Local Counseling, Therapy Services Provide Support, Hope
According to World-Health.net, nearly 23 percent, or 60.1 million, adults in the United States receive some form of mental health treatment annually, with younger generations – over 35 percent – being the most active in seeking therapy and counseling. During Mental Health Awareness Month (MHAM), The Community News Brief spoke to two area providers – Behavioral Health and Psychiatry at McDonough District Hospital (MDH) and Behavioral Health at Graham Health Systems – to learn more about therapy and how to seek assistance.
MDH
According to Jo Anna Eidson, director of Behavioral Health and Psychiatry (BHP) at MDH, for over 40 years, the hospital’s counseling department has provided an array of mental health services for all ages, including individual, family and couple therapies. Today, professional staff includes nine therapists, with credentials that include Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC) and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW). In addition, psychiatry services are available through telehealth, with one psychiatrist and two Advance Practice Nurses.
“Our goal is to offer quality care, meeting patient needs in accordance with Behavioral Health’s philosophy of caring for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of each of our patients,” she noted.
Specific areas of expertise at BHP include trauma therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, substance use counseling, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, counseling for attention difficulties, and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Sessions are offered both in person and via telehealth.
“Our mental health can be easily neglected during times of distress and unhappiness. Having a strong support network of good friends and close family is an invaluable tool in helping to manage life’s difficulties. But sometimes your own unique experiences may be better served by meeting with an unbiased party, someone who can provide support and offer skills and direction on how to achieve better life outcomes,” Eidson shared. “Therapy can be helpful in dealing with a variety of stressors, and individuals may seek therapy to address more significant issues as they cope with loss, unresolved childhood trauma, emotional instability, eating disorders or substance abuse concerns.”
To schedule an appointment with a provider, patients can call the department, or request a referral from their primary care physician. Appointments are scheduled in the order they are received unless the request is urgent, she noted. While there are several credentialed staff available, the therapy available focuses on talk-based support to manage emotions and behaviors, while psychiatry is a medical specialty that diagnoses mental health conditions and medication prescriptions available if necessary.
Graham
Chastity Swope, senior director of nonclinical services and rural health at Graham Health System, said Graham’s Behavioral Health Department provides comprehensive, compassionate care to support emotional, mental, and behavioral wellness for individuals of all ages. Services include individual counseling, therapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and stress management, behavioral support for chronic illness or lifestyle changes, coordination of care with primary care providers and other specialists and medication management.
“Counseling helps individuals build coping skills, gain insight into their emotions and behavior and develop healthier ways to respond to life’s challenges,” Swope said. “Therapy isn’t just for crises; it’s a proactive way to strengthen mental health, improve relationships, and enhance overall quality of life.”
Graham’s Behavioral Health Department employs licensed therapists and mental health professionals, including four Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), three Licensed Professional Counselors (LCPCs) and three Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) for diagnostic and medication management support. A psychiatrist works remotely to provide oversight for the PMHNPs.
What sets Graham apart, Swope explained, is their Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), which is an advanced practice registered nurse with specialized psychiatric training. They focus on medication management, symptom stabilization, medical aspects of mental health, and coordinating care with primary care providers and psychiatrists. PMHNPs can diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe medications, manage psychiatric medications, provide some therapy/counseling, order labs or medical testing when needed and treat mental health from both a medical and psychological perspective “Behavioral health has been part of Graham Health System for the past three years. We are committed to treating the whole person, mind and body,” Swope said. “With the upcoming Macomb West clinic, we plan to expand these services, ensuring patients have access to the same compassionate, comprehensive mental health support.”
Mental health services that are provided at various GMG locations, with hours varying from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling Graham’s centralized scheduling department directly at 309-647-0201or through a referral from a primary care provider.
