The Samaritan Institute, located in Denver, Colorado, is the international headquarters for a network of 91 professional counseling Centers located across the United States and in Tokyo, Japan. It began in Elkhart, Indiana in 1972 when a physician, two parish pastors, and a seminary professor observed that by working together, ministers, therapists, and physicians were very effective in helping people with stress-related problems. This team approach became the foundation of the Samaritan program which moved to Denver in July of 1983.
Samaritan Counseling Centers offer professional counseling, preventive educational programs, and consultation services. Over 499,500 hours of service were provided for children, adults, and families in 2008; thousands of clergy, congregations, and other organizations were also helped. Annually, more than $20 million of subsidized counseling is provided for those who cannot afford the full cost of counseling. The Centers are supported by 26 denominations and faith traditions and have an active relationship with about 4,000 congregations.
The Samaritan Ministry is one of the largest providers of professional counseling in the United States. There are 481 Samaritan Center offices in 389 cities in the United States and Japan. This growth has been in direct response to the needs of congregations and communities. It is also a tribute to the thousands of people who have realized the importance of having a local Center and who have made the Center a reality through faith and hard work.
