Denver Catholic

10 MAY 2-8, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC Around the Archdiocese F rom helping wounded families, to aiding post-abortive women and men, Regina Caeli Clinical Services extends the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by bringing psychology to the ser- vice of the Church. Established four years ago under Catho- lic Charities, Regina Caeli Clinical Services (RCCS) is one of nearly 40 ministries aided by the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal. "RCCS was created as a response to the expressed needs of priests, deacons and Catholic school administrators," explained 25-year psychologist Kathryn Benes, direc- tor of clinical services. "(People) needed to have access to psychological services that are both a•ordable and enlightened by the teachings of the Catholic Church." While services are available to anyone regardless of religious a«liation, RCCS therapists adhere to Catholic doctrine and moral teaching in their practice. "About 95 percent of our clients are fellow Catholics," Benes said. "Approx- imately 86 percent of the people who come to us are referred by their priest, deacon, or other Catholic entity." RCCS provides services to individuals, families, adolescents and children, as well as post-abortion care and counsel- ing through Project Rachel, and services to Catholic schools. Thirty-two people, including four licensed psychologists, six master-level therapists, three doctoral interns and one registered therapist, sta• RCCS. While the main clinic is located in Littleton, sat- ellite clinics are in Loveland, Northglenn, Fort Collins and the University of Colo- rado in Boulder. Additionally, counseling is provided at nine Catholic elementary schools. "Crisis mental health services are avail- able to all schools with the Archdiocese of Denver," Benes said, adding that RCCS also provides psychological assessments for seminarians and women religious can- didates discerning a religious vocation. At a time when the family is under attack, RCCS is especially proud of its services to couples and children. "Married couples and children are the heart of the Church," Benes said. "When they are hurting, the Church is hurting. By helping to strengthen families in need, we are helping to strengthen the Chris- tian fabric of the ecclesial community, as well as the greater social order." Not only is RCCS providing professional counseling that is in keeping with Church teaching, but through its doctoral intern- ship training site in the archdiocese, it is producing graduates who then go out and evangelize through the mental health pro- fession. This e•ort aims to fix a "broken" mental health care system, Benes said. "This objective, to form outstanding mental health professionals from a Cath- olic understanding of the human person, along with the objective to provide clients with excellent Catholic commu- nity-based mental health services, fills an important need that is present in Colo- rado and throughout the U.S.," she said. "To Catholic Charities' knowledge, there are only three such Catholic community mental health internship training sites in the United States." While fees at RCCS are competitive with other mental health providers in Colorado, approximately 80 percent of the clients receive significant grant assistance. Clients who choose to use insurance are also accommodated. "Without grant assistance, most of the clients seen at RCCS would not be able to receive any type of mental health ser- vices," Benes said. "No client is turned away because of their inability to pay." The commitment to provide services to clients regardless of their ability to pay means Regina Caeli Clinical Services needs to raise more than $1 million a year to cover operating expenses. "The bottom line is simple," Benes said, "RCCS couldn't keep its doors open and provide mental health services to those in need if it were not for the generosity of … donors. "The very idea," declared Benes, "that we exist to service our community in a time when resources are limited in Col- orado is our success story." Appeal puts psychology at the service of the Church BY ROXANNE KING 720-771-3394 editor_king@icloud.com www.twitter.com/RoxanneIKing Lowest Prices & Unmatched Value - Guaranteed! Call for Details! 877-230-1381 Please mention promo code EC0961 European Highlights Cruise & Tour with Eurostar 14 days from $1999* now $1899* Departs September 17, 2015. Fly to the exciting city of Barcelona (2-nights). 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Save $200 per Couple *When you book by 6/30/15 Through Regina Caeli Clinical Services, Gina Lanz, pictured here at St. Rose of Lima School April 28, serves as a counselor for four Catholic schools in the archdiocese. Regina Caeli is one of some 40 ministries supported by the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal. PHOTO BY ANDREW WRIGHT/ DENVER CATHOLIC; REGINA CAELI www.RCCSDenver.org 720-377-1359 i DONATIONS www.archden.org/donate Archbishop's Catholic Appeal, P.O. Box 100316, Denver, CO 80250-0316 By helping to strengthen families in need, we are helping to strengthen the Christian fabric of the ecclesial community, as well as the greater social order." KATHRYN BENES Regina Caeli Clinical Services "

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