News + Events

We surpassed our Spring Fundraising Campaign Goal!

We did it! We are SO thrilled to announce that we exceeded our $40,000 Spring Fundraising Goal and raised a total of $40,697! This was our most successful fundraising campaign yet. We’re so grateful for all our dedicated supporters that contributed. Funds raised will go directly into providing vital individual and group therapy services for the uninsured and underinsured of WNC. We couldn’t do it with you!

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

ASCC selected as recipient of New Belgium Brewing’s Tasting Room Donations Program

All Souls Counseling Center would like to extend a big thank you to New Belgium Brewing in Asheville for supporting us this year. All Souls Counseling Center was selected as a recipient of their Tasting Room Donations Program from donations received in 2021. Thank you New Belgium Brewing for generously supporting your local community!

ASCC receives a donated rug from Rug & Home Asheville

All Souls Counseling Center recently received a donated rug from Rug & Home Asheville through their 52 Weeks of Giving program, which we’ll use to raffle off at a future event to raise money for our services. Development Director Brendan Hughes visited the Asheville store and met with their Designer team. Thank you Rug and Home!

ASCC Chosen for Mountain Xpress’ 2021 Give!Local Campaign

All Souls Counseling Center is thrilled to be chosen as one of only 46 area nonprofits to be part of Mountain Xpress’ 2021 Give!Local campaign supporting local philanthropic organizations. If you donate more than $25, you’ll receive a voucher book filled with great freebies and discounts from your favorite retailers around the area — High Five Coffee, One World Brewing, Mellow Mushroom, Art Garden AVL, Zuma Coffee, Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria, Franny’s Farmacy and more — to thank you for your contribution. Check out our Give!Local page here: https://givelocalguide.org/…/all-souls-counseling-center/

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5th Annual Mental Wellness Walk held virtually on October 2, 2021

The Walk was presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Western Carolina and All Souls Counseling Center. The walk normally includes a 5K, music, refreshments, and resource displays. However, this year, due to the pandemic, the event was held virtually and community members participated on their own time, similar to 2020. Despite being virtual, the event was a huge success. The Walk seeks to raise awareness of mental wellness and to promote community resources available for people with mental health issues. Pictured are walkers from MindPath Care Center and NAMI WC Board President Terri Harris. Our sponsors this year included AVL Technologies, Onas’s Place, The Bonnie R. & William H. Kinschner Family Foundation, NC Brookhaven Behavioral Health, RHA Health Services, Sunrise Community for Recovery and Wellness, Legal Aid of North Carolina, and Pitts, Hay and Hugenschmidt, P.A.

Why walk for mental wellness? Mental health was ranked one of the leading health issues facing Buncombe County according to the most recent Community Health Assessment with half of respondents reporting that mental health care was difficult to access.

Registration was held at: mentalwellnesswalk.org

All funds raised supported the work of NAMI WC and All Souls Counseling Center to provide mental health counseling, support, education, and advocacy

ASCC receives a $5000 grant from the First Horizon Foundation

All Souls Counseling Center (ASCC) is honored to receive a $5000 grant from the First Horizon Foundation to support our work! First Horizon’s Asheville Community Market President Peter Best stopped by our Center to present the check and met with ASCC Development Director Brendan Hughes. ASCC is very thankful for First Horizon Foundation’s contribution towards our mission of providing affordable and high quality counseling for those without insurance or who are underinsured. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Foundation.

Our 2020-2021 Annual Report is here

ASCC has released its Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2020-2021!

The report includes:

An overview of our work during this time period with relevant statistics
An overview of our services
A brief history of our founding
Special Initiatives and Events

Please click here to read the report!

Support us through the 2021 State Employees Combined Campaign!

All Souls Counseling Center (ASCC) is honored to be selected as a designated charity in the 2021 State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC). Are you a state employee or retiree? You can support ASCC through the SECC by making a donation or setting up a payroll deduction. You can find us with code #1842. To learn more, please visit https://www.ncsecc.org/

Check out Pisgah Health Foundation’s interview with our team!

Pisgah Health Foundation interviewed our team members regarding our services and history. Thank you to the Foundation for supporting our mission and to Angela Owen for hosting the interview!

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.

All Souls Counseling Center mourns the loss of Charlie Schoenheit

We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and dear friend Charlie Schoenheit, who passed away in May. Charlie, our Clinical Program Director, worked for over 40 years providing and managing community mental health in Western North Carolina. He began as a therapist at All Souls Counseling Center (ASCC) in 2016 and served as our interim Executive Director for over a year. He dedicated his career to helping those that struggled with mental health and substance abuse, especially those with fewer resources to seek help. He will be deeply missed.

Public Zoom Event held on May 20th

We hosted a special public zoom event on May 20th: “The Mental Health Challenges of the Pandemic and the Mission of All Souls Counseling Center.”

Our longtime therapist Marilyn Kolton and Executive Director Leslie McCrory discussed the unique mental health challenges they’ve observed during the pandemic and offered some suggestions for what works in addressing these. We also discussed the mission, services, and future of ASCC, and left time for the public to participate and ask questions.

Brendan Hughes joins the team as Development Director

Brendan Hughes joined the team as All Souls Counseling Center’s new Development Director in January 2021. Brendan brings over 10 years of experience in nonprofit development and management to the role, including time in the Peace Corps. He’s excited to support the mission of ASCC and to work with its community. Please feel free to reach out at brendan@allsoulscounseling.org with ideas or to say hi!

Client Testimonials

This place has been a literal life-saver. I have never felt more respected or understood by a counselor. Now that I’ve come here I can’t imagine what I’d do without this place.

[My counselor’s] calm accepting demeanor helped me feel comfortable and safe in discussing anything. Her suggestions were pivotal and realistic in helping me deal more successfully with my anxiety.

I appreciate [my counselor]. He listens with no judgment but only caring for my well-being.

I have come for both individual as well as couples therapy and I love the level of care I receive here. So thankful to have found you guys.

My counselor has and continues to help me tremendously and I have interacted with her better than any other counselor I have seen in the past.

Where would we be without All Souls Counseling Center?

ASCC has helped my partner and I have a better quality of life that we otherwise would not have been able to afford. Thank you.

[My counselor] is very likely saving my life. My gratitude has no measure. Thank you.

[My counselor] brought so much light to our marital issues. He helped us work through years of built up negativity. With his guidance, we were able to find our love and compassion for each other again.

[My counselor] has been a life-saver in so many ways. His practical suggestions are tremendous. His caring and empathy are palpable and so valuable to me at this time. I am so grateful to him and to ASCC for making this affordable.

My experience here at All Souls has been so life changing. The amount of compassion and dedication I feel here is so comforting. I wasn’t sure I would ever get my mind and life back but I did and I’m so grateful for this place, I love it!