Local counseling service taking a multi-pronged approach

HELPING IN DIFFERENT WAYS — Lynette Carte, owner of Mindset2Wellness — a new counseling service operating out of the Bluewave Center in Follansbee — was welcomed to the city by the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce and other supporters. -- Warren Scott
FOLLANSBEE — Many people, when faced with a new problem or source of stress, don’t realize they have the power within them to tackle it head on, according to Lynette Carte, owner of Mindset2Wellness, a new counseling service operating out of the Bluewave Center.
“Mindset2Wellness is a strength-based approach to therapy. This approach identifies the strengths and resilience that clients already possess and helps them to use those same skills to deal with tough situations in their lives,” said Carte, a licensed professional counselor.
She said people respond to various counseling approaches differently, so she and her staff develop plans tailored to help each client “to develop tools for working with anxiety or depression or bullying, whatever the issue may be.”
One of several businesses that have opened in the former Follansbee Middle School, Mindset2Wellness offers one to one or group counseling aimed at several areas.
They include coping with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-esteem issues and trauma as well as many job-related issues, such as career development and satisfaction, workplace dynamics, job transitions and work-life balance.
The Bluewave Center is home to other businesses aimed at helping people to become physically fit, so it’s fitting that Mindset2Wellness offer guidance to athletes and others in building confidence and motivation, regulating emotions and overcoming performance anxiety.
To accommodate the counseling service, former classrooms in the building have been converted into cozy settings with comfortable furniture.
Carte said many who receive counseling find some relief in vocalizing things that are troubling them, but that’s just part of the coping process.
“Often people walk away feeling better but don’t know what to do next,” she said, adding the goal is help people deal with stress and problems long term.
Carte noted people need not feel overwhelmed or even suicidal to seek counseling.
“I think everybody has issues to work with,” she said, adding Mindset2Wellness also incorporates various hands-on activities, such as art, journal writing and yoga and there are plans to add macrame and dance.
Members of the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce learned about such approaches following a recent ribbon cutting ceremony held to welcome the new business.
Carte said art has been particularly helpful in encouraging youth to express themselves.
She has been aided with such efforts by Taylor Provenzano, an art and dance therapist who has been working with a group of youth in grades 6-8.
Carte said there are plans to add other age groups while continuing to provide more private, individual counseling.
She added Mindset2Wellness soon will be accepting Medicaid and adding counselors.
A graduate of Brooke High School and Carlow University in Pittsburgh, where she earned a master’s degree in counseling, Carte has been a counselor for 15 years, working with people of various ages in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
She said Mindset2Wellness has offered counseling in the daytime and evening Monday through Friday and on some hours on Saturdays, and appointments can be made by calling (304) 224-6769.
Information also can be found Mindset2Wellness’ Facebook page.