Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services (PCHAS)
Josh Smith serves as the Regional Director for Presbyterian Children's Homes and Services (PCHAS) in central Texas. PCHAS was founded in 1903 after a mother who was dying of tuberculosis approached a Presbyterian Church in Dallas, asking for help in arranging care for her children. What began as a Dallas orphanage in 1903, evolved into group homes in 1905 on a campus in Itasca serving children in foster care.
The campus continues today as a foster care village. Over the past few decades, PCHAS has continued to grow and adapt, shifting its focus toward prevention and family preservation—working to strengthen families so children can safely remain together whenever possible. Today, PCHAS serves communities across Texas, Missouri, and Louisiana.
PCHAS is rooted in the Presbyterian Church, and many churches continue to actively support its mission today. The organization has a dedicated development team that maintains strong relationships with partner churches, individuals and foundations. Within each caring congregation, PCHAS designates highly engaged volunteers known as ambassadors. These ambassadors play a vital role by staying connected with PCHAS and reporting back to their congregations, sharing updates and progress on how PCHAS is serving children, families, and communities.
One of PCHAS’ newer initiatives is
The Counseling Centers at PCHAS, which launched about four years ago. The counseling centers serve individuals and families who may struggle to access mental health services due to financial hardship. While PCHAS accepts private pay, most major insurance plans, and Medicaid, the program ensures counseling remains accessible to those who cannot afford traditional private-practice, out-of-pocket care.
Aaron Cobarruvias MS, LPCS, is the Therapist Supervisor and has a strong background working with children and serving a diverse population. Aaron said, “PCHAS offers in-person counseling at 6355 Whitby Road, San Antonio, Texas and virtual sessions as long as the client is located in Texas.” PCHAS also has counseling centers in Cypress (Houston) and Waxahachie, TX. If someone is looking for virtual counseling, they can work with any of their clinics.
Aaron invites individuals seeking counseling services to know that the official name of the program is
The Counseling Centers at PCHAS, a name chosen to clearly and specifically represent PCHAS’s professional counseling services. The centers help individuals from six years of age and up.
Aaron shared that the counseling centers support individuals facing a wide range of challenges, including anxiety, grief, depression, anger, and relationship concerns. In many cases, families seek counseling for parenting support, especially when children are experiencing behavioral issues at school or at home. The counseling centers also provide couples therapy and family counseling sessions, helping strengthen communication and relationships. In addition, the counseling centers serve children involved in foster care or adoption, offering support to help them process trauma and navigate the emotional challenges that often come with transitioning into a new home environment.
In addition to counseling services on its 20-acre campus in San Antonio, PCHAS’s Single Parent Family program provides duplex apartments and skills development for 16 single parent families with at least one child under 18 years old. In addition, its Transitional Living for Young Adults program operates five studio apartments for young adults age 18-22 who need help transitioning from foster care or a difficult life situation to independent living.
People can access The Counseling Centers at PCHAS services:
In person: 6355 Whitby Road • San Antonio, Texas 78240
By phone: (210) 670-6572
By scheduling an appointment online:
www.pchas.org/what-we-do/counseling-centers
