Dealing with mental health issues can be challenging for any individual. Dealing with mental health in high school can be even more difficult. Many teens experience struggles such as stress, depression, and anxiety. In Huntingdon, there is Mainstream Counselling, a counselling agency that helps kids, teens, and adults with their mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, and more. Mainstream Counseling has a group called the After School Program (ASP) that picks up kids after school and takes them to the group building. Not only does this give students a space to feel comfortable sharing their feelings, but it also allows them to learn how to cook, clean, make friends, cope, and so much more. This group includes kids from Juniata Valley, Huntingdon, Southern Huntingdon, New Day, and Mount Union. On top of this, they have other counselling opportunities, such as drug and alcohol prevention. “At After- school, children can connect more deeply with community-based activities and truly have a space like any other where they can connect. Kids can focus on building social skills and emotional regulation in a caring, supportive environment, with staff who are passionate about their jobs and the youth involved. It truly opens the door to so much connection and a solid foundation for strong relationships. As a SAP counselor, I have the privilege of meeting kids during the school day and supporting them directly. Although the meetings may feel brief, I look forward to them each week because I can positively be part of their lives. Even if it is just for one period, I value that time with the kids. It is my goal as a counselor to provide a safe space for each kid to be themselves and feel supported. I hope that each kid feels welcomed and safe during those meetings.” Payton Casner, an employee of Mainstream, devotes her life to making people feel seen and heard.

Payton Casner has worked at Mainstream Counselling for about 4 years now, and absolutely adores it. ”My name is Payton Casner. I am a 2018 graduate of the Huntingdon Area and a 2022 graduate of Bloomsburg. In college, I studied psychology and explored many music courses, and I have always found the creative arts to be connected to the body and mind.” The role she plays is incredibly rewarding to both her and the individuals she works with. “Since I was young, I have been interested in the human mind and in supporting others; therefore, I identified psychology as a path to honor both values. The summer before my senior year of college, I reached out to Mainstream Counseling through Lonnie Wagner-Woomer to explore a potential internship. I was able to shadow at the After-school Program that summer. Quickly, I found myself enthralled with the position and with working with at-risk youth. I started part-time that fall as a facilitator while finishing my senior year of college. While I completed another internship, I felt drawn to the after-school program and started as a full-time facilitator post-graduation. I am now a full-time individual substance use counselor at our main office, also serving as the Mainstream Counseling SAP representative across three county schools, working with students from grades K-12, depending on the school. I believe Mainstream can provide vital support to our community’s youth, extending that support to older generations as well. SAP services effectively address children’s needs while overcoming transportation barriers. Overall, Mainstream offers numerous interactive options for youth ranging from in-class prevention services to after-school groups and individual sessions.” Now that she has stepped away from the After School Program, Casner has leaped to take her career a step further to become an even better counsellor. “Currently, I attend graduate school online via Lockhaven University, pursuing a master’s degree in clinical Mental Health, hoping to further my ability to support the youth at Mainstream Counseling.” “Stacey truly opened the door for me to grow professionally and personally; she created a loving, caring environment that is clearly reflected in how much the kids love the program. She gave me the safety to make mistakes, explore my passions and creative tendencies, and create opportunities to learn alongside the kids. I had the opportunity to grow into a clinician while working as a facilitator. Stacey is the true foundation of the After-school program and showed me how I wanted to be a professional and a person; she taught me to advocate for people, listen with care, build trust, and go that extra mile for someone in need. After-school and Stacey will always be integral to how I act as a clinician and walk through this life. Thank you, Stacey, for such a unique opportunity to grow.”

