June Spotlight-Richmont Community Counseling Center

This month at Chattanoogacounselor.com we have the privilege of highlighting one of our city's unique counseling agencies. The Community Counseling Center of Richmont Graduate University is a privately funded agency which allows the uninsured or economically disadvantaged to receive quality counseling. At this time CCC is headed by Jana Pressley, PsyD, Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean of Students at Richmont University .

She recently took out time in her busy Friday afternoon to give some highlights and of the Center but also to dispel some myths. The Community Counseling Center is specific in its design and purpose and does not fall short of meeting that goal.

The Community Counseling Center was developed a mere 5 years ago to provide a safe and quality venue for uninsured people to receive counseling. They see their patients based on a sliding scale; $20 being the standard for most sessions. Over the last 5 years their proven desire to help the community has established referrals form social services, Headstart, non-profits for all ages and backgrounds. The Center offers evidence based counseling and all staff are trained in trauma counseling.
“we tend to see a lot of clients with issues that have accumulated over time, ‘ says Pressly.

The staff is comprised of up of some staff of Richmont University , but mostly interns.

I was wondering if at any point there is the stereotype of this being for ‘poor’ people only or people of minorities.

"There are never enough agencies who can help with those who lack-not that those people who are poor have more issues, but less opportunity. This is a social justice issue to make sure that all people can have their emotional needs met," Dr. Pressley explained.

She went on to explain that they do not, however, provide more services to a ‘specific’ socio-economic demographic. Their clients come from various backgrounds, whether they're referred or come across the ministry on their own.

Though the services are discounted, Pressley wanted to ensure that does not mean the level of professionalism and/or service is too; the two are mutually exclusive at CCC. The end result is always to provide quality counseling regardless of the pay to ensure emotional stability of all their clients.

Pressley says that it is hard sometimes for people to see the value of emotional health for anyone, let alone everyone. They desire to provide the best quality counseling for clients. To meet that desire and goal there must be funding. There have been talks of creating a ‘financial partnership’ advisory board. There objective would be to help seek funding and support from the community as they further their ministry.

Until that board is off the ground, don’t fret, you can be apart of helping right now by coming out to their Benefit Concert entitled Mercy and Music on August 21, 2010. The event will be held at Christ United Church , 8645 E. Brainerd Rd. and starts at 7pm. There will be performances by Eric Peters, Andrew Person and introducing a new local band Concerning Lions. Tickets are $15, $10 for students with I.D. all proceeds will go toward benefiting the ministry of the Community Counseling Center . If you would like more information, please call Jana Pressley at (423) 648-2670.
To view the facebook event page, please see link below. If you would like to use this format to invite others, please do so!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102280613155818