What Does LMCCC Offer?

Our counselors offer biblically sound, evidenced based counseling services addressing the following areas: Relationship Struggles, Depression and Anxiety, Premarital/Marital Counseling, Family Conflict, Parenting Support, Children & Adolescents, Grief and Loss, Pornography/Sexual Addiction, Trauma/Abuse, Spiritual Issues, Chronic Illness/Pain, Divorce Recovery/Step Families, and Identity Issues.

Cost

We have a sliding fee scale, ranging from $35 to $85. However, if you are still unable to cover the cost, you can work with your counselor to set a fee that you can afford. We also have a limited number of scholarships available if needed. You can apply for these at the center.

Hours of Operation

Monday: 8AM - 8PM

Tuesday: 8AM - 7PM

Wednesday and Thursday: 8AM - 5PM

Who needs counseling?

From time to time, we all experience difficult and stressful events. Counseling is a collaborative effort in which you will work with your counselor to navigate these difficult times and to achieve the goals that you have set for yourself. People come to counseling for a variety of reasons including depression, anxiety, marriage, parenting, resolving past trauma, and sexual addiction. Competent Christian counseling with the truth of Scripture will facilitate healing and growth.

Location?

We are located on the campus of NOBTS. Our building is under the LifeSongs Radio Station and across Press Drive from Wal-Mart.

Voucher System?

Local churches have the opportunity to partner with us in this ministry. If you have a church member who you believe could benefit from our services and is unable to pay, then we would ask you to prayerfully consider two possible options. The first option is for the church to agree to cover the cost of a certain number of sessions. Another option is for the church and the counselee to split the cost of counseling; for example, the counselee could pay half of his or her fee each week and the church would cover the other half.

Recommended Books

Mission Statement

LMCCC is a ministry of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The mission of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is to equip leaders to fulfill the Great Commission and the Great Commandments through the local church and its ministries. Graduates from our counseling program can be found ministering in churches, on the mission field and in a variety of mental health professions, in order to be salt and light to the surrounding world.

Our Mission in Counseling

LMCCC provides an array of biblical, evidence-based counseling services that are affordable, accessible, and address the diverse mental health relational counseling needs of individuals, couples, and families in the greater New Orleans community, including children, adolescents, and elders.

Our Mission in Training Students

LMCCC is a training facility for graduate-level student interns at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Students are provided supervised experience in the use of biblically sound models and are prepared to qualify for the licensure process as professional counselors.

History of the Center

During their spring 2013 meeting, trustees created a new academic Division of Church and Community ministries for the counseling and social work programs. In December 2013, the board approved the creation of a counseling center to serve as a resource for NOBTS students and people in the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as to provide NOBTS counseling students with a place to fulfill their counseling practicum hours.

Trustees followed these actions by officially naming the center and approving a timeline for its opening. The Leeke Magee Christian Counseling Center bears the name of Leeke Magee, a Louisiana Baptist and NOBTS supporter who died in 2013. Before his death, Magee named the seminary in his estate plan, providing funds to transform the former William Carey University nursing building on the NOBTS campus into a counseling center and office space for counseling and social work professors. The counseling center opened to the public Aug. 1 after being fitted with counseling rooms and offices.

"We deeply believe that Southern Baptists need to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to engage the communities around our churches," NOBTS President Chuck Kelley said. "We have to find a way to start the conversation about Jesus with people who are not in our churches and we think a counseling program centered in Christ does that and we believe that community-based ministries, again, centered in Christ and the church, can do that."

The unique counseling program at NOBTS provides the educational background needed to achieve state licensure. Currently, NOBTS is the only SBC seminary offering a licensure track in counseling. And while many NOBTS counseling graduates serve as church-based counselors, others have sought employment in nonprofit organizations and private Christian counseling groups in order to reach those outside the church.

Ian Jones, chairman of the church and community ministries division, said all students in the program are committed to biblically-based ministry and are involved in taking the Gospel to hurting people.

"Christ challenged believers to be salt and light in the world 'so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven,'" Jones said, referencing Matthew 5:16. "The division of church and community ministries is committed to training students with the skill sets necessary to help churches connect with their communities through counseling and social ministries, building up the church and bringing the transforming power of the Gospel into the world."

"The new Leeke Magee Christian Counseling Center will be a significant part of this ministry," Jones said, "as students are trained to provide an array of biblical, effective and accessible counseling services to individuals, couples and families in the greater New Orleans community."