How is CareNet Associated with the NC Conference of The United Methodist Church?
Beginning in January 2010, the Conference Commission on Clergy Counseling and Consultation endorsed CareNet to provide services for clergy and consultation for local churches. With a strong commitment to clergy and congregational wellness, CareNet and its sister organization, The Center for Congregational Health, provide resources to strengthen the mission of conference churches.
What is CareNet?
CareNet provides high quality, faith-integrated counseling and behavioral health services to clients and is a resource to the community that enhances mental/spiritual health. CareNet, Wake Forest Baptist Health’s network of pastoral counseling centers, has been developing across North Carolina since 1972. Today, offices are in operation throughout the state. CareNet partners with the NC Conference to provide counseling to its clergy members, and health and wellness services to its congregations.
Many of CareNet’s certified counselors and psychotherapists are ordained, certified pastoral counselors. All CareNet centers are accredited by the Samaritan Institute, a national trade organization dedicated to quality measure for pastoral counseling centers. A sister organization, The Center for Congregational Health, specializes in the health of congregations.
What Types of Services Does CareNet Provide?
CareNet counseling centers provide outpatient counseling for a variety of individual, couple, and family emotional/spiritual health issues by academically-trained and state-licensed counselors. CareNet specializes in faith-integrated counseling that assists the client in identifying and incorporating his or her own faith resources, values, and support systems into the counseling process.
CareNet’s counseling services include:
- Anxiety/depression
- Career/assessments
- Children’s issues
- Crisis and trauma
- Grief and bereavement
- Marital issues
- Men’s issues
- Religious and spiritual issues
- School-related problems
- Separation and divorce
- Sexual/physical abuse
- Step/blended families
- Stress management
- Women’s issues
Other services provided include coaching, consultation, educational workshops, retreats, and seminars for congregational needs and growth.
Is the Counseling Confidential?
Confidentiality is of the utmost importance in all CareNet centers. Providers understand the isolation, as well as the public position, that clergy members must live in and realize the need for a confidential setting that allows an open, healthy relationship between client and therapist. CareNet complies with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPPA) standards.
Are the Counselors Licensed? How Do I Find One?
CareNet clinicians are all licensed with the state of North Carolina and include mental health professionals, psychotherapists, and psychologists. Those seeking counseling can contact the director of the center located nearest to them for assistance finding a therapist.
How Much Will it Cost?
The NCC Board of Ordained Ministry Clergy Care sub-committee provides funds to assist clergy families seeking counseling for any, or all, members of the immediate family. The fund provides up to $400 per family per year to aid with “out of pocket” expenses.
The fund is completely confidential. All persons seeking counseling are identified ONLY by case number. No member of any district staff or conference staff is aware of who is being seen by a professional therapist.
Applications for assistance are handled by the therapist. Clergy families are to utilize their insurance benefit first and have the therapist submit the application after the insurance coverage allowance has been determined.
The Application for Financial Assistance is available for download on the Ministerial Relations webpage. Forms are also available by contacting the Office of Ministerial Relations at 800-849-4433, ext. 244 or by email to Heidi Seifert (heidi.seifert@nccumc.org). All completed applications are mailed to the Office of Ministerial Relations, attention Heidi Seifert, for processing.
Can Individuals from Congregations Receive Counseling through CareNet?
Yes. However, financial assistance through the NC Conference is available only to clergy and their families. After insurance coverage is exhausted, final payment will be the responsibility of the client.
*Note: The Board encourages all clergy families to be comfortable seeking counseling without concern about confidentiality and to know that there is no stigma attached in doing so. Seeking counseling is another opportunity to be healthy in self and in ministry.