Counseling

Mental Health Services now available at SPARK

SPARK will be offering mental health services on site at no cost to SPARK teens.
SPARK's new mental health therapist will be offering individual therapy open to any SPARK youth and when appropriate, their family members or other important people in their lives. We will have walk-in hours as well as scheduled appointment times Monday through Thursday between the hours of 12pm and 6pm. Depending on youth interest, counselors will facilitate therapeutic and skill building groups to support the full person wellness of SPARK teens. Any therapeutic services will be optional and based on the consent of both teen and parent/guardian.

In addition to counseling, SPARK’s mental health counselors will be available for Mental Health Check-ins. These are informal 15 minute conversations with SPARK teens about how they are doing and what’s going on in their lives. If appropriate, they can learn about other resources that might support them in their goals.

All services are grant funded and will be provided at no cost to SPARK youth and their families.

Sara Mehalick is SPARK’s new counselor. She is a Master’s level Licensed Professional Counselor-in training in the State of Wisconsin. She enjoys working with teens and their families in individual, family, and group therapy settings. She specializes in working with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, anger, and unhealed trauma, as well as, supporting people with strengthening relationships, developing communications skills, and interpersonal conflicts. She is a client-centered and trauma-informed therapist with almost 20 years of experience in the mental health and counseling fields. She deeply believes that her clients are the experts in their own lives and their own healing.

For more information visit our website or contact Sara directly at (715) 802-0566 or [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

What sort of life situations or experiences are a reason to see a SPARK mental health therapist? You are welcome to see a mental health therapist for any issue you are experiencing that may be negatively impacting your mental health. Overwhelming feelings of anxiety, sadness, depression, or grief, conflicts with friends or family members, struggles at home or school, concerns about alcohol or drug use or disordered eating are all reasons someone might contact a counselor. Also, people come to counseling with a desire to learn better communication skills, relationship skills, or to set personal growth goals and work towards them with support.

What sort of counseling will be offered? SPARK mental health therapists will be offering individual therapy open to any SPARK youth and when appropriate, their family members or other important people in their lives. Counselors will have walk-in hours (exact hours TBD), as well as, scheduled appointment times Monday through Thursday between the hours of 12pm and 6pm. Depending on youth interest, counselors will facilitate therapeutic and skill building groups to support the full person wellness of SPARK teens. Any therapeutic services will be optional and based on the consent of the client and their parent or caregiver.
In addition to counseling, SPARK’s mental health counselors will be available for Mental Health Check-ins. These are informal 15 minute conversations with SPARK teens that give them the opportunity to share how they are doing and what’s going on in their lives. If appropriate, they can learn about other resources that might support them in their goals.

Are the things I tell a SPARK mental health therapist confidential, will they be kept private? Generally speaking, yes, your conversations with your counselor will be confidential and private. Your mental health counselor will have regular check-ins with your parents or guardian to update them on your goals and needs, however, details about your life will not be shared.
There are three big exceptions to this.

Suspected or actual physical and/or sexual abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult
Situation in which you are judged to be in imminent or immediate danger of harming self or others.
Information requested in a court order. In such a case, your therapist will consult with other professionals and limit the release to only what is necessary by law.

Please feel free to ask your therapist if you have any questions.

Who is eligible to see a SPARK mental health therapist? Anyone who has attended other SPARK programs can see a mental therapist. If it is appropriate for therapy, any family or important other people in their lives can attend family therapy.

How much does it cost to meet with a SPARK mental health therapist? All services are grant funded and there is no cost to SPARK youth or their families.

Where can I find intake paperwork? Intake paperwork is available to sign electronically.

Sign Intake Forms

Where will I be meeting with my therapist? During the summer of 2023, SPARK rented an office on the 3rd Floor of the Vaughn Public Library, room 308. This floor is relatively private with a small waiting area for people meeting with other professionals in other offices. SPARK is working on building an office on site in the same building as SPARK HQ which we hope will be ready by September. We will keep you updated about this location change.

How do I sign up? Contact Sara Mehalick, SPARK’s new therapist, to begin the process. SPARK teen’s and their parent/guardian will need to complete some paperwork and schedule an intake appointment. Contact Sara by phone at (715) 802-0566‬ or by email at [email protected]

What if I need to contact my therapist outside of our appointment times? You may contact your therapist by phone at (715) 802-0566‬ or by email at [email protected] to make an appointment. SPARK, a program of Ashland County Human Services, and their contracted therapists do not provide emergency behavioral health care. It may take 1-2 days for your counselor to respond to messages left at this number. General clinic hours of services are Monday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. Always, in the case of an emergency, dial 911. If you are having a crisis after hours call the Mental Health Crisis line at 1-866-317-9362 or go to your local emergency room.

YOUR CART

Mental Health Services now available at SPARK

Frequently Asked Questions