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Our Mission<\/h2>\nOur Mission<\/h2>\nAs an expression of God\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Our Commitment Our Values<\/strong> With a clinical staff of approximately 30 counselors, we serve a wide range of ages\u2014couples 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.<\/p>\n We are:<\/p>\n Fifty-seven years ago something entirely new was created… and the story has continued to unfold . . .<\/p>\n 1960<\/strong> Presbyterian Counseling Service\u2019s first home was in \u201cThe Wee Kirk\u201d – 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.<\/p>\n 1970<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n 1972<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n 1980<\/strong> Ravenna Boulevard Presbyterian Church invited PCS to share their space near Green Lake.<\/p>\n 1983<\/strong> Dr. Douglas Anderson became the executive director as founding director Neal Kuyper retired.<\/p>\n 1992<\/strong> Rev.Terry Steig was named director as Doug Anderson returned to clinical practice and teaching.<\/p>\n 1994<\/strong> The Low Income Clinic was established, overseen by Bill Collins. Through this program, master\u2019s level externs provide counseling services in exchange for clinical supervision as they work toward meeting state licensure requirements.<\/p>\n 1997<\/strong> The Samaritan Campaign for Women was the first of the agency\u2019s fundraising efforts \u2013 reflecting the commitment to live out our mission in challenging economic times.<\/p>\n 2000<\/strong> Beverley Shrumm became executive director, the fourth person to lead the counseling service in its 40-year history.<\/p>\n 2005<\/strong> 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<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n 2006<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n 2009<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n 2011<\/strong> 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\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n 2012<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n Samaritan Center of Puget Sound is accredited through The Samaritan Institute which oversees a network of 50 counseling centers around the United States.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>We dedicate ourselves each day to make this a more peaceful, just and compassionate world – one intentional, healing encounter at a time.<\/p>\n
\nFor 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.<\/p>\n\n
\nWe believe healing takes place on many levels – mental, emotional, physical and spiritual – and in many ways – individually, relationally and in communities.<\/li>\n
\nWe are an ecumenical Christian community that respects the beliefs of all people.<\/li>\n
\nWe search for ways to care for those among us who are in financial need, making our services affordable and accessible.<\/li>\n
\nWe are committed to excellence in all that we do, and we are faithful stewards of the resources given to us.<\/li>\n
\nWe strive to be honest, self-aware and transparent in our work with others and in our community life.<\/li>\n
\nWe recognize that each person is created in the image of God and that we need one another\u2019s diversity. We welcome all people in a spirit of compassion and justice.<\/li>\n
\nWe are innovative, attentive to life\u2019s opportunities and grounded in faith – ready to meet the challenges of this mission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nHistory<\/h2>\n
\n“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\u2026.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/samaritanps.org\/sandbox-6-30-2018\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Neal-Kuyper.jpg\")
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Accreditation<\/h4>\n