The Episcopal Counseling Center

Mission Statement:  “Promoting wholeness and spiritual growth in a Christ-like atmosphere of love.”

The Episcopal Counseling Center is now in the midst of it’s 27^th year of ministry to the Central Florida Community.  In the past year we held more than 4000 appointments with individuals, couples and families seeking to address issues of concern in their lives.  What a blessing it is to be able to be inspired by the courage, hope, and faith our clients bring through our doors.  It is a privilege to work with our clients!

In the summer of 2005 we began assisting with a support group for Haitian parents and families.  What courage it takes to move to this country and start over!  The Rev. Art Dasher was instrumental in obtaining the grant funding that makes this group possible.  We also continue to work with Links of Hope at Gloria Dei in Cocoa to provide counseling for uninsured adults.  One of our therapists continues to work with the Healing Ministry at All Saint’s, Winter Park.

In November and December, two of our therapists traveled to the Gulf Coast to provide assistance to families who experienced the effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  The recovery efforts and the contacts made during these trips provide hope for both the therapists and those grieving the losses brought by the storms. 

In December 2005 our board members reached out to the community in faith inviting others to join them in financial support of the Counseling Center.  In response to our request, we received more than $3000. in donations to assist with administrative costs of operation.  Thank You!

In February of 2005 we partnered with Trinity Preparatory School to provide the Parenting without Pressure (PWOP) Workshop led by Teresa Langston.  Since then, we have maintained the PWOP website, www.ParentingwithoutPressure.com and conducted the workshop in November 2005, March 2006 and again in May 2006.

We continue to work with Westminster Services (including Westminster Towers and Winter Park Towers) to provide their Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering confidential individual, couple, & family counseling to each of their employees and family members at no cost to the employee.  In addition we are available to provide “lunch and learn” opportunities on the work site.  We would love to provide this service to other organizations and companies in the Central Florida area.

Our staff of Christian professional therapists continues to provide counseling for families, couples and individuals of all ages, nationalities and creeds at our offices in Orlando, Melbourne, Cocoa, St. Cloud, Kissimmee, & Titusville.  Biographies about each of our therapists are located on our website www.ecc1021.com along with all necessary paperwork for starting the counseling process. 

In February 2006 we joined with the Institute for Christian Studies to provide continuing education credits to clergy and therapists.  Mental Health Professionals can now obtain CEU’s through workshops held by ECC.  We continue to provide a counseling and evaluation program for those entering the deaconate or priesthood.  “Consultas en Espanol,” or counseling available in Spanish (and French and Creole) is offered at our Orlando office three days a week and at our Cocoa office once a week. 

Therapists are available to speak to congregational groups on a wide variety of topics from relationships to boundaries to teen issues to crisis intervention.  We welcome the opportunity to talk with priests and deacons whenever a concern arises and our answering service makes it possible to be put through to an “on call therapist” after normal business hours and on weekends. Our phone number is (800) 544-1817. 

The members of our Board of Directors are:  Mr. John Casebier (President), Rev. Michael Goldberg (Past President), Mrs. Dale Eshleman (Executive Director), Dr. Walter J. “Joe” Muller (Psychiatric Consultant), Rev. Bob Bruckart, Mr. Richard Evans (Treasurer), Dr. Barbara Keene (Staff Representative), Mrs. Mary Ruth Houston, Mrs. Alison Presley, Rev. Patricia Spencer, Mrs. Mary Klein, & Mrs. Debbie Stockton

Only with your support can we continue to provide the counseling services so greatly needed in our communities.  Contact Dale Eshleman at the above number or at DaleE@ecc1021.com to get additional information.