Beginning next month the Houston Galveston Institute (HGI Counseling) will provide free counseling services to students and families at 37 Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (LCISD) schools in Fort Bend County throughout the 2020-2021 school year. Previously HGI Counseling Services provided individual, family, and group therapy services to 13 LCISD schools during the 2019-2020 schoolyear.

HGI Counseling is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers counseling, training, and research services in the Greater Houston region to families and individuals on a sliding scale basis. The mental health services organization was founded in 1978, and during the coronavirus pandemic it has transitioned to providing tele-therapy services – in many instances at no cost.

“We had almost twice as many requests in June this year than we did last year, and the need for support is continuing to increase. In many cases, people are seeking therapy for the first time as a result of existing issues that have been amplified as a result of the pandemic,” said Dr. Sue Levin, executive director at HGI Counseling. “Now that schools are preparing to reopen we anticipate students and families will have pandemic-related needs that our therapists are trained to help with. We are grateful for our growing partnership with the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District.”

HGI Counseling therapists will be assigned to specific schools within LCISD and will work with school administrators and educators to support students who need counseling services. Students will participate in individual, group, and family therapy sessions based on their respective needs. No cost will be incurred by families for the services their children receive.

HGI has worked in schools and with school districts for more than 30 years, and is happy to have a new Director of School Programs, Michael Pontello, who has been coordinating these rich collaborations in recent years.

The 42-year-old nonprofit organization raises funds to be able to provide its services on a sliding scale to all clients. The LCISD initiative is made possible through financial support by the Henderson-Wessendorff Foundation, the George Foundation, and LCISD.