In writing Seedlings columns, it’s less challenging writing about stories concerning our social rather than clinical services because it is easier to maintain anonymity when writing about individuals or families receiving emergency services rather than counseling services.
Not long ago someone with tears of joy told me he knows a person who is “willing to do almost anything,” for Catholic Social Services because they are convinced that if it was not for the counseling their child received at Catholic Social Services a number of years ago, their child would not be alive today.
Stories like this are always gripping. I am grateful to Almighty God for the many talented mental health professionals directed by Dr. Aaron Stratman at our Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center in Lincoln at the John XXIII Center with its many satellite sites in Falls City, Auburn, Nebraska City, Beatrice, David City, York, Holdrege, McCook, and the Newman Center and Guadalupe Center in Lincoln. Dr. Stratman also directs our internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association.
Our highly-trained mental health professionals are available to counsel individuals, including children and families, for most psychological disorders and accept most insurance plans including Medicare. We are grateful to Almighty God and to our donors for because of their generosity we are able to provide charity grants to individuals who are un-insured or under-insured and are unable to afford the counseling services on their own. Last year, we provided nearly $150,000 in charity grants.
I am happy to announce that our new two interns this year are Lucy Muturi from the Institute of Psychological Sciences in Arlington, Va., and Christina Villanueva from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. In addition to working at our main clinic in Lincoln, their outreach assignments will be in York and the Guadalupe Center respectively. We are blessed to have them join our team. I am also pleased to announce our two post-doctorate fellows are Dr. Nick Stevens and Sr. Dr. Mary Patrice, RSM (Religious Sisters of Mercy).
I would like to thank all of our mental health professionals and support staff at our Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center for their dedication and hard work. Please allow me to thank our many benefactors for your prayerful and monetary support and always remember we are only a phone call away. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
