Cascade Mental Health Interim Executive Director Bill Lahmann stands in a doorway that still requires some final touches on Tuesday afternoon in Centralia.
Cascade Mental Health Administrative Services Director Michele Wilsie stands in one of the newly remodeled hallways as employees walk by on Tuesday afternoon at the Centralia facility.
Cascade Mental Health Interim Executive Director Bill Lahmann explains the process that went into remodeling their Centralia facility as Michele Wilsie, administrative services director at the clinic, looks on while in the newly renovated public meeting areas on Tuesday afternoon.
What was once a state Department of Licensing office on Reynolds Avenue in Centralia for people to renew their driver's licenses is now a new space for those seeking mental health care assistance.
Cascade Mental Health Care, which owns the old DOL office, is leaving its building in Chehalis and consolidating its services in the remodeled space in Centralia.
An open house is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 7, from 3 to 7 p.m. to unveil the expanded clinic.
“We intend to make it the center for all of us,” Michele Wilsie, administrative services director, said.
Cascade Mental Health had a 9,000 square-foot building in Centralia next to the DOL building along with a 11,000 square-foot location in Chehalis.
DOL, which is now located at 1000 Kresky Avenue in Centralia, did not renew their lease in April, allowing Cascade Mental Health to begin remodeling the space next door.
Cascade Mental Health now has a 26,000 square-foot facility off Reynolds Avenue. The new clinic will offer 21 total rooms for adults and children rather than the 13 rooms offered before the move.
“It was the same services but smaller,” Wilsie said. “We couldn’t provide the services to as many people.”
The Washington State Health Care Authority gave Cascade Mental Health a $3 million loan to complete the renovation of the new clinic.
The now vacant building in Chehalis will either be converted for other services or sold.
“We haven’t made a decision yet,” Interim Director Bill Lahmann said. “We have had quite a bit of interest in the building. Our board will make that decision.”
The larger clinic in Centralia will hold a community room for residents to use or for the clinic’s cooking or socializing programs. The new building also features one side for adult care and another side for children care, including a play area, a child psychiatrist, art therapy and play rooms.
Valley View Health Center will rent a space in the renovated building. Having Valley View means residents will be able to receive medical and mental treatment all in one location, Lahmann said.
“Anybody they have that has other issues can be reffered next door,” Lahmann said.
Cascade Mental Health has provided behavioral health care for Lewis County residents since 1968. The clinic provides a wide range of mental health counseling and support services.
