When prospective clients walk into The Center for Counseling & Consultation, a new four-person team is at the ready to direct them to resources that fit their particular circumstances.
The Care Coordination (CC) team leader is John Pohl. His colleagues are Tavanna Ridgeway, who focuses on admissions and paperwork. Jeff McQuade specializes in helping veterans, while Danielle Fahrney is available to people with substance-use issues.
“We care for the whole person,” Pohl said. “One of the first things we do is determine if they have a primary-care provider. If they don’t, we try to connect them to the right place.
“A primary-care doctor has a big impact on what we can accomplish. When clients have their own provider, they are more likely to have an exam and take better care of themselves.”
The CC staff often determines early on that a prospective client faces more than one issue. These could include substance use, veterans’ concerns, poor coping skills, housing or employment problems and/or specific mental-health issues.
“We have an incredible overlap with mental health and substance use,” Pohl noted. “Veterans often have these issues too but they have a different mindset. They have gone from a structured way of life, to very little structure. Unfortunately, the transition is rough.
“Oftentimes, veterans don’t get help because they are used to toughing it out. They were trained to tough it out. But they no longer have the camaraderie and leadership the military provides. The suicide rate is high.”
Pohl emphasized that CC staff members collaborate with each other constantly to ensure the client gets help as soon as possible.
“We brainstorm to find which resources best fit the person,” Pohl commented. “This is the strength of our team.
“The last thing we want is for a client to walk away because they couldn’t talk with someone soon enough. They have a sense of urgency. And so do we.”
Tavanna Ridgeway
In her role as admissions coordinator, Tavanna Ridgeway’s expertise is paperwork, which can be challenging for clients without some professional guidance.
“We realize that just stepping in The Center’s door takes courage for some people,” Ridgeway said. “I show the compassion and understanding that each and every one of our clients deserves.
“I truly enjoy helping people understand the paperwork side of things, which enables me to become acquainted with their needs,” Ridgeway added. “Just listening is crucial. Clients need to be heard. Giving someone hope is the most rewarding part of the job.”
Ridgeway also noted that “fighting the stigma of mental-health issues and being part of a great organization such as The Center has brought me joy for the past 15-plus years.”
The CC team member also uses her expertise to ensure The Center, 5815 Broadway, complies with state and federal regulations.
A little background
The expansion of the CC team is part of The Center becoming a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, which provides a multi-disciplinary approach to mental, medical and therapeutic services.
The Center is pre-certified as a CCBHC now. Full certification will come this year.
After full certification, The Center should be able to expand CC and other services even more.
The Center for Counseling & Consultation is a Community Mental Health Center serving Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties. Professionally trained personnel offer: individual and group therapy; marriage and family counseling; community-support services; community-based services; psychosocial rehabilitation; peer support; and medication management. The confidential 24/7 crisis hotline number is 800-875-2544.
