Western Montana Mental Health Center offers comprehensive health services to individuals and families in our communities that improve access, health and economic and social outcomes.
Western Montana Mental Health Center will promote well-being and inspire hope and meaningful life choices by providing integrated behavioral health services and building community partnerships in Montana.
Services Offered
Adult Mental Health Services
Adult Day Treatment
The Day Treatment program provides education and support to clients who have been referred by a member of their treatment team. Day treatment gives people access to a variety of group and individual activities in a positive environment that encourages healthy social skills. Our goal is to provide education and support that will help people manage their mental health symptoms and gain skills and knowledge to achieve or maintain independent living.
Adult Group Homes
Adult group homes combine housing and services in a structured and supportive setting. Our group homes provide 24 hour support to our residents. Western Montana Mental Health Center staff are available to assist residents in building independent living skills and help them reach recovery to live successfully in the community or in Western client housing. Clinical staff is available to assist residents with reaching their recovery goals and working with other members of the treatment team to ensure success. Clients are referred to group home services by members of the treatment team or other agencies.
Client Housing
Western Montana Mental Health Center offers a variety of housing options with Western-owned apartments and/or homes and acts as landlord to provide independent living arrangements. Residents may be supported by a case manager and community-based rehabilitation services to assist them with day-to-day living skills. Client housing helps integrate clients into the community while maintaining supportive services that meet residents' needs as they become more independent.
Crisis Stabilization Facility
Crisis Stabilization facilities provide short term, intensive, inpatient support for adults experiencing a life threatening crisis. Most clients stay at the crisis facility for 3 to 7 days. During their stay clients work with their treatment team and crisis facility staff to resolve the crisis and to develop a plan for the client's care after leaving the crisis facility.
Drop-In Center
Drop-In Centers are peer-oriented, community based programs providing safe, friendly, confidential, supportive and recovery oriented environments. Consumers are encouraged to share their experiences regarding their recovery and treatment without fear of judgment. Drop-In Centers provide peer led support groups and also offer groups that encourage journaling, meditation and many other support initiatives. The goal is to empower consumers to change their quality of life through validation, insight and supportive constructive feedback. Services are available to anyone - all are welcome.
Emergency Services
Each community is equipped with a Crisis Response Team (CRT) to serve adults and children experiencing crisis. The CRT consists of Certified Mental Health Professionals / Licensed Therapists who evaluate people in crisis to determine what type of emergency service will best meet their immediate needs, and make referrals as appropriate. The CRT works closely with community resources such as hospitals, crisis facilities, youth placements, law enforcement, therapists, and Montana State Hospital.
Outpatient Therapy
Outpatient therapy is offered across the life span and may include individual and/or group therapy designed to help clients address symptoms that interfere with functioning in one or more life domains such as familial, social, educational or occupational. Western Montana Mental Health Center believes that the client's voice is central to the success of its outpatient therapy programs. The Partners for Change Outcomes Management System is an evidence-based tool that helps us work with clients to set goals, ensure an effective therapeutic relationship, and to achieve the outcomes identified by the client.
PACT
Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) is designed to help people with serious mental health conditions live independently in the community by providing comprehensive mental health and supportive services. Clients in PACT receive a combination of services depending on each client's individual needs. These services include medication management, nursing support, case management, therapy, substance abuse treatment, employment and housing services, crisis intervention, and peer support. This program is for clients who need more help than is available through regular outpatient services and is offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Child and Youth Mental Health Services
Comprehensive School and Community Treatment
Comprehensive School and Community Treatment (CSCT) collaborates with public school districts to provide a school and community-based mental health program offering behavioral intervention, group, individual and family therapy to children with a qualifying mental health diagnosis. CSCT clients receive an intensive level of care which includes a comprehensive treatment plan designed to meet their mental health needs and support improved functioning within the school, family and community.
Home Support Services
An intensive in-home, family-focused program for children and adolescents who experience serious social, emotional and behavioral challenges. The overall goal of this program is to help parents and children learn skills to effectively manage and reduce challenging behaviors so that the child can function more effectively in the home, school and community. A Family Support Specialist consults with parents, children, and other professionals to create a customized treatment plan to fit the needs of the family, helping them learn important skills and concepts at their own pace and in their own home.
Individual and Family Counseling
Licensed professional counselors/social workers provide psychotherapy for children, adolescents and their families. Counseling is provided within a family systems context with specialized treatment for seriously emotionally disturbed children and adolescents. Outpatient psychotherapy may include individual and/or group therapy operating within the continuum of care offered by Western Montana Mental Health Center and following best practice models for short term, solution focused psychotherapy based upon clear and identifiable clinical needs.
Psychiatric/Medication Services
Managing emotional and behavioral challenges is a team effort and appropriate use of medication may be an important component. Our psychiatric staff, who are made up of both (Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN's) and psychiatrists, are able to assess, prescribe, and monitor clients who may need medication, and they provide education to both the client and their family members. These staff members also collaborate with the treatment team to provide ongoing assessment and monitoring of moods and behaviors related to medication needs.
Fees and Payment
Western Montana Mental Health Center will not deny services based on ability to pay. Western Montana Mental Health has a Discount / Sliding Fee program. Please inquire when scheduling your initial appointment.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
