Western Arkansas Counseling and

Western Arkansas Therapeutic Children's Homes (WATCH) provide temporary substitute family care for children when their families are unable and unwilling to care for them. The goal is to prepare these children for their "forever home", which can include reunification or adoption.

The key to WATCH is the therapeutic foster family. Foster parents receive specialized training and 24/7 support from the WATCH team. The treatment team is specific to the child. A personalized plan is developed with input from the child and the therapeutic foster family.

There is always a need for foster parents. Please contact Melanie Taylor at 479-452-6650 to discuss how you can change the world of a child.

There is a current career opportunity for a full-time Bilingual Therapist at the Fort Smith and possibly surrounding counties.

The Guidance Center offers a nice benefit package that includes health, dental and vision insurance group plans as well as supplemental insurance plans which may be used under the Center's cafeteria plan. Employees also receive a generous leave and vacation package. The Guidance Center is registered with National Health Service Corp.

Please visit the Jobs Page for more details.

The Guidance Center is pleased to announce LEAP in Van Buren.  LEAP, Learning Enrichment and Appropriate Play, is a pre-school program that is child-centered and focuses on behavioral concerns, peer interaction and compliance within a structured classroom environment. The primary goal is to aid children to be actively ready to attend kindergarten.

The program is for children ages 3-5 years old who present with behavioral concerns such as defiance, disruption, anxiety, maladjustment to current living situations, grief, mood disorders, and verbal or physical aggression.  Children are assessed by a mental health professional to qualify.

The new location is at The Learning Center located at 2705B Oak Lane in Van Buren. Please contact TLC at 479-471-5950 to schedule a confidential appointment. Transportation is available within a certain radius of TLC.

For more information, please see LEAP brochure card.

Primary Focus of the Provider

• Mix of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

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Type of Care

• Substance abuse treatment
• Do not use medication for opioid addiction

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Facility Type

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Treatment Approaches

• Substance abuse counseling approach
• Trauma-related counseling

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Facility Smoking Policy

• Smoking not permitted

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Service Setting (e.g., Outpatient, Residential, etc.)

• Outpatient
• Regular outpatient treatment

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Facility Operation (e.g. Private, Public)

• Private organization
• State substance abuse agency
• State mental health department
• State department of health
• Commission on Accreditation and Rehabilitation

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Payment/Insurance Accepted

• Cash or self-payment
• Medicaid
• Medicare
• State financed health insurance plan other than Medicaid
• Private health insurance
• Military insurance (e.g., TRICARE)
• Federal, or any government funding for substance abuse programs

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Emergency Mental Health Services

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Payment Assistance Available

• Sliding fee scale (fee is based on income and other factors)
• Payment assistance (check with facility for details)

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Language Services

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Special Programs/Groups Offered

• Persons with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders
• Adult women
• Adult men

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Ancillary Services

• Individual counseling offered
• Group counseling offered
• Family counseling offered
• 12-step faciltitation approach
• Brief intervention approach
• Motivational interviewing
• Anger management
• Martix Model
• Relapse prevention

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Age Groups Accepted

• Children/adolescents
• Young adults
• Adults

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Gender Accepted

• Female
• Male

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Exclusive Services

• DUI/DWI clients

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