Business of the Week – Wellness Works

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Be sure to read The Prowers Journal each week when the Lamar Chamber of Commerce
and The Prowers Journal highlight a featured Business of the Week.

This week we are proud to spotlight Wellness Works.
Give them a call at: 719.336-6976

 Wellness Works celebrated its third anniversary this month as a proud Lamar business. Since January 2010, Wellness Works has been offering counseling and other holistic health services under the umbrella of Southeast Health Group. Bill Aardsma, licensed professional counselor, has been with Wellness Works from the beginning. “There are so few private mental health practitioners in southeastern Colorado,” said Aardsma. “Wellness Works fills an important niche and gives people much needed options for helpful, confidential services at a price they can afford.”

Located in the Adult Annex of High Plains Community Health Center at 2221 Wellness Way in Lamar, Wellness Works offers individual, couples and family counseling. Services are available Mondays and Thursdays from 8 AM-6 PM. “People really like the late appointments,” said Aardsma. “It means they don’t have to take the kids out of school or miss work. Those slots can fill up quickly.”

In 2011-12, Wellness Works served 514 unique individuals through its offices in Rocky Ford and Lamar.

Wellness Works accepts all the major insurance plans and offers reduced-rates based on income for self-payers.

Wellness Solutions

“This month we started offering Wellness Solutions—an employer-based option for accessing confidential counseling for employees and their families,” said Paul Sedillo, Executive Director. “It’s important for area employers to have access to services such as counseling and drug testing when their employees experience mental health or substance use problems. A healthy workforce is essential for our local economy, as well as building healthy, happy families.”

Through Wellness Solutions, employees —and each of their family members— have access to four free counseling sessions per year. Staff trainings are also offered, designed to promote health and wellness. Three large employers have already signed up with Wellness Solutions, covering 600 employees and their families for short-term, solution-focused treatment.

Aardsma assists individuals and families with a variety of problems, including stress. “We’ve had a lot of response to our Wellness Solutions counseling option. We’ve helped employees work through stress-related problems at work and at home. We talk about what’s going on and search for solutions. I teach new coping skills, and people gain insight just by talking about it out loud with a professional helper. When people set goals and break it down in small steps, they can experience change pretty quickly—in just three or four sessions,” said Aardsma.

Counseling appointments with Aardsma are scheduled through the High Plains reception desk at (719) 336-6976.