DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - "2024 was a very exciting year for our agency," said Holly Newbon, Director of Marketing and Advocacy at Webster Cantrell Youth Advocacy. The agency is looking back at their year of success with serving individuals through their programs.

Webster Cantrell expanding mental health services through counseling

Webster Cantrell completed 35 adoptions with more scheduled to be completed in the last three weeks of the year. This number almost doubles the number of adoptions that have been completed in previous years.

The agency is also proud of all the community support to help fund new programs, like one they started at the beginning of 2024 to increase mental health accessibility.

"Mental health is very important to everyone in our community. Our counseling program, we feel, is kind of top notch," said Holly.

Their counseling program expanded to include a therapeutic, meditation room for individuals to hope, heal and release emotions in a more accessible space.

"If they've suffered from panic attacks or anxiety, they can come into that room and it's just a safe space."

Holly walks through the room, pointing out each unique feature that can help individuals to feel more comfortable. With a fish tank, mood lighting, a massage chair, and light music playing, the counseling program is finding success in meeting more mental health needs. 

Holly hopes individuals will be able to "...deal with those traumas and then leave and not take those traumas with them and leave feeling more confident and stronger than when they came in," she said.

The agency is also excited to continue growing their counseling services, by expanding their resources to kids in schools and families in the community. Their goal, Holly shares, is to keep mental health resources accessible to everyone in the area. 

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