Behavioral Health Services
Screening and Referral for Substance Use/Abuse and Mental Health Issues
Full time professional counselors are available Monday through Friday, at Lentz Public Health Center, 311 23rd Avenue North, Room 211 to conduct assessments and make referrals to local counseling agencies for persons age 13 and older needing Substance Abuse or Mental Health services.
There is no charge for these services.
Call (615) 340-2172 for more information and to make an appointment. Walk-in clients will be seen as time permits.
Community agencies may call during business hours to schedule an appointment for a client to be screened in our office. Select screenings can be conducted at certain community agencies with prior special arrangements.
Persons in immediate crisis should call the Mobile Crisis line, (615) 726-0125, or the Crisis Center at (615) 244-7444. If the crisis is life threatening, dial 911.
Staff
The Behavioral Health Services staff is comprised of professional, qualified, and dedicated individuals with experience and training in the behavioral health fields:
- Nichelle Foster, MMFT
- Jenny Howard-Brown, BSW, LADAC
- Carl Sutton
- Angela Thompson, MS, MPS
- Anita Wilson, LADAC, NCAC 1, Q-SAP
Program Philosophy
Addiction to any substance or behavior is a primary condition that is characterized by a specific set of symptoms and predictable outcomes, which include but are not limited to, continuing use or behaviors in spite of negative consequences and the need for increased use or behaviors in order to experience the same effect.
Addiction to substances and /or behaviors affects not only the individual but the family and concerned persons in the life of the addicted individual. It affects the individual physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Additionally, addiction meets the criteria as a disease and should be treated as such.
Mental Illness is a treatable condition which, if addressed, enables the individual to lead a normal and productive life. An important aspect of mental health services is to eliminate stigma and to provide ongoing support to individuals and families affected by this illness. There is hope in recovery from both addictive and mental disorders. Some individuals may have co-occurring addiction and mental health disorders. These disorders often require medication management for stabilization and maintenance, which can enhance the recovery process.
Screening, Referral and Follow-up
The mission of this program is to provide non-emergent substance abuse and mental health screening, recommendation, and referral to adults and adolescents in Davidson County. The Staff will cooperate and coordinate with community agencies to ensure appropriate services are available.
Screenings are conducted at the Lentz Public Health Center in room 206. Select Screenings are conducted at community agencies by special prior arrangement. In addition to the general adult and adolescent populations, the program has team members who are trained in geriatric issues.
Team members will assist clients in navigating through the behavioral health system to facilitate timely access. Additionally, team members will assess life areas in which the client may have additional needs and make appropriate referrals to wrap-around services when indicated.
GAP Sessions
The GAP Sessions have been developed to keep our clients engaged while awaiting admission into either and outpatient or inpatient treatment setting. The sessions are designed to deliver basic addiction education and give the client a better understanding of the concept of therapy.
The Brief Intervention Sessions are facilitated by Behavioral Health Staff with whom a client has already been connected to through an assessment. The Brief Intervention Sessions also provide/educate the client regarding substance use and possible adverse consequences to encourage a change in their behavior.
The Brief Re-entry Sessions provide debriefing, follow-up and other continuing care services for those who have completed a treatment program or have been released from incarceration. The goal for the sessions is to provide clients with tools for transition as they continue life in their community.