The Friends Counseling Service (FCS) is a program of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting (PYM) that offers members and regular attenders professional counseling by licensed Quaker mental health professionals at a discounted rate. In times of stress and uncertainty, counseling can be a source of strength and support.
Why might I want to work with a Quaker counselor?
For several reasons! The first is that it can be hard to find a counselor who understands the unique ways we approach living our faith. Quakers seek divine guidance for outward action. Our FCS counselors are able to incorporate Quaker practices of discernment into therapy in ways that strengthen our spiritual lives and our resilience.
Secondly, our counselors are active members of their meetings and of our yearly meeting. They may be able to connect clients with Quaker resources and knowledgeable Friends. These can include things as varied as helping someone navigate asking their meeting for financial help, sharing information about grants and case management services, helping someone find other Friends who are passionate about the same issue they are, or introducing a job-seeker to a Friend in their field for an informational interview. We are a community and our wellbeing is best served when we support each other.
Is counseling in person or online?
Our counselors see clients both in person and online, based on preference, distance, and accessibility needs.
Can I afford counseling?
The counseling service offers a sliding scale based on income. Low-income clients can pay as little as $20 per session and we waive the fee for clients who have no resources or are unhoused. Even our full fee is substantially discounted from the prevailing rate for counseling.
We are able to offer subsidized counseling due to the generosity of our counselors and support of the John Martin Trust. If you or your meeting would like to donate to continue this ministry, donations can be made to the Arlene Kelly Fund of PYM to support financial accessibility of counseling for all PYM members and attenders.
How do I connect with an FCS counselor?
Read through our counselors’ bios to get a sense of which ones feel like a good fit for you. Then reach out to the Friends Counseling Service Coordinator at friendscounseling@pym.org, and we will be in touch about next steps.
FCS is always seeking licensed counselors to join us. FCS counselors can choose how many FCS clients they’d like to see in their private practice; some see many while others see only one or two. If you are a member of a PYM meeting and interested in joining the counseling service, please reach out to us at friendscounseling@pym.org.
