MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A Place of “Help and Hope,” Faulkner University is home to the area’s only free therapy and counseling clinic and in April 2024 it reached a milestone of delivering its 30,000th patient visit since the clinic’s beginning in 2018.
On average, families and individuals in need see a savings of nearly $1,200 per month. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, the clinic provided $170,000.00 worth of free services. Originally located in a small office space off Woodmere Blvd, the new 20,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art clinic is now located on the east campus of Faulkner University where it is an integral part of the university’s College of Health Sciences.
Offering services from infants to the elderly, the clinic provides a holistic approach to therapy and counseling at no cost for those who qualify. The clinic specializes in autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, voice disorders, feeding and swallowing disorders, developmental disorders, traumatic brain injuries, neurological impairments, orthopedic injuries, as well as mental health and emotional disorders just to name a few.
The Faulkner University Center for Therapy and Research clinic and the Mike and Lisa Williams Center for Autism are truly making a difference within the community.
“My daughter has attended the Faulkner clinic since it first opened; first receiving speech and feeding therapy, and eventually adding occupational therapy once it became available,” said Laura Goins. “We have been so pleased with the therapy services she has received! She absolutely loves the environment there, and a perk to having student clinicians has always been the fresh energy they bring to their therapy services.”
“That is the mission of the clinic,” said Clinic Director Alan Deal, OTR/L. “We exist to promote the holistic well-being of our community by improving physical, emotional, and spiritual health. We seek to extend the healing ministry of Jesus through compassionate, quality, rehabilitative services, while training students to become competent, Christ-like healthcare professionals.”
“Since our beginning in 2018, the Faulkner Center for Therapy and Research has provided a place of help and hope throughout the region by bridging the gap in health equity,” Deal said. “We have recently expanded to offering not only free speech therapy, but now occupational therapy (OT), mental health counseling and soon to add physical therapy (PT) services all while training up the next generation of competent and compassionate healthcare professionals. Although our clinic began primarily serving those with autism, it has been such a blessing to be able to expand into providing services across the lifespan to a variety of diagnoses and grow our partnerships with State organizations and local businesses and clinics. What makes us really unique is not only the fact that we provide free services to those who are eligible, but we also provide caregiver support and resources through our professional counselors.
“We seek to serve the entire family unit and provide a much-needed service here in the River Region. The importance of the role of the caregiver and their mental health is not lost on us. To be able to see a child speak for the first time or hear the joy from a mom because her son was able to attend his first Christmas service and not be overwhelmed, or an adult client able to take his first shower in four years due to a stroke really make this calling as clinic director rewarding! We have an amazing team of compassionate therapists who utilize state of the art and evidence-based treatment approaches to get the best outcomes for our clients. It is truly an honor to come to the clinic every day and see all the joy and love that is poured into both students and clients as well as from the community in their support of our efforts here. We are thrilled about the growth we are seeing and look forward to God continuing to shine through our work here at the Faulkner clinic.”
Deal plans to bring his experience serving Veterans to Faulkner through the clinic’s new grant partnership with the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) in 2025.
A place where faith, learning and compassion collide, the clinic’s unique model allows it to be an on-site resource to Faulkner’s College of Health Science students as they get to learn alongside some of the top therapists in the region. Together, they evaluate a patient’s needs, develop a multi-layered treatment plan and provide services to their patients and families. The clinic also is growing their partnership with local schools to provide much needed hearing screenings and other therapy services.
The impact the clinic is making on the community is most evident from what their patients have to say about their care:
“The therapists and students at Faulkner are so caring towards my daughter! They are also always asking me what more they can do to help her and teaching me strategies to help her at home. My daughter’s sensory processing disorder has improved greatly since she began at the Faulkner clinic,” said the family of Eli Ashley.
“The Faulkner Clinic and the service/therapy they have been providing for my brother, who is diagnosed with Aphasia, have been a Godsend. We are so blessed to have found this organization. The staff have been nothing but courteous and helpful. Thank you, Faulkner, so much for helping our brother as we strive to overcome the challenges of his illness,” said the family of Gerald Singleton.
“The Faulkner speech and OT teams have been a blessing from God for our sweet boy. They care, love, and support us. I have seen great improvements daily with these dedicated professionals on our side. Bless them,” said the family of Brady Barkhurst.
Patients who apply for services must meet specific eligibility criteria, have an appointment, and adhere to the clinic’s attendance policy. The Faulkner clinic encourages those who are able to obtain timely services at a local clinic through their insurance to do so and will gladly make referrals based on your situation.
To find out more about the clinic, follow them on Facebook: “Faulkner Center for Therapy and Research” or contact them at 334-386-7351 or by email at clinic@faulkner.edu. Coming May 2024 you can find them at www.faulknerclinic.org.
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