Frequently Asked Questions

JFS offers counseling, assistance with crime victims compensation forms, case management, and victims' advocacy.  The advocacy program consists of assisting victims in dealing with the police and prosecutors, providing support if the victim attends a court hearing, helping recover stolen property, and providing information a referral to other services.

It's very easy to become a client of JFS. Call (210) 302-6920.  If you are interested in counseling, ask for an intake worker.  This person will take down some basic information, talk to you about the cost (if any) and schedule an initial appointment for you with one of our counselors.  If you are interested in case management or senior services, ask for the social services department.  If you need emergency financial assistance, call  (210) 302-6924 and let the worker know what you need. 

JFS stands for Jewish Family Service.  It is a non-profit social service agency that offers mental health counseling, case management services, senior services, and emergency financial assistance to the citizens of San Antonio, Bexar County, and the surrounding area.

JFS has three locations.  The main office is at 12500 NW Military Highway, Suite 250.  This is on the Campus of the San Antonio Jewish Community.  JFS also has a facility at 1151 Mission Road, close to Mission Concepcion and Blessed Sacrament Academy.  The third location is at Temple Beth-El, which is on San Pedro, just north of San Antonio College.  Inquiries about services should go to the the main office by calling (210) 302-6920.

Absolutely not!  JFS was founded by the Jewish Community and still receives generous support for some of its vital programs, but in keeping with Jewish values and the agency mission, we are here to serve all who are in need of our services. 

JFS offers several different  counseling groups.  There is a grief group that is designed to assist victims of violent crime.  There is also a group that combines gentle yoga with group therapy.  Finally, there is a group for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

We offer anger management classes each Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 8:00 at our Northwest Military office and on Monday evenings from 5:00 to 6:00 at out Mission Road office.  Particpation in five sessions qualifies clients for a certificate of completion that is often accepted by courts or others as proof that the anger issues are being addressed.  Each class session costs $20.00.

We routinely work with children as young as three (3), using a combination of play therapy and parent education/coaching to help identify and change problem behaviors.

We have several counselors who are experienced and trained to treat eating disorders.  We are committed to helping clients who are struggling with these serious problems.

The last appointment from Monday through Thursday is at 7:00 PM.  We do everything we can to accomodate our clients' scheduling needs.

Most clients can be seen within five working days, often sooner.  Clients with very limited options for time of day or day of week may have to wait a little longer.

To sign up for counseling, call (210) 302-6920 and ask for an intake worker.  The process takes about ten minutes.  Basic information is recorded, the fee and payment method are determined, and the first appointment is usually set during the intake call. 

There are several ways to pay for counseling at JFS.  The agency accepts private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.  For those who don't have or don't want to use their insurance, services are offered on an income-based sliding fee scale.  Clients who qualify for the Victims of Crime program don't pay a fee.

Working with teens is always a challenge because they often resist the idea of counseling and fear that there must be something wrong with them if they need it.  However, with gentle parental support, your daughter, who seems to be having self-esteem problems, can change her attitude and beliefs about herself and learn to make friends.

Marriage counseling can be very effective if both parties are interested in working on the relationship.  Most of the time marriage counseling works best if both partners are present, but effective work can be done with only one party.

In no particular order of importance: sleep problems; appetite problems; crying spells; increased irritability; decreased concentration; depressed mood; fatigue; inability to enjoy activities or feel pleasure; feelings of hopelessness; reduced sex drive; and suicidal thoughts. You don't have to have all of these symptoms to have clinical depression. Seek professional help if you are concerned.

You may be depressed, but it's a good idea to get a physical before coming to that conclusion. Many illnesses have the symptoms you describe.

There is no one answer to this question. Some problems can be addressed and resolved in only a few sessions and others may take many months. The counselor and client make decisions together about the lenghth of counseling.

Most clients come once a week for an hour. Sessions can be held more or less often as needed. The counselor and the client make decisions together about frequency of sessions.

Actually, seeking counseling is a sign of good mental health and the willingness to do what is needed to solve often difficult problems.

Counselors are interested in the well being of their clients and try very hard not to judge them. But good counselors will challenge the thinking or judgment of their clients to help them reach their goals.

The role of the counselor is to help the client define the problem, set measurable goals, and identify possible solutions. The counselor then provides support while the client makes choices and tries out new behaviors.

Counselors help clients deal with depression, anxiety, marriage problems, parent/child issues, grief, decision making, trauma, school or employment problems, eating disorders, anger problems, and many other issues.

There are lots of things you and your mother can do to help her keep her independence.  Hiring a companion for a few hours a week may be all your mother needs to maintain her current lifestyle.  If that's not enough, she may be comfortable moving to a retirement community or an assisted living facility.  Skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes) are needed only in cases that require regular medical care.

JFS doesn't charge for case management services.  This is true for both seniors and any other client.

Case mangement is a sytematic approach to assessing problems and helping the client access the resources needed to solve them.  Case management addresses lots of problems from financial need to navigating bureaucracies like Social Security to relocating to another form of housing.