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Midwest
Christian Counseling Center was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1957, as a non-profit
501 (c) 3 organization under the direction of R. Lofton Hudson, Ph.D. At that time, many
psychiatrists and psychologists treated religion as a pathology or at best as a coping
mechanism. Several prominent Kansas City pastors met and decided that they would like a
counseling center that was staffed by qualified counselors who also had formal theological
training and who would be equipped to take faith and spiritual issues seriously. It was
their hope to create a facility where parishioners would not have to choose between
psychology and faith. Midwest was a pioneering effort to establish just such a community
counseling center where integration of psychological principles and the strength and
wisdom of Judeo-Christian values were available to address mental health. Midwest was only
the third such center in the nation, and has served the Kansas City metropolitan area
continually since that time. The principle purpose remains the same today as it was at its
founding…to furnish an adjunctive ministry to the churches and to the community as a
whole in the field of pastoral counseling. Help is still extended in confidentiality and
in an atmosphere of care and respect to all persons, regardless of religious persuasion,
race, or ethnic background. Throughout
its history, Midwest has been distinctive. It has held up high professional standards. All
staff members are credentialed in the field of psychology or mental health and most are
trained in theology. The clinical staff continues to be ecumenical in nature and offers a
diversity of psychological and theological perspectives. The Center has held itself to
high professional standards, and is accredited by the Samaritan Institute, a network of
over 100 pastoral counseling centers. The standards set by the Samaritan Institute are
similar to those used to accredit hospitals. In addition, each staff member belongs to
professional associations appropriate to his/her area of specialty. Midwest Christian
Counseling Center continues to serve a diverse Kansas City population and it's surrounding
area.
In 1998, the
Board named Dr. David Ehman, Executive Director, to lead a core group of six clinicians
dedicated to the vision of the founders. This vision continues to be one of bringing
health and wholeness to the community one hour at a time through the integration of the
wisdom of faith and the insight of psychology. |
