Like many New Yorkers, Paul Lowman and Brenna Vermilyea start their days on the road commuting to work.

But their offices are their cars and their jobs as mobile licensed mental health counselors are to make therapy more accessible whether that’s through telehealth or in-home sessions. 

“Mobile counseling — it’s crucial because without it a lot of people would be void of mental health services,” Lowman said, who is a licensed clinical social worker at Mobile Counseling of New York. “For example, if you don’t have transportation, if you don’t have needed finances to get you here or there if you don’t have the time, stigma is another thing.”

There’s been a long-standing behavioral health care practitioners shortage in America long before 16 months since the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated a need for mental health services. 

In four years, there are projected shortages for psychiatrists, mental health and substance abuse social workers, school counselors and marriage and family therapists, according to The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis.

Those in more rural parts of New York and the nation are more at risk for carrying the burden of this shortage, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Association.

For Sara Farren and her 5-year-old son Connor, having Lowman come to their home throughout the COVID-19 pandemic was a lifeline. 

“Connor started showing signs of behavior issues and because of COVID, we couldn’t get help anywhere,” Farren said. 

Mobile Counseling of New York was the only provider that helped Farren and her son. 

It was through having Lowman as a therapist that Connor has been able to get a diagnosis for his behavioral health needs, a treatment plan and an Individualized Educational Plan that ensures he’s in a classroom that helps him. 

Lowman also helps Farren learn to maintain her own mental health as a mother and caregiver — caregivers for those with behavioral health needs have been isolated from support systems throughout the pandemic that helps them maintain their mental health.

“It has helped me when I had crying moments when I had breakdowns because with ADHD he can’t calm down,” Farren said. “I call Mr. Paul crying sometimes and it definitely helps. He’s told me, ‘you need to take time for yourself too.’ I can’t always be worrying, I got to self-care.” 

Farren and Connor are just some of the people who needed flexible, affordable mental health care in New York.

Lowman visits families and individuals from cities like Buffalo to more rural parts of the state helping break down barriers to mental health care. The accessibility of mobile therapists helps take away some of the stigma and prejudice of reaching out for help. 

“It’s more private, it’s more personable and with mobile counseling, I think it fits the needs of the families,” Lowman said. 

Lowman highlighted how it can be challenging for families to take time off work, schedule and drive to appointments on top of their other responsibilities as parents. 

Therapists like Lowman and his coworker Vermilyea can respond to mental health needs within the first day of a referral. 

Not only does mobile therapy remove barriers to care, but it helps therapist better understand the whole person they’re helping, Vermilyea said.

“I have an assessment of what’s going on in their home, what’s going on in their family life, maybe more so than in an office setting,” she said. “It gives me the flexibility to maybe incorporate family members or friends of family depending on the situation that I wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.”

For many, Mobile Counseling of New York’s services will be low cost or free — removing not only transportation as a barrier but also finances. 

To schedule a time with Mobile Counseling of New York licensed clinician call or text 716-302-4545 or visit their website.