Life’s challenges, personal hardships, and daily pressures can often feel overwhelming, making access to support systems a critical need.
Mental health centers provide a safe and supportive environment where individuals can navigate these difficulties through services like counseling, therapy, and crisis intervention.
One such center making a meaningful impact is the Waccamaw Center for Mental Health, known for its commitment to accessible and compassionate care.
In this article, we will explore the services provided by the Waccamaw Center for Mental Health and its ongoing efforts to enhance the emotional well-being of the communities it serves.
About Waccamaw Center for Mental Health
The Waccamaw Center for Mental Health is a vital part of South Carolina’s mental health network, serving as one of the state’s 16 mental health centers.
As an outpatient facility, it provides mental health services across Horry, Georgetown, and Williamsburg Counties.
Each location within the center offers a wide range of services, including crisis intervention, individual, family, and group therapy.
Additional services include psychiatric medication assessments, medication monitoring, and case management.
The center’s Mobile Crisis Team operates around the clock, offering 24-hour assistance to individuals experiencing self-identified crises in the communities it serves.
Waccamaw Center for Mental Health hours vary by location, providing flexible access to care for individuals seeking mental health support across the service areas.
Guided by an Advisory Board and the South Carolina Department of Mental Health (SCDMH), the center remains steadfast in its mission to deliver essential mental health care.
The dedication of its staff ensures that the center’s mission to support those in need of mental health services is upheld.
Mental Health Services Provided By Waccamaw Center
1. Clinic based outpatient services
The Waccamaw Center for Mental Health provides essential outpatient services to adults living with mental health challenges.
Its clinic-based approach offers personalized care tailored to the strengths, needs, and preferences of each individual and their family.
Available services include individual, family, and group therapy, psychosocial rehabilitation, psychiatric assessments, medication monitoring, and crisis intervention.
Each individual undergoes a thorough screening and assessment by mental health professionals to determine eligibility for services.
This process begins with an initial clinical assessment, which serves as the foundation for treatment planning.
Once enrolled, clients work closely with a treatment team, which includes a clinician and
a physician who oversees treatment and a nurse who addresses medication-related concerns.
2. Crisis Services
Crisis services at the Waccamaw Center for Mental Health are available across all three locations, providing immediate assistance to individuals in need.
For non-emergency crises, residents can reach out during regular business hours, from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, by calling or visiting their local office.
Residents in the service area can petition the Probate Court to determine if someone refusing voluntary treatment may require involuntary care.
Acting as a primary consultant for the Probate Court, the center facilitates the initiation of detention orders for emergency commitments and judicial examinations.
Additionally, it provides designated examiners to conduct mental health and substance abuse evaluations as required by the court.
3. Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PRS) is a specialized treatment program aimed at supporting individuals with long-term, severe psychiatric conditions.
The program focuses on enhancing personal skills and creating the necessary environmental support to help individuals maintain their independence and stability within the community.
Services provided through PRS address the needs of independent living while promoting responsibility, self-control, and a sense of self-worth.
These services, which can be utilized on a short-term or long-term basis, are designed to help participants achieve or sustain community integration.
Delivered in a supportive and inclusive community environment, the program may include client assessments, goal-setting activities, individual and group therapy, and family support sessions.
It emphasizes three key areas: rehabilitative psychosocial therapy, interpersonal skills, and daily living skills, all of which play a crucial role in guiding clients through their recovery journey.
4. Child, Adolescent, and Families Outpatient Services
Waccamaw offers a range of services for children, adolescents, and their families through its community mental health programs, to address their emotional, relational, and behavioral challenges.
Treatment options may include individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, and medication management.
The primary aim of these outpatient services is to provide tailored care that helps children and their families achieve stability.
This support enables them to succeed at home, in school, and within their community environments.
5. Family Preservation Services
Family Preservation Services aim to prevent the need for an out-of-home therapeutic placement for children by focusing on keeping the family unit intact.
This program is designed for families where the child’s challenges are severe enough that an out-of-home placement is a likely outcome.
By working closely with the family, the program strives to address and resolve the issues at hand. Services are primarily provided in the child’s home and focus on family dynamics.
The program also addresses factors that may negatively impact the family’s functioning, such as family separation, loss of a loved one, and low self-esteem.
It also works on improving poor communication skills, anger management, and academic difficulties.
Family Preservation Services take a wraparound approach, offering support to both the child and family, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when necessary.
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.
Doctors of Waccamaw Center for Mental Health
Following are some of the highly skilled professionals at Waccamaw Center, dedicated to providing expert care and personalized treatment to meet the mental health needs of the community.
