News + Events
We’re participating in the Target Circle giving program!
You’re Invited: “Hope is in Bloom” Wednesday, May 22nd at Highland Brewing Company
Join us for a fun evening of live jazz music by Queen Bee & the Honeylovers, delicious locally made appetizers provided by Twisted Laurel, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, and Chestnut, and networking with friends who share our compassion for Blue Ridge neighbors in times of need of mental health support.
During the event we will present the Pam Penland Mental Health Champion Award to long-time ASCC Board member and Board Chair, Chad R. Donnahoo, Esq. This award celebrates an individual who has shown dedication and commitment to improving the mental health landscape in Western North Carolina and ensuring those with barriers to care have access to affordable counseling.
We invite you to help us raise awareness around mental health issues and to grow the resources we’ll need to continue this critical work in the year ahead. Our evenings program will feature guest speakers from our community partners: Chief Mike Lamb from the Asheville Police Department, Cheryl Antoncic with Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ and a mental health advocate, and Tessa Scarborough with MAHEC Clinical Psychiatry Department.
To learn more about Hope is in Bloom or reserve your tickets, please click here.
Special thank you to our presenting sponsors of Hope is in Bloom: Club Pilates of Asheville and First Bank!
February 29th: Outreach & Community Engagement
- Our Outreach & Community Engagement Manager, Victoria Hensley, attended a Women for Women Lunch & Learn: Mental Health Spotlight – Preventing Youth Suicide with presenters from Youth Villages and MAHEC. She learned about services that provide mental health support to youth and families who may be struggling, such as in-home care, assessments and school-based therapy programs. Did you know that suicide is the leading cause of death for ages 15-25 in Buncombe County?
- After many years of preparation and hard work, Haywood Street Community Development officially broke ground on construction for a 41-unit affordable housing project in downtown Asheville. We are honored to be apart of the Ground Blessing Ceremony.
- Victoria and Mary stopped by Grind AVL for a coffee break where they met one of their staff members, Mark, who gladly offered to post an All Souls Counseling Center flyer on their community bulletin! Thanks for the support, Grind AVL!
- As Asheville Area Chamber Members, Victoria was able to attend the PROpel Grow Series: ‘Mastering Influence: Transforming Leadership Dynamics‘ where presenter Jennifer Germaine uncovered how to effectively navigate and reshape interactions and foster a culture of empathy, effective communication, and impactful leadership.
- For the second year in a row, our team attended the Craggy Correctional Transitional Fair where we engaged with around 70 inmates who will soon be released. Along with several of our community partners, we showed up to highlight resources and services that are available and encourage inmates to reach out for support.
Welcome New Staff Member: Janet Shelton!
Janet joined our team in February 2024 as our Finance and Operation’s Support and we are thrilled to have her as our newest staff member! Janet has over 20 years of experience working in the healthcare arena as an administrator and also runs her own bookkeeping business. As an Asheville native, she loves to explore the brewery and restaurant scene, as well as enjoy the beautiful outdoors that surround our area. She is a proud cat-mom to two cats and is currently undergoing a 1972 Corvette restoration project in her free time!
Welcome New Board Member: Brandy Mills!
We’re thrilled to announce the addition of Brandy Mills to our Board of Directors! As Owner and Executive Coach of Brandy Mills Consulting, she brings over a decade of experience of helping businesses grow and succeed. In addition to her role as a consultant, Brandy’s 20+ years of experience as a Registered Nurse with regional hospitals and deep understanding of behavioral health enriches our mission and is a huge asset to our leadership team.
Meredith Switzer Participates on Mental Health Safety Net Panel at Legislative Health Policy Fellows Event
On Monday, February 5th, our Executive Director had the honor of serving on the Mental Health Safety Net Panel for the Legislative Health Policy Fellows at the Casso Hotel in Raleigh. Hosted by the NC Institute of Medicine, the Legislative Health Policy Fellows Program brings together legislators from the NC Senate and NC House to dig deeper into the data, information, policy options, and knowledge necessary for effective health policy decision-making. This was an opportunity to not only raise awareness around mental health safety nets – health care providers designed to support those in our community who are most vulnerable – but also represent the important mission of All Souls Counseling Center in the western region of our state.
