Counseling centers merge April 1

Cloud Peak Counseling Center in Worland is set to undergo a merger with Big Horn Basin Counseling Services in Basin and Lovell and Yellowstone Behavioral Health Center in Cody and Powell to become the Oxbow Center, a single mental health service provider that will serve Washakie, Big Horn and Park counties beginning April 1.

Leadership will be Mary Johnson (former Cloud Peak Counseling Center CEO) as CEO, Dey Lynn Stebner (former Big Horn Basin Counseling Services executive director) as chief program officer, and Becky Ransom (former Yellowstone Behavioral Health executive director) as chief financial officer.

Johnson said, “This enhanced partnership will expand on years of efforts to bring a comprehensive array of mental health and substance use services to the entire Big Horn Basin Region.”

BACKGROUND

According to Johnson, this merger is a long time in the making. Cloud Peak Counseling Center has had an informal partnership with Yellowstone Behavioral Health that began when they were under the same umbrella of Intermountain Health Centers nearly 10 years ago.

Ransom said that through an arrangement with that organization, “It allowed us to be more efficient through sharing staff and technology, information, and working together as partners but maintaining separate agencies.”

The partnership between the two mental health service providers continued in this capacity for several years, until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

Johnson said, “About three years ago we started conversation about how that could be strengthened, and how we could formally work together more seamlessly.”

One key issue that Johnson noted at this time was the need for specialized services. She said, “In these rural pockets of Wyoming, it’s difficult for people to find specialized care. So, if someone needed to see a family therapist, if we didn’t have someone certified with what they need here, one of our partners might. We want to be able to have services offered across organizations.”

These talks continued into 2023, when Big Horn Basin Counseling Services was brought into the conversation. Johnson said, “In building relationships with that organization, we realized it would be a good fit for all three to come together in this one organization.”

An agreement was reached in 2024 between all three organizations to partake in a merger. Ransom said, “That way we can enhance and increase the services that we’re offering our communities, while we’re adding efficiencies to our business operations. It’s kind of a win-win situation. By working together we are working stronger.”

She added, “Mary and I have been working on this partnership for as long as Mary has been with her agency. We’ve worked together for many years, and by actually making it a formal arrangement it’s a real celebration for us. I’ve been at Yellowstone for 24 years now, and I’ve seen a lot of growth and changes over those years, and I can tell you I’m really excited about the future and the potential of what Oxbow Center can do for all three counties.”

Johnson stated that the merger will afford the three offices an opportunity to shift toward growth. She said, “As a smaller organization, you really are just trying to keep things going, and a majority of our efforts were placed there. Coming together allows us to think more along the lines of growth and cater our offerings to the needs of the community.”

“We’ll go from surviving to thriving, and we can be more proactive rather than reactive,” added Ransom.

Ransom said that Oxbow Center in the future will offer public education and community outreach programs as preventative measures, and to attempt to get people the help they need before they find themselves in a crisis situation.

THE NAME

Johnson said on the process of rebranding, “It’s been interesting to be a part of; You find out how much a name really means to people.”

The name Oxbow Center comes from the name of a U-shaped river bend, an oxbow.

Johnson added, “We went through multiple exercises with our board of directors and also staff members and discussed what we wanted to represent with our organization. We walked through that process thoughtfully in regards to the clients that we serve; what will their experience be like at Oxbow Center, and how can we paint that picture before they even step in the building?”

Johnson and Ransom explained that they chose the name Oxbow Center for its symbolism. Johnson said, “The oxbow is really symbolic to us. It represents that U-shape in a river, and to us that means change over time. It aligns with the nature of mental health and the journey that clients go through. We wanted it to be symbolic of the nature of change in our clients, and also the three entities coming together represents change.”

Ransom added, “We wanted to send the message to people that change may be scary, but it is extremely obtainable and can have very positive outcomes. So, the name represents that not only for our clients, but our community and our staff. It represents the positive force of change.”

CHANGES FOR

CLIENTS

Johnson and Ransom assured that the merger will be minimally intrusive to their clients. Johnson said, “It’s important for our clients to understand that for them, the only thing that changes is the sign on the door. The only significant change will be the potential for access to more services. Those already enrolled in our services will be able to continue seamlessly.”

The potential access to more services that Johnson spoke of is a result of staff being shared between offices at the new Oxbow Center. She said, “If someone needs a very specialized form of treatment and we don’t offer it here, they can access it at our [Big Horn County or Park County] offices via telehealth.”

Ransom added, “Essentially, it will be the same, if not better.”