Mental & Emotional Wellness
Mental & Emotional Wellness at HCH
Welcome to Holton Community Hospital, your go-to place for Mental & Emotional Wellness. Located in the heart of Northeast Kansas, in Jackson County, we’re a dedicated hospital focused on helping you achieve health for both mind and body. We offer a wide range of services, including help with mental health, support for dealing with loss, and programs for seniors. Our main aim is to help you and your loved ones tackle daily challenges, making sure you have what you need to live a fulfilling life. Find out how our resources can help you on your path to complete mental and emotional well-being.
Grief Coaching with Traci Smith, LMSW, CGC
Contact Traci at 785-364-2116 ext. 1620
Grief is a deep and important part of being human. It shows us we can heal and change after losing someone or something important. This journey of change can help us find new meaning and purpose in life. It’s important to understand that everyone feels grief differently. Each time we face a loss or a big change, it’s a unique experience.
Four Compelling Reasons to Choose Grief Coaching:
1. Starting Out: Grief coaching helps you figure out how to begin healing. It encourages you to make steps towards growing and healing.
2. Finding Purpose: It guides you to use your grief as a way to find purpose. This helps you move forward on your journey with a clear direction.
3. Discovering Joy Again: Grief coaching helps you become stronger and find happiness even as you heal from your loss.
4. Looking Forward: Unlike therapy, which looks inward, grief coaching helps you look ahead. It’s for those ready to embrace the future, holding onto the good memories as they adjust to changes.
This approach aims to make the concepts more accessible and the steps easier to understand.
Remember, people dealing with grief aren’t broken. They often just don’t know how to deal with this big change. They might wonder, “Where do I start?”, “What will happen next?”, or “Am I doing this right?” Grief coaching can be a big help. It gives support and a place to talk about their feelings as they work through their grief.
Traci Smith is a skilled social worker and grief coach. She knows how to help people through these tough times.
For questions or to book an appointment, call Traci Smith, LMSW @ 785-364-2116 ext. 1620.
Mental & Emotional Wellness with Senior Life Solutions®
Contact us at 785-364-9610.
Our program is a voluntary outpatient mental health program designed to address the distinct needs of older adults, typically aged 65 or older, who are struggling with depression and anxiety, often related to the challenges of aging.
If you or someone you know has recently encountered any of the following situations, this program may be suitable for you:
• Recently experienced a traumatic event
• Lost a spouse or close family member
• Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Changes in appetite
• Difficulty sleeping or changes in sleep patterns
• Loss of energy
• Feelings of sadness or grief lasting more than two weeks
• Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessnessÂ
Our multidisciplinary team includes a psychiatrist, a master’s-level social worker, nurse, and care coordinator working together to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. Services include monthly psychiatric evaluations, individualized and group therapy sessions, and weekday wellness check-ins to ensure consistent support and monitoring.
Family members, doctors, or other health experts can recommend people to our program. But, you don’t need a doctor’s note to join.
Nicole Baum, RN, Director; Jordan Jones, CNA; and Leigh Ann Schultejans, LMSW.
In-person Therapy at Holton Family Medicine
Contact us at 785-364-2126.
Heather Aranda, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, PMHNP-BC, ENP-C
Board-Certified Family, Psychiatric-Mental Health, and Emergency Nurse Practitioner
Providing in-person and telehealth mental health services at Holton Family Medicine
Heather Aranda is a board-certified nurse practitioner with specialized credentials in family practice, psychiatric-mental health, and emergency care. With deep roots in rural healthcare, Heather brings decades of experience managing complex patient needs across all ages—from acute and emergency care to long-term and preventive mental health support.
She provides compassionate mental health assessments, medication management, and ongoing care for conditions such as:
Anxiety, depression, PTSD, and mood disorders
Chronic stress and burnout
Behavioral health concerns across the lifespan
Coexisting physical and mental health conditions
As a dual-certified mental health and family nurse practitioner, Heather approaches each patient holistically—combining medical expertise with an emphasis on shared decision-making, empowerment, and wellness. In addition to her clinical practice, she serves as an adjunct faculty member in undergraduate and doctoral nursing programs, mentoring the next generation of nurses.
