Local News

Samaritan Counseling Center Names Thomas Sims, PhD as President/CEO

Thomas Sims, PhD has been named President/CEO of Samaritan Counseling Center. Dr. Sims will replace Paul Hopkins, DMin who is retiring effective June 30, 2010. Sims is a Child Psychologist and has been Director of Quality Outcomes at Samaritan since November 2009. Prior to his employment with Samaritan, Dr. Sims held several leadership positions at ValueOptions, a managed-care company that oversaw behavioral health care for New Mexico, including mental health and substance abuse services.  He was President of the NM Psychological Association in 2009.

Samaritan Counseling Center’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to affirm the appointment of Dr. Sims. Robert Garcia, Samaritan’s Board chairman said, “We are extremely pleased to have Dr.

Sims on board. Dr. Sims brings a new set of strengths and attributes to the position.  Samaritan’s Board of Directors looks forward to working with him.”

Dr. Sims stated, “I have been a clinical psychologist in practice in Albuquerque for over 30 years and am very familiar with the outstanding quality of behavioral health services that Samaritan has provided to the community over the years.  I feel very fortunate to be able to be part of this fine organization and staff as well as the many Samaritan supporters in the community".

“Dr. Sims is a superb child psychologist, an able administrator, and a gracious man of faith and integrity,” said Hopkins. “Samaritan’s outstanding staff and dedicated board remain committed to our mission. Our important work of healing will continue with excellence rooted in confident hope. Samaritan’s leadership is in extremely good hands.”

In nearly 20 years, Samaritan Counseling Center has grown from just three therapists serving two hundred clients per year to its current level of twenty-three therapists serving 5,000 people.  Samaritan has provided more than $6 million in charitable services in the past twenty years, and is currently the largest private provider of outpatient behavioral health services in New Mexico.

Samaritan Counseling Center helps people in New Mexico find wholeness and healing through professional psychological services and education. The Center’s work integrates medical, spiritual and community resources. Samaritan operates seven programs out of four office locations in the Albuquerque area. www.SamaritanNM.org