Catholic Counseling Service expands

    Catholic Counseling Service, which opened its doors in September 2011, now has three locations to serve those in need of counseling.
    In addition to the Metairie location at 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Catholic Counseling Service offers appointments five days a week out of an office at the Northshore Pastoral Center, 69090 Hwy. 190 East Service Road in Covington; and the new West Bank location on the campus of Immaculate Conception Parish, 4509 7th St., Marrero.
     “We’re trying to meet the need,” said Mario Sacasa, director of Catholic Counseling Service, about opening a third office. “We get calls almost every day for services. We are happy to have grown in our offering and availability.”
    Currently, Catholic Counseling Service sees an average of 35 people a week among the three sites. The main focus at all locations is couples and family counseling with a Catholic perspective, but both Catholics and non-Catholics are assisted as are individuals seeking private counseling, Sacasa said.
    An intake process is done to determine if Catholic Counseling Service is right for someone.
    “We offer counseling that upholds the tenets of our faith through sound counseling practices. We certainly do not impose the faith but leave room so people know their options,” Sacasa said, especially in the realm of marriage counseling, where Catholic counselors “try to affirm the sacramentality of marriage.”
Through the lens of faith
    Sacasa said he finds the clients who come to Catholic Counseling Service are looking for that faith dimension when trying to figure out their struggles.
    “People feel free to talk about their background and faith experiences with us,” Sacasa said. “That will be respected and acknowledged in counseling.”
    In addition to more locations, the team of counselors at Catholic Counseling Service also has grown, said Sacasa. Licensed counselors work alongside seven clinical counseling interns from both Our Lady of Holy Cross College and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
    Sacasa, who has been practicing counseling for eight years, has a combined master’s and an educational specialty degree in marriage and family counseling. He became the director of Catholic Counseling Service in July 2012. The northshore location opened shortly after in September.
    Sacasa and Deacon Dave Farinelli, LPC-S, supervise the interns to ensure a quality experience. Sacasa said he initially spends a day with them and discusses all the necessary forms and details how Catholic counseling might differ regular counseling.
    “It starts as an ongoing conversation with the interns,” he said.
Extensive experience
    Sacasa said his experience in counseling encompasses work in a diocese, parishes and with retreats. He was a licensed marriage and family therapist in Tallahassee, Fla., before coming to New Orleans.
    “I’ve made a career of integrating the Catholic faith into counseling,” Sacasa said.
    He is elated to be able to assist people during their struggles in life.
    “People just need counseling,” Sacasa said. “We all need help. I know the priests and other ministers of the church have been asking where to send people that would be a trusted source. We are happy to offer that to the archdiocese.”
    Sessions are $30 an hour, but Catholic Counseling Service will work with clients on the rate, if necessary. Day and evening appointments are available at all three locations. Call 861-6246 for information or an appointment or visit: w.
    Christine Bordelon can be reached at cbordelon@clarion herald.org.