Heather Aranda holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Washburn University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Southern Indiana, and additional post-graduate certifications in psychiatric-mental health and emergency medicine.
Chelsea Shupe, LMSW
Licensed Master Social Worker – Mental Health Counselor
Serving children, teens, and adults at Holton Family Medicine
Chelsea Shupe is a Licensed Master Social Worker offering in-person mental health counseling for children ages 8 and older, adolescents, and adults. With more than a decade of experience in a variety of settings—including college counseling centers, the foster care system, hospitals, home health, and private practice—Chelsea brings a compassionate, client-focused approach to care.
Her specialties include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Teen and childhood concerns
- Relationship challenges
- Life transitions and personal growth
- Substance use recovery support
- Medication-Assisted Treatment behavioral health support
Chelsea also provides behavioral health support for patients participating in Medication-Assisted Treatment, often called MAT. MAT is a treatment approach used in substance use disorder care that combines prescribed medication with counseling and behavioral health support. In this role, Chelsea works closely with medical providers, including Dr. Marija Lawless and Dr. LaDonna Schmidt, to support whole-person care during recovery. Her counseling services may include one-on-one therapy, relapse prevention planning, coping skills for stress, anxiety, depression, and cravings, recovery goal setting, accountability, and coordination with the patient’s medical provider.
Chelsea creates a supportive, collaborative environment where clients can feel safe to explore their thoughts, emotions, and goals. Using a person-centered and strengths-based approach, she works alongside individuals to uncover root causes of distress, build healthy coping strategies, support recovery, and foster emotional resilience.
Chelsea earned her Bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and her Master of Social Work from Arizona State University. She is passionate about helping others navigate life’s challenges and achieve greater well-being.
Location: Holton Family Medicine Clinic
Appointments: Referrals accepted or call directly to schedule at 785-364-2126
Enhanced Psychiatric Telehealth Services at Holton Family Medicine with Integrated Telehealth Partners®
Contact us at 785-364-2126.
Improving Your Mental Health with Advanced Telehealth Solutions
At Holton Community Hospital, we prioritize your mental well-being. Recognizing the essential connection between mental and physical health, we are proud to introduce our new and improved psychiatric telehealth services, in partnership with Integrated Telehealth Partners. This enhanced service is designed to address the growing need for accessible and effective mental health care.
Why Choose Our Telehealth Psychiatric Services?
Dedicated and Compassionate Care We understand that dealing with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or intrusive thoughts can be challenging. That’s why we’ve upgraded our services by partnering with Integrated Telehealth Partners, ensuring you receive the highest standard of care. Our licensed psychiatric nurse practitioners are committed to providing:
- Personalized Mental Health Assessments: Understand your mental health needs with comprehensive evaluations.
- Effective Medication Management: Receive the right medications to manage and alleviate your symptoms.
- Professional Counseling: Gain invaluable coping and communication skills through expert-guided therapy.
- Evidence-Based Treatments: Benefit from therapies proven to promote mental health.
Proven Success Patients who have experienced our telepsychiatry services report over an 80% improvement in their symptoms, reflecting our commitment to quality and effectiveness.
Ready to Start Your Journey to Better Mental Health?
Don’t let mental health challenges control your life. Take the first step towards a healthier, happier you by scheduling an assessment with Holton Family Medicine. Our team is ready to support you with state-of-the-art telehealth solutions that bring quality care directly to you.
Contact us today at 785-364-2126 to schedule your appointment.
Let us help you navigate your path to improved mental health with the care and support you deserve.
Additional Mental & Emotional Wellness Resources
Holton Community Hospital is a member of the Health Innovations Network of Kansas (HINK).Â
The mission of HINK is to enhance the integration of health-related services among consortium member communities while respecting local autonomy.
HCH is dedicated to providing our community with as many resources as possible for all of thier needs. Check out the HINK website for many more resources.
SUICIDE PREVENTION IMPROVEMENT NETWORK
PLANTING STRENGTH, HARVESTING RESILIENCE:
SUICIDE PREVENTION IN AGRICULTURE
