BRIGHTON — Jody Pierce has served as director of the Pennock Center for Counseling for the past six years. She’s seen the need in the community increase over the years. As a result, Pennock Center increased the number of staff and services to try to meet that need.

    “I feel like it’s really meaningful work here. I really see tremendous changes in people, and we help people find help when they don’t have any,” she said.

    The Pennock Center for Counseling originally began – under a different name – in 1983 when Mary Pennock, a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Brighton, initiated a program offering counseling opportunities within the church for church members. Later, Pennock and the board expanded services to the entire community.

    In recent years, the nonprofit center has largely expanded to meet the growing needs of the community.  

    The program evolved from one psychotherapist working out of an office in the church, to having a separate building at 211 S. 21st Ave. in Brighton. The center employs Pierce, full-time director and clinician, two full-time staff therapists, a bilingual staff therapist, a contract therapist, an office manager and masters’ level interns.

    “We’re thrilled with the growth, but there’s an even greater need to serve more,” Pierce said.

    The center operates on a sliding fee scale and specializes in working with clients who don’t have insurance. Nearly 30 percent of clients paid just $10 or less per session last year.  

    “We’re really here to meet a gap in services in the community,” Pierce said. “For mental health counseling needs, people that don’t particularly have health insurance or resources to pay.”

    Pierce said she noticed an even greater increase in the need for the center’s services with the economic downturn over the past year.

“People are really struggling,” she said. “But we do want people to know that they can access help through us, because of our sliding fee scale and reduced fees. We want them to know that it’s OK to get help. Most of us need a little outside help from time to time.”

    In order to help keep up with the need, the center is planning its first fundraiser, Healing Hearts, for Feb. 12 from 7 to 9 p.m. The event will be at the Hampton Inn in Brighton and will feature entertainment by the Celtic Harp Society, desserts, wine and a silent auction. The entire community is invited to the event, Pierce said. Tickets for the event are $10 each.

    Pennock Center for Counseling provides therapy services for all ages of clients: children, teens, adults and the elderly. Pierce said some of the most common reasons people come to Pennock Center are for marital and relationship issues, child and adolescent problems, depression, post traumatic stress, anxiety and other adjustment problems and grief.

    In addition to professional therapy, the center also offers support and educational groups and classes, including parenting programs, grief support groups, coping skills groups, divorce recovery groups and on-going therapy groups. A listing of groups and classes is available on the center’s Web site. The center also provides Employee Assistance Program services for Platte Valley Medical Center employees and their family members.

    “I can honestly say I feel so proud of the people I work with,” Pierce said. “They are very committed and compassionate, they are excited about what they’re doing.”

    Pierce said in addition to monetary or in-kind donations, the center can always use volunteers who are willing to offer their assistance for helping with work on the building, the computers, or even small things, like donations of used magazines for the waiting room.

    For information, call 303-655-9065 or visit www.pennockcounseling.org.

Healing Hearts

A benefit for Pennock Center for Counseling

7 to 9 p.m., Feb. 12

Hampton Inn, 992 Platte River Blvd., Brighton

An evening of entertainment by the Celtic Harp Society, desserts, wine and silent auction.

For information, call 303-655-9065