Mental health help is within reach
The staff at Southeast Counseling Center gather for a holiday party on December 14.
Post-holidays can summon feelings of a letdown, emotional drain and financial stress. All of this, coupled with an already anxious society, begs for self-check-ins in the new year. Southeast Counseling Center (SCC) in Parker is available to help.
Originally launched in 2010 at Southeast Christian Church by care pastor Peter Barber, the program was housed in the space of a closet with a couch, a chair, one contracted licensed therapist and a few graduate interns.
The needs increased exponentially and, by 2018, the counseling program became an independent Colorado nonprofit 501(c)(3) with 10 staff members. They moved to the warm, comfortable and expansive office they currently occupy. Peter now sits on the SCC board of directors.
Today, there are 26 clinicians treating people of all faiths (or no faith). There are four areas of focus – couples and families, children and adolescents, support groups, and forensic/court ordered groups. Each consists of four to five clinical team members led by a specialty head. Child play therapy is used for young clients. Psychological testing and assessments for learning disabilities and ADHD are also available.
Jason Bell, MA, LPC, is the executive director. He knows all too well the struggles of the community. “We are highly anxious,” he said. The waiting room might have a jet owner sitting next to a client who slept in a car overnight. Mental health struggles have no boundaries, Jason explained. With suicide a leading cause of death for ages 10 to 34, Jason said it is important to know, “You are really not alone.”
When someone decides to ask for help – which is a huge step – SCC prioritizes them with an intake meeting within a week. A dedicated intake clinician visits with the individual, couple or family to identify the correct therapist based on needs and personality.
“We exist to invest ourselves in you, so you are empowered to cultivate wholeness and hope.”
– Southeast Counseling Center
SCC recognizes that the fit between patient and therapist is crucial to therapy success. The group of clinicians spans generations, genders, life experiences and expertise, which is key to finding the right client-therapist match.
SCC proudly marries high quality care with accessibility and affordability – something that is often difficult to find in the industry. “It is within reach,” said Jason. Help is available for all, thanks to their Client Impact Initiative that provides subsidies to help meet people where they are, financially. In 2024, the fund provided a total of $370K in subsidized care. That equates to about 600 sessions across 230 clients per month.
Together with grants and support from hospitals, churches, courts, mental health centers and other nonprofits like Douglas County Community Foundation and Aloha Fund, SCC is able to bridge the gap for the many who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid but too little to have the means to include mental health in their budget.
“We are so thankful for the recent generous $15,000 matching donation of the Aloha Fund to invest in the Client Impact Initiative so that those who need therapy don’t have to worry about cost being a barrier,” emphasized Peter.
“If you aren’t feeling whole, ask for help,” said Peter, it is just a phone call away: 720-842-5553. Learn more about SCC or donate to the client impact fund at www.secounseling.org.
If you or someone you care about is facing an immediate mental health crisis, call 988 or Colorado Crisis Services at 844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255. In an emergency, call 911.
Peter Barber, Southeast Counseling Center board member, and Jason Bell, SCC executive director, stand next to the center’s mission sign. It reads, “We exist to invest ourselves in you, so you are empowered to cultivate wholeness and hope.”
Article and photo by Elean Gersack; courtesy photo
