Onward Behavioral Health — an agency offering mental health, eating disorder and substance abuse counseling — will host an open house today from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its office located at 270 Walker Dr..
The goal of the open house is for students and community members to meet the therapists that work at the agency and learn about the types of services that the facility has to offer, Associate Executive Director Ken Kosza said.
Kosza describes Onward Behavioral Health as an “umbrella” which has several agencies operating within it.
The substance abuse services are provided through the Rehab After Work/Rehab After School Program. Mental health therapy is administered by Life Counseling Services and The Light ProgramLink, Kosza said. The final service program is provided by Magnolia Creek Treatment Center, which specializes in helping women with eating disorders, he said.
Onward Behavioral Health first opened its State College facility in May 2012, but after the acquisition of Life Counseling Services in late August, has decided to host an open house.
Kosza said the services provided by Onward Behavioral Health for mental health patients are vast. He noted that the patients have one-on-one treatments for a variety of issues. Therapists specialize in areas such as family troubles, anxiety, anger management, divorce and also have resources for more urgent mental assistance, he said.
All staff members have a full list of credentials, Kosza said. The mental health therapists are fully licensed, and in the State College location specifically, all the substance abuse counselors have at least a master’s degree.
Onward Behavioral Health has more than 30 agencies located throughout New Jersey, Florida and Pennsylvania. It has served the Philadelphia region for nearly 25 years.
The decision to open a location in State College hinged on a few key factors. Kosza said there needs to be a desire for the services in the community, and that generally the area will be seeking a program to help cater to these issues.
Kosza noted that the agency opens in areas where it can sustain and said Rehab After Work is dependent on community involvement to help individuals recover from their hardships.
Another important factor leading to this opening is the tie between Penn State and the President and CEO of Onward Behavioral Health Guy Murray, who is an alumnus.
“The State College community is near and dear to my heart as an alumnus of Penn State University,” Murray said in a press release. “We know there is a high demand for counseling services in the State College community, and I am excited that Onward Behavioral Health will be able to contribute to the overall well-being of the community.”
In the release, Murray also focused on the timeliness of the services provided to customers.
“We have been able to introduce our therapeutic programs into new markets because of our reputation for providing high quality services. We have master’s level, licensed therapists and are able to get prospective clients connected with counseling services quickly,” Murray said.
For those seeking additional information about Onward Behavioral Health, the website provides insight into each of the distinct counseling services. State College area residents can also call 1-800-238-HELP to schedule an appointment at the local facility or seek further information.
To email reporter: diw5136@psu.edu
