Counseling Services

ACU Marriage and Family Therapy Center

The ACU Marriage and Family Therapy Center is currently offering services to members of the community for a nominal fee. If interested please contact [email protected]. Services available include:

Families

Family patterns of communication and behavior influence not only each individual but the family system as a whole. Family counseling looks at the family unit and seeks to find out where the breakdown is between members. Sometimes, a shift in boundaries and communication patterns is needed to move toward a more healthy functioning unit. Other times families just need a safe space to work through a crisis such as grief, divorce/remarriage, the unique challenges of having a family member with a disability, or caregiving for aging parents. Bringing together members of the family allows the therapist to work with the entire unit to achieve a more functioning home environment, improve communication and live more harmoniously together.

 

Married or Dating Couples

According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, couples who seek counseling report improvement in family relationships, partner relationships, overall health (including emotional health), improved work productivity and social life. Couples seek counseling for a wide area of concerns including how to communicate more effectively, work on emotional roadblocks (including trust and intimacy), parenting, and increase in self-awareness and personal growth.

 

Facts and Important Information

Arizona Christian University’s Marriage and Family Therapy Center is staffed with graduate level marriage and family therapy interns. MFT intern therapists have received extensive education and training in professional counseling and are in compliance with the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners’ (AZBBHE) standards and ethics for behavioral health practitioners. Interns serve under the supervision of a state-licensed professional mental health clinician and approved clinical supervisor with AZBBHE. All intern counselors and supervisors have agreed to ACU Standards of Faith.

Clinical Supervisors:

Dr. Brie Turns-Coe

Dr. Carolyn Pela

 

MFT Interns:

Amber Stechman

Arianna Taylor

Ava Addleman

Danielle Salmon

Hannah Hall

Kassandra Terrazas Melendez

Leanna Chayeb

Sarah Murphy

 

How to Make an Appointment

Initial appointments are made by emailing [email protected].

You should expect to receive a response to emails within 24 hours (exceptions may occur on weekends or holidays).

 

Paperwork

After scheduling your first appointment, each person who will attend a therapy session will be emailed a secure link to set-up a client profile and complete all required intake forms and consents.

 

Location of the Counseling Center

ACU Marriage and Family Therapy Center is located at:

1 West Firestorm Way, Glendale, AZ 85306

Parking: Enter from W. Greenway Road. Turn South on N. 57^th Ave. (You will see Hangar Apartments on the corner). After the round-about, turn right into the parking lot. Turn left at the second driveway. The Counseling Center will be on the right hand side (the front door faces the employee covered parking and has the name “Choices” on the front door). Park in front of the main entrance in a non-covered space.

 

Your First Appointment

When you arrive for your first appointment please have a seat in the lobby. Your counselor may be in a current appointment or on a quick break and may not be able to immediately acknowledge you. Once your counselor is ready for your appointment you will be brought into one of the private offices. The counselor will review your intake forms (you will receive a link to complete the forms online prior to your appointment) and your desire to start counseling. Within the first couple of visits, goals will be developed that you and your spouse/family would like to accomplish while in therapy.

At first it may be difficult to talk about the past or something that is currently causing you distress. You may begin to feel emotions such as anger, sadness or shame during your session. Your counselor is there to help you work through these emotions and develop coping skills to process your feelings.

All appointments are 50 minutes in length.

 

Crisis Hotlines

The hotlines are available for use by anyone who is experiencing a mental health crisis.

*Do not hesitate to call 911 in case of an emergency.

Maricopa County Crisis Intervention Hotline – (602) 222-9444

EMPACT Suicide Prevention, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence – (480) 784-1500

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call, text or chat available by dialing 988 or visiting 988lifeline.org

211 AZ Crisis Referral Resource  (shelter, transportation, food) – Dial 211

National Alliance for Eating Disorders  – (866) 662-1235