What we do…
Affordable Counseling Services
Several years ago, our founder recognized the need for more affordable and accessible clinical counseling services in our community. In August 2023, the average cost for a counseling session in the Greenville, SC area was $124.14, which unfortunately makes professional counseling unattainable for many. Often, more affordable services are provided by counselors who are not licensed by the state regulation board. All of our counselors are either already licensed or actively in the process of becoming licensed. Additionally, many practices and state mental health programs in our area have long waitlists. We are typically able to offer our clients an initial session within 2 weeks of contact.
At City Center, we offer a sliding scale for clinical counseling sessions based on family size and income, and we have never turned anyone away based on their inability to afford services. Thanks to generous donations and to our team of mission-focused counselors, the average counseling session in 2023 at City Center Counseling Ministry cost the client $38.76.
Counselor Training
In South Carolina, newly licensed professional counselors are called associate counselors (LPC-As). Associate counselors must work a residency-type period lasting no less than 2 years before they can pursue full licensure.
Almost every counselor at City Center is an associate counselor in residency moving toward full licensure. Part of the mission of City Center is to supervise, train and support associate counselors during this part of their journey.
Community Partnerships
City Center partners with several churches and other non-profit organizations to connect church members and program participants to counseling services quickly. Our rates for community partnerships are also significantly more affordable than average rates, which affords our community partners the ability to spend resources on other services for their members and participants.
We also partner by staffing satellite offices within community partner spaces. This makes counseling even more accessible to program participants. We currently staff office space at Front Porch Housing and First Presbyterian Academy- Shannon Forest campus.
Other community partners include Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church, Grace Church, Fellowship Greenville, Jasmine Road, Sammy’s Mission and Mill Village.