Celebrating Unity at the 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast
Our team members celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by attending a truly impactful morning at the 43rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast. The theme for this year, “Still Marching Forward: Fighting for Justice Never Ends,” resonated with our shared commitment to celebrating equality, pursuing justice, and embracing the strength of unity. The keynote address by Asheville native James E. Ferguson II left a profound impact on us, and witnessing North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein present James E. Ferguson with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine was a particularly awe-inspiring moment for our team.
Exciting News! Join us in welcoming our new Development Director, Mary Waller!
Mary brings creativity and diverse expertise from her roles in large and small non-profits, including team leadership at an urban church and a statewide conservation project. She was also co-owner and operator of an award-winning PR firm and was a lead storyteller for a cancer hospital and an NIH-funded brain research institute.
Originally from Oklahoma, Mary was drawn to Asheville’s nature-forward culture. She’s a mom of three, loves hiking, historical fiction, coffee, and hopes to expand her nascent fly fishing skills.
Want to reach out to Mary and extend a warm welcome or share ideas? Drop her an email at mary@allsoulscounseling.org or give her a call at 828-259-3369 x 109. She’s excited to hear from you! 📧📞
Meredith Switzer, ASCC Executive Director featured on the Asheville Area Focus podcast!
Our Executive Director, Meredith Switzer, was invited as a guest speaker on the Asheville Area Focus podcasted, hosted by Melanie and Michael from Asheville Radio Group. They discussed the state of mental health in Western North Carolina, the challenges with accessing affordable services, the intersection of homelessness and mental health, and how you can get involved! To listen to the full episode, please click the link below:
https://mymix965.com/podcasts/all-souls-counseling-center-11-26-2023/
Wednesday November 1, 2023: ASCC featured on Asheville’s ‘The Overlook’ Podcast!
We are so excited to be the featured guests on an episode of The Overlook Podcast hosted by Matt Peiken! Our Executive Director, Meredith Switzer, along with Brendan Hughes, discussed the rise in demand for mental healthcare, normalizing conversations around mental health struggles, and how All Souls Counseling Center is evolving and breaking down barriers to access quality mental health services! Check out this week’s episode by clicking the link below!
ASCC is working with Equity Over Everything’s Aisha Adams on a DEI audit!
Celebrating World Mental Health Day with Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ in Asheville!
-Guided Watercolor Painting
-Messages of Hope
-Games and Activities
-Craft Beer, Mocktails, & Cocktails
-Award-Winning BBQ
-Drink ticket included in $10 entry donation
All Souls Counseling Center Awarded $10,000 Grant from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce!
We are 1 of 13 local nonprofit organizations who have been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce! Our team had such a fun time celebrating at the Chamber’s 125th anniversary party where their parking lot was completely transformed into Asheville Through the Looking Glass! We are so very grateful for the support from the Asheville Chamber and our community! Thank you to Rusty Edwards from First Bank for presenting our grant award! As Rusty said, “Together we are more resilient!”
Thanks to everyone who attended our first annual 2023 Mental Health Matters: Walk/Run for Awareness!
On Saturday, September 23rd we held our first annual Mental Health Matters: Walk/Run for Awareness at UNCA! We were thrilled to be the first community event at the newly renovated Karl Straus Track and were blown away by the amount of students, athletic teams, families, colleagues and friends who showed up in the spirit of supporting mental health.
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all our volunteers, community partners, our Presenting Sponsor First Bank and our Media Sponsor WLOS News 13 for making this event possible! We are especially grateful to UNC-Asheville for allowing us to be the first community event at the newly renovated Karl Straus Track. We couldn’t have done it without your support and are looking forward to hosting the Mental Health Matters Walk/Run again next year!
Special thank you to our event photographers, Paul King and John Lesh, for capturing the fun and excitement of the 2023 Mental Health Matters: Walk Run for Awareness! You can visit our event photo gallery here!
Tuesday June 6th: Announcing the Green Ribbon Society
Wednesday May 24th: Women for Women Grants $64,650 to ASCC
We are so incredibly grateful to have received the 2023 Women for Women grant through the Community Foundation of WNC! With these funds, All Souls Counseling Center will expand our individual and group trauma-informed mental health services to more women in WNC with a focus on individuals who have experienced domestic or sexual violence. We are grateful to be partnering with Our Voice, Helpmate and Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) to support survivors of crime. Thank you so much Women for Women Giving Circle for supporting such important work in our community!
