Volunteer Behavioral Health: Empowering Mental Wellness

Maintaining our mental and emotional well-being is vital to living a balanced and fulfilling life. Yet, when life’s challenges become overwhelming, it can be hard to face them alone. 

Seeking help through therapy and counselling is a powerful step toward healing and personal growth. 

There are many organizations dedicated to providing support in these areas, and Volunteer Behavioral Health TN is one of them. 

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the range of services available at Volunteer Behavioral Health and how they can assist in building a healthier, more resilient mindset.

About Volunteer Behavioral Health

Volunteer BH

Volunteer Behavioral Health (VBH) is a non-profit, CARF-accredited community behavioural health organization serving individuals across Tennessee

With over 50 years of experience, VBH provides comprehensive mental health and substance use disorder services to adults, children, teens, and families. 

Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System covers 58 counties in the middle, southeast, and Upper Cumberland regions of Tennessee.

Volunteer Behavioral Health offers care through 21 outpatient centres, making mental health and substance use treatment accessible to more than two million residents. 

VBH offers same-day access, ensuring that individuals receive immediate, quality care. 

Their mission is centred on prevention, treatment, and recovery, with a focus on building better futures for individuals, families, and communities.

Mental Health Services Provided By Volunteer Behavioral Health

Volunteer Behavioral Health provides a wide range of mental health services to meet the needs of individuals and families across the region. Their services include the following:

1. Crisis Services

Volunteer Behavioral Health’s crisis services are available 24/7, 365 days a year, to assist adults experiencing mental health emergencies that severely disrupt daily life. 

VBH’s crisis teams offer crisis phone counselling, face-to-face evaluations, triage, referrals, follow-up care, and medical detox beds for substance withdrawal.

2. Psychiatric Services and Medication Management

Psychiatric evaluation and medication management are extremely important in treating mental health conditions and co-occurring disorders. 

VBH’s team of psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and nurses provides these services throughout the region. 

Clients meet regularly with assigned medical providers to receive medication refills, answers to medication-related questions, and continuous care. 

3. Counseling/Therapy

VBH offers individual counselling (outpatient therapy) for children, adults, and families, addressing mental health concerns, co-occurring disorders, and family dynamics. 

Skilled counsellors work with clients to build treatment plans using evidence-based tools, helping them manage behavioural health issues. 

Online professional therapy is also available via telehealth appointments.

4. Care Management

Care Management at VBH is designed to help individuals with serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, navigate community resources, medical care, and mental health services. 

Care managers coordinate appointments, advocate for clients, and help them access essential resources such as food banks, transportation, and clothing. 

5. Evaluation and Assessment

VBH offers a range of evaluations, including psychological, forensic, and fitness-for-duty evaluations, as well as alcohol and drug assessments. 

These assessments are provided by a network of trained professionals.

6. Regional Intervention Program (RIP)

The RIP is a unique program for families with young children exhibiting challenging behaviours. 

Parents receive guidance and support from experienced RIP families and professionals, allowing them to learn skills to work directly with their children.

7. Residential Services

VBH offers community-based residential services for individuals with a history of severe and persistent mental illness. 

The program includes a range of living options, from supervised residential facilities to independent community living. 

These services are designed to help individuals transition from hospital settings to more independent living environments.

8. Detoxification Program

Medical detox is often the first step in recovery for individuals struggling with substance abuse. VBH’s medically supervised detox program helps clients safely manage withdrawal symptoms. 

With 24 detox beds available at their Cookeville campus, VBH offers essential support to individuals beginning their recovery journey.

9. Services for Children and Families

VBH provides comprehensive services for children and families, including individual counselling, teen counseling, couples counseling, and family therapy. 

Child and adolescent psychiatry experts offer medication management to help children and youth with emotional and behavioural challenges. 

Leadership Team At Volunteer Behavioral Health

Leadership Team At Volunteer

The leadership team at Volunteer Behavioral Health is a dedicated group of professionals working together to fulfil the organization’s mission. 

They believe the foundation of the organization’s success lies in creating an environment where both employees and clients can thrive. 

The team upholds high standards, values, and principles that guide the organization’s service to the community.

