Welcome to Samaritan Counseling Center of the Mohawk Valley

“It is impossible to overemphasize the immense needs humans have to be really listened to, to be taken seriously, to be understood.”
                                                            ~ Paul Tournier, M.D.

From our Executive Director:

Gregory A. Kovacs, LMFT

As Maggie Putman steps down as Executive Director, I have been thinking about Transitions.

If you’re reading this, it is likely that you’re also in the business of transitions.  Whether you rely on the expertise of our therapists to assist you, your loved ones, your patients, clients, or students; whether you appreciate the work we do for our community and so have contributed financially to our cause; or whether you are also a provider of mental health services, you assist individuals in moving from one state-of-being to another.  We all appreciate transitions, I think, not because they represent something better (because they don’t), but because they represent adaptation.  We appreciate transitions because we know that adaptation means responsivity, resilience, and perseverance.  Healthy systems, be they physiologies or organizations, adapt to the needs of their environment by changing their structure or function. 

And Samaritan Counseling (SCC) is no different.  Our Center has been a staple in the Mohawk Valley since 1980—a time that many of you remember was very different in so many ways in the not-for-profit sector.  SCC has made many successful transitions since it’s early years, and Maggie Putman, representing yet another adaptive shift for SCC, led the Center and its staff through tumultuous financial times, while allowing it’s therapists to provide seamless mental health services for our community.  For just one moment, Maggie, set aside your humility, and accept the undoubted thanks of the community for your years of dedication as Executive Director of the Samaritan Counseling Center!

So now again, SCC has responded to a changing environment with an exciting transition.  Effective March 1, 2010, Maggie has asked to step down as Executive Director of SCC, and we are pleased that Maggie will stay on-board to devote her energy to the community as a full-time therapist. 

As the incoming Executive Director of SCC, my vision for the center will nothing but complement the work of Maggie Putman, by propagating her commitment to our community’s well-being that has been established over the past several years.  While continuing to promote the good work our therapists do, I will strive to increase our presence in the community, joining other “transition agents” to maintain our presence as a premier counseling center in the Mohawk Valley.  

Having begun my career working with families in our community in the 1990’s, I am proud to return to raise my own family and to continue the work that others have done before me—that of making Samaritan Counseling of the Mohawk Valley a premier counseling center that focuses on the wellness of individuals, couples, and families.

We are proud to continue serving our community, and I am proud to be a part of the adaptive transitions at Samaritan Counseling of the Mohawk Valley.

Give us a call; we can help you.

Intake Process

When you call, our staff will guide you through the intake process.  You will need to fill out a brief intake form.  Once it is returned to our office, a staff therapist will call to set up the first appointment.

First Visit

In addition to learning more about you, your therapist will go over important center policies with you.

Fees will also be discussed.  Many insurance companies cover outpatient psychotherapy which will assist in the cost of our services.  A sliding fee scale is used for individuals without insurance coverage and will be calculated based on total household income and number of dependents.  

Appointments are 45-50 minutes.

Samaritan Counseling Center of the Mohawk Valley (SCC), a not-for-profit organization, is a leading provider of psychotherapy services in the Greater Utica area, with offices in Hamilton and Rome.

GETTING STARTED

The day of your call can be the first day of a different life for you or someone you care for.  

We offer:

• Psychotherapy for individuals, couples, children and families
• Parent/Infant Program
• Services for the elderly
• Consultation for clergy, physicians and other professionals

more ...

Our office staff will guide you through the intake process and answer any questions you may have.

Contact us today to find out how to start therapy at the Samaritan Counseling Center.