The Center is an independent not-for-profit organization, dedicated to providing quality, affordable counseling to adults, adolescents and children, couples and families. The Center's mission is to bring understanding, hope and healing to persons of all ages through counseling and education. The Center was organized in 1972 and has grown to become one of the largest counseling groups in central Iowa, serving over 2,400 clients annually.
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Services Offered
Adult CounselingServices Offered: for Couples and Families: * Relationship/Marital/Family Counseling * Premarital Counseling * * Marriage Enrichment * Divorce Mediation
Child and Adolescent Services
The Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center has developed a unique approach to treating children and adolescents. We call our practice "C.O.O.L." which is short for "Children Overcoming the Obstacles of Life." C.O.O.L. is an experiential approach to counseling. We integrate play, art, food, music, literature, the outdoors and physical movement into the therapeutic process to help kids communicate their inner life.
Fees and Payment
The standard fee in 2013 is $140 per 45-50 minute counseling session. However, the amount a client pays is determined by the counselor and client during the initial appointment. That amount depends on the availability of health insurance coverage, the level of the client's gross income, and the number of people living on that income.
When health insurance does provide mental health benefits, the client is often required to make a co-payment each time you meet with your counselor. If you are not able to use health insurance to pay for your counseling, the Center has a sliding scale for payment.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Faith-Based LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.