Meet Karen, an adult patient and client at Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. (CHC). Karen is kind and sincere, with a great sense of humor. In recent years, Karen has suffered from a variety of medical and behavioral health illnesses that have profoundly affected her quality of life. These include chronic fatigue and pain, and episodes of major depression.

Karen knew she needed help but had not found a healthcare provider who proactively combined the primary care and mental health care she desperately needed. Since beginning treatment at CHC a year ago, however, Karen has found lasting, effective treatment and healing with help from the highly skilled medical and behavioral-health physicians, nurses and clinical staff of Coastal Horizons. CHC’s model of integrated health care treats mind and body, as true recovery must involve both.
 
Below, in her own words, Karen shares the top three reasons she’s thankful for Coastal Horizons Center and the continued healing she finds there.

1. Close-to-home, integrated health care for mind and body

“At CHC, I was immediately welcomed, and within the first two visits, I had a doctor, a nurse and a nutritional counselor. My therapist, Rakhee, does magic! She helped me find hope and possibility – things I had not felt in a long time. … The doctor methodically monitored my medications, until we found the right mix and dosage. All of the staff is great! I have never been around such wonderful, understanding, non-judgmental and caring people.”

2. Team-oriented, patient-centered philosophy

“I was stunned at how much help I received from CHC’s [behavioral health and primary care] clinics so quickly. I felt for the first time in a long time that there were professional people who wanted to help me. The staff goes above and beyond to make sure the patient gets what he/she needs. They all work hard to make everything accessible and convenient for the patient.”

3. Affordable, high-quality care that works

“I am getting everything I need with Coastal Horizons’ integrated care. In my opinion, it’s the best care there is. It’s conveniently located and very affordable. There are so many people (myself included) who desperately need help but who have no insurance and very little money. Most of the time, these people would be left to suffer and struggle on their own with no hope of getting better. Not with Coastal Horizons – it’s literally a lifesaver!”

Karen‘s words of gratitude are a wonderful reminder of why we are here, to bring healing and hope to all that need it. In this season of gratitude and every day, I want to say thank you to Karen for sharing her story, to the talented team at Coastal Horizons Center that made this story a reality and to all our supporters, donors and friends. Your continued belief in our mission is a daily inspiration to us all.

Thank you.

Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. is a local private non-profit agency lead by President and CEO, Margaret Weller-Stargell that promotes choices for healthier lives and safer communities by providing a continuum of professional services for crisis intervention, sexual assault survivors, criminal justice alternatives, and prevention and treatment of substance use and mental health disorders. Coastal Horizons Center is the largest private, non-profit human services agency headquartered in Wilmington and serves the 53 counties of Eastern North Carolina. For more information, please call 910-790-0187 or email [email protected].