Stacy Wilson has donated a decade of her life to the community and their mental health, knowing from her own experiences how important mental health is to every individual. “I graduated from Huntingdon High School in 2000. Growing up, I personally benefited from services through Mainstream Counseling, which played an important role in my life during my youth. Those experiences, along with my own struggles growing up, helped shape who I am today and showed me how important it is for young people to have support, encouragement, and someone who believes in them. Mainstream’s after-school program has been effectively serving our county for over twenty years. I have worked for Mainstream Counseling for over ten years and have served as the coordinator for the After-School Program during that time, allowing me to give back to the same community that once supported me. In terms of purpose, I really feel called to help people who are going through tough times and to be a light for them. My faith is centered on compassion, ] healing, and hope, and I bring those values into the work I do every day by meeting people where they are and supporting them through challenges.” Stacey’s time at Mainstream has left an impact on many, including employees. She is the main person at Mainstream ASP, so she helps guide new employees into their positions as she works with them, and she is so proud of how far they come. “Payton has grown tremendously in her position. She originally started with us in the after-school program as an intern, and from the beginning, it was clear that she was a mature and responsible young adult. We loved having her on the team and brought her on as an After-School facilitator, where she worked for three years. During that time, she continued her professional development and has since transitioned to the main office, where she now works directly with clients and students in our schools. It has been exciting to watch her growth and development.”

Due to ASP being a therapy group, privacy is important to them. Some students who have gone to ASP share their thoughts, so their names and faces will not be shared. “Both Stacey and Payton have changed my life. Not only did they help me within the group setting, but they also encouraged me to keep living and stay willing to try new things and to better myself. I was about 12 when I joined ASP. While it was nerve-racking, I quickly became comfortable with Stacy and Payton’s presence. They were so welcoming and gave off such a positive vibe. After the first day, I could not wait to go back. That was one of the first things I actually felt excited about in a long time. Once months had gone by, those two amazing women had taught me to love myself and have a better relationship with my family. They taught me how to cope with things no one should have to deal with. They made sure I felt included and heard at all times. Not only did they change my life, but they truly saved my life. I was in a dark place when I went into ASP, but coming out of it, I learned more about myself. I wanted to become a counsellor just like them. I wanted to come back to Mainstream as an adult and give back to the community and do what they did for me for others, and that is where I found my passion in mental health and helping others.” Another student shares that their experience was not as deep as the first individual’s, but they were still rewarded with a good experience from the group. “They helped me with my homework and kept my grades up. We would do really fun stuff together and go on outings. I got meet new people and make new friends. We get to do a lot of fun stuff, but it’s not all about fun and games. They also help with homework and even give us a chance to get away from home and siblings. Additionally, they teach us valuable lessons. You learn how to do basic household chores if you don’t already do them. You also get to help cook when it’s your turn. You can find some amazing friends in this program. They really helped me, and I know they can help others.” This individual’s experience shows that every experience is different, yet each has a benefit.

Because many people do not know what Mainstream is or what it does, they assume it is another Counselling building that does the same old things as any other agency. But, from a first-person point of view, Stacey can explain exactly what Mainstream Counseling is and what it can do for people within the community. “The After-School Program is important to Huntingdon County because it helps build strong connections between students, their families, schools, and community services. At the core of our mission is facilitating relationships with pro-social adults and creating opportunities for positive bonding. This work is grounded in clear expectations and shared beliefs, paired with skills-based education. An important part of the program is also reward and recognition, which helps reinforce positive behaviors and the life skills students are learning. By combining structure, support, and positive reinforcement, the program provides students with a safe place to grow while strengthening the community as a whole. If I could change anything, I would have more time and resources to reach even more students. The goal wouldn’t be to change what we do, but to expand the impact of the work that’s already being done.” Payton agrees with Stacey, knowing that what they do is important, but not everyone knows just how big an impact it makes. “If there was anything I could change about Mainstream Counseling and ASP, it would be to help the community better understand who we are and what we can provide to community members to help minimize the stigma of addiction and of interacting in supportive systems.”

While therapy may not be for everybody, most teens find joy and comfort in this group. They believe the group succeeds in accomplishing what they wish. Even if it is just learning a coping skill or making a new friend, as long as a student gets something good out of it, then they know they did something right. Every experience will be different for each situation, but in the end, Mainstream follows their values and pushes those in need to believe in themselves and to know that mental health is a hard battle, but they are not alone.