Billings practice offers free therapy with college interns

BILLINGS – Not everyone can afford a therapy session, but a Billings counselor is offering a solution in her practice. Beautiful Directions Counseling is now offering free therapy through its three interns.

As a mother, artist and educator, it has been a lifesaver for Billings native Angel Shandy.

“Different situations arise when you’re an adult, a parent and have a full-time job,” said Shandy Wednesday of Beautiful Directions Counseling in downtown Billings.

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Shandy has a lot to deal with on top of her anxiety and depression, and society’s external stressors aren’t helping her.

“We just have to love people instead of trying to deceive them. That’s what’s hitting me the hardest right now because there are so many elements of it in politics, in wars, in LGBTQ rights, in women’s rights, in all of these things,” Shandy said.

With the help of licensed medical counselor and owner of Beautiful Directions Counseling, Alison James, she was able to overcome this.

“There’s a lot of practice, these are things I can control and these are things I can’t control,” Shandy said.

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She started going to Beautiful Directions five months ago.

“I feel like I have a better handle on myself and can kind of keep my thoughts and feelings in check,” Shandy said. “We also worked with my doctor to talk about medication options and things like that.”

This is a service that the Shandy practice provides free of charge.

“I have a responsibility to give back what was given to me. I am very grateful. “I’m grateful for the therapists I’ve had along the way,” James said.

James became a therapist after overcoming her own mental health issues.

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“A lot of it had to do with me spending a long time in therapy myself to overcome childhood trauma and addiction,” James said.

She opened Beautiful Directions in 2019 and expanded last December. Now staffed with eight therapists and three interns, she is ready to give back to the community.

“The interns only see people for free. You will be cared for by the clinician who has over 40 years of experience. So he’s part of that process,” James said. “And he’ll talk to the interns about what he noticed.”

One of these interns is David Eichler.

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“I think I’m the oldest intern in Billings. I’m 57,” Eichler said. “I’m studying clinical social work and counseling.”

After a few career changes, Eichler said he finally found his purpose, especially because he had first-hand experience in the mental health field.

“I am bipolar. I was treated for the first time 24 years ago. And I can speak with great clarity about the impact of mental health and psychological counseling,” said Eichler. “I have spent a lot of my life making other people’s dreams and bottom lines come true. And that means sitting in a room with a person and none of that, the rest doesn’t matter.”

The practice is ready to wrap its arms around the community.

“Fifteen years ago my life was a mess. I was very depressed. I was very suicidal. I was very addicted, very lost. I had a lot of unresolved trauma and was seeing a therapist, her name was Kay Flynn. ..My life was a wreck, and she had this sign on her wall, and it was the Velveteen Rabbit, and I came to my therapy sessions and looked at that… and one day I said, “I really like that.” “This sign, this picture,” and she stood up, took it off the wall and gave it to me. That in itself was a very moving gesture. The article about it, that sign now hangs in my therapy office,” she told James. “I’m a big believer in the power of people, and I’m a big believer in the power of therapy… We’re going to see people for free because we care more about people’s well-being than money.”

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“There are ways to get help that won’t impact you financially, and there are people willing to help our community in that way,” Shandy said.

Beautiful Directions Counseling is located in downtown Billings, 100 N. 27th St. The practice can be reached at 406-927-4838.