Social Agency Interview
David Profitt
Social Agency Interview with Drew H--
New Creations Counseling Center, ---, Ohio
My meeting with Drew H-- of New Creations was an enjoyable conversation concerning the ins and outs of this modern day counseling center. New Creations Counseling Center is loosely, indirectly, and not officially connected to a Methodist church, and at the same time is equally unassociated with a food pantry sharing their facilities. There are eight counselor offices on the bottom floor and a large meeting room upstairs with the food pantry. The atmosphere is inviting; the rooms are laid out for the comfort of the client.
Being one of the few agencies to offer a sliding scale, sometimes going below $25.00 per hour, they see clients from a variety of backgrounds. In addition to seeing people who come in due to the affordability, they receive referrals through the court system. As with all agencies who do this, some of the clients simply do not want to be there, and only do what is required to satisfy their legal needs. Drew admits that only 30% of his clients see themselves through all of the necessary counseling process. However, this seems to be the average for similar agencies. The food pantry upstairs receives several referrals from the agency. “All in one shopping” as Drew called it. I would assume that this connection serves as a double positive, both for the agency and the pantry, which also works to provide assistance in paying bills, etc. Many of the center’s clients are poor, and part of their problem is financial related. Having the two organizations loosely connected offers hope in both the financial/physical and mental realms.
The center employs 12 persons, including the director, one psychologist, and one person with an LSW. The others have their LPC(C)s. One of the employees also holds the title of Pastor. The employees are paid on a sub-contracted type basis, so their monthly salary greatly depends on the number of clients seen that month. In October, Drew saw 95 clients, but in recent months has had as few as fifty. Keeping the flow of clients seems to be one of the biggest challenges facing the agency. The positions held are secure, but the money made each month is not. The counselors report to two directors, one of which deals with the agency’s PR, the other, the clinical director, specializes in overseeing treatment plans.
When asked what areas one would need to specialize in if he/she were to work at New Creations, marriage counseling, depression, anxiety, and children/adolescents brought in by their parents were the first to be mentioned. In fact, marriage counseling seems to be a most needed specialty, as many of the counselors don’t feel comfortable working with that population. Surprisingly, Drew seems to have a personal specialty of working with persons with DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). Drew’s wife has DID and Drew currently is working with five clients diagnosed with DID. I found this interesting, so we discussed the specifics of that disorder for a while.
When I asked if there was anything he would want me to know, any one statement or advice to walk away with, he paraphrased Chuck Swindoll. He said: If there is anything else you would want to do that would make you happy, go do that. We then discussed the importance of knowing one is supposed to be in this field, as otherwise, there is a high burnout rate. It’s advice to be taken seriously, and after our conversation, I am even more sure that this is my calling.
Filed under: EDC 545 Counseling Techniques Lab
Copyright: November, 2002 - David Profitt
