News + Events
Psychological First Aid Training
On Tuesday, Nov 12th, we partnered with the Linked4Life Foundation (the charitable arm of Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ) and Vibrant Emotional Health to host an impactful training on emotional recovery in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Dr. Robin Gurwitch of Duke University led the session, Psychological First Aid Support after a Natural Disaster, guiding participants through the 8 core actions of Psychological First Aid. The training also introduced practical coping strategies and a new framework for self-care: PRN (Pause, Reset, Nourish) which offered essential tools for both personal resilience and supporting communities in recovery.
Announcing Mental Health Mondays
Mental Health Mondays are hosted by All Souls Counseling Center every Monday from 2:00 to 3:00 PM through early November at the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Community members can also join Mental Health Mondays virtually via Zoom.
Register using the link below:
https://forms.gle/ifq6YLyXVNXEgk6d7
ASCC’s Executive Director, Meredith Switzer, interviewed by WLOS News 13
Thank you to WLOS News 13 for inviting our Executive Director, Meredith Switzer, to share how All Souls Counseling Center is responding to the impact of Hurricane Helene. As highlighted in the coverage, our community is facing both physical and mental hardships in the wake of this disaster. The trauma of these experiences has significantly impacted our community’s mental well-being, making it more important than ever to know that support is available. If you or someone you know is seeking counseling, please call us at (828) 259-3369 to get connected with a licensed therapist.
Click HERE to watch the full video.
2024 Mountain Xpress GiveLocal Campaign – Now through Dec 31!
All Souls Counseling is one of 52 local nonprofits chosen this year for Mountain Xpress’ Give!Local campaign, which seeks to raise funds for worthy causes in WNC. Between now and December 31st, donations of $100 or more to All Souls Counseling Center will be entered into a raffle to win a gift basket, which includes $200 worth of gift cards to area grocers and/or restaurants, as well as two bottles of wine from Biltmore Wines (or nonalcoholic sparkling beverages).
Please click here to make a donation to enter the raffle!
The ASCC Team Celebrates Pride
Exciting News! We’re partnering with Linked 4 Life to launch a new program that will support Asheville’s food and beverage workers with a mental health peer support network and up to six free counseling sessions. Our board members and staff attended a lunch and learn kick off event at Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ and we couldn’t be more excited!
Check out this featured article from WLOS!
Click the link below to learn more and find out how you can support this new programming!
https://www.linkedforlife.org/initiatives/ashevillejunelaunch
Linked 4 Life partnering with ASCC to provide mental health support to food and beverage workers
Exciting News! We’re partnering with Linked 4 Life to launch a new program that will support Asheville’s food and beverage workers with a mental health peer support network and up to six free counseling sessions. Our board members and staff attended a lunch and learn kick off event at Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ and we couldn’t be more excited!
Check out this featured article from WLOS!
Click the link below to learn more and find out how you can support this new programming!
https://www.linkedforlife.org/initiatives/ashevillejunelaunch
Celebrating Hope is in Bloom: A Recap of Our Springtime fundraiser
On May 22nd, we held our much-anticipated springtime fundraiser, “Hope is in Bloom”, at Highland Brewing Company’s beautiful Event Space. The evening brought together a vibrant community of supporters dedicated to improving mental health care in Western North Carolina.
Guests enjoyed an evening filled with the upbeat swing of live jazz performed by Queen Bee & the Honeylovers. The culinary experience was elevated by a selection of mouth-watering appetizers from local favorites: Twisted Laurel, Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, and Chestnut.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Pam Penland Mental Health Champion Award. This year’s recipient, Chad R. Donnahoo, Esq., a long-time ASCC Board member and Board Chair, was honored for his unwavering dedication to enhancing the mental health landscape in the region.
The event featured insightful speeches from notable community partners, including Chief Mike Lamb from the Asheville Police Department, Cheryl Antoncic from Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ and a dedicated mental health advocate, and Tessa Scarborough from the MAHEC Clinical Psychiatry Department. Their words underscored the importance of collaboration and community support in addressing mental health challenges.
We are immensely grateful to our staff, counselors, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who have been instrumental in ASCC’s growth and impact. Your support and enthusiasm at Hope is in Bloom were palpable, and together, we’ve taken significant steps towards raising awareness and expanding resources for mental health care. Thank you for making this evening memorable and for helping us continue our critical work in the year ahead.
May 2024 Outreach and Community Engagement
- Given’s Estates Health Fair: Full-time therapist, Adam Lewis, and Outreach and Community Engagement Manager, Victoria Hensley, attended the Given’s Estates Health Fair where Adam presented on “When the Emotional Becomes Physical” and led two mindfulness exercises.
- Asheville Chamber Challenge 5k: Our team laced up our sneakers for the annual Asheville Chamber Challenge 5k. We are proud to be apart of a team that values both physical and mental health!
- Botiwalla Mental Health Presentation: We were invited to come speak to the staff at Botiwalla restaurant about our sliding scale mental health services and the importance of destigmatizing seeking help and talking about mental health.
- Reynolds Middle School Mental Health Expo- We were invited to the Reynolds Middle School Health Fair where we presented on coping skills and activities that are good for mental health, such as practicing self care and mindfulness.
- Noah Kahan Concert Nonprofit Community Partner: We were thrilled to be selected as one of Noah Kahan’s mental health community partners and were able to table and attend two of his concerts at Harrah’s Cherokee Center.
February 2024 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!
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!