West Virginia Press Association
BELINGTON, W.Va. — As rural communities nationwide face a growing behavioral health crisis, the American Psychological Association (APA) has turned to Barbour Community Health Association’s own Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill for expert insights in its publication Monitor on Psychology. Dr. Cottrill, who serves as a clinical psychologist at Barbour Community Health Association (BCHA)’s Brandon Wellness Center, offers a rare frontline perspective on innovative approaches to addressing youth behavioral health challenges.
The April-May 2025 feature highlights Dr. Cottrill’s work through BCHA’s school-based clinic, where she witnesses firsthand the complexities of socioeconomic factors affecting adolescent behavioral health in rural Barbour County (Belington, Philippi).
“Life in rural communities presents hurdles that make it hard for teens to access social support, especially in areas with fewer socioeconomic resources,” Dr. Cottrill explained in the national publication. “In our community, many young people experience higher rates of poverty and exposure to substance misuse. Many have parents who work long hours or multiple jobs. Teens are often expected to step up to care for younger siblings or older family members, making their way through the week with minimal supervision from supportive adults.”
“Being featured by the APA validates what our community (and our organization) has known for years, that Dr. Cottrill’s approach to meeting youth where they are represents the gold standard in rural behavioral healthcare,” said Eric Ruf, Chief Executive Officer at BCHA. “Her expertise is not just changing lives in Barbour County, but it now has the potential to influence behavioral health delivery models across West Virginia and rural America.”
BCHA’s school-based practice eliminates traditional barriers to behavioral healthcare access by embedding services directly within the school place setting, where youth spend most of their day. This approach addresses transportation challenges, a significant obstacle in communities like Barbour County where the nearest provider might typically be an hour away or more, while reducing the stigma associated with seeking behavioral health services.
“Having a psychologist readily available in schools means catching problems early, before they escalate to crisis levels,” Dr. Cottrill said. “This preventative approach creates healthier communities and ultimately reduces the burden on our emergency services and hospital systems.”
BCHA’s model of care, as exemplified by Dr. Cottrill’s work, offers a replicable blueprint for other communities facing similar challenges.
About Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill
Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill, PsyD, serves as a clinical psychologist at the Brandon Wellness Center at Barbour Community Health Association, where she specializes in adolescent behavioral healthcare. Her approaches to behavioral health have established her as a leading voice in addressing the unique psychological challenges facing youth in rural communities like Barbour County (Belington, Philippi). Dr. Cottrill’s work bridges the gap between both clinical practice and real-world application in resource-limited settings.
About Barbour Community Health AssociationBelington Medical and Myers Clinics are Federally Qualified Health Service Centers (FQHCs) dedicated to providing comprehensive medical and behavioral health care services. Our mission is to ensure accessible healthcare for all, serving patients with insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and those without health insurance through our Health Access program.
Barbour Quick Care offers convenient walk-in services for those needing quick medical attention with locations in both Belington and Philippi.
The organization operates the Belington Wellness Center which provides a variety of exercise equipment, programs, and a swimming pool, located adjacent to the Belington Medical Clinic.
Our commitment extends to all seven schools in Barbour County with our Brandon School-Based Health Services including the Brandon Wellness Center, situated at Philip Barbour High School. Nursing, preventive, acute medical and behavioral health services are available to students and staff at all schools. Visit https://barbourhealth.org/ to learn more.
