No one is immune to life pressures. At best they can intrude on serenity and productivity and at worst, they can incapacitate an individual or an entire family. There are times when a conversation with a professional marriage and family therapist can validate, illuminate and offer hope for those who are experiencing a troubled time.

The Family Counseling Center at Fairfield University's Graduate School of Education and Allied Professions is a nonprofit center dedicated to providing effective and affordable therapeutic services to individuals, couples and families and to training professional marriage and family therapists.

Counseling sessions are fifty-minutes with some clinic appointments still available Mondays and Thursdays between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; additional appointment times are available on Fridays between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. The clinic is housed on the Fairfield University campus in Canisius Hall, Room 8.

Charges for services are based on a sliding fee scale according to family income and circumstances and are generally between $5 and $40 per session. Dr. Ingeborg Haug, clinical director of The Family Counseling Center stresses, "No one will be denied services due to financial constraints."

As a training facility, the clinic uses a "team approach" to counseling clients. Six advanced graduate students in Fairfield University's Marriage and Family Therapy program work with a Connecticut State-licensed marriage and family therapy supervisor during two full semesters, thereby maintaining an all-important consistency with clients. All supervisors, of which there are four including Dr. Haug, are licensed to treat and deliver services to individuals, couples and families through the professional application of family systems approaches.

Confidentiality and professional practice are rigorously adhered to by all therapists. The family therapy program follows the ethical principles and standards dictated by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) as well as state laws regarding confidentiality and professional practice.

Posted On: 03-31-2008 10:03 AM

Volume: 40 Number: 223