In order to serve the public and increase community involvement Hopeful Counseling will be offering a limited number of Pro Bono (free) counseling services to the community at all office locations.

About Pro Bono Services

Pro Bono counseling is free service available to individuals who are unemployed, uninsured, under insured, or unable to afford traditional counseling services. This may include individuals who are struggling with situations such as unemployment, life changes, depression, anxiety, grief or marital issues.  We will provide short term counseling (10 sessions or less) at no cost to the recipient. Your sessions will be provided by Master’s Level students, Licensed Professional Counselor Interns, Social Work Interns, or Marriage and Family Therapy Interns all supervised by Dr. Lenese N. Stephens, Ed.D., LCPC-S, LPC, ACS.

Pro Bono Services Eligibility Criteria*

• Individuals and Couples

• Uninsured/Underinsured

• Unemployed

• Unable to afford traditional counseling services

• Commitment to Prompt Attendance

• Commitment to fully participate in therapeutic interventions and homework

Due to the availability and training levels of our counselors providing Pro Bono services at Hopeful Counseling there are some clients who may be not appropriate for our Pro Bono services.

Individuals and couples not eligible for Pro Bono counseling services at Hopeful Counseling would be:

• Involved in court or legal issues (probation, parole, deferred adjudication)

• Child and Adult protective services involvement

• Couples in or moving towards divorce proceedings

• Child custody cases

• Court ordered services

• Struggling with drugs and alcohol as primary issue

• Suffering from chronic mental illness

• Any issue outside of the therapeutic competency of our counseling staff

All Pro Bono clients are pre-screened for appropriateness. If at any point an individual or couple is determined to need more intensive services than our counselors can offer, they will be referred out to be linked to the appropriate services.

*Your sessions begin when you schedule your first counseling session.  If you cancel or do not show up for your first appointment, you will no longer be eligible for pro bono services.  If at any point you fail to cancel within the 24 hour cancellation time period, show up late or are a “no-show” for your appointment your pro bono services will be cancelled.  You can continue counseling sessions with Hopeful Counseling, but you have to pay the fee appropriate for your type of counseling.  Fees will vary based upon qualifications of the counselor and style of counseling (individual, couple, or family counseling).  Sessions for pro bono are 1 session for 10 consecutive weeks not to exceed 4 months.  

*Please Note: Hopeful Counseling does not prescribe psychotropic medications, however; if you sign a release of information, we will be able to work with your current psychiatrist or medical doctor, to integrate your mental health and medical/physical care.

*Other reasons to sign a release of information: If you would like for your therapist to communicate with any other health care or educational providers (i.e. chiropractor, psychologist, social worker, case manager, school counselor, etc.)