Where youth achieve functional wellness
in a dysfunctional world.
Every Youth Deserves a Chance to be Happy, Healthy and Loved
We help children and adolescents prevent mental illness and heal through a combination of evidenced-based therapeutic interventions, psycho-education, therapeutic play, and artistic expression. We offer a variety of artistic expression classes including creative dance, theater, drama, music, arts, songwriting, and crafts. In addition, we provide therapeutic services including individual, group, canine-assisted, family, filial, and various forms of play therapy.
The ElRod Center offers services to all in need, specializing in ages 2 – 24. Our unique combination of both preventative and treatment programs gives children, adolescents, and families an opportunity to have an outlet, increase emotional intelligence, and develop skills that will help them achieve functional wellness through all of life’s hills and valleys. We strive to help youth and families develop resilience, confidence, strength, emotion regulation skills, and healthy relationships.
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We are here to heal the children of our community.
Mission
ElRod Center was incorporated July 2017 in Eugene, Oregon. We are dedicated to helping youth achieve functional wellness through creative, innovative, and research-based methods. Our purpose is to promote recovery, resiliency, wellness, independence and safety for individuals receiving mental health services and support. Standards for services and support are person directed, youth guided, family driven, culturally competent, trauma & wellness informed, and promote functional and rehabilitative outcomes for individuals that are developmentally appropriate.
ElRod Center is committed to providing a work and treatment environment that promotes healing and allows people to flourish. All individuals are considered for entry without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, religion, familial status, marital status, creed, national origin, or age. We are inclusive with all individuals and provide a safe place for children and families to seek services.
Our heart is to serve our community with integrity. We are committed to serving and pledge to continually grow and evaluate how we can best serve every child and family that comes into the Center. Please know this is your Center, if you have any questions or concerns please reach out directly to our Clinical Director, Marian Stiegeler, LPC and she will be happy to chat with you.
About Us
Elrod Center was established in July 2017 and is a nonprofit expressive art and mental health therapeutic center. It was designed to provide a safe place for all youth and families to achieve functional wellness. Functional wellness is the ability to be well and function through all of life’s hills and valleys. ElRod Center was founded on the faith-based principles of loving everyone for who they are and where they are at, free from judgment or criticism.
While we were founded on faith-based principles, ElRod Center provides traditional, evidenced-based practices in addition to faith-based services. Therapists do not utilize any religious or spiritual practices in session with clients unless requested by the client. Our primary population is youth and their families that come from a variety of cultural and spiritual backgrounds. We work with LGBTQIA+, multi-racial families, DHS clients, state-mandated clients, and clients from many other spiritual and cultural backgrounds. ElRod Center firmly believes in helping clients become the ideal self that they want to be. Our mission is to love everyone for who they are and help them learn the tools to explore their authentic selves.
ElRod Center employs a diverse pool of therapists and interns, and this diversity within our staff allows for a greater level of multicultural consideration and understanding. ElRod Center combines artistic expression with therapeutic interventions to provide a unique way of implementing evidence-based practices in session. We utilize a variety of modalities while also implementing skills to clients that will help them overcome future problems as they arise throughout their lifetime.
Resources
Affiliate Organizations
Events
Podcasts
- The Eugene Life – ElRod Center and Coffee
- ElRod Center Adult Prom
- Sounding The Light – Julie Nowacki/ElRod Center
Coming Soon!
Videos
Marian Stiegeler | Healthy Mind, Happy Heart
One of our co-founders speaks about the impact of art therapy on the suicide epidemic.
Julie Nowacki | Helping Children Pursue Their Dreams
Co-Founder Julie Nowacki on the origins of the ElRod Center, and the power of music therapy for youth.
Rick Dancer | ElRod Center The Buck Stops Here
ElRod Center to Prevent Bullying: Get Real with Rick Dancer
Ceaser
Ceaser is our Therapy Dog Ambassador. He is utilized and specifically trained to support youth and families in a therapeutic or group setting. Therapy dogs have a huge positive benefit in therapy sessions, and he has worked with many kiddos in individual and family sessions, giving therapy to each in the way they need it.
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