Greetings!

I'd like to share a true story with you, something wonderful that happened recently.  This past Saturday, the Kiwanis Club held an event called Winter Wonderland which benefits several area non-profits, including the Phoenix Center and the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center, an agency with which we work closely and support.  At this event, several people "bought" the Crisis Center's Christmas tree during the auction and it was given back to the Crisis Center for their shelter residents to enjoy.  My husband and I delivered the tree to the Crisis Center's shelter, where we helped set it up in the shelter's living room.  The staff asked all the women living in the shelter to wait in their rooms while we were there so they would be surprised by the tree.  The next morning, all the kids in the shelter woke up to a beautiful Christmas tree!

Two of the children currently living in the shelter attend our therapeutic after school program.  An additional three children who have been served by the shelter in the past, and who I now see for play therapy, also attend our after school program.  I wish you could all have seen them at the Phoenix Center recently singing "the pure light within me" and rocking to the music.  I know these children well and know that the Phoenix Center is very important to them.  It may be the only time in the course of the day or week that they hear "the very best in me sees the very best in you."  It is often very challenging for survivors of abuse to see the "very best" in themselves.  It is a tremendous gift to hear those words in a genuine way and be in a place where you are seen as strong, resilient and talented, for every child has their own talents, strengths and extraordinary potential.

My belief is that children need at least one person in their lives who can hold up a "mirror" and reflect their highest self back to them.  That is one of the many things we do at the Phoenix Center to positively affect the lives of children and their families.  My hope during this holiday season is that we all have someone who holds that mirror up to us and that we hold the mirror up to others so we can all see our best and highest selves.

Thank you sincerely for all you do to make our work possible.

Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving,

Sarah

Our Services 

Phoenix Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to meeting the need for high quality mental health care in rural Central Texas.    

 

We provide free of cost: 

  • Phoenix Counseling Services: Play Therapy, psychotherapy and counseling for any emotional or behavioral need, ages 3 - 18 and families 
  • Phoenix After School: therapeutic after-school programs offering yoga and art therapy groups
  • Camp Phoenix: therapeutic camp sessions at Candlelight Ranch, including equine therapy, adventure/wilderness therapy, art therapy, and yoga/wellness programs

Who is a Phoenix Center Child?

Children and teens ages 3 - 18 with identified mental health needs.  Children we serve are often uninsured, underinsured or are otherwise unable to access high quality mental health services. 

 

Our Collaborating agencies include:  CASA for the Highland Lakes Area, Hill Country Children's Advocacy Center, Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Highland Lakes.  In addition, youth are referred to our programs by public school counselors and families.

 

Our Staff include licensed mental health professionals, graduate student Interns from the UT Austin School of Social Work and Texas State University, and registered yoga teachers.


holiday party - 4 yr old zip line 
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http://phoenixcentertexas.blogspot.com/
 

 

 

 

 

 



holiday party - mariposa
Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.
- W.T. Purkiser