Our Mission
As an expression of God’s love and compassion, we seek to restore hope, reconcile relationships and participate in the transformation of lives. We provide counseling, education, consultation, mediation and other services for individuals, families, congregations and organizations.
Our Commitment
We dedicate ourselves each day to make this a more peaceful, just and compassionate world – one intentional, healing encounter at a time.
Our Values
For nearly 60 years, Samaritan Center of Puget Sound has been a regional leader in mental health service. We have built a reputation on depth of experience, ongoing professional training, and a commitment to affordable, accessible care. Our clinicians have remained at the forefront of the field, with a special focus on counseling that is relational, welcoming, and spiritually grounded.
With a clinical staff of approximately 30 counselors, we serve a wide range of ages—couples and families as well as individuals. At our main office on Ravenna Blvd, near Green Lake, and at a dozen or more partner sites throughout the region, we see hundreds of clients a week, many at reduced rates. Beyond counseling, we offer assessment (psychological testing), workshops for therapists and for the broader public, and mediation.
We are:
- Holistic
We believe healing takes place on many levels – mental, emotional, physical and spiritual – and in many ways – individually, relationally and in communities. - Faith-Respecting
We are an ecumenical Christian community that respects the beliefs of all people. - Responsive
We search for ways to care for those among us who are in financial need, making our services affordable and accessible. - Accountable
We are committed to excellence in all that we do, and we are faithful stewards of the resources given to us. - Authentic
We strive to be honest, self-aware and transparent in our work with others and in our community life. - Inclusive
We recognize that each person is created in the image of God and that we need one another’s diversity. We welcome all people in a spirit of compassion and justice. - Forward-looking
We are innovative, attentive to life’s opportunities and grounded in faith – ready to meet the challenges of this mission.
History
Fifty-seven years ago something entirely new was created…
“The Presbytery of Seattle through its Presbyterian Counseling Services Committee, being, on sufficient grounds, well satisfied of the ministerial qualifications of you, The Rev. Neal A. Kuyper, and having good hopes from our knowledge of you, that your ministrations in the gospel will be profitable to our spiritual interest, do earnestly call and desire you to undertake the office of Minister of Counseling and Director of the Presbyterian Counseling Service, promising you in the discharge of your duty all proper support, encouragement, and obedience in the Lord. And that you may be free from worldly care and avocations, we, on our part, promise and oblige ourselves to pay you in the sum of $7,200.00 yearly in regular payments during the time of your being and continuing the Minister of Counseling and Director of the Presbyterian Counseling Service….” Signed on the 26th day of April, A.D. 1961 by James G. Bennett, Chairman, Committee on Personnel of Counseling Service, L. David Cowie, Chairman, Presbyterian Counseling Service and George H. McCleave, Executive, Presbytery of Seattle.
and the story has continued to unfold . . .
1960 Presbyterian Counseling Service’s first home was in “The Wee Kirk” – office space donated by University Presbyterian Church. Neal Kuyper met with clients two days a week. Lois Bell was hired as part-time administrative assistant, then stayed on for 30 years — an integral part of PCS until her retirement in 1991. Neal was instrumental in establishing the innovative programs of Crisis Clinic and Divorce Lifeline.
1970 PCS moved from the University District into space provided by Seattle First Presbyterian in downtown Seattle. The first field offices, in Bellevue First Presbyterian and Lake Burien Presbyterian churches, brought counseling to local communities.
1972 The Marriage and Family Therapy Training Program, which began as a pastoral counseling program at PCS, was created and, in 1979, became associated with Seattle Pacific University. More than 400 therapists received their professional training in this master’s level program.
1980 Ravenna Boulevard Presbyterian Church invited PCS to share their space near Green Lake.
1983 Dr. Douglas Anderson became the executive director as founding director Neal Kuyper retired.
1992 Rev.Terry Steig was named director as Doug Anderson returned to clinical practice and teaching.
1994 The Low Income Clinic was established, overseen by Bill Collins. Through this program, master’s level externs provide counseling services in exchange for clinical supervision as they work toward meeting state licensure requirements.
1997 The Samaritan Campaign for Women was the first of the agency’s fundraising efforts – reflecting the commitment to live out our mission in challenging economic times.
2000 Beverley Shrumm became executive director, the fourth person to lead the counseling service in its 40-year history.
2005 The Presbytery of Seattle, with the blessing of the Ravenna Boulevard Presbyterian Church congregation, made a gift of the Ravenna building and property to the counseling service. Also in 2005, after a multi-year study by Board and staff members, the name of the agency was changed from Presbyterian Counseling Service to Samaritan Center of Puget Sound.
2006 A program to provide mental health counseling for At-Risk and Homeless Youth was created. WIth help from foundations, Samaritan hired a full-time mental health counselor to counsel at-risk and homeless youth in the University District and downtown Seattle.
2009 A long-overdue interior remodeling project was undertaken by board and staff members at the Ravenna office. This created three large office spaces suitable for family counseling and mediation, a more comfortable reception and administrative area, and upgraded bathrooms and kitchen.
2011 A grant from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound made it possible to paint the exterior of the 100-year-old building at the Ravenna location — a building that we’ve chosen to share others who serve the community, including a Russian Orthodox congregation, the Seattle staff of Children of the Nations and a number of support groups.
2012 Samaritan/Presbyterian celebrated 50 years in the Puget Sound community. Our clinical staff of 35 provided more than 22,000 hours of counseling for individuals, couples and families in 20 locations. A total of $662,525 in uncompensated care was provided. In order to do this, we rely on multiple resources: our church partners who provide counseling office space, donors who support year-around fundraising efforts and our staff who accept reduced compensation when seeing those who require fee assistance.
Accreditation
Samaritan Center of Puget Sound is accredited through The Samaritan Institute which oversees a network of 50 counseling centers around the United States.
The goal of the accreditation process is to help ensure that affiliated centers maintain sound organizational structures, efficient management and administration, high-quality clinical processes, careful financial and personnel practices, and professional accountability. On a four-year cycle, Centers prepare extensive documentation, undergo a two day, on-site review by an Institute staff member or appointed site visitor, and receive a written report on the findings. The careful review and accountability process of accreditation is identified by Center leaders as one of the most helpful aspects of Samaritan Institute affiliation.
Visit The Samaritan Institute for more information.