Tom Earley, Ph.D, Counseling Program director, said services formerly available only at the program office on the Mayo hospital campus are now being provided in a community setting at Corinna Family Practice, Dexter Internal Medicine, Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine, Guilford Medical Associates and Milo Family Practice on a regular basis.

Bringing its services to the outlying towns does more than save patients from making a trip to Dover-Foxcroft, said Dr. Earley.

"We've found that people are more open to seeking counseling for substance abuse and mental health issues if those services are provided in the same environment in which patients are already used to seeing someone for their other healthcare needs," Earley said.

Dr. Earley piloted the extension of counseling services into the community by seeing patients at Corinna Family Practice, and he will continue to have hours in Corinna under the expanded model of care.

Allen Drucker, a licensed clinical professional counselor at Mayo, will see patients at the physician practices in Dexter, Guilford and Milo. Patients at Dover-Foxcroft Family Medicine may see either Janet Yelch-Weatherbee, a licensed clinical social worker, or Laurie Mahar, an advanced practice registered psychiatric nurse.

The Counseling Program will continue to serve patients at its office on the Mayo campus, with Earley, Stephen Andrew, Ph.D, and alcohol and drug counselor Renee Tash available at that location.

Earley said patients seeking Counseling Program appointments may call the program office at 564-4276, or talk to their primary care provider at the participating physician offices in Corinna, Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft, Guilford and Milo.

Access to mental health services will also be expanded later this summer with the arrival of Richard "Chip" Wallingford, M.D., who has completed his residency in psychiatry and will begin working for Mayo on Aug. 1.