MHA’s BestLife Emotional Health & Wellness Center Adds Evening Hours

SPRINGFIELD — MHA’s BestLife Emotional Health & Wellness Center at 153 Magazine St. in Springfield will be open Thursday evenings until 7 p.m. starting Aug. 22. Multiple clinicians will be available Thursday evenings for scheduled appointments with established individuals receiving services.

For those who want to schedule their first appointment, BestLife is also extending the opportunity for evening hours throughout the week until 7 p.m. Someone scheduling their first appointment can request an evening on a day that’s convenient for them.

“For folks who don’t have availability during normal business hours due to their job, school, or childcare, these non-traditional hours at BestLife can really meet that need for convenient access,” said Sara Kendall, vice president of Clinical Operations for MHA. “We realized that it’s one thing to leave work early for a doctor’s appointment, but to leave work early for regular counseling may not make people feel comfortable. With our new evening hours, people can go to counseling at BestLife on a schedule that does not overlap their daily responsibilities.”

Kendall pointed out that BestLife clinicians see individuals as young as 5 years old, which may be especially helpful for parents of school-age children who may be experiencing difficulty with their back-to-school transition. “Evening hours enable a child to see a clinician at a time that won’t disrupt their school day or their parents’ work day. Making counseling accessible is an important first step. MHA is proud to offer some much-needed flexibility for the people we serve.”