Center for Counseling

The mission of the LeTourneau University Center for Counseling is to serve the LeTourneau University and Longview community through integrative, relational, and quality counseling services.

The LETU Center for Counseling accomplishes this mission through three practical endeavors:

Provide quality counseling services to the LeTourneau University community.
Provide quality counseling services to the Longview community.
Partner with the LeTourneau University Clinical Mental Health Counseling program to provide graduate-level supervision and education to train excellent mental and relational health professionals.

The LeTourneau University Center for Counseling provides counseling services to the LeTourneau and Longview community. The Center for Counseling incorporates an integrative approach to counseling featuring evidence-based practices, Christian Worldview integration, and holistic orientation toward human problems and concerns. The Center for Counseling is staffed by graduate student interns (working on their Master’s degree in counseling and supervised by an approved supervisor), Licensed Professional Counselor Associates (completed their Master’s degree in counseling and supervised by an approved supervisor), and Licensed Professional Counselors.

We are privileged to be a ministry of LeTourneau University, through whose support and graduate educational programs we can offer services to students and the surrounding community. Undergraduate residential students receive services at a cost that is covered through student fees collected each semester. Additionally, affordable rates make counseling more attainable to individuals and families in the greater Longview community who may not have the means to pay customary rates. We also rely on area church support, client fees, donations, and the generosity of foundations in supporting this vital ministry.

OUR COMMUNITY RATES:

$50/hour for Graduate Student Intern Under Supervision
$80/hour for Post Graduate Counselor, License Eligible Under Supervision (LPC-Associate)
$100/hour for a Licensed, Master's Level Professional Counselor (LPC)
$150/hour for a Licensed, Doctoral Level Professional Counselor (LPC)

We are a fee-for-service practice and accept cash, checks and credit cards. Payment is expected at time of service.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the LeTourneau University Center for Counseling is to serve the LeTourneau University and Longview community through integrative, relational, and quality counseling services.

The LETU Center for Counseling accomplishes this mission through three practical endeavors:

Provide quality counseling services to the LeTourneau University community.
Provide quality counseling services to the Longview community.
Partner with the LeTourneau University Clinical Mental Health Counseling program to provide graduate-level supervision and education to train excellent mental and relational health professionals.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The educational vision of the Center for Counseling aligns itself with the broader vision of the university, claiming every workplace in every nation as our mission field, and developing our graduate students to become professionals of ingenuity and Christ-like character who see life's work as a holy calling with eternal impact.

The LETU Center for Counseling's primary objective is to provide graduate-level training from a Christian perspective. This training occurs within the context of a structured curriculum and supervisory relationships and is designed to equip graduates to facilitate Christ-centered spiritual growth, mental health, and relational healing. The training culminates in the clinical portion of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program at LeTourneau University.

The LETU Center for Counseling offers counseling services for a wide range of clients, including students at LeTourneau University, staff and faculty, and community clients. We also offer lower-fee services for families and individuals who cannot afford the traditional cost of counseling and do not have adequate insurance to cover mental health services offered by other counseling centers who accept third party reimbursement.

The LETU Center for Counseling seeks strategic partnerships with local churches in the East Texas region who may choose to financially support our operations through their own missions and community ministry programs. As part of its mission statement of glorifying God and serving the Church, the LETUCC desires to be a referring source for churches in the East Texas region in offering high quality low-cost counseling services to local and regional congregations.

Jeffrey S. Quiett, Ph.D., LPC-S, Director
Deena Shelton, Ph.D., LPC-S, ACS
Heather Bane, MA, LPC-Associate
Emma Liles, MA, LPC-Associate
Savanna Hamilton, MA, LPC
Avery Morgan, Graduate Student Intern

The LeTourneau Center for Counseling follows established privacy standards and procedures mandated by state and federal laws pertaining to confidentiality and release of information. All records are confidential. Material revealed in counseling will remain strictly confidential with the following exceptions in accordance with state law:

The client signs a written release of information indicating informed consent to such release
Counselee is under 18 years of age
The client expresses serious intent to harm himself/herself or someone else
There is evidence or reasonable suspicion of abuse/neglect against a minor child, elderly person (65 or older), or a dependent adult
A subpoena or other court order is received directing the disclosure of information. Our policy is to warrant either privileged communication in the event of a subpoena or the right to consult with clients, if at all possible, barring an emergency, before mandated disclosure in the event of (2) or (3).

*Therapists do not guarantee confidentiality among joint participants in therapy, though use professional discretion in disclosing communications.

LeTourneau University Center for Counseling Privacy Policies

LETU STUDENTS

Your records are NOT part of your academic or administrative records.

Some states, including Texas, ask about therapy as part of the application to the bar. Some state medical boards request this information as well. Similar information is requested by some religious denominations prior to ordination. Some federal agencies require releasing this information for applicants applying for sensitive government positions. We respond to requests with brief summaries, which have, to date, been sufficient. This information is only released with your written consent.

Our standards are governed by the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and the American Association for Family Therapy Code of Ethics.

The LETU Center for Counseling seeks strategic partnerships with ministries, nonprofits and local churches in the East Texas region who may choose to financially support our operations through their own missions and community ministries programs.

The LETU Center for Counseling may also serve as a referring source for the relational and mental health needs of their congregations. It is a luxury and an additional expense for a church to add a licensed Christian counselor to its staff, and pastors know that an abundance of counseling needs only contributes to competing priorities. All of the leadership at the LETU Center for Counseling have served in churches as professional counselors.

As part of its mission statement of glorifying God and serving the Church, the LETU Center for Counseling desires to be a referring source for churches in the East Texas region in offering high quality low-cost counseling services to local and regional congregations.

