New isn't necessarily improved; bigger isn't necessarily better. But when the topic is mental health services, more is almost always desirable.

Samaritan Center is expanding its counseling services. It's a move intended to provide more hope for a healthier, happier and better-adjusted community.

"We know that counseling works, that it improves lives," said Steve Schedler, executive director of Samaritan Center. "For many, it's a game-changer. What people come in with is very diverse, but there are some common threads. Counseling can give people a different way of thinking and navigating emotions and how they handle relationships. There are also these positive examples of people growing."

At the beginning of April, Samaritan Center opened a new counseling space at 33 N. Market St., Lancaster, to augment the mission started at its main location at 1803 Oregon Pike, Lancaster. In addition to increasing the nonprofit's coverage area, the downtown office will allow Samaritan Center to reach more people and provide more mental health services.

"We're very aware of the gap between demand and the availability of counseling," said Schedler. "We're involved in that conversation. The good news is that we've seen a turn in people's willingness to get help since COVID. Who doesn't need to talk to somebody? Now we're seeing the response to that. We saw a record demand over the last four years. Progress is being made, but it will take years to level back out."

Housed on the fourth floor of a historic building near Lancaster Central Market, Samaritan Center North Market features five new counseling offices. Samaritan Center, which is operated by 41 employees, 25 of whom are full-time or part-time therapists, has added five new counselors.

"It's everyone in the community, from all walks of life," said Schedler of Samaritan Center's counseling clientele. "We've seen all ages reach out. It could be older adults; some of our counselors work with children and teens, families, couples, individuals. There really are no groups of folks not reaching out. We have in-person and virtual capabilities, so we can work with anyone in Pennsylvania. But the bulk of our clients seen in-house are Lancaster County residents."

In 2023, Samaritan Center provided more than 14,000 counseling sessions. With the addition of North Market, Samaritan Center now has the capability to provide an additional 6,000 sessions.

"Samaritan Center does many things in the community, and counseling is just one of them," said Schedler. "We just reached a point where we were out of space. We wanted to come up with a way to serve more people, and we're excited about being in the city for the first time. Our goal is to provide improved mental health to everyone. Samaritan Center's mission is to be as accessible as possible to meet people's needs for counseling services, and now we're more accessible than ever."

Samaritan Center was established in 1987 by a group from Highland Presbyterian Church, 500 E. Roseville Road, Lancaster, interested in providing accredited, faith-based counseling. Over the last 37 years, the services Samaritan Center provides have changed to meet the evolving needs of the community.

"It was really a leap of faith to jump out and start a new counseling center," said Schedler. "Over time, Samaritan Center has established itself by providing high-quality counseling services. Mostly through word of mouth, many lives have been changed. We've had a legacy of growing thoughtfully."

For additional information on Samaritan Center, go to http://www.samaritanlancaster.org.