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Counseling Hours Expand

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

BRANDON - The Family Service Association, a 100-year-old charity program that offers mental health counseling, recently expanded its hours at its Brandon office.

The office, at 407 N. Parsons Ave., Suite 104 A, is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

'The needs are really great in eastern Hillsborough County, but there aren't many resources,' said Lisa Richardson, director of development for The Centre for Women.

The Family Service Association became a program of the women's center in Tampa in 2000.

'The thing we're most proud of is that the system has been able to evolve to meet the modern needs of the community,' Richardson said. 'We're proud to carry on that tradition.

The program offers marriage and family counseling with licensed counselors experienced in working with children, adolescents and adults. No one is turned away because they can't pay.

'A lot of times, all the needed services are tied to one thing, like someone being out of work for a long time,' she said. That could, for example, cause depression and lead to issues with children, she said.

'We have support for widows and those going through divorce, also,' Richardson said.

The center also offers employee assistance programs and workshops on wellness, anger management, parenting and other topics.

Fees are based on a sliding scale and a client's ability to pay. All Hillsborough County residents are eligible to apply for counseling.

The nonprofit Centre for Women is funded through the United Way through tax-deductible donations and service fees. The Family Service Association is accredited through the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

To make an appointment, call (813) 238-3727 or (813) 251-8437. Screening and counseling is confidential.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or at yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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