The Bridges Program at Southwest Counseling Service provides a lot of mental health services for the community. I checked in with Charlotte Dore, one of the clinicians in that program, to find out a little bit more about what they do so I can share it with you. Here's what we discussed:


Jamie: What is the Bridges program?

Charlotte: The Bridges program provides daily services to adults with a serious mental illness such as Bipolar or Schizophrenia. The program’s goal is to assist clients in learning and developing skills to lead a meaningful life and improving overall quality of life.  The Bridges program believes that recovery is possible; recovery is a journey of healing to enable an individual with a serious mental illness to lead a meaningful life of their choosing. The Bridges Program teaches and adheres to eleven components of recovery: self-direction, individualized and person-centered, empowerment, holistic, non-linear, strengths-based, peer support, respect, responsibility, hope and resilience.


Jamie: What types of services do you offer?

Charlotte: Bridges program offers, agency and community based individual therapy plus agency based group therapy four days a week.  The program also offers Case Management, Individual rehabilitative services, Peer Specialists Services, Job Coaching and development services, Psychiatric Services, Emergency services, and a Physician Assistant to assist with medical concerns. In addition the program provides the Pathways Drop-in Community Center that encourages social interaction and offers leisure and recreational activities.
    The program also has residential services that include the Transitions Group home and SIP apartments. The Transitions Group Home provides individuals with the opportunity for personal growth while working towards living more independently and is a 24 hour supervised living facility for adults. The Supported Independent Program (SIP) apartments are a semi independent living service for adult individuals who need minimal assistance with daily living activities.  


Jamie: Who can come to the community center/groups/other services?

Charlotte: The Bridges Program services are designed for adults who have a serious mental illness such as bi-polar disorder, severe major depression and/or schizophrenia.


Jamie: How does someone get started?

Charlotte: To get started, call the Bridges Program at 307-352-6689 to schedule an assessment.


Bridges program staff are:
Scott Wilcox, MS, LPC, NCC, Program Manager
Charlotte Dore, MS, PPC, Clinician         
John Anderson LCSW, Clinician
Leslie McMillan BS, CMHW, Clinician
Trevor Mansfield, BS, Case Manager
Darrell Rasdall, BS, Residential Coordinator
Randi Sutphin, Peer Specialist
Don Walthall, Peer Specialist
Mary Kline, Peer Specialist
Kayleen Logan APN, Advanced Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Tom Haigler PA, Physician Assistant
Kim Skinner, Clerical
Heather Mauch, Clerical