Outpatient Behavioral Health: Transforming Lives Through Mental Health Services

Spotlight On: Diane Ricci, LCSW, Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health Services at Winchester Medical Center and Shenandoah Memorial Hospital.

Outpatient Behavioral Health is celebrating 10 years of serving the mental health needs of our community! Meet Program Director, Diane Ricci, LCSW, and learn about her vision to grow high-quality clinical services to heal the body, mind, and spirit and about the Behavioral Health services offered in the Shenandoah Valley at Valley Health.

My everyday motto of 'love where you are, love what you do, and love who you are with' reminds me I could not have done anything I have without the people who surround me! I believe that strong mental health is as important as good physical health for people of all ages. -Diane Ricci

Bringing Outpatient Behavioral Health to the Shenandoah Valley

In December of 2013, the Valley Health Senior Outpatient Program (SOP) at Winchester Medical Center opened its doors. The program was in response to Valley Health’s Community Needs Assessment, which identified that depression, anxiety, grief, loss and chronic disease-related pain were impacting many older adults in our community. These adults were experiencing barriers to treatment, such as transportation challenges, limited financial resources, a lack of understanding about counseling and the stigma associated with mental illness.

The new program offered intensive group therapy, individual and family therapy, psychiatric and case management services. Most of all, the program offered patients freedom from isolation and loneliness, which can worsen mental health issues.

After 10 months of successful clinical services, a second SOP program opened at Shenandoah Memorial Hospital in Woodstock.

Behavioral Health Services Growth Over the Last Decade

Valley Health is approaching ten years of this important program, and our caregivers work hard each day to improve access to behavioral health care in the region.

A few anniversary highlights include:

• Expanded services to include young adult, adult, and senior intensive outpatient programs
• Increased staffing and achieved successful Joint Commission and State Surveys
• Fostered partnerships with local and online colleges/universities for student rotation
• Expanded and maintained a high-quality clinical team to support program growth
• Implemented a telehealth program to ensure continuous care during the pandemic
• Trained behavioral health clinicians in "Care for the Caregiver" a program designed to support Valley Health employees.

Valley Health’s Outpatient Behavioral Services are growing in the region. If you are a behavioral health professional, join our team! We also offer generous sign-on bonuses and licensure supervision for employees seeking to become licensed clinical social workers or licensed professional counselors!