Horizon Health expands to include mental health wing, training center

Horizon Health is accepting new clients after the opening of its mental health wing last Friday, June 20.

Horizon Health staff celebrated the addition of the mental health wing, as well as a training and education center, with a ribbon-cutting alongside the London-Laurel County Chamber of Commerce.

At the ribbon-cutting, Whitney Wynn, Director of Community Outreach and Training Education, said the expansion marked “an exciting new chapter.” She said both additions were built to serve the people of Southeastern Kentucky with the “quality care, support, and opportunity that every community deserves.”

Some of the mental health wing’s services include group and individual therapy, eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) testing, and accelerated resolution therapy (ART).

Horizon Health originally came to the area in 2019, beginning as an addiction recovery center. When working through addiction with clients, it was clear to staff that mental health often goes hand in hand with substance use disorder.

“We realized that a lot of people have dual diagnosis so going along with addiction care, people had mental health issues they needed addressed too,” said Rebecca Cope, Training Center Coordinator and Instructor. “So we decided to open a mental health wing so we could not only treat addiction, we could treat people who have mental health issues.”

Regina Lewis, LPCC-S, shared that she often uses EMDR with clients who have experienced trauma.

“Scientists have found that when we are sleeping and we go into REM sleep, our brain is processing. So they have found a way to mimic that process by using EMDR… to help people process trauma they have experienced,” Lewis said.

Regina Lewis’ husband, Jerry Lewis, also works in the field as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, helping with medications. Mrs. Lewis said her clientele ranges from adolescence to 65+. Her passion for the field is largely due to her son’s untimely passing.

“The reason why me and Jerry got into this is because, in 2017, our son Tyler Lewis committed suicide. That’s one of the reasons why this means so much to us,” Mrs. Lewis said. “We have dedicated our lives to doing this because we want to make sure that no other parent has to go through the things that we have.”

Counselor Sarah Baker does cognitive behavioral therapy with patients.

“She uses storytelling, arts and crafts, and therapeutic games, which is really important because, at that age, it helps them to learn how to identify and express emotions in a healthy way,” said Baker.

Cognitive behavioral therapy also helps strengthen self esteem, conflict resolution, coping skills, and concentration.

Cope shared information regarding the new training and education center. The center, marking the second location, offers several types of trainings both virtual and in-person. Trainings are open to the public. Cope said the technology used was acquired through a USDA grant.

“At Horizon, we also work on barriers,” Cope said. “We want to make sure that there’s no barriers for our clients when they come in here so we offer free transportation to them. We have resource bags that we give out to clients as well.”

Chief Operating Officer Monty Sears said that each of the center’s counselors have special trainings, making them highly qualified for their roles.

Expansions for Horizon Health aren’t expected to slow down soon, with Sears sharing that not only London’s mental health services are anticipated to grow, but that the center is also projected to have locations in Clay and Bell counties within the next two years.

Horizon Health is located at 934 South Laurel Road in London. To learn more about Horizon Health’s new services, call (606) 657-2030 or visit the website at horizonhealthky.org. The behavioral health and addiction treatment center also has a crisis hotline, which can be reached at (844) 823-4357.