Reflecting on the Past, Present, and Future of Mental Health Care

March at ABHS: Behavioral Health Awareness Month

March is known for many things — March Madness, St. Patrick’s Day, and Women’s History Month.

At Allied Behavioral Health Solutions (ABHS), we also use March as a time to recognize Behavioral Health Awareness Month. This is something we created as a team to pause and reflect on the importance of mental health care.

It’s a chance to look at where the field has been, where it stands today, and how we can continue improving access to care for people of all ages across Middle and East Tennessee.

The Past: How Behavioral Health Care Began

Behavioral health care has changed a lot over time.

In the early days, many clinicians used psychoanalysis — a practice that focused on observing behavior and helping people understand their thoughts and emotions.

For many years, there was also a lot of stigma around mental health. People who needed support were often judged or misunderstood; those struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other mental health concerns were often viewed through a lens of deficiency rather than support.

Over time, research helped improve how mental health care is provided. New approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-focused therapy, family therapy, and medication management changed the way clinicians support people and families. These advances helped shape the more compassionate and accessible care we see today.

The Present: What Mental Health Care Looks Like Today

Today, therapy looks very different. 

Care Happens in Many Settings. Mental health care is no longer limited to a traditional office visit. People can now receive support in ways that fit their lives, including:

• In-person counseling

• Telehealth therapy from home

• Play therapy for children

• Art or music therapy

• Group therapy 

• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs)

This flexibility helps families access support in ways that feel comfortable and practical.

Greater Support Systems. Insurance companies, foundations, and government programs now help offset the cost of therapy. Many workplaces now offer Employee Assisted Programs (EAPs) to help employees manage stress, mental health concerns, and life challenges.

Less Stigma Around Mental Health. While stigma still exists, mental health conversations are becoming more open. People are talking about therapy, trauma, anxiety, and depression in ways that were rare years ago.

Advocacy has grown, and more people are seeking help earlier — which can make a big difference.

The Future of Behavioral Health: What Still Needs Attention

Even with this progress, there is still important work to do.

Expanding and Supporting the Workforce. There is a growing need for more behavioral health providers.

At the same time, it is important to support the professionals already doing this work. Practices like Reflective Supervision help providers process their experiences, build skills, and avoid burnout.

Increasing diversity among providers is also important so care reflects the communities being served.

Making Care More Affordable. Financial barriers continue to impact access to therapy for children, families, couples, and individuals. Creating sustainable pathways to begin and maintain care — without placing strain on households — remains a priority across the field.

Improving Access to Care. New models are helping expand access to behavioral health services.

Programs like Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) allow providers to learn from one another and strengthen care in their communities.

National associations are also advancing licensing compact agreements to increase access across state lines and fill specialized care gaps.

How ABHS Is Supporting Behavioral Health in Tennessee

At Allied Behavioral Health Solutions, we work to support behavioral health in two ways: by providing care directly and by strengthening the workforce that delivers that care.

Our services include:

• Individual, group, and family therapy

• Medication management

• Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP) for Perinatal Mental Health and Youth

• Reflective Supervision and ECHO sessions to support providers

• Little Blossoms Early Learning & Development Center, our relationship-based therapeutic preschool serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years

With five locations across Middle and East Tennessee and telehealth available statewide, our goal is to make behavioral health care easier to access for families at every stage of life.

Moving Forward Together

At ABHS, Behavioral Health Awareness Month is our reminder that mental health care continues to evolve.

Progress has been made — but there is still work ahead to improve access, support providers, and strengthen systems of care.

If you’d like more information about behavioral health services, medication management, IOP programs, or workforce support opportunities at ABHS, we invite you to contact us.

We believe in better outcomes for all.

Call us at 615.292.3661 or visit www.alliedbehavior.com.

Written by: Jasmine Randle, LPC-MHSP, AS • ABHS VP of Systems Advancement

Clinical Review by: Alison Peak, LCSW • ABHS CEO