Each member of the management team brings decades of experience in behavioural health and is committed to delivering excellence in mental health services. 

They work together to ensure the organization’s future success, providing direction to employees and the communities they serve. The leadership team includes:

  • Phyllis Persinger – President/CEO
  • Gala Murray – Chief Compliance Officer
  • Angie Hampton – Chief Administrative Officer
  • Aaron Hall – Chief Information and Technology Officer
  • Dawn Carlton – Chief Financial Officer
  • Missy Johnson – Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Richard French – Executive Vice President
  • Amanda Cook – Chief Business Development Officer

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

  1. Mclean Hospital Mental Health: Leading Excellence in Care
  2. Las Encinas Mental Health Hospital: Review of Care & Support
  3. Elmhurst Hospital Mental Health: Comprehensive Care

Career Opportunities & Benefits

Volunteer Behavioral Health offers a range of exciting career opportunities across its 21 centers in middle Tennessee, southeast Tennessee, and the Upper Cumberland region. 

Volunteer Behavioral Health jobs provide a chance to work in a rewarding environment dedicated to mental health and wellness.

Employees at VBH enjoy a host of benefits, including health, dental, and vision insurance, a Health Savings Account, and short- and long-term disability coverage. 

The organization also offers an Employee Assistance Program, life insurance, and a longevity bonus for long-term commitment. 

In addition to these financial perks, VBH values work-life balance, providing generous PTO, an annual wellness day, a floating holiday, and 10 paid holidays each year.

Committed to professional growth, VBH supports its employees through training and continuing education opportunities. 

As an equal-opportunity employer, VBH welcomes all qualified applicants, creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. 

Visit their job board online to explore the current openings and join a team that is making a difference.

What Makes Volunteer Behavioral Health Different?

What sets Volunteer Behavioral Health apart is its innovative approach to prevention, treatment, and recovery, all aimed at improving the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. 

VBH offers services to people of all ages, ensuring that everyone, from children to seniors, has access to the care they need.

One of the key differences lies in their commitment to providing cost-effective, high-quality care. 

The organization is staffed by well-trained and enthusiastic professionals who are dedicated to delivering competent and compassionate services. 

VBH also believes in early detection and intervention, recognizing that mental illness, addiction, and co-occurring disorders can be prevented or managed more effectively when identified early. 

This proactive approach helps individuals recover more quickly and contributes to healthier communities overall.

Different Locations and Contact Information

Volunteer Behavioral Health System operates in 21 different locations across Tennessee. One of the key Volunteer Behavioral Health locations is Hartsville center.

Volunteer Behavioral Health Hartsville TN:

213 Broadway, Hartsville, TN 37074

(615) 374-7012

All VBH locations provide essential services such as therapy, care management, and psychiatric medication management. 

A full list of locations can be found on their website.

With VBH, there’s no wrong way to access services—whether you call, walk in, or find them working in the community, they’ll help connect you to the care you need.

Volunteer Behavioral Health Reviews

Volunteer Behavioral Health reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with many patients sharing how the centre has profoundly impacted their lives.

Sarah Tinnel shared her experience, stating, 

“When I finished, I felt more aware of my behavioral and mental health. I’m still sober 3 years later after being an addict for 22 years.” 

Ernest Andrews expressed his gratitude by saying, 

“This is the only place that offered me help in over 20 years when I didn’t have insurance or money to pay.”

His testimonial shows the accessibility and care VBH provides, regardless of financial situation.

Carol Rogers also praised the centre, mentioning that they are “doing a great job” and felt that the staff took good care of her throughout her treatment.

Although some Volunteer Behavioral Health reviews mention room for improvement, the majority are highly favourable, reflecting the effective services provided by the centre.

Manuel Alejandro Patiño

Personal and professionally focused on integral wellness in mind, emotions, and body, as the main key to preventing toxic stress and chronic diseases. I try to be an example of what I teach, healing not just from the knowledge. I am also very adaptable to employeer’s requirements. I can understand and speak Spanish, English, and German very fluently.

More than 7 years of experience practicing and teaching Kundalini Yoga and other meditation