Danea Mickey, MS, LPC, PSOTP, of Family Counseling Services staffs the agency’s new office at 702 S. Commercial St. in Aransas Pass. Staff photo
Family Counseling Services in Corpus Christi recently opened a new office in Aransas Pass, expanding service availability to its ever-growing clientele. The nonprofit, community-based counseling service also has offices in Corpus Christi and Kingsville.
“We wanted to give people over the bridge in Taft, Rockport, Ingleside, Portland and Aransas Pass who may not have the resources to travel regularly to Corpus Christi access to our services,” said Danea Mickey, the licensed professional counselor working in the new office.
Located at 702 S. Commercial St., the office is only open Mondays for now. The group plans to add days as the calendar fills up with clients. Other therapists are available to travel to the office to meet patients’ needs as well, executive director David Schroll said. Funding for the new office came from Health Care Ministries.
“If things take off there, we can redirect that grant money to expand the office,” Schroll said. “There’s the possibility of taking over another office space there as well.”
In partnership with United Way, Family Counseling Services has been providing therapy-based counseling sessions in Corpus Christi since 1942. Services offered include any family counseling needs, child play therapy and crime victim support, just to name a few.
The group recently added two new play therapists and outfitted an additional child therapy playroom, all with grant money.
Most referrals to the agency come by phone, said Kristy Phillips, director of clinical programs. The school district, police department and other government agencies also send referrals. Patients are quickly processed to determine their individual therapy needs and ability to pay. Most fees are on a sliding scale, depending on income. Family Counseling Services accepts private insurance, Medicare and Medicaid.
Therapists are trained in community counseling as well as individual counseling. They also teach classes on anger management, and several therapists are fluent in Spanish.
“If there’s a need in the community, and we can help address it, we are going to do it,” Phillips said. “That’s what we’re doing in Aransas Pass. People asked for services out there. Our community partners are excited to hear we will be providing that now.”
People need therapy because “life is hard,” Phillips said. Everyone encounters daily challenges that can be better faced with some outside help.
“Therapy done right should be non-judgmental, reflective and focused on helping the person,” Schroll added. “Sometimes, it’s nice to know there’s someone who is there to listen; someone who is not invested in the situation, who is not worrying about how things are going to impact them.”
Family Counseling Services has seven therapists in Corpus Christi, two in Kingsville and the office in Aransas Pass, all offering a wide variety of different strengths and skills.
We can meet people’s needs when they walk in the door,” Schroll said. “There’s always something life is throwing at us that we need extra help with.”
For more information, call Family Counseling Services at 361-852-9665 for either the Corpus Christi, Kingsville or Aransas Pass offices. The Corpus Christi office is located at 3833 S. Staples St. The Kingsville office is at 603 E. Kleberg. The Kingsville office number is 361-592-6058. For crime victim services at any of the three offices, call 361-852-7540.
“We do not have to have a police report to help victims of crime,” Schroll said. “Many of our patients are victims of crimes from their childhood, and they are grown now and still trying to deal with it. If you need help, call.”
