The drive, and the towns on the way
About 40 minutes, cross-country rather than along the shore. The Ogemaw towns between here and there are closer than West Branch itself: Lupton is about 29 minutes from the office, Rose City about 28, and Prescott about 28. If you are in one of those, you are nearer to Hale than you are to a good deal of West Branch.
West Branch is also the one town in this service area on I-75, which makes it the simplest place to reach from downstate, and the reason a fair number of people who are not local at all end up passing through it.
West Branch already has counselors
More than most of this area does. That is worth saying out loud, because a page telling you otherwise would be lying to you about your own town.
What people from Ogemaw County come to Hale for
- Anxiety counseling and depression counseling, which are the two things most people are actually calling about.
- Trauma therapy with a Certified Trauma Practitioner.
- ADHD counseling, including children from age three.
- Counseling alongside serious illness, which is one of the eight areas this practice works with.
- Couples and relationship counseling.
And sometimes simply because there is an appointment available this month.
Clinical supervision, from anywhere in Michigan
Ann Marie Shay is a Michigan Licensed Supervisor for Limited Licensed Counselors. Michigan has a persistent shortage of approved supervisors and northern Michigan has very few, so limited licensed counselors travel further for supervision than they should have to. West Branch on I-75 is a straightforward run for anyone coming up from Bay City, Saginaw or Flint, and Hale is forty minutes past it.
Supervision toward Michigan LPC licensure
Community mental health for Ogemaw County
Wellvance, formerly AuSable Valley Community Mental Health Authority, covers Iosco, Ogemaw and Oscoda counties and has a West Branch office on 989-345-5571. For Medicaid services, for anything this practice does not provide, and for a crisis, they are the right call.
Crisis numbers for Ogemaw County
Call or text 988 any time. The Wellvance crisis line is 1-844-865-5569, 24 hours a day. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. More numbers.
The shortage, in numbers
Iosco, Ogemaw and Oscoda are designated together as a High Needs Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, HRSA designation 7261033101, with a designation population of about 53,800 and roughly 45,000 people counted as underserved. That is the context for every waiting list in this part of the state, including any you have already been put on.
Booking from Ogemaw County
Call (989) 728-2364, or leave your name and number. Most major insurance is accepted, see which plans and what to ask yours. What to expect at a first appointment is set out in full.