$23,225 raised by 50 donors
100% complete
$20,000 Goal
Anyone who has ever tried to find a therapist, either for themselves or a loved one, knows how difficult it can be. It can be a struggle to find a therapist who has openings and takes your insurance, let alone one you like and whose schedule fits your own. The Counseling & Education Center is here to help.
The Counseling & Education Center meets the community's need for accessible mental health care by providing professional, affordable counseling services to adults, teens, children, and families—regardless of income or insurance, with no eligibility requirements or session caps.
CEC’s 13 highly trained staff therapists work with clients of all ages, including children as young as 3, who come to counseling to address trauma, anxiety and depression, life changes, relationship issues, or other issues that their wellbeing and functionality.
CEC also hosts a robust training and internship program for graduate students and Master’s-level counselor candidates looking to enter the behavioral health workforce. Increasing the number of highly trained therapists in our community is key to expanding access to mental health care for everyone.
We are excited to share that in early 2025 we are expanding our counseling services into a second location, in Orchard Mesa.
YOUR DONATION DURING COLORADO GIVES HELPS MORE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ACCESS PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.
A sampling of comments from our counseling clients (anonymous to protect confidentiality):
"You were there for me when nobody else was."
"I was determined to take control of my life after years of drinking due to sexual abuse. I had no money, no job and lived with friends. CEC took me in, accepted me, and worked with me for 2 years. During that time, I gained more confidence, found a job and graduated with a degree. I have CEC to thank for helping me become a better person."
"I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me and my family, we could not have done it without your services."
"The most compassionate and professional care I've ever received from counselors and staff."
The Counseling & Education Center (CEC) enriches our community by providing professional, affordable counseling services to all. We envision a future where all people can attain mental wellbeing through access to these services, leading to a healthier community.
CEC’s Core Values are: Affordability, Equity, Safety, Integrity, Responsiveness, Community
For 43 years, the Counseling & Education Center has strived to make professional, affordable counseling services accessible to all, regardless of income or insurance.
CEC was founded in 1981 by two Catholic sisters and licensed professional counselors, Sister Faye Huelsmann, LPC, and Sister Pat Lewter, LPC. Long before “mental health” was regularly spoken about, these revolutionary women saw the need in Mesa County for professional counseling services that low-income individuals and families could access, regardless of insurance or ability to pay. The Sisters’ goal was to empower people of all ages to change their lives through accessible and affordable counseling, which remains at the heart of CEC’s work today.
OUR PROGRAMS
Counseling:
CEC makes counseling affordable and accessible to all by offering services on an income-based sliding payment scale, and accepting Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance—all without eligibility requirements or session caps. Through grant funding, we are also able to offset the costs of counseling for those affected by suicide, for victims of or witnesses to crime, and for children whose families otherwise might not be able to access play therapy.
CEC counts on the expertise and dedication of 13 staff therapists, all of whom are either licensed or candidates for licensure. CEC therapists work with clients of all ages, including children as young as 3, on reprocessing traumatic memories, developing interpersonal skills, building adaptive coping skills and resilience, reducing/managing symptoms, reaching goals, and rebuilding trust. Counseling helps interrupt intergenerational cycles of trauma, is a key component of suicide prevention, and gives people to tools to become better parents, partners, caregivers, and employees–creating a ripple effect of mental wellbeing that positively impacts all of Mesa County.
Clinical Internship Program & Postgraduate Training:
CEC is helping to address the community’s shortage of mental health providers by training the next generation of professional therapists. We do this by providing high-quality training, clinical experience, and clinical supervision for graduate students and master’s-level counselor candidates taking on their first clinical caseloads. Each year, 4-8 graduate counseling and social work students are provided with the clinical experience, supervision and training required by their academic programs. After graduation, CEC employs counselor candidates, providing them with the clinical supervision and experience needed to obtain full licensure through the State.
Community Initiatives:
The Counseling & Education Center works with other nonprofits, local government, and regional work groups to find ways to best meet the mental health needs of the community. These initiatives include the Mesa County Behavioral Health Steering Committee, fiscal sponsorship of the Mesa County Suicide Prevention Coalition, hosted education classes, and local daycare consultation.
Organization name
Counseling & Education Center
other names
Center for Enriched Communications, Inc.
1981
Tax id (EIN)
74-2232416
Category
Mental Health & Crisis Intervention
Organization Size
Large Organization
Colorado State Tax Credits
Colorado Enterprise Zone Credit
Address
2708 Patterson RoadMesa County, CO, US