Mental Health Support in Carlsbad, NM

When I lived in Seattle, access to mental health care was abundant and widely accepted. The city’s gray, rainy climate, combined with a large, diverse population and a wealth of top-tier healthcare providers, helped normalize the idea of going to therapy. In contrast, here in the more rural Permian Basin—especially in Carlsbad, NM—mental health resources can be much harder to find. Home organization and mental healthcare are often tightly woven together. I sometimes joke that I’m like an in-home therapist, but in reality, I am not a therapist. I rely on a network of other service providers so that my clients can get the proper care they need. I often have clients that struggle with grief from the loss of loved ones, divorce, PTSD, ADHD and other neurodivergence, depression, and anxiety. Any one of these issues can make it very difficult to get organized and stay organized. Janell Taylor of Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance (PBC&G) recently gave a talk to our Rotary Club, and I want to help spread the word about this wonderful organization.

Services They Provide and What Sets Them Apart

Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance is a branch of West Texas Counseling & Guidance. They use evidence-based practices to provide effective and affordable mental health care. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, they provide the same quality of care as a for-profit mental health organization, but through grants, they can provide counseling to people regardless of their ability to pay. Not only do they take Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and self-pay, they also offer sliding-scale rates for those uninsured or underinsured. For an individual experiencing suicidal crisis, they offer two free sessions, which are specialized sessions focused on safety planning and addressing access to lethal means. PBC&G also offers counseling and case management services to veterans at no charge to the veteran, regardless of discharge status, years of service, with no VA involvement. Prior to 2021, when PBC&G opened, patients who had been experiencing suicidal ideation were regularly hospitalized, which was often above the level of care they needed. This costly solution would also cause them to miss school or work, due to the distance of the mental healthcare facility and the duration of the treatment plan, further exacerbating their stress. PBC&G provide services to rural communities in SE New Mexico and West Texas that are in desperate need of mental healthcare.

They provide services for:

• ADHD
• Children & Adolescents
• Chronic Pain
• Couples Counseling
• Depression & Anxiety
• Divorce
• Domestic Violence
• Family Therapy
• Grief & Loss
• LGBTQ+ and Gender Issues
• Parenting Stress
• PTSD & Trauma
• Substance Abuse & Other Addictive Behaviors
• Suicidal Thoughts
• Survivor of Suicide (SOS) Support Groups
• Veteran Services

…and more!

Another really wonderful service they provide is FREE SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING to other organizations in the area. In this training, you will learn what to say and do when someone talks about suicide, and how to recognize suicidal wishes before it’s too late. Being a survivor of suicide carries a complicated and stigmatized trauma, and PBC&G peer support groups make all the difference in processing this complex loss with others who have also experienced it.

Why Therapy is Important

You Matter! Many people have been taught that they should bottle up their feelings, pull up their bootstraps, not show emotion, that others have it worse, and that they should live to serve others. What we’ve now learned is that this only exacerbates the problems by causing people to isolate from others and to abandon themselves. Self-care is not selfish. Self-care is the equivalent of putting on your oxygen mask before helping someone else put theirs on. If you don’t take care of yourself, you will not be able to help others. Unresolved emotions not only create havoc on your mental health, they can also turn into physical ailments if left untreated. Mental health therapy re-wires your brain in a safe atmosphere so that you can live to your fullest and healthiest potential. Mentally healthy people create a positive ripple effect for others. You never know how many people’s days have been brightened by your smile.

How To Get Help

PBC&G offers both telehealth and in-person appointments at their locations in Carlsbad, Artesia, Hobbs, and Jal. You can call their main office at 575-249-2561 or email info@pbcg.org.

In a crisis? Click here for a list of Crisis Contacts.

Whether you’re dealing with mental health challenges, life transitions, or just need help clearing physical or emotional clutter, know that you’re not alone. I’m always happy to connect clients with the resources that support their whole well-being.

Posted By Jean Prominski, Certified Professional Organizer

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