According to Mental Health America, a national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and illness prevention, approximately 50 million Americans are currently experiencing some form of mental illness. In addition, over 12.1 million adults have reported serious thoughts of suicide at some point. While it is abundantly clear that there is a significant mental health crisis in the United States, there is only one mental health provider for every 350 people. The numbers are even worse for rural communities. This is where Pine Creek Valley Wellness Center has stepped up to fill the gap. The clinic, located in Avis in Clinton County, acts as a sort of hub for multiple providers that run their own practices. As a health educator, I was interested in knowing more about the operation, so I reached out to co-owner, Ashley Hershberger.

Dave: What is counseling, and what actually takes place during a session?

Ashley: Counseling is an opportunity for people to explore themselves. The focus of counseling varies with every person based on their specific needs. For example, we can explore feelings, behaviors, boundaries, opportunities for self-care, processing situations and symptoms, and educate clients on building a healthy lifestyle. My first session is an intake where the client and I work together to make a treatment plan to create our focus of counseling and start building rapport. Continued sessions work on their goals in treatment and building overall mental health.

Dave: Why is counseling important, and how does it relate to mental health?

Ashley: Mental health is essential for so many reasons. Our mental health influences how we think, behave, and feel. Counseling is an opportunity to work with a professional to explore these areas in an open, safe environment. Let me phrase it another way – I want you to think of a car. A car has many parts, but the motor is needed for the car to actually run. Think of our brain as the motor to the car; if the motor isn’t working, the rest of the system can’t function. We need to take care of the brain to let everything else work and not only work but also feel comfortable with how it works.

Dave: Who is counseling for?

Ashley: Anyone! Counseling is for anyone looking to strengthen their mental health.

Dave: I heard there is a mental health crisis in the US, and there are not enough providers. Can you talk about this?

Ashley: Yes, let’s start with our area; we live in a rural community, so our opportunities are limited. Let’s look at the number of providers in the area and the need for counseling services. Clients may not be able to find providers due to many barriers, including insurance, self-pay fees, transportation, and scheduling. Additionally, society has taken a toll on individuals with its continuous stressors. It can be very challenging to navigate through life, and my goal as a provider is to build a stronger community. Resources are just limited, which is why Pine Creek Valley Wellness Center is here. We wanted to add more opportunities to help our community.

Dave: Tell me about your center.

Ashley: Pine Creek Valley Wellness Center is located in Avis, PA. We are so thankful to be here. I had the pleasure of doing my practicum with Jennifer Schickling when she owned her practice, Solutions, and Resolutions, out of this building. After completing my schooling and engaging in clinical work at an agency, I wanted to start my own private practice. She helped teach me about private practice, so I started my own business and was here with her part-time while I worked at an agency full-time. My husband and I had the opportunity to purchase the building from Jennifer’s family, and we honestly can’t say how thankful we are for the chance to turn this building into a wellness center. Every provider here has their own independent business. This facility is comprised of four licensed professional counselors, a licensed clinical social worker, and a parenting and educational consultant who also provides reiki and chakra services.

Dave: Who are the providers, and do they have a specialty?

Ashley: My practice is A Hershberger Counseling, LLC. I am a PhD LPC who provides individual counseling services. I am also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) and Trauma Art Narrative Therapy (TANT-Level 1 Certified).

Additional providers are: Freeman Counseling Services, LLC, with Hannah Freeman, LCSW, who provides evaluations for ADHD through the Conners 4 assessment as an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider. Hannah also offers individual counseling services and is a Certified Clinical Trauma Provider.

Alexis DiDomenico, MA, NCC, is a pre-licensed therapist under the supervision of Hannah Freeman, LCSW, CCTP, ADHD-CCSP. Alexis provides individual counseling, utilizes telehealth-only sessions, and has Wednesday and Thursday evening availability.

K Eichenlaub Counseling, LLC, with Kelly Eichenlaub, LPC, provides individual and couples counseling. Kelly is also Neuropsychotherapy Certified (NPT-C) and a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP).

Enso Counseling and Wellness, LLC, with Stacy Clarke, LPC, provides individual counseling sessions, sound baths, and forest baths. Stacy also offers ketamine-assisted psychotherapy as well as mental health evaluations for emotional support animals and immigrants pursuing asylum, hardship, violence against women, or crime victim visas.

Bailey Shawley’s business is B Connecting, LLC. As a parenting and educational consultant, Bailey helps individuals, parents, and families improve communication, strengthen connections, and enhance comprehension. Consulting sessions involve talking with a trained listener who provides individualized strategies and tools to work toward your personal and/or professional goals. Bailey specializes in trauma-informed practices, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and she is a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist – Family (CCTS-F). Bailey also focuses on the mind-body connection with clients and provides Reiki healing sessions and chakra readings to help people improve their self-care.

Neshamah Bread & Roses Counseling, LLC, with Jenn Lange, LPC, provides individual and couples counseling in person and online.

Dave: What other programs does your facility offer?

Ashley: We offer outpatient counseling services, parenting and educational consultations, reiki sessions, and chakra readings. We also have workshops. We are currently seeking additional wellness-related providers and encourage anyone interested to reach out.

Dave: I saw you have an open house coming up. Please tell me about it.

Ashley: Yes! We are excited to have an open house at our facility located at 302 W. Central Ave, Avis. We wanted to provide the community with an opportunity to meet us as well as engage in some family fun on November 9th from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. This is a great time to meet the providers, discuss service opportunities, and engage in mini-sessions of Reiki healing, chakra readings, and sound baths.

Dave: If someone wants to make an appointment or has some questions about your services, how do they get in touch?

Ashley: Anyone can look at our website and choose a provider to contact. Please take the time to review each of our professional profiles at http://www.pcvwc.com and then use our specific contact information listed. Please remember to contact a provider specifically and not the PCVWC phone number.