Counseling and Mortgages 'Symbiotic'; Sign Up for Mortgage Servicing News Bulletin!www.mortgageservicingnews.com.(Credit Counselor)

Byline: Amilda Dymi

One of the most tangible lessons the industry and borrowers appear to have learned from the foreclosure crisis is that counseling is a symbiotic partner to mortgage finance.

Demand is energizing the marketplace.

Government programs and nonprofits no longer are the main customer counseling advocates. Private firms are boosting up the trend while at the same time exercising caution.

By the end of April, CareOne Services of Columbia, Md., established in 2002 to provide customers with multiple debt management solutions "to complex money problems" said it has seen demand for its services increase 15%, compared to the same period in 2008.

Demand was the reason that fueled the recent merger of ClearPoint Credit Counseling Solutions, Richmond, Va., with ByDesign Financial Solutions, formerly known as Customer Credit Counseling Service of Los Angeles.

ClearPoint CEO Chris Honenberger said both companies are experiencing "unprecedented demand for financial education" due to the rise of foreclosure and bankruptcy. The merger will combine the agencies' respective strengths and allow them to "assist thousands more customers save their homes" from foreclosure and pay down their credit card debt. For instance, ByDesign brings to the cooperation English and Spanish language counseling options.