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Samaritan Health & Living Center

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The Samaritan Center is a not-for profit mental health and pastoral counseling agency which has served Elkhart County since 1972.  The Center’s focus is on the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.

The professional staff and consultants at the Samaritan Center represent several disciplines, including pastoral counseling, clinical psychology, social work, and family medicine.

The highly successful Samaritan model of healing the whole person— body, mind, and spirit—originated in Elkhart, Indiana, in 1972.  Founded by members of the community, the Center’s initial leadership came from Burton Kintner, M.D., who served as Medical Director, and Rev. R.J. Ross, who served as Executive Director.  Today, the Center still employs a clergyperson as Executive Director and a physician serves as the Medical Director. 

The model of the Samaritan Center was so successful, it has developed into 470 Samaritan Centers serving 335 communities in the US and Japan.  The Samaritan Center is accredited by the Samaritan Institute as well as by the American Association of Pastoral Counselors.

The Samaritan Center continues to offer quality counseling and psychotherapy services, presenting a multidisciplinary approach which treats the whole person, while being respectful and supportive of faith issues.  Our policy is that faith concerns are discussed only at the initiation of the client, and are not a required to participate in therapy.

The fees at the Samaritan Center are based on the actual cost of delivering services.  Since the Center does not receive state funds, we rely on benevolent giving to offset fee assistance given to those clients who cannot afford the full cost of services.

In addition to the main office location, we offer services at five satellite locations, as well as consultations and networking opportunities to businesses, churches, social agencies, and other organizations.

Read Dr. Greg Hinkle’s blog.

Read Milne Kintner’s memories of her father, founder Burton Kintner, MD, and his original vision of the Samaritan Center and its connection with his family history of healing.

View our 2011 Annual Report

Joyce Menchinger, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., is now a registered play therapist.  She has completed all of the many requirements, including state board certification.

Our Still Dancing in Elkhart event will be November 2nd at the Lerner.  Check back soon for more details.

It’s time for our tenth Silent Samaritan luncheon!  Every other year, the women on the Board of Directors hold a Silent Samaritan luncheon to celebrate the caring women in our community, our Silent Samaritans, who give funds to be used only for women in need.

 

The Silent Samaritan Fund helps women to attain wholeness in the face of spousal abuse, childhood physical, sexual or emotional abuse, low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.  The need for women helping women is still as important as ever.  Each year, the Silent Samaritan Fund helps women seek counseling help when they are most vulnerable.  Not only do these women benefit from the financial support that they receive, but also from the knowledge that other women care enough to give them this life-changing gift.

 

This year’s Silent Samaritan Luncheon will be held on June 13th, on the lawn at the home of Tony Warning and Martha Peterson.  Our speaker is Priscilla Daeger, the Director of US Operations for the Starfish Project. Look for your invitation for this wonderful event and plan to celebrate our wonderful Silent Samaritans.