Project Open Heart is a program of Heartwork Counseling Center developed in partnership with social service agencies and faith based organizations that do not primarily provide mental health or family counseling services, although, at times, have a need for such services for their clients. This program also offers partnering agencies an opportunity to provide an affordable employee assistance program geared specifically toward the helping professional.

Low Fee Counseling

Due to a steady decline in affordable, high quality mental health and counseling services in the community, Project Open Heart was developed to respond to our community need. At Heartwork we are always striving to provide a viable option for organizations that desire direct access to very low fee services.

Our partners have a desire for their clients and or staff to have a positive counseling experience in a comfortable private practice setting that is geared toward service accessibility and individualized care.

How it Works

The collaborative agreement is a between Project Open Heart and the eligible agency. The program runs fall through summer each year and requests to become a partnering agency are accepted between September 1st and October 31st, or until all clinical blocks of service for the year have been dedicated.

Project Open Hearts therapists are masters level resident and intern psychotherapists, staffing the program allowing for a significant fee reduction. All fees are $45 per hour and delivered in 10-hour allotments. Each agency agrees to pre-purchase a minimum of 40 hours per program year. However, POH may limit the number of hours reserved by an agency based on the availability and need of all applicants. The agency receives certificates to distribute to their staff or clients as needed for direct referral. The 10 hour clinical block ensures that the individual or family receiving services will have a solid start with counseling. There may be times when a POH client requests more therapy and POH will grant the $45 fee for subsequent sessions directly to the client.

Employee Assistance Program (POH)

Enhancing Resilience in the Professional Helper. This program provides assistance in building and sustaining resilience in the professional helper who works with stressed or traumatized populations. (Case managers, social workers, police officers, domestic & sexual violence workers, crisis response workers, etc.)

Bearing witness to the pain, violence and emotional trauma of clients or parishioners can deplete the resources of even the most skilled professional. Burnout, vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue is often the result, and can be thought of as a form of occupational stress.

Ethically this vulnerability must be addressed in order to assure the wellness of both the professional and their clients. Unfortunately, due to professional stigma, many helping professionals are reluctant to seek support for themselves.

We believe it is time for a change; and the change begins with agencies providing encouragement to address self care through occupation specific employee care and support.