Norfolk-based mental health facility expands practice as market changes
Life’s Journey Mental Health Services began expanding staff, extending office hours, and moved into a larger new office suite that tripled their office space soon after one the area’s largest mental health providers unexpectedly closed its doors earlier this year. Thank you to Inside Business for featuring us and spreading the word about the expanded outpatient therapy, psychiatric services, substance abuse treatment, mental health skill building services and crisis stabilization services for children, teens and adults that we are providing to our community. We are seeing more patients than ever who are struggling with anxiety, depression and substance abuse as a result of COVID-related factors, such as isolation, fear and loneliness.
NORFOLK — Within a week after one of the area’s largest mental health care providers suddenly closed its doors, affecting thousands of clients, Benicia Hernandez saw the dire need to expand her practice.
The chief executive officer of Life’s Journey Mental Health Services quickly moved her business into a larger space and began hiring more staff.
“We moved on Friday and Saturday, and I caught COVID on Sunday,” Hernandez said of their mid-January move.
The move, from one unit to another at 2551 Eltham Ave. in Norfolk, tripled the agency’s office space to more than 6,000 square feet. Hernandez said an investment of approximately $50,000 went toward the the relocation and renovation of the previously vacant suite.
The full-service behavioral health care agency was started in 2016 by Hernandez, a licensed professional counselor and substance abuse treatment practitioner.
The business, which began with three people — Hernandez; her daughter, Shawnice, outpatient program manager; and her sister, Isabel, chief financial officer — now has 40 employees and another 10 will be added this month.
Life’s Journey offers outpatient therapy, psychiatric services, substance abuse treatment, mental health skill building services and crisis stabilization services for children, teens and adults.
“We’re streamlining our processes and expanding the services we provide,” Hernandez said. “We’re putting together a counseling perspective and now also a psychiatric perspective to combine mental health and medical together. It’s a big leap.”
But, a very important leap that Hernandez knew she needed to do.
“My passion is helping people,” said Hernandez, a 2020 Inside Business Women in Business honoree.
She said she was eager to help former clients of and professionals with Christian Psychotherapy Services, which had more than 60,000 patients and more than 100 employees spread across four offices in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk.
When the business closed on Jan. 9, patients and health care providers were forced to scramble to try to maintain services.
Hernandez said she saw an opportunity to expand her practice’s footprint and help the community — especially with the growing need for mental health services in the midst of the pandemic.
“We’re seeing more patients than ever who are struggling with anxiety, depression and substance abuse as a result of COVID-related factors, such as isolation, fear and loneliness,” Hernandez said.
With so many different factors in play — finding a new location, hiring, credentialing and marketing — Hernandez knew she needed to move at lightning speed.
“We’re talking about people who are now out of their medications that stabilize their depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder,” Hernandez said.
She did see an influx of patients, with new referrals arriving daily. And she has exteded office hours as her staff has grown.
Shante Williams, assistant clinical director at Life’s Journey, said it was important to them to support the community in its time of need.
“We want to provide the best possible care to the individuals who need it the most,” Williams said. “We want mental health to be accessible in a way where people don’t have to choose between income and their well-being.”
The agency recently earned approval from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and offers a medication-assisted treatment program to address the region’s rising opioid addiction. It is also certified to apply for federal contracts, and has a contract to provide services to the juvenile justice system.
Hernandez also runs a nonprofit called Project: Life’s Journey, a support system that offers mental health and wellness services and classes for those in need. Recent initiatives include fundraising for food, masks and clothing for the homeless.
“There are a lot of people struggling that need our help,” Hernandez said. “No matter where you are on your journey, we’re here to help on so many levels.”
Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, sandra.pennecke@insidebiz.com
