Learn to Live Your BEST Life!

By Cassie Johnson

Our cover features Emerald Therapy Center’s founder and co-owner, Shelly Baer, LCSW, SAP, with her two grandsons, Rivers and Memphis. Known as Gigi to her grandchildren, this strong businesswoman loves her community and is dedicated to bringing the best emotional healthcare to our area. Welcome to Emerald Therapy Center, where your best days are ahead.

Shelly is a therapist, substance abuse professional, and life coach with extensive training in assessment and mental health. She is also a licensed Psychotherapist. She has extensive experience as a Clinical Director for in-patient psychiatric units, outpatient addiction clinics, and as a school-based therapist.

Emerald Therapy was founded in 2012. The original Emerald location was on Nahm Street in Paducah. Shelly quickly realized the need was even larger than she had imagined. A few moves and a decade later, Emerald has six locations and over 90 employees.

Shelly is passionate about providing exceptional counseling services for individuals and families. She believed that there was a way to offer mental health services that meet everyone’s needs.

"I didn’t wake up one day and decide to start Emerald Therapy,” Shelly told me. “There were a lot of challenges and difficult jobs along the way. Each one has made my convictions stronger. I remember walking into the office on our last day at Emerald Therapy's original location. There were about nineteen clients and five therapists. I knew then we had made the right decision to expand.”

“Life happens to all of us. Everyone can benefit from talking with a professional that helps their emotional well-being. Unfortunately, many counseling offices have stark white walls with hard plastic chairs and emit a sterile, medical feeling. I wanted to provide a warm space where clients felt comfortable and welcomed. I believed that I could create a positive environment that was inviting, not institutional.”

Emerald Therapy Sets Itself Apart

Emerald's mission is to provide emotional health services to meet the needs of everyone, not just individuals with chronic mental health issues. They strive to change the perception of mental health in our community and help clients adjust to life issues. Treatments are based on four areas of wellness: emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial. Their goal is that clients leave feeling better than they arrived. Whether it be grief, traumatic accidents, relationships, financial stress, job loss, or anything else, their services can help.

Comprehensive Emotional Health

Mental health consists of thoughts and feelings,” explained Shelly. Behavioral health is all about the actions taken based on those thoughts and feelings. We call the combination of the two emotional health. Taking care of your emotional health should be applauded. Seeing a therapist and talking with them does not mean you are crazy. You are taking care of your emotional health just as you would by talking to a doctor for your physical health.”

Emotional healing improves family, career, and physical health while increasing overall life functions. The needs of each client vary so at Emerald Therapy every client receives a customized plan specifically for them. Emerald wants everyone to live their best life and transform their challenges into strengths.

A Total Care Team

The team at Emerald provides help through comprehensive outpatient treatment. Recently, Dr. Laurie Ballew, founder of Holistic Psychiatry and Healthcare merged with Emerald Therapy Center Dr. Ballew is not only a Board Certified Psychiatrist but Board Certified in Addiction Medicine.

“Dr. Ballew provides compassionate care and strengthens our treatment options allowing us to meet more of our client needs,” said Shelly. Dr. Ballew’s credentials and experience are unique in this area. She believes her psychiatry practice should be as holistic as possible. In psychiatry, holistic doesn’t mean herbs and supplements, it refers to having other providers such as physician’s assistants, case management - an entire care team. It’s a totally different approach than just going to the doctor for a prescription.”

Autism Disorder Treatment

The demand for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) evaluations in our area used to be overwhelming. Many families waited up to a year for an appointment and still had to travel to Louisville or Nashville because it was not offered locally. Shelly is certified through Vanderbilt University to provide ASD evaluations at Emerald.

Emerald recently launched their new Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) program. An autism diagnosis is required for this intensive treatment therapy that can range from 10 to 40 hours per week. Using both focused and comprehensive services, children will meet their goals including conversation and language skills, daily hygiene, and other functional skills. Programs include table work and natural environment teaching methods.

“By improving behaviors with an autism diagnosis, children can function better at home, school, and socially,” said,” Jessica Fisher, Clinical Director of the ABA Program. “The results are life-changing for both the child and their families.”

Case Management

Qualified Emerald clients can receive case management assistance. A specialized Case Manager offers direction, service coordination, and management, as well as finding resources within the community. For example, if you have a loved one with a medical condition, they can refer you to a local support group.

Shelly believes Emerald has grown and excelled because of the large variety of services they provide. Anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, relationship issues, addiction, ADHD, and eating disorders are just a few conditions Emerald can treat.

“I am proud and humbled that clients return to us,” Shelly told me. “Even though they may have successfully fulfilled their treatment goals, a few years down the road they may need our services again. We are here to meet their needs.”

Multiple Locations, Numerous Resources

With multiple locations each with accredited providers, Emerald provides comprehensive treatment opportunities.

Emerald's outpatient addiction program is at 5050-B Village Square Drive. Combining group and one-on-one sessions with experienced drug and alcohol counselors, each client receives the very best treatment plan tailored for them. Using Matrix, one of the nation’s top evidence-based addiction recovery curriculum, clients also have access to a medical provider, case management, peer support, and a recovery coach.

Adult and geriatric services are provided inside the LivingWell Center at 2327 New Holt Road. Dr. Ballew also sees patients at her office located at 2520 New Holt Road, Paducah.

The newest Paducah location is at the Information Age Park at 1640 McCracken Boulevard. The majority of children’s services, including the new ABA program, are located here.

The Mayfield office is located at 1019 Paducah Road Suite C, and the Murray office is at 111 Poplar Street, #104. These extended locations provide multiple services to meet the needs of clients of all ages.

Emerald Therapy Center accepts most insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare, and various Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). Call 270.534.5128 to schedule your consultation or visit emeraldtherapycenter.com. They are accepting clients ages three years and up.

It’s never too late to find help and support. Remember, your best days are ahead! 