Overcoming the Stigma

BY ABIGAIL MARTIN

Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) mission of building hope, transforming lives, and sharing Christ’s love through service in Appalachia drew JaLane Speaks to the organization nearly 14 years ago. When she heard about CAP’s counseling services, she knew she wanted to be a part of the program to help offer critical counseling services to make an impact in the lives of people in Appalachia.

“I wanted to work for an organization that cared about people and community, and that is what CAP is all about,” said Speaks, a licensed professional clinical counselor for CAP’s Family Life Counseling Services (FLCS). “It was important to me that people who wanted counseling services were able to access that resource regardless of their ability to pay. CAP’s counseling program doesn’t want financial insecurity to be an obstacle for those seeking counseling services. Because of the generosity of CAP’s donors, counseling services are available for children, their families, and seniors who may need flexibility with the cost of services.”

Speaks is trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, which is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma. She is in the process of getting certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), another trauma-focused treatment that has been extensively researched and proven to be effective in treating trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.

With their extensive knowledge, CAP’s FLCS counselors perform thousands of counseling sessions each year. Speaks travels between two counties to perform in-person sessions and offers telehealth services to people who may not have the needed transportation to attend an in-person session.

“I worked with a young lady who was struggling with anxiety, but we were able to take the time needed to build skills that helped her navigate her feelings of anxiety,” Speaks said. “From those skills, she was able to develop confidence in her ability to manage those feelings. I was grateful to be a part of her journey.”

Since the pandemic, and on top of natural disasters and other challenges Appalachian people have faced in recent years, CAP’s counselors have seen an increase in struggles with depression, anxiety, and isolation in their program participants. Speaks meets her participants where they are and walks alongside them to help them develop skills that they can apply to their life to overcome their challenges.

“Personal growth, confidence, hard work, and showing up for themselves is something to celebrate,” Speaks said. “It’s a joy for me to see that confidence grow and hope be restored in their lives and that they have the ability and are capable of overcoming challenges they are faced with.”

Mental health is just as important as physical health. The need for mental health providers in CAP’s service area is four times greater than the national average, according to the Robert Wood Foundation. In addition to the lack of mental health care providers offering services, the poverty many people in Appalachia face creates a negative impact on their mental health. FLCS counselors use their skills and work closely with community partners to ensure people in Appalachia have access to high-quality mental health services.

“I hope my work is impactful in that it helps empower individuals and families to improve their mental health and their relationship with themselves and others,” Speaks said.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and during this time, FLCS highlights the importance of taking steps toward good mental health and encourages people to reach out for services if they feel they are needed.

“It is not a weakness to ask for help when you need it it’s a strength. When we can provide support and resources to people who are struggling, it helps people to overcome the stigma,” Speaks said. “I am incredibly humbled by every person that seeks counseling services. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to talk about things that are difficult to talk about and face challenges that life presents to us. We want to help in any way we can.”

To learn more about the services FLCS offers, visit christianapp.org/familycounseling.