TouchStone Behavioral Health to hold open house

By Alyssa Pitcher

TouchStone Behavioral Health is the only mental health clinic serving the community of Blaine. The practice provides counseling and therapy services for all ages.

In 2010, Dr. Erika Creydt, TouchStone’s clinical director and licensed mental health therapist, started a private practice and began expanding into what is now TouchStone to meet needs in the community, she said. There is a huge need in Blaine for mental health services, Creydt said, and the goal of TouchStone is to fill that need.

According to Creydt, making the therapy at TouchStone available to anyone in need is a priority for the practice. She said anyone can benefit from mental health counseling at some point in their life.

TouchStone will hold an open house on Friday, May 8 from 3 to 6 p.m. The event will be at the company’s office suite located in the Banner Bank and Blaine City Hall building at 435 Martin Street, Suite 2010.

The open house is a chance for people to meet the practice’s six therapists and counselors. The staff will offer tours of the office and answer questions about the services TouchStone provides.

“It’s tough to be vulnerable with someone you don’t know,” Creydt said. For people seeking therapy, meeting the therapist before a counseling session can be helpful.

The practice has hired two new therapists, Carla Willis and Marilyn Bader-Nesse, in the last three months.

Creydt hopes that the event will give them the opportunity to get to know the community. “A lot of people haven’t had a chance to meet them face-to-face,” Creydt said.

Willis is currently working at Western Washington University and specializes in work with children struggling with trauma or behavioral problems. Bader-Nesse has previous experience in child protective services.

TouchStone also provides therapy for adolescents and adults that address anxiety, anger and depression, among other issues.

TouchStone provides a variety of other services, including art and music therapy, as well as couple’s and family counseling. The practice accepts most insurance plans.