Accessible Mental Health Care in SE Wisconsin: No-Wait Appointments at American Behavioral Clinics

Описание: Dr. Jim Winston talks about why he founded American Behavioral Clinics, and what his team offers to those suffering from mental health conditions.

Transcript:

Hi, my name is James Winston. I’m the owner and founder of American Behavioral Clinics, and I also serve as the medical director. I founded American Behavioral Clinics because there was a tremendous need for behavioral health services in our community. I’ve always wanted to stay one step ahead and provide the kind of care that truly impacts individuals and their families. Knowing that I could help someone—either on my own or with the support of our team of experts—meant that I could also help their extended family as well.

When people sought care from large health systems and requested couples or individual therapy, they often faced wait times of up to six months. I found that to be completely inadequate. I wanted to make a change, so I made it my mission to hire providers who could meet the needs of our community quickly—often within a week—and get people into our clinic without delay. Our goal has always been to operate with complete integrity so patients know exactly what kind of treatment they’ll receive. We strive to be honest and reliable, and I feel we provide the best treatment available on the ground. Just as Midwest Express once promoted “Best Care in the Air,” ABC represents the best care on the ground.

When I first began practicing psychiatry, I realized how backward the system was and how prevalent stigma and prejudice were in both our country and our community. I wanted to bring mental health care to the forefront and help reduce that stigma. Over time, I opened multiple clinics, and as demand grew, therapists filled these locations. Today, we have expanded to seven clinics throughout the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area, serving 15,000 to 20,000 patients at any given time. With no waitlists, we can offer timely and accessible care, which is vital for those in need.

American Behavioral Clinics offers a full spectrum of mental health services, including individual psychotherapy, group therapy, couples treatment, and psychopharmacology. We also provide addictionology services, ensuring that patients receive comprehensive care. Typically, a patient will begin by seeing a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner. After a thorough evaluation—whether by a psychotherapist, nurse practitioner, or medical doctor—we determine the most effective ongoing treatment, which may include medication management, psychotherapy, or both. Our goal is always to keep people out of the hospital by offering proactive, effective outpatient care whenever possible.

In addition to traditional services, we offer advanced treatments such as TMS, which stands for transcranial magnetic stimulation. This treatment involves placing a magnet over the left prefrontal cortex of the brain, sending electromagnetic impulses to areas such as the hippocampus and amygdala to help relieve depression. Many patients who seek TMS have treatment-resistant depression, and studies show that up to 60% of people in this category benefit from it. TMS helps release serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and other vital neurochemicals, restoring normal brain function and structure.

We also offer esketamine, another powerful treatment for resistant depression. Esketamine provides rapid relief from depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts and is especially beneficial for individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder.

With seven convenient locations, we are here to support you. You are not alone, and you don’t have to remain isolated—help is available. Our mission is to help you get back to where you belong. There has never been a patient who came to ABC Clinics that we felt we couldn’t help. I have seen people who were extremely depressed find relief and recover. There is hope for you.