Thursday May 18: ASCC 2023 Winner of Sky High Growth Awards
We are honored to be selected as one of the winners of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce 2023 Sky High Growth Awards! The Sky High Growth Awards celebrates the determination and accomplishments of Asheville’s rising businesses and nonprofits. Honorees are organizations experiencing growth and contributing to our local economy through innovation. We certainly have grown tremendously in the last year and we had a great time celebrating with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and fellow award recipients at Sierra Nevada Brewery!
Friday May 5th: 2023 Chamber Challenge 5k!
We celebrated workplace wellness at the 2023 Asheville Chamber Challenge 5k! Meredith, Brendan and Victoria boosted their mental health by getting out in the sunshine to exercise and surround themselves with friends and colleagues! We can’t wait to do it again next year!
Exercise can have a positive impact on mental health in a number of ways. Here are a few:
💚Reduces stress and anxiety
💚Improves mood
💚Boosts self-esteem
💚Increases cognitive function
💚Reduces symptoms of mental health disorders
Thursday May 4: Prestige Subaru Shares the Love with ASCC
As many of you know, we were honored to be Prestige Subaru’s Share the Love Event partner at the end of 2022, and we are thrilled to announce that their campaign generated $20,000 in funds for All Souls Counseling Center!! This incredible gift greatly impacts our organization by supporting our mission of providing mental health services to community members who are uninsured or underinsured and do not have the means to afford therapy, and will allow us to provide approximately 400 counseling sessions!
Thank you so much to Prestige Subaru and their incredible team for their wonderful gift and for Sharing the Love with All Souls Counseling Center!
Monday May 1: Mental Health Day at Reynolds Middle School
We kicked off Mental Health Awareness Month by presenting on the topic of mindfulness at Reynolds Middle School’s Mental Health Day. Our Executive Director, Meredith Switzer asked a class “what is mindfulness?” and here are a few of their answers:
💚“Being aware of your mental health”
💚“Being aware of others’ mental health”
💚”Being aware of your emotions and how to control them”
Meredith taught an 8th class about mindful breathing, mindful observation and mindful awareness. She also emphasized the importance of eliminating negative self talk, practicing self-affirmations and that your mental health is JUST AS IMPORTANT as your physical health.
Thank you to Reynolds Middle School for having us and for dedicating a day to emphasize the importance of taking care of your mental health for the young minds in our community!
Monday April 17th: Our Spring Fundraising Campaign has begun!
Our Spring Fundraising Campaign is off to an amazing start and so far we’ve already raised $17,000! 👏 Thanks to the incredible generosity of two donors, up to $15,000 of donations towards our campaign will be matched dollar for dollar. You can ensure that your gift has even greater impact by donating today.
Between now and the end of June, our goal is to raise $45,000 that will go directly into providing vital mental health counseling, outreach, and education, with a focus on individuals that don’t have insurance or who can’t afford therapy with their current insurance. Will you help us achieve our goal and give the life-changing gift of therapy to someone who needs it?
Visit www.allsoulscounseling.org/donate to contribute to our Spring Fundraising Campaign!
Wednesday February 8th: Providing Therapy Sessions at Haywood Street Congregation
Exciting Announcement!! One of our amazing therapists, Tim Bandell, is now onsite at The Haywood Street Congregation every Wednesday from 9:30am-1:30pm…the exact same time as their Welcome Table lunch ministry. There are so many incredible services offered during this time of “holy chaos”….free haircuts, acupuncture, health screenings, and an art therapy room. Thanks to a generous donor, we are thrilled to be able to provide a support therapist who will offer counseling services in a quiet, confidential room right across from the dining hall.
As a psychotherapist, he believes whole-heartedly in the importance of the therapeutic relationship and he strives to establish a sense of trust, connection, and shared understanding throughout the duration of treatment. His hope for his clients is that they can cultivate a deeper understanding of the issues that are bringing them into counseling while also finding practical and effective ways to confront and navigate the challenges that they are struggling with. He prefers to invite and guide rather than direct in the healing process, helping individuals to truly embrace their inner-wisdom and inner-healer along the way.
February 2nd: We’re New Members of the Asheville Chamber of Commerce!
We are beyond excited to now be Members of the Chamber and access a plethora of business resources, attend networking events, and receive development and educational support. Brendan and Victoria attended the Fresh Faces event to learn about all the membership perks, and Victoria and Meredith attended the February Business After-hours to network and chance to win prizes from other local businesses. Did you know that the Chamber of Commerce is celebrating 125 years? Cheers to that!
