Mental health challenges can affect anyone at any stage of life, making it important to seek help when struggling.
Whether it’s dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other emotional hurdles, addressing these issues with the right support can lead to meaningful and lasting change.
Mental health centers offer a lifeline for individuals seeking guidance and care, providing professional expertise and a safe space to heal and grow.
Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center is one such center, committed to helping individuals navigate their mental health journey with effective services.
In this article, we’ll explore the services and programs Spartanburg Mental Health Center offers to strengthen well-being and resilience within its community.
About Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center
Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center, part of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health, is supported by a combination of local, county, state, and federal funds.
The center prioritizes providing care to adults, children, and families impacted by serious mental illnesses and significant emotional disorders.
Their mission is centered on eliminating stigma, embracing the philosophy of recovery, and ensuring the delivery of culturally competent and high-quality mental health services.
The center operates in collaboration with various stakeholders, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in achieving its goals.
A Board of Trustees, appointed by the Governor of South Carolina, represents the three counties it serves: Cherokee, Spartanburg, and Union.
Committed to supporting individuals on their recovery journey, Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center believes that recovery is achievable with the right care and assistance.
The center ensures the availability of a broad and adaptable range of coordinated services, designed to meet the needs of each community.
Their approach emphasizes building on local support systems, including family, friends, faith communities, healthcare providers, and community resources, to create a well-rounded framework for recovery.
Mental Health Services Provided By Spartanburg Area
Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center offers a range of mental health services to its diverse community.
Each service is thoughtfully developed to ensure individuals receive compassionate and effective care.
1. Peer Support Services
Spartanburg provides peer support services through trained specialists who use their personal recovery experiences to guide and support others on their journey.
These certified peer support specialists, often referred to as recovery coaches, offer a unique perspective and empathy that builds connection and understanding.
Their lived experiences, combined with formal training, make them well-equipped to help individuals navigate the healthcare system and develop effective coping strategies.
2. Therapy Services for Adults and Children
The center delivers a variety of outpatient therapy services to adults and children.
Utilizing a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, counselors, and social workers, Spartanburg addresses complex psychiatric, medical, and social needs. ‘
Their therapy offerings include individual, group, couples, and family sessions, employing evidence-based approaches such as CBT, Trauma-Focused CBT, DBT, and motivational interviewing.
3. Hospital Liaison Services
Spartanburg bridges the gap between medical hospitals and mental health care through its hospital liaison services.
These liaisons work within emergency centers to coordinate care for patients, ensuring a smooth transition between hospital services and mental health support.
Their efforts are focused on promoting healing and wellness by integrating resources from both systems.
4. Jail Liaison Services
Through its justice-involved programs, Spartanburg ensures incarcerated individuals have access to mental health services.
The center provides a dedicated therapist at the Spartanburg Detention Center and psychiatric support through tele-psychiatry.
These programs aim to maintain continuity of care and facilitate communication between detention facilities and mental health providers, ensuring necessary treatments and medication monitoring are available.
5. School-Based Mental Health Services
Spartanburg’s school-based programs offer diagnostic and intervention services for children and families, including individual, group, and family therapy.
The program promotes early identification of mental health concerns, enabling the development of tailored treatment plans that support emotional and behavioral well-being.
6. Early Intervention Services
Designed for children aged 0-6 and their families, early intervention services focus on addressing developmental delays, behavioral concerns, and trauma.
Spartanburg’s program emphasizes education and support through screening, assessment, and individualized treatment planning, aiming to foster success in home, school, and community settings.
7. Psychiatric Services
With an expert team of psychiatrists, physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses, Spartanburg offers psychiatric care for adults and children.
The center takes a holistic approach, integrating medical treatment with therapy and peer support to provide care to patients.
Specializations in pediatric and geriatric psychiatry further enhance their ability to address complex mental health conditions.
8. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
Spartanburg extends its care to individuals who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, or deaf-blind.
With counselors fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and interpretive staff available, the program incorporates the cultural and psychosocial aspects of hearing loss into its treatment approach.
If you’re looking for more counseling services, you can check BetterHelp, which offers not only regular therapy but also LGBTQ counseling and faith-based counseling.
Programs At Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center
The Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center provides the following programs, designed to deliver consistent, coordinated care that promotes recovery and community integration.
1. Intensive Community Treatment
SAMHC offers Intensive Community Treatment (ICT), a service designed for individuals with severe mental illnesses.
This program delivers mental health support directly in the individual’s environment, helping them achieve or maintain the ability to function within their community.
2. Individual Placement and Support
Through the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) program, SAMHC helps individuals with serious mental illnesses find and maintain regular employment.
This evidence-based approach allows participants to choose jobs that align with their interests and skills, promoting independence and community participation.
3. Towards Local Care
The Towards Local Care (TLC) initiative provides residential and rehabilitative services that support patients as they transition into their communities.
By addressing clinical needs and offering stabilization services, this program ensures that individuals in distress receive the necessary care without requiring hospitalization.
4. Community Housing
SAMHC’s Housing and Homeless Programs connect individuals with severe mental illnesses to housing opportunities.
Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and funding assistance, SAMHC ensures that those in need have access to stable and supportive living arrangements.
5. Intensive Family Services
The Intensive Family Services program delivers home-based mental health support tailored to the specific needs of each child and family.
