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Author: Savannah Woodall

Therapist Earns Doctorate to Improve Veteran Care

Written by Savannah Woodall on . Posted in Mental health, News, Uncategorized, Veterans.

Jessica Sellers, DSW, Strives to Improve Mental Health Care for Veterans

At WellStone, we are proud to celebrate our frontline workers when they set—and achieve—big goals. 

That’s what we’re excited to recognize Jessica Sellers, one of two WellStone therapists specializing in veteran care. She graduated from the University of Kentucky, earning her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) with a concentration in Military Behavioral Health. Sellers, who is based in Cullman, already holds a BS in psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama. 

“My degree aligns closely with both my long-term career goals and WellStone’s mission of serving communities with compassion and evidence-based care,” said Sellers.  “Throughout my doctoral studies, I focused on increasing provider confidence and competence when working with veterans through the VA Community Care Network. This led to my development of the VALOR Model of Veteran Education Delivery, an educational framework designed to better prepare healthcare and behavioral health providers to serve veteran populations.”

A veteran herself, Sellers adds that the program strengthened her ability to integrate clinical practice, advocacy, research, education, and program development in ways that directly support WellStone’s commitment to accessible, high-quality mental health care.  

 

“The mental health of veterans is important to me because of both my personal experiences and my deep respect for those who have served our country. My military career ended earlier than expected due to injury, so this is how I continue serving.”   

Sellers’ goal is to continue advancing veteran behavioral health initiatives through trauma-informed, culturally responsive care while contributing to provider education, leadership development, and systems improvement across the behavioral health field.  

Thank you, Dr. Sellers, for your service!

The Sara Brotherton Reward Room at WES

Written by Savannah Woodall on . Posted in Fundraising, Mental health, News, Uncategorized, Veterans.

For Sara Brotherton, every child deserved encouragement, love, and the chance to learn, grow, and succeed. A Huntsville native, Huntsville High graduate, and lifelong educator, Sara dedicated her career to helping children reach their potential and celebrate their achievements along the way.

Sadly, Sara’s mission was cut short. She passed away on April 19, 2023, at the age of 43 following a courageous battle with cervical cancer. Today, Sara’s loved ones remember her most for the way she lived. 

After she passed, her mother, Kay Brotherton, made donations to organizations and causes that she believed were close to her daughter’s heart. Children. And animals.

When Kay learned WellStone was building Huntsville’s only extended psychiatric care facility for youth in Madison County, she knew Sara would have cared deeply about this project. 

Kay made a generous gift to the adolescent addition at WellStone Emergency Services (WES), and we named the Reward Room in Sara’s memory.

The Sara Brotherton Reward Room was created to do more than provide a place to play. It is a space where children can celebrate milestones, relax, and be recognized for the progress they make during treatment.

The room features an interactive game projected onto the floor, toys, and comfortable seating designed to help young clients feel encouraged and supported.

“Sara would be pleased to have the Reward Room given in her memory,” Kay said. “She believed that everyone needs a chance to achieve goals. And then they should be rewarded in a positive way.”

Sara carried this philosophy throughout her 17-year career as a special education teacher in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

Each school year, she emphasized goal setting with her students and kept a treasure chest in her classroom to encourage progress and celebrate achievements.

“Once a goal was achieved,” Kay explained, “the student could choose something from the treasure box. These were rewards that were not freely handed out but earned.”

From her years at Huntsville High School and Auburn University to her classroom and community, Sara made a lasting difference in the lives of countless children and families.

As a mother of six and an educator herself, Kay cares deeply about children and their well-being.

“I truly believe mental health is the #1 issue facing the world today,” she said.

Today, every child who earns time in the Reward Room experiences a small piece of Sara’s legacy.

Her encouragement, compassion, and belief in celebrating progress lives on through the children and families served at WES. As if Sara’s spirit is there, cheering them on and reminding them that healing, growth, and hope deserve to be celebrated.

WellStone Opens Therapy Clinic in Madison

Written by Savannah Woodall on . Posted in Mental health, News, Uncategorized.

As North Alabama experiences rapid expansion, access to mental health care is more important than ever. To better serve the growing population, WellStone has officially opened a new outpatient therapy clinic in the city of Madison.

Located at 9238 Madison Boulevard, the new clinic serves adults ages 19 and older and offers a range of services designed to support mental health and substance use recovery. These include individual therapy, group therapy, and Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for substance use disorders.

This new location brings care closer to home for many individuals and families in the Madison area, making it easier to access the support they need.

“Madison consistently ranks among the fastest growing cities in the state,” said Jeremy Blair, CEO of WellStone. “We’re excited to offer the same quality mental health services our Madison clients have come to expect from WellStone, but much closer to home.”

Expanding Access in a Growing Community

The opening of the Madison clinic reflects WellStone’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to care across North Alabama. As highlighted in coverage by WAAY-TV, the new location is part of a broader effort to meet increasing demand for mental health and substance use services in one of the region’s fastest-growing areas.

