Ellie Mental Health recently opened a location to increase access to mental health services in the metro.
Ellie Mental Health, a mental health services franchise, recently opened a new location in Norman.
The new clinic is located at 1215 Crossroads Blvd., Suite 106, Norman, OK 73072, and officially opened for services Feb. 15.
Ryan Dent, a regional sales manager, said he was looking to start a business in the area, and he chose the brand to help break the stigma surrounding mental health and fill a demand in the community.
“I chose Ellie Mental Health because of its unique approach,” Dent said. “There is a large stigma surrounding mental health, and Ellie works to break it. When you walk into an Ellie location, it doesn’t feel like you’re walking into a doctor’s office — it feels like you’re walking into a home. It’s comforting and relaxing, giving our clients the ability to open up in a safe environment.”
Nicole Brown, the clinical director at Ellie Mental Health in Norman, said she is proud to be a part of the brand. Brown has worked in the mental health field for years and holds a long list of certifications as a licensed professional counselor, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, licensed chemical dependency counselor, certified rehabilitation counselor and substance abuse professional.
Prior to joining Ellie, Brown owned a private practice working with substance abuse issues before working as a program therapist for one of the Five Tribes of Oklahoma. The Tribe provided her with an opportunity to gain many new tools, including EMDR training, she said.
Through her previous career endeavors, she developed a wide range of experience working with a variety of issues that she believes will be beneficial to the Norman community.
“Norman has a high need for mental health facilities,” Brown said. “There are several inpatient facilities in the area, but there is a long waitlist for outpatient facilities. It’s important to have quick and easy access to mental health care services. If you are stuck on a waitlist, especially after inpatient treatment, it’s easy to fall through the gap and lose the progress you made.
“Ultimately, I want to develop a team with a range of specialties and treatment modalities,” Brown said. “It’s important to me to meet people where they’re at — whatever they’re facing, I want Ellie to be able to help. We plan to address a variety of needs, including trauma victims, family issues, mood and personality disorders and substance abuse, as well as be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.”
