a member of this network; it is one of the largest providers of professional counseling in the United States. Samaritan Centers provide professional mental health services, healthcare education, and consultation in more than 380 cities and communities throughout the United States and Tokyo, Japan. Annually, over $20 million of subsidized counseling is provided for those who cannot afford the full cost of counseling. The Samaritan Ministry’s growth has been in direct response to the needs of congregations and communities.
Samaritan Counseling Center is governed by a Board of Directors, which consists of individuals who bring various backgrounds and abilities to set policies, oversee the operation of our organization, provide advice and counsel in their particular areas of expertise, and assist with fund-raising. The Board of Directors affirmed their commitment to serve those of all faiths or no faiths in a Board retreat in April of 2006.
Fees collected for counseling services by Samaritan Counseling Center staff provide approximately 54% of its annual budget. The remainder of the budget comes in the form of financial support from local religious congregations and from individual and corporate donors. Several area congregations support Samaritan Counseling Center through their mission budget and may offer space in their facility to become a satellite site. There is a strong partnership between local clergy, congregations and Samaritan Counseling Center, where we strive to bring a unique blend of psychological and spiritual help to those who seek our services.
Mission Statement
The mission of Samaritan Counseling Center is to offer hope, healing and restoration to wholeness in a manner that is professional, ethical, caring and accessible to all. In vital partnership with congregations and the community at large, we offer a unique integration of psychotherapy and spirituality in the counseling and education services that we provide.
Contributing Congregations
Christ Church, Winnetka
Church of St. Elisabeth, Glencoe
Church of the Holy Spirit, Lake Forest
First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest
First Presbyterian Church of Libertyville
First Presbyterian Church of Wilmette
Grace Lutheran Church, Evanston
Kenilworth Union Church
Northfield Community Church
Northminster Presbyterian Church, Evanston
St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Wilmette
Trinity United Methodist Church, Wilmette
Winnetka Congregational Church
Winnetka Covenant Church
Winnetka Presbyterian Church |
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