Church of the Annunciation in Lewisville is partnering with a mental health group to provide affordable therapy sessions to those who could not otherwise pay the high cost of treatment. The church sought to find a meaningful outreach to serve the community, said the Rev. Catherine Thompson, rector of the church. “There is a pressing need for accessible mental health care,” she said. “Particularly for youth and teens.” 

The parish partnered with Khesed Wellness a group that will leverage office space at Annunciation so treatment costs can be reduced to $60 an hour. Ten percent of the treatments will be offered for free to those who cannot pay the fee. However, the church is applying for grants and looking for ways to provide additional free treatments to those who can’t afford it otherwise.

Thompson said finding an affordable solution for mental health care was an idea that had been tugging on her heart for a long time. After much prayer and discernment, she reached out to the group’s founder to ask a simple question and ended up with an outreach ministry. Khesed will provide the staff and scheduling, while Annunciation provides office space for therapists to use from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays and Fridays starting in September. A requirement of the partnership is to provide an inclusive space that serves anyone of any background, regardless of spirituality, religion, gender, sexuality, ethnicity and otherwise. This effort is a pilot program with the hope that Annunciation will expand its service hours and that other churches and non-profits will also be interested in participating in this type of outreach. 

Affordable places such as MHMR are so busy it is difficult to get an appointment, and even those in our congregation said they were interested in signing up for a session, Thompson said. “The need is overwhelming,” she said. “People can’t find a provider they can afford.”