In March 2008, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church’s leadership recognized the community need to address the importance of mental health and created the St. Luke’s Center for Counseling and Life Enrichment. Several years earlier, church members Susan and Bill Finnegan experienced an insurmountable loss when an automobile accident took the life of their eldest son, Nick, and his dear friend, Scotty Caven. With counseling and support, the Finnegans found strength to move forward as a family and, in turn, wanted to provide similar resources to others in need of support.

In their son’s honor, the Finnegans partnered with St. Luke’s UMC and established the St. Luke’s Center for Counseling and Life Enrichment, a free referral source for community mental health needs. In January 2012 the focus shifted to offer on-site counseling and the Nick Finnegan Counseling Center was created. The growth since then has been exceptional and the rapid growth directly correlates to Houston’s growing demand for affordable counseling.

NFCC offers services at a significantly reduced base rate, through insurance options, and on a reduced fee sliding scale for those who otherwise could not afford treatment. NFCC’s counselors provide in-house counseling sessions to individuals, couples, children as young as 3 years old and families. In addition to helping clients on-site, NFCC also helps those who attend support groups, community workshops and talks led by NFCC, as well as those served through our partnerships.

NFCC is proud to be a place that can offer high quality and affordable mental health services to anyone regardless of differences such as age, finances or beliefs.

Pictured here: Susan and Bill Finnegan with son, Scotty and daughter, Terrell Finnegan Branch in the courtyard of the counseling center.