Counseling Services

A Crisis Counselor is Here for You!

by Annabelle Payne, Director, Pend Oreille County Counseling Services

All individuals in Pend Oreille County are eligible to receive behavioral health crisis services, regardless of ability to pay or with no insurance coverage. Crisis services provide assessment and intervention supports to help stabilize individuals and families, experiencing a mental health and/or substance use disorder crisis. Services are available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Pend Oreille County Counseling Services (POCCS) serves as the primary Crisis Response provider, for the County. In 2021, POCCS provided 580 crisis service hours to over 200 individuals.

The Crisis Team is comprised of caring professionals, to include three dedicated Designated Crisis Responders, who hold advance degrees in mental health and extensive training in crisis response. Charles Doyal heads the POCCS Crisis team, as the Crisis Services Manager. Charles brings to the POCCS Crisis

Team a diverse work background with experiences ranging from mobile crisis response teams to VA homeless outreach and diversion programs, in both large urban and rural counties. Charles models the essential practice of dignity and respect for all individuals in crisis. If you would like to know more Charles Doyal about crisis services, he would be happy to discuss; call (509) 447-5651 and ask for Charlie. While a mental health crisis is by definition a distressing and often confusing experience, crisis supports can make a difference. If you or someone you know, need suicide or behavioral health crisis support, the following are resources: For immediate assistance with life threatening and/or medically dangerous situations, call 911. For Pend Oreille County – during regular business hours contact the Counseling Services department @ 509-447-5651 or 800-404-5151 (TTY 800-833-6388). For After-Hours, call the Regional Crisis Line @ 877-266-1818. A crisis counselor will be available to support you.

National Crisis lines

• National Suicide Prevention Help Line – 800-273-TALK (8255) • National Crisis Text Line – text HOME to 741741 • The Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth: call 1-866-488-7386 • Trans Lifeline – 877-565-8860 • Teen Text Line – 844-814-8336 • Veterans Crisis Line: call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press 1; or text 838255

Other dedicated hotlines/helplines

• 1-800-799-7233 for the National Domestic Violence

Support Hotline. • 1-888-373-7888 for the National Human Trafficking

Hotline. Or, text ‘Help’ to 233-733. • National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673

Annabelle Payne is the Director of Pend Oreille County Counseling Services. Pend Oreille County Counseling Services provides outpatient substance use disorder and mental health treatment, to include case management supports for inpatient treatment. Counseling Services also partners with Newport Hospital and Health Services for medication-assisted treatment. Call 509.447.5651, pendoreilleco.org/ your-government/counseling-services