Plains Area Mental Health Center: Supporting Mental Wellness

Caring for our emotional and mental health is just as vital as maintaining our physical well-being.

The stresses of daily life, personal struggles, and unexpected challenges can often feel overwhelming, making it important to seek support when needed.

Mental health services, like counseling and therapy, offer a safe and supportive space to work through these difficulties.

Among the exceptional organizations dedicated to providing this care is Plains Area Mental Health Center renowned for its personalized, client-focused approach.

In this article, we will explore the services offered at Plains Area Mental Health Center and how it continues to support the emotional well-being of the communities it serves.

About Plains Area Mental Health Center

Plains Area Mental Health Center has been at the forefront of providing accessible, high-quality mental health services in Northwest Iowa since 1972.

Established in Le Mars with just a part-time staff, the center has grown into a trusted resource with 15 locations and over 160 employees.

Its mission is to offer affordable care that respects each individual’s dignity and potential for growth, fostering healthier communities through compassion and expertise.

Over the years, Plains Area has continually expanded its services to meet the region’s needs.

From counseling and crisis stabilization to substance use therapy and school-based mental health programs, the center offers comprehensive support for individuals and families.

As a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), Plains Area emphasizes integrated care, addressing mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders.

This innovative approach, backed by grants like the $4 million SAMHSA expansion award, has strengthened the center’s ability to serve its community.

Now celebrating over 50 years of service, Plains Area Mental Health Center Le Mars Iowa, remains dedicated to its mission by enhancing the well-being of communities.

Mental Health Services Provided By Plains Area

1. Clinical Services

Plains Area Mental Health Center provides a broad spectrum of clinical services designed to address the mental health and substance use needs of its clients.

Among these offerings are specialized therapy groups, outpatient care, and substance use services, all structured to support individuals in achieving emotional and physical well-being.

Outpatient therapy services at Plains Area emphasize a comprehensive approach to care by integrating mental health and substance use treatment.

Through detailed assessments and individualized treatment plans, therapists work collaboratively with clients to address their unique needs.

Evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR).

The center also encourages participation in complementary activities, such as family therapy, support groups, and movement-based practices like yoga.

2. Group Therapy Services

The center’s therapy groups include a DBT program, which helps participants build essential skills for managing emotions.

Additionally, the Eating Disorder Therapy Group focuses on the unique psychological and physical struggles faced by individuals with conditions such as anorexia and binge eating.

For these conditions both in-person and virtual sessions are offered.

An Emotion Regulation group, based on DBT principles, is available virtually to help adults better understand and control their emotional responses.

For younger individuals, a Self-Love group supports teens recovering from inpatient care, promoting self-esteem and coping strategies.

Substance use-focused groups address critical areas such as relapse prevention and trauma recovery, with specialized programs designed for men and women.

These groups delve into topics like building healthier relationships, addressing past trauma, and creating supportive recovery environments.

3. Substance Use Services

Substance use services at Plains Area Mental Health focus on providing care that addresses both mental health and substance use disorder needs.

Clients begin their journey with a thorough assessment process that includes screening tools and a comprehensive intake.

This process helps ensure that treatment plans are tailored to the individual, considering both their mental health and substance use challenges.

During the treatment planning phase, clients have the opportunity to customize their plans with the guidance of their therapist, using tools like the Daily Living Activities Scale (DLA-20).

For those needing substance use services, the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) scale is used to determine the level of care appropriate for each individual.

Plains Area offers Level I services, which include extended outpatient and continuing care. Clients engage in evidence-based treatments such as CBT, DBT, both in individual and group settings.

The emphasis is on helping clients build motivation for recovery, develop self-directed recovery plans, and enhance personal and family support systems.

4. Community Education Services

Plains Area provides community nutrition services aimed at improving overall health through education on healthy eating, meal planning, and nutrition’s role in managing chronic conditions.

These services help individuals understand how nutrition impacts both mental and physical well-being.

Plains Area offers crisis intervention programs such as Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM), and Mental Health First Aid.

ASIST is a two-day workshop designed to train caregivers in suicide intervention skills, including risk assessment and safety planning.

It offers Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for various professionals.

CISM focuses on peer support for those impacted by workplace trauma, offering training in crisis management, counseling, and follow-up services.

Mental Health First Aid offers adult and youth-focused programs to help participants identify mental health and substance use issues, and connect individuals with support.

The training includes content on trauma, self-care, and the effects of social media and bullying for youth.

5. The Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT)

The Mobile Crisis Assessment Team (MCAT) offers on-site, in-person support for individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Available 24/7, MCAT dispatches trained crisis response staff to locations such as homes, schools, emergency rooms, or public spaces, with a response time of 60 minutes or less.

MCAT services include developing safety plans, making referrals, scheduling follow-up care, and assessing the need for a higher level of treatment.

The team also focuses on de-escalating crisis situations and arranging transportation to appropriate care facilities when necessary.

To access MCAT services, individuals must be experiencing a mental health crisis such as severe depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, or schizophrenia.

The program serves the counties of Buena Vista, Calhoun, Carroll, Cherokee, Crawford, Humboldt, Ida, Pocahontas, Sac, and Woodbury.

It is a collaboration between the Plains Area Mental Health Center and the Siouxland Mental Health Crisis Center.

If you’re looking for more counseling services, you can check BetterHelp, which offers not only regular therapy but also teen counseling, LGBTQ counseling and faith-based counseling.

Mental Health Professionals At Plains Area Mental Health Center

The staff at Plains Area Mental Health Center consists of a diverse team of professionals dedicated to providing top-notch care to clients.

Following are some of the prominent names serving at Plains Area Mental Health center.

Psychiatric:

Daniel Gillette, MD, SM, DFAPA, FACHE, Medical Director
Charles Tilley, MSAP, PA-C, Psychiatric Physician Assistant
Laurie Warren, PA-C, Psychiatric Physician Assistant
Jessica Hudspeth, ARNP, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Psychotherapists:

Jamie Boysen, LISW, Clinical Supervisor
Angela Nilles, LISW, Clinical Supervisor
Jill Wonder, LMHC, Clinical Supervisor

Crisis Services:

Tracy Delao, CADC, Crisis Services Coordinator/SUD Counselor

Career Opportunities

Plains Area Mental Health Center is actively hiring for various positions and offers exciting career opportunities.

The organization is an NHSC-approved site for student loan repayment, making it an excellent choice for individuals with student loans.

In addition to competitive base salaries, employees enjoy monthly and yearly incentives/bonuses, comprehensive healthcare benefits, and generous paid time off (PTO).

Interested candidates can explore the available positions and submit their applications online.

Want to know more about mental health services, check these out:

Different Location and Accessibility

Plains Area Mental Health Center operates several convenient locations across the region, providing mental health and substance use services to individuals and families.

Here are the locations of Plains Area Mental Health Center:

Full-Service Offices:

Le Mars
Carroll
Cherokee
Denison
Ida Grove
Spirit Lake
Storm Lake

Plains Area Mental Health Center also operates several satellite offices and specialized drop-in centers to better serve the community.

These locations contribute to the center’s commitment to delivering mental health and substance use services across the region.