A Connected Continuum of Care

While the Madison clinic focuses on outpatient therapy, clients can be referred to additional WellStone services when needed, including:

  • Psychiatric evaluation and services (Huntsville)
  • Medication management (Huntsville)
  • Primary care services (Huntsville)
  • Detox services at River Crossing Withdrawal Management
  • Residential substance use treatment at River Valley Recovery Center

This integrated approach ensures individuals receive the right level of care at the right time.

Getting Started

Existing WellStone clients can transfer to the Madison location by speaking with their therapist or a customer service representative.

New clients are also welcome. To get started, contact the Access to Care team at 256-705-6444 or visit WellStone.com to learn more.

Stride for Sophia 5k Raises Mental Health Awareness

Written by Savannah Woodall on . Posted in Fundraising, Mental health, News, News & Events, pediatric mental health, Stories of Hope, suicide prevention.

A sea of pink poured into Arab City Park Saturday for the first Stride4Sophia 5K.  

The Aldridge family coordinated the race in honor of 15-year-old Sophia, who died following a battle with mental illness. Her favorite color—pink—was everywhere: on T-shirts, bracelets, and balloons. The event itself featured her favorite sport.  

Sophia had been a proud member of the Arab Knights cross country and track teams. 

“We had this race because Sophia loved running,” said Emilee Aldridge, Sophia’s mom. “It was her passion, and we wanted to celebrate and honor her, along with her running career. She got her sister to join her, and it was such a great time for our family to go to all those meets.” 

Besides her twin sister, Maddie, Sophia is survived by two little brothers, her mom, dad, grandparents, and too many other loved ones to mention.  

“We miss her so much,” added Emilee. “But I know she’s here with us today.”  

In all, more than 150 runners and walkers turned out, raising awareness—and more than $8,000—in honor of Sophia. 

Proceeds support the WellStone Emergency Services (WES) Pediatric Unit, the state’s only 24/7 crisis care center for youth. Emilee said she did not know the program existed when she was desperately trying to find help for her daughter.  

“We are so sorry for the Aldridge family’s heartbreaking loss,” said Jeremy Blair, WellStone CEO. “We are also thankful. Emilee’s courage and commitment to help other families in the wake of her own tragedy is truly inspiring.” 

WellStone opened the pediatric unit in fall 2024 with just four beds. Today, it has 16 beds and serves children ages 8 – 18.

“We need to support each other and let other people know what resources are here in our own communities,” said Emilee, who had taken her daughter to Decatur and Birmingham for care. “And to let families know they’re not alone.”  

They certainly aren’t alone. Last year, Alabama Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell announced that suicide had become the leading cause of death in Alabama for individuals aged 10 – 24. 

“I also wanted to get our community together,” Emilee said before the race. “I’m so grateful you are all here to support mental health. I hope we can leave here and continue talking about it. To each other. To our kids. Let them know it’s okay to have the feelings you have.” 

For more information on the Stride for Sophia, you can email stride4sophia@gmail.com. 

If you’d like to support the WES Pediatric Unit with a tax-deductible donation, you may do so here.  Please specify if the gift is in honor or in memory of a loved one. You may also recognize Sophia Aldridge in the tribute field.  

For more information on supporting mental health and/or addiction recovery support through WellStone, please contact karen.petersen@wellstone.com. For questions about our programs and services, visit WellStone.com or reach out to info@wellstone.com.  

EMDR Therapy Coming Soon to WellStone

Written by Savannah Woodall on . Posted in Fundraising, Mental health, News, Stories of Hope.

Thanks to a generous Diamond Impact grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama’s Caring Foundation, six WellStone team members have begun the journey to becoming certified in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. 

This funding helps cover the extensive training required for this specialized certification, allowing WellStone to bring a vital new module to our community-based services. 

Studies show that EMDR, an evidence-based modality, is extremely effective, particularly for those struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Unlike traditional talk therapy, EMDR helps the brain “reprocess” traumatic memories, so they no longer have a painful emotional connection.

“The training process was incredible,” said Brianna Faulkner, a youth outpatient therapist, who participated in the initial five-day training earlier this month. “It was intense and we had the opportunity to perform EMDR. It was amazing to see how EMDR helps people process their trauma in such an effective way.” 

This grant allows WellStone to build on our existing trauma work, such as the Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) program for veterans and first responders.  

“We’ve already found great success in treating PTSD with veterans,” said Jeremy Blair, CEO. “This gives us another way of helping our clients overcome trauma that has been compromising their quality of life.” 

According to the National Center for PTSD, 6% of Americans will suffer from PTSD each year.   

Triggering events include—but are not limited to—military conflict, physical or sexual assault, natural disasters, car crashes, and community violence.  It affects adults and kids alike.  

“Trauma goes beyond singular, large-scale events,” Faulkner added. “Trauma can vary significantly based on an individual’s perception, developmental stage, and internal resources.” 

Brandon Heath, WellStone’s Cullman County Juvenile Court Liaison Therapist, is also looking forward to offering EMDR to clients.  

“The teenage clients I see are often in need of positive guidance after poor decision-making, but some have also experienced tough traumatic situations,” Heath said. “EMDR can be a useful new skill to assist clients through trauma healing processes.” 

 EMDR will be offered at select WellStone locations. Stay tuned for updates as our therapists move through the certification process.