By Zoe Morton, Special to the Tribune

A Peak Vista Community Health Centers behavioral health provider is now on-site Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Tri-Lakes Cares.

Once a week, Teresa Guthmiller, LPC, travels to each location in the Peak Vista mobile health services van. Each day is a tossup. She may arrive to a line of people waiting for her to arrive, or she could only see a few patients during her stay on-site.

“Tri-Lakes Cares partnered with Peak Vista to bring behavioral health services on-site after identifying a growing need within our community,” said Molly Stephens, director of programs & services at Tri-Lakes Cares.

Appointments are not required to see Guthmiller. She has an open calendar to ensure that anyone can see her — removing the stress of having to find a provider, confirming whether they accept your insurance, booking a months-out appointment and spending the interim overthinking what the visit will look like.

During each patient’s 30-minute visit, Guthmiller assesses the needs of the patients, begins therapy and figures out next steps — which may include regular appointments with the behavioral health team. The patient is welcome to come back and see her again the following week.

“During one of the most stressful periods of my life, when anxiety was robbing me of sleep and making it hard to function, Teresa provided the steady guidance I needed,” said one patient. “Her compassion and expertise helped me find calm, regain balance and be able to make progress again.”

Since the partnership started in 2024, Peak Vista providers like Guthmiller have seen more than 50 patients at Tri-Lakes Cares.

“In 2024, Tri-Lakes Cares conducted a comprehensive needs assessment that included surveys from our neighbors,” Stephens said. “From their responses, we identified nine key areas of need, one of which was behavioral health support.

“In response, we began working to bring additional community resources to the Tri-Lakes area and expand access to care. This partnership is especially meaningful because services are offered right here at Tri-Lakes Cares – a place where our neighbors already feel comfortable and supported — making it easier for them to attend regular sessions and prioritize their mental health.”