1. Dr. Rupa Shetty
Dr. Shetty has served as the Medical Director of Waccamaw Center for Mental Health since July 2013.
Dr. Shetty is one of approximately 7,000 psychiatrists in the United States who hold board certification in both general adult psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry.
With over 15 years of experience in mental health, psychiatry, and substance abuse treatment, she integrates cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma-focused therapy into her work.
Dr. Shetty leads a diverse medical staff, including psychiatrists specialized in child and adolescent, geriatric, and adult psychiatry, and supervises a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Dr. Shetty is committed to making Waccamaw the first choice for outpatient psychiatry and behavioral health services in the community.
Her patient-centered approach, combined with her excellent systems management and warm bedside manner, is already delivering impressive results.
2. Dr. Kurt Klauburg
Dr. Kurt Klauburg completed his undergraduate studies at Simpson College in Indianola, before pursuing his medical degree at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri.
Dr. Klauburg continued his post-graduate training in psychiatry at the University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry in Iowa City, Iowa.
3. Dr. Covia Stanley
Dr. Covia Stanley, MD, is a native of Longwood, Brunswick County, NC. He has an extensive career, beginning as a medical technologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC.
Dr. Stanley has been the Health/Medical Director for Region 6 of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, covering Horry, Georgetown, and Williamsburg counties.
Additionally, he has been a staff physician for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health since 2013.
Accessibility of Care
The Waccamaw Center for Mental Health assigns clinicians to work within emergency departments.
It ensures that mental health needs are addressed quickly and facilitates referrals to specialized services as necessary.
The center also operates an after-hours crisis line, providing individuals with access to mental health support beyond standard office hours.
The center places a strong emphasis on client engagement, encouraging regular attendance at appointments and adherence to prescribed medications to support effective treatment.
To further enhance accessibility, the center offers telehealth services, allowing patients to receive virtual care for their mental health needs.
Payment options
Waccamaw Center for Mental Health offers a variety of payment options to ensure that individuals have access to the care they need.
These options include Community Mental Health Block Grants, Federal Grants, Medicare, Medicaid, and Private Insurance.
For clients without insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare, the center offers reduced fees based on income levels to help make services more affordable.
Additionally, pro-bono services are available, ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent access to care.
The center also accepts payments through cash or self-payment, as well as funding from state correction or juvenile justice programs, and state welfare or child and family service funds.
Clients are encouraged to reach out to the business office for more detailed information about payment options and assistance with insurance coverage.
Waccamaw Center for Mental Health Reviews
Waccamaw Center for Mental Health reviews highlight the center’s commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality care to individuals and families in need of mental health support.
Clients consistently provide positive feedback, highlighting the center’s impactful and effective care. One verified client while appreciating the centre says:
“I would like to thank the Waccamaw Center for Mental Health program for helping me. The people and the clients are nice. I am satisfied with all the things that this place is helping me with and I’m hoping that they can support me with my problems.”
Another client while appreciating the staff’s efforts says:
“The staff is excellent and I am very grateful for the services I get.”
Another client also shares his gratitude by praising the Waccamaw center for mental health conway clinic:
“This clinic is very important to my mental health. It is an excellent facility.”
These testimonials reflect Waccamaw Center for Mental Health’s dedication to providing compassionate and effective care, with families feeling supported throughout the entire process.
Want to know more about mental health services, check these out:
- Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center: Compassionate Care
- Plains Area Mental Health Center: Supporting Mental Wellness
- Ced Mental Health Center: Empowering Wellness Through Care
Address and Contact Information
Waccamaw Center for Mental Health has several locations across different counties to serve the community.
Horry County:
- 164 Waccamaw Medical Park Drive, Conway, SC
- 9630 Scipio Lane, Myrtle Beach, SC
Georgetown County:
- 525 Lafayette Circle, Georgetown, SC
Williamsburg County:
- 501 Nelson Blvd, Kingstree, SC
For inquiries or to schedule an appointment, individuals can reach the centers at the contact numbers available at their website.
FAQ’s:
1. What is dual diagnosis treatment, and how is it incorporated into mental health care?
Dual diagnosis treatment is designed for individuals who experience both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder.
This treatment approach addresses both conditions simultaneously, recognizing the connection between them.
At Waccamaw Center for Mental Health, dual diagnosis care integrates therapy, psychiatric support, and specialized services to help individuals manage their mental health.
2. What is the typical duration of mental health treatment in Myrtle Beach?
The duration of mental health treatment in Myrtle Beach varies depending on the individual’s specific needs and the severity of their condition.
Treatment can range from a few weeks for short-term issues to several months for more complex or long-term conditions.