Below are topics for groups and speaking engagements, which can be held on the LeTourneau University campus or on your site. If you are interested in a group or would like to have a speaker, please email counseling@letu.edu for more information.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

How transition affects underlying mental health issues (i.e. history of major depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorder, etc.) and what can be done to facilitate a health adjustment with these students
Mental Health 101 - covering topics like
- Anxiety and Depression - Am I normal? Am I clinical? Do guys and girls experience these in the same measure or in the same way? Will it go away? What do I do?
- Do I need medication? Are there alternatives to trying medication?
- What is OCD and do I have it?
- I feel numb all the time. Is it my medication?

PERSONAL GROWTH

Stress Management (Student-Focused)
"Am I Supposed to Change The World? To Find my Passion and Be Amazing? The pressure is killing me and causing mental health problems!" These and Other Issues Millennials are Facing
Perfectionism
Building Community

RELATIONSHIPS

Healthy Relationships
Social Skills
Being Present
Effective Listening
Family of Origin problems
Male-Female Relationships
Forgiveness

SEMINARS FOR COUNSELORS

Diversity in the Academy
Black men and Counseling
Counseling Gay men and women
Self-care and the helping profession

SEXUALITY

Girl Talk - sexuality, sexual addictions (yes, girls have them, too), what to do with my desires, etc. Come to a safe, open, non-judgmental, educational group
Single Sexuality

SPIRITUALITY

God Talk
- Is God punishing me?
- Is God angry at me?
- I can't/don't want to think of God as my father.
- How could God have let me be hurt like that?
- Does God accept me? Does it matter?
- I'm too messed up for God to accept me, and I've accepted that.
- Christians make me feel so judged and push me away from God.
- I am racked with doubt; can I still be a Christian? Does anyone else feel this way?
- I love God and I think He loves me, but my spiritual life is so dry.

TRAUMA/GRIEF

How trauma effects psychosocial development and mental health
Grief

Counseling can be helpful for people of all ages, for various reasons, and during any season of life. Our counselors will work with you to address any number of issues, and each counselor is committed to helping within a Christian framework.

Whether you are seeking treatment for a diagnosed mental illness or needing help with relational or personal growth, family concerns, or the stressors of daily life, our goal is to help individuals, couples, and families work toward solutions.

Below is a list of needs or concerns that may lead one to seek professional counseling and/or marriage and family therapy:

Discover and develop new skills relating to better management of relationships and stress
Explore and develop meaningful personal goals and values
Work toward the resolution of lingering issues
Improve communication skills
Transition through the life cycle, and in some cases, decide what's next
Explore career development
Live with purpose & mission, focusing upon spiritual growth
Better balance the demands of life
Rediscover creativity
Persevere through seasons of life
Consider new perspectives
Develop better coping skills for overall wellness
Fill in a gap between knowledge, skills, confidence or resources
Explore work & life imbalances and unintended consequences
Work through life course corrections due to setback(s)
Increase self-awareness
Identify core strengths and how best to utilize them
Reduce complications and simplify life
Be better organized and more self-managing
Learn to manage symptoms of anxiety or depression
Develop a healthy understanding and management of a diagnosed mental disorder
Identify and focus upon what really matters

A counselor can provide astute listening, serve as a sounding board, challenge blind spots, and offer fresh perspectives while maintaining professional boundaries.

It is important to remember that counseling is a cooperative relationship between both the counselor and the client(s). For best outcomes, it is important to commit to being an active participant both inside and outside the counseling sessions.

Counseling can have benefits and risks. Counseling often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. However, because counseling sometimes involves discussing unpleasant aspects of life, you may also experience feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, and loneliness. Each person is unique.

It is our desire to be used by God as we encounter hurting people who find themselves at times overwhelmed by unforeseen life circumstances.

The costs for providing high quality professional Christian counseling services are not limited to adequate facilities, staff, and support services. As good stewards we work not only toward offsetting operational expenses, but advancing our mission and enhancing services in order to broaden our influence and ability to serve the community.

Our center has been designed to offer services at reduced rates for the uninsured or underinsured. Each year we commit to do more. However, many individuals who seek counseling may not qualify for reduced rates or have access to other means of support.

Many of those we serve had little or nothing before the current challenges of our economy. And those who did may now be experiencing new financial hardships while also encountering new stressful situations. The bottom line is that though money is tight, the demand for counseling is still prevalent. In fact, the need for Christian counseling services is paramount.

We want the LeTourneau University Center for Counseling to be relevant and accessible in challenging times - an extension of Christ through the provision of Christian counseling services. You may never need our services, but your children might, or your neighbors, or your co-workers.

As you encounter individuals in need, tell them about our mission and services. LETUCC appreciates referrals from "First Responders" - teachers, nurses, physicians and others on the front line of helping professions and organizations.

If you represent a nonprofit or local church, please help us by encouraging your nonprofit or church to support us as a community partner. A community partner offers annual financial support. The LeTourneau University Center for Counseling offers its community partners annual family life presentations and also serves as a high quality referring base for congregation members in need.

To make a donation, go to letu.edu/give.

To schedule a confidential appointment, please call 903.233.3490 or email counseling@letu.edu.

We see clients by appointment, Monday through Friday.

In the event of inclement weather, the LETU Center for Counseling closes when the University is closed.

*We do not provide emergency services. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency:

Please call the local Mental Health Crisis Hotline: +1 800.832.1009
OR go to your nearest emergency facility
If you are an LETU student, please contact Campus Police at 903.233.4444

We are located on the LeTourneau University campus in Longview Hall. Upon entering the campus from Mobberly, take a left and follow the road to Longview Hall on the right.