Services include crisis management, intensive case management, counseling, family therapy, and skills training, all aimed at improving family dynamics and building resilience.
6. Crisis Response and Intervention
In partnership with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, SAMHC’s Community Crisis Response & Intervention program provides 24/7 on-site emergency psychiatric screenings and assessments.
This program ensures that individuals experiencing a mental health crisis receive immediate and appropriate care within their community.
Leadership Team At Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center
The leadership team at Spartanburg Mental Health Center is composed of highly skilled professionals, bringing together decades of experience to manage and enhance the center’s operations.
This multidisciplinary team includes psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, counselors, social workers, nurses, and administrative experts.
1. Brandon Gaffney, Executive Director
Brandon Gaffney serves as the executive director of SAMHC, joining the center after his role as assistant deputy director of administrative services at the SC Department of Mental Health.
With over 28 years of management experience, including 16 years as CEO and COO in community health, Brandon brings extensive expertise in leadership and strategic planning to his role.
2. Dr. Ebony Gaffney, Medical Director
Dr. Gaffney is a board-certified psychiatrist and Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
With a Ph.D. in Public Health and an MBA in Health Administration, she completed her psychiatric training at Morehouse School of Medicine.
Her focus includes academic psychiatry, women’s health, and collaborations with faith-based communities.
3. Tamer Elshennawy, Center Administrator
As SAMHC’s Systems Administrator and IT Specialist, Tamer brings 15 years of experience in network design, performance tuning, and technical strategy.
Since joining in December 2018, he has ensured the center’s IT infrastructure runs smoothly to support its mission of delivering quality mental health services.
4. Deana Kerr, Human Resource Manager
Deana has been with the Department of Mental Health for nearly 26 years.
Starting in the Union Office, she moved to Spartanburg in 1998 and was promoted to Human Resource Manager in 2011.
She also serves as the Benefits Administrator, managing HR needs with dedication and professionalism.
5. Kristin James, Clinic Director – Spartanburg Clinic
Kristin James is a Licensed Professional Counselor dedicated to enhancing clinic services, and has been with the Department of Mental Health since 2001, currently leading the Spartanburg Clinic.
She holds two master’s degrees—one in Rehabilitation Psychology from UNC-Chapel Hill and another in Public Health with a focus on Emergency Management from American Military University.
6. LaRonda Frye, Clinic Director – Union Clinic
LaRonda brings 16 years of experience from Vocational Rehabilitation and a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University.
Having previously worked in SAMHC’s TLC programs and child & adolescent services, she has now returned as the Clinic Director for the Union Mental Health Clinic.
7. Freda Miller, Clinic Director – Cherokee Clinic
With over 30 years of experience, Freda Miller is the Cherokee Mental Health Clinic Director.
She started her career at the Spartanburg Clinic in 1993 and has a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Tennessee.
A Licensed Professional Counselor and Addiction Counselor, Freda is committed to providing expert care to patients.
8. Holly May, Program Manager – Deaf Services
Holly May manages the statewide program for Deaf and Hard of Hearing services, a role she has held for almost 15 years.
Based in Columbia, SC, Holly is a Licensed Professional Counselor with certifications in National Interpreting (NIC) and Qualified Mental Health Interpreting (QMHI).
She began her career with SCDMH as an intern in 1999 and continues to champion accessibility for individuals with hearing challenges.
Want to know more about mental health services, check these out:
- Plains Area Mental Health Center: Supporting Mental Wellness
- Ced Mental Health Center: Empowering Wellness Through Care
- Lakes Region Mental Health Center: Caring for Minds
Career Opportunities
Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center actively promotes career development and professional growth as part of its commitment to service excellence.
Understanding that the mental health field thrives on continuous learning, SAMHC provides a variety of ongoing education and training opportunities for employees.
This ensures that staff members can enhance their skills, stay updated on the latest industry practices, and grow within their roles.
The center is deeply committed to creating an inclusive and equitable work environment.
SAMHC’s equal employment opportunity policy ensures that employees are treated fairly, regardless of race, religion, citizenship status, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Additionally, the center strives to maintain a positive and welcoming workplace, free from discrimination or harassment.
Employees consistently share positive feedback about their experiences, and Spartanburg mental health center reviews highlight their inclusive culture that promotes growth and collaboration.
For a list of current career opportunities, visit their website. Under the “Filters” section, select “Agency” and “Department of Mental Health-MHC Spartanburg” to explore available roles.
Address and Contact Information
Address:
250 Dewey Ave
Spartanburg, SC 29303
Phone Number:
+1 864-585-0366
Email:
FAQ’s:
1. What can I expect from a psychotherapy session?
A psychotherapy session typically involves discussing your thoughts, emotions, and challenges with a licensed therapist in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
The therapist will help you explore issues, develop coping strategies, and work toward achieving your mental health goals.
2. What is the typical duration of mental health treatment in Spartanburg?
The duration of mental health treatment varies depending on individual needs and goals.
Some patients may require short-term support, while others benefit from ongoing therapy over several months or longer.
3. What are some common mental health conditions treated at mental health facilities in Spartanburg, SC?
Common conditions treated at Spartanburg include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, and behavioral challenges in children and adolescents.