ASCC Welcomes New Outreach and Community Engagement Manager
We are excited to announce our new Outreach and Community Engagement Manager: Victoria Hensley! Victoria was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA and moved to North Carolina in 2011 to attend High Point University. In 2015 she graduated from HPU with a B.A in Business Administration and minors in Marketing and Anthropology.
From 2015-2021 she worked in High Point, NC on food security and local food initiatives and started her own non-profit called Growing High Point. Victoria and her husband now live in Asheville and enjoy hiking with their two dogs, exploring the local food scene, and traveling!
“I am beyond excited to join the All Souls team and be part of such a wonderful organization. In this new role, I am eager to create more awareness around mental wellness, help promote the amazing services that ASCC has to offer, and develop new connections with those who are underserved in our community.” -Victoria H.
ASCC interviewed by WLOS regarding new state action plan to prevent suicide
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and WLOS News 13 interviewed our Executive Director Meredith Switzer regarding a new North Carolina action plan to reduce the rate of deaths and injuries related to suicide. In 2019, suicide was the second leading cause of death for ages 10-18 in the state. For those ages 19-34, suicide was the third leading cause of death that year. Check out the article to learn more about the 7 areas the state will be focusing on in their plan and how ASCC is working to address this crisis. Click here to read the full plan.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
ASCC featured in WLOS’ Spotlight Carolina (again!) to promote the Mental Wellness Walk
Our Executive Director Meredith Switzer was featured in another WLOS News 13 Spotlight Carolina segment to highlight our upcoming Mental Wellness Walk on Saturday, September 10th. We were joined by our partners from NAMI Western Carolina with Board Chair Betsy White speaking for NAMI. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to WLOS News 13 for highlighting our important work of spreading the word about the mental health resources in our community and ending the stigma around seeking help! For more information about the Mental Wellness Walk, please visit www.mentalwellnesswalk.org
ASCC interviewed for Spotlight Carolina
ASCC’s Executive Director Meredith Switzer was interviewed by WLOS News 13 for Spotlight Carolina in May of 2022. Watch the video below!
ASCC selects its new Executive Director: Meredith Switzer
We’re thrilled to announce the selection of Meredith Switzer as our new Executive Director. Switzer has served as Interim Executive Director for ASCC since January and begins the permanent position this week.
“I’m delighted and honored to have been chosen to lead this wonderful organization forward,” said Switzer. “Serving as interim leader for three months has allowed me to work closely with dedicated staff, board members, clinicians and community partners who care deeply about the accessibility of affordable mental health services for all. There are exciting opportunities to increase the profile and impact of ASCC in our region and I am eager and ready to embark on this important work.”
Switzer joins us after more than 20 years in nonprofit leadership. Most recently, she served as Executive Director of Homeward Bound, the region’s largest homeless services provider, and has served in leadership capacities – either on staff, Board of Directors, or Advisory Council – for more than 15 area nonprofits. She has dedicated her career to finding solutions to challenging community issues including food insecurity, access to mental health services, availability of affordable quality childcare, homelessness, and public education.
Switzer is a graduate of Leadership Asheville and Leadership North Carolina and currently serves on the WomanUP Committee for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. She was recognized as the Chamber’s “Outstanding Woman in Nonprofit Leadership” in January 2021 and was a recipient of their COVID Humanitarian Award in October 2021 for her executive leadership through the pandemic. She holds a B.A. in Broadcast Communications from UNC Chapel Hill and a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University.
ASCC Board President Chad Donnahoo said, “the Board is thrilled with Meredith’s selection as the new ASCC Executive Director. Given her past experiences with area nonprofits and her strong leadership skills, the Board feels that Meredith is the ideal individual to successfully lead ASCC in the coming years.”
Please join us in welcoming Meredith and this exciting new era of leadership for our organization.
ASCC featured in two WLOS News 13 stories
ASCC’s Interim Executive Director Meredith Switzer was interviewed by WLOS News 13 in February 2022 for two stories regarding the mental health crisis in WNC during the pandemic and the links between mental health and homelessness. Check out the videos and articles below!
Click here for the video/article on the mental health crisis in WNC during the pandemic
Click here for the video/article on the links between mental health and homelessness
Check out our video interview with therapist Marilyn Kolton!
We interviewed our longtime therapist Marilyn Kolton and she discussed her experience working at All Souls Counseling Center, our mission, and what our services bring to the community.