More Than Just Counseling | Apostolic Ministry Vol 32 No 1
Marion Pietz, Porter TX
At the Center for Apostolic Counseling, counseling is about setting goals and changing lives, one session at a time. Sis. Marion Pietz, founder and Clinical Director of the center, has a Master’s Degree in Counseling from St. John’s University in New York. The center, a nonprofit (501C), is located in a business office in Kingwood, Texas, and there are about twenty-nine licensed counselors all over the nation.
Sis. Pietz speaks at UPCI women’s conferences and has done a tremendous amount of work in the Texas singles ministries. She is a unique counselor, evident by her personal website www.humortherapy.com, but she is very serious when it comes to helping people in crisis. She came to Texas from New York (Queens) at age 32 and worked as a Special Ed Counselor for the New Caney School District before going into private practice in 1991. She came to the truth under the pastorship of Rev. Jerry Green at Porter Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Porter, Texas, where she has attended for the past forty-one years. The church is now under the pastorship of Rev. Joel McCoy, and Rev. Jerry Green serves as Bishop.
The Center for Apostolic Counseling enables Apostolic people to receive counseling for their mental or emotional needs, family needs, etc. without fear of being judged within the church.
There is a need for state-licensed Apostolic counselors who are professional people and have standards of ethics. These counselors have been through educational programs to ensure that Apostolics can feel comfortable going to them. The Center for Apostolic Counseling also provides a venue for Apostolic counselors to meet once per month, share experiences, and ask questions if needed.
Counseling services depend on the need and include individual, family, and marriage therapies. Sis. Pietz explained, “A person comes in, and we talk for a few minutes, where I get hands-on information. For instance, if a spouse has been unfaithful, and we’re seeing more of that today than in the past, or if there is a communication problem, I don’t try to cure the person or solve their whole life. I’m there to help them realize their goals and find what is worth their effort and time.” And, she has helped teens through rough places in their lives.
The center has used Telehealth, a HIPPA-compliant platform in counseling during COVID. Because the center sees secular people as well, Sis. Pietz has subtly placed Scriptures on her office walls in a picture or tapestry and asks the client if they have a support system like clubs, social outlets, or a church they may attend. If they say something about attending church, she will mention Scriptures like Philippians 4:8 regarding thinking on things that are true, honest, pure, lovely, etc., because thinking is so important. Her speciality is addiction, because she also came out of a lifestyle of addiction herself.
Sis. Pietz describes her clientele as the world. She works closely with UPCI pastors and does objective testing and screening of children in Christian schools. As a help to pastors, there are situations where mental health counseling can help. She explained, “It seems we’re getting people now from the highways and byways. This counseling service is needed, because today, we’re a litigious society, and people will take you to court in the blink of an eye. Additionally, if we can get the alcoholic sober and keep them sober, we can get them to church so pastors can preach to them.” The success stories are many. One, in particular, was an alcoholic woman who didn’t know who Jesus was but has now been set free, was given Bible studies, baptized in Jesus’ name, and is attending church.
Sis. Pietz may be contacted through the toll-free number 833-484-3222 or office number 281-358-7194. The secretary is in the office Tuesday-Thursday. Apostolic Counseling is national and international. The website is www.ApostolicCounseling.org.
