Background
The Center for Counseling and Family Therapy provides affordable counseling and outreach services to empower people to face life's tasks with confidence. Counseling services are available to anyone in need within the Saint Louis University community and throughout the metropolitan St. Louis area.
Established through a grant from the Danforth Foundation, the Center for Counseling and Family Therapy joined with three other clinics in the College of Public Service under the umbrella name Paul C. Reinert, S.J., Clinics.
The Reinert Clinics were made possible through a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor who wished to memorialize the vision of Paul Reinert, S.J., a late president of Saint Louis University to "...prepare students for the real world and give them a sense of obligation to not avoid problems, but to find solutions for them. Not only competence but conscience."
The goals of the Center for Counseling and Family Therapy are consistent with the mission of Saint Louis University which states, in part, that: "The University. . . maintains and encourages programs which link the University and its resources to its local, national, and international communities in support of efforts to alleviate ignorance, poverty, injustice and hunger, to extend compassionate care to the ill and needy, and to maintain and improve the quality of life for all persons."
Areas Addressed in Therapy
- Depressive disorders (major depression, depression due to medical conditions)
- Anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias, panic disorder)
- Adjustment disorders and life stress
- Trauma-related disorders
- Substance and alcohol use disorders
- Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder)
- Couple’s therapy (communication, conflict, intimacy and sexual issues, finances, couples on the brink of divorce)
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism disorder and other childhood developmental issues
- LGBTQ areas
- Multicultural topics in families
- Parenting issues
- Caregiving for family members with chronic health issues
- Long-term therapy for lifestyle/health issues (smoking cessation, management of diabetes, coping with chronic pain)
Therapists at C.C.F.T.
Therapists at C.C.F.T. are master’s and doctoral interns in the program. All students are supervised under state and A.A.M.F.T. Approved Supervisors during their time in the program. Therapists provide high-quality clinical services to the community through strong curriculum and clinical training.
Costs for Therapy
The Center for Counseling and Family Therapy provides quality therapy at an affordable rate for members in the community. The cost of therapy is negotiated with the therapist at the first appointment, which is determined by both annual household income and number of dependents in the home. A sliding scale fee can be offered to clients, which must be negotiated first with their therapist based on need and circumstances.
Clients can pay by cash, check, or credit card. Virtual sessions must be paid online at the link below:
Format for Therapy
We offer three formats for therapy, based on the client’s preference and presenting issues. All virtual sessions (phone and video) are offered in 30-minute or 60-minute appointment times:
- In-Person Therapy - takes place at our on-campus clinic in Morrissey Hall
- Video Sessions - client will need a working tablet, laptop or computer for these sessions.
- Phone Sessions - client can use cell phone or landline phone
COVID-19 policies
In keeping with policies regarding COVID-19, we ask clients to consider the following when checking in for their appointment:
- Please take your temperature at the front desk prior to your in-person appointment.
- If you are experiencing symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19, we ask that you do not attend your session in-person. Please call or email the clinic ahead of time and make arrangements with your therapist if this is the case.
- Please bring a mask to your appointment. If you do not have a mask, the front desk will provide you with one. All clients MUST always have a mask on in the clinic.
- Either your therapist or the front desk will call you to come into the lobby for your appointment. We have this protocol to limit the number of individuals in our lobby.
Who is Eligible?
Any individual, couple, or family desiring counseling or referrals is eligible for service at the Center for Counseling and Family Therapy.
Who Are the Therapists?
Therapy is provided by doctoral and masters-level students currently in the Medical Family Therapy Program at Saint Louis University. All therapists are supervised by faculty who are licensed professionals.
The Center for Counseling and Family Therapy also provides The Memory Clinic, a comprehensive care service that addresses the needs of individuals with dementia and their families. The Memory Clinic is open Monday 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.