i aim to
' s Posi]iev
crease i
The Answer available to anyone
cia]
•grams
"omtcej,
Scaled i
opp,,.
av ariet\^
synpos-
tes.
is iiseiio
rchfort^
d impnnj
system. 1
Center 4
private d).
ioituaatt t
dents lai.
% For tl»
g amtnbi
d indusirjfj
Penses jj|
Peraanen
FF>e Cesitf
nd Las *
nit^Onj,
1 still in 4
sdnxi
notified d
they syil I,
nstrucliani
'tatenela
how tke
leachem
noting fan
will be
'-•hen fitus;
ien told It
a the slid
trance. lit
apartment
ntents
urned mt
rid the !>«l
me, ’ Mis.
o into tit
isehesiilt
includdi
i transistt
a cocW
jfa, a W
is of chi
More than answers — the Answer
THE BATTALION Page 11
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1977
cier* By COLIN CROMBIE
The success of the Answer lies in
ts continued use and support by the
seal community, said M. B. Flip-
jien III, executive director and the
iiain counselor of the Christian
Counseling Center.
The Answer is a square white
iiiilding located at 501 University
Drive. In a recent interview, Flip-
ien, a sociologist with a master’s
legree from Texas A&M Univer
ity, said “Christian counseling” re-
ers to the aim of the counseling of-
ered.
“I don’t consider religious affilia-
ion at all,” he added.
“Christian counseling considers
he total individual and does more
han just put out fires,” Flippen
, comparing other counseling to
putting out fires” or solving prob-
ems as they occur.
The Answer is an autonomous
local organization. It was estab-
ished in 1972 because of a local
eed for postive and balanced coun-
ieling for emotional, spiritual and
physical needs, Flippen said.
Eight full-time employees
irovide therapeutic and preventive
lervices.
The therapy relates to relational
roblems concerning the family,
marriage, runaway children and
[rug use and abuse, Flippen said.
It also provides group psychology
and psychological intervention
where the counselor helps the client
to explore the alternatives of a solu
tion that are not obvious, he said.
The preventive service is avail
able to train counselors from other
social services such as the Mental
Health-Mental Retardation Center.
Other preventive services are
seminars for youth groups and par
ents and the Still Creek Christian
Farm project on Sandy Point Road.
THE FARM is a place of summer
employment for youths (most of
them less than 16 years old) and it
gives them a sense of responsibility
and interaction with other people,
an Answer secretary said. Flippen
said there are plans to build a foster
home, care and treatment facility at
the farm.
The youths at the farm are paid
from contributions. Small contribu
tions of about $10 to $20 form the
main source of income for the An
swer. Contributors include clients
and local churches.
Flippen refused to say what the
annual budget of the Answer is. But
he described it as “tight,” and said
each staff member receives less than
$1,000 per month.
The Answer makes no profits,
Flippen said. In fact, it goes below
cost in the price to a client, he
added. For one counseling session,
the cost to the Answer is $25, but to
the client the cost is $20.
Payment is not mandatory. Flip-
pen said that last year 52 percent of
the services were given free to the
clients. “The Answer is here to
provide a service to the community
and the client’s ability to pay is
taken into account,” he said.
The Answer serves around 45
clients in 80 appointments each
month, the secretary said.
About 90 percent of the cases are
referred by local physicians,
teachers and ministers, Flippen
said. Most clients are community
residents and show a broad spec
trum both in age and social back
ground, he added.
FLIPPEN’S youngest client is a
4-year-old, but most are between
ages 30 and 45, he said.
He said he has never recruited
staff members. “They come (to work
for the Answer) because they both
know and see what’s going on,” he
said. “We are here because we be
lieve in what we’re doing and we re
competent. ”
He likened the staff s reasons to a
religious calling. “The staff are
strong as Christians,” he said. “They
believe a service to mankind is
God’s intent for them and that this is
a part of their reason for being at the
Answer.”
“We believe seriously in praying
for the situations that come up,”
Ciyy>
£ Cidl>
4103 S. TEXAS AVE.
Bryan Place Bldg.
Suite 208
846-5018
Saturdays by Appointment
10% DISCOUNT ON STYLES OR
MERCHANDISE WITH THIS AD
IAS/' WJ w; WJ W»7
OPEN
10^7
MON-Skl
315
UNIVERSITY
DR.
NORTHGATE
846-5515
Reg. 6.98 $C62
List LPs
Reg. 7.98 $(T99
List LPs
WEEKLY SPECIALS
Joan Baez Spinners
* ‘Best Of’ “8”
Neil Diamond
“Vm Glad You’re Here”
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Works, Vol. II”
David Grisman
“Quintet
**\
-qavwj
\9
Flippen added, although he pointed
out that prayer was not usually a
part of the counseling service.
FOR RELIGION and beliefs to
be a part of counseling, the client
should bring the subject up — not
confronted with it, he said.
Flippen said the Answer has dealt
with some parents who are con
cerned about the presence of some
creeds in the area, such as Hare
Krishna or the Unification Church.
The Answer, however, is not in
volved with deprogramming, the
controversial method available to
parents who wish to have their chil
dren renouce an unconventional re
ligion.
“I don’t think that deprogramm
ing is ethical, and it’s certainly not
legal,” Flippen said.
The Answer is phasing out its
“Crisis Helpline” because it was too
hard on the staff, he said. The serv
ice offered 24-hour emergency
counseling.
But other counseling services of
the Answer appear to be successful.
The success, Flippen said, can be
seen in the continuing referrals.
“If we weren’t any good, they’d
know it by now,” he said.
An apple a day...
Battalion photo by Patti Pedrotte
Paul McGillicuddy, a freshman in general classes to
studies from Houston, takes a break between grass.
enjoy an apple and relax on the
54^
We Carry Wrangler &
Ditto Jeans
Now Open At
111 Boyett St.
(Next to Campus Theatre)
JOY TO THE WORLD!
GET LEVI’S AND MORE . . .
ALL AT TOM’S PANTS
YOUR LEVI’S CHRISTMAS STORE!
Levi’s for guys & gals in every style & color. Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year!
tKom’s FPanfcS
800 VILLA MARIA 823-8213
Across from Manor East Mall
EXAM WEEK
¥
TIICO BELL
Hey Aggies!
Don’t cook or wait in
long lines when you
need to study! Eat at
Taco Bell and take ad
vantage of our EXAM
WEEK SPECIALS!
CLIP & SAVE
TACOS ★ TOSTADAS J
FRIJOLES ★ BURRITOS j
WITH THIS COUPON
ONLY
Must be a student at Texas A&M
QUANTITIES UNLIMITED!!
3901 S. TEXAS AVENUE ★ Void after Dec. 16, 1977
CLIP & SAVE
PARAPHERNALIA
Blank Tapes & Sound Care Products
*"&QP, p (
The Corps of Cadets gets its news from
the Batt.
This special offer is for Texas A&M students only.
Please be prepared to show student I.D.
TIICO BELL
3901 S. TEXAS AVENUE
BRYAN
GOOD LUCK ON YOUR EXAMS!