Staff Writer
Life By Design, an outpatient mental health and substance abuse agency, is expanding to Caribou. Previously known as Aroostook Counseling and Evaluation Services, the office is located at 7 Hatch Dr., Suite 290 in Caribou and is the fourth office to open since the business began in 2003.
Aroostook Republican photo/Abigail Hunt
Life by Design first opened its doors at this Houlton location. What began as a small, one house business quickly turned into a four building, county-wide agency, with the most recent office opening in Caribou. When owner Deb Gray started this agency in Houlton, the purpose was clear yet simple. “Our mission is to provide individuals and families the tools they need to empower themselves to live their Life By Design.” And since 2003, Life By Design has been doing just that.
The outpatient mental health agency officially opened in August 2003 and has expanded to several locations in less than six years. Gray started the agency with offices in Houlton and Presque Isle with the help and support of substance abuse counselor Phil Jurson, LADC. Gray and Jurson were “philosophically in agreement” and desired to help others by “meeting them where they are and assisting them to define their goals, build their strengths and break through barriers,” said Gray, whose inspiration for the agency’s name came from Dr. Phil. “I was listening to Dr. Phil’s ‘Get Real’ CDs and he said ‘You need to design your life!’” she explained. “That statement resonated with me.”
But what began as a small, one-office outpatient mental health agency has expanded into a thriving business with locations in Houlton, Presque Isle, Fort Kent and now Caribou, something Gray had ever imagined. Each office location offers specific mental health programs for individuals of all ages. For children up to age 20, LBD provides Targeted Case Management. This program works with children who have a mental health, mental retardation or pervasive developmental disorder diagnosis. Children’s targeted case management services utilize the wrap-around process, and embrace the concept of child & family-centered planning while assisting families to enhance their independence and self-determination in meeting the therapeutic needs of their child. Case managers work with families to help provide the best social and educational environment for their children. Individual, couple and group therapy is available for children or adults seeking general mental health counseling. Substance abuse services are also offered for those dealing with drug or alcohol dependency and LBD also offers a Driver Education Evaluation Program (DEEP).
With the recent opening in Caribou, Life By Design will introduce two new programs. With a licensed psychiatrist on board, medication management is now provided as well as adult community integration services, which is specifically geared toward adults in the community with mental and/or physical handicaps and provides one-on-one assistance where staff teach and model community integration and behavior.
Still, the decision to expand wasn’t an easy choice and has always held some risk, explained Operations Manager Denise Plourde. “We currently have more offices than ever, but we don’t want to lose the small agency feel.”
Gray reassures that the ‘small agency’ feel has been maintained for a number of reasons. The Presque Isle and Houlton offices are renovated former homes and each office has a culture similar to its rural location. “Even though we have similar administrative systems, the style and office environment are different in each community,” noted Gray. “We know that what works best for clients is that we build relationships with them, work on their goals, not ours, and use treatment models that work for them.”
Gray carries these goals into her business philosophy. “In business, it is just as important that we have good relationships, common goals and work under a unified philosophy.”
This business and therapy philosophy has carried over into the Caribou staff as well. “I am happy that we are able to have a presence in Caribou with some very strong staffing. It has definitely been a transition process and I think we are transcending with character. The staff in Caribou has some great strengths and a strong community integration support program, so it was a good melding for our agency as it rounded out our services and placed us in another community,” said Gray.
And Plourde agrees, a positive staff with “can-do” attitudes reflects the health of the agency. “We are all across the county. We have well trained staff, some with 30-plus years’ experience and specialized training in various mental health and substance abuse concentrations. The staff here really try to meet the client where they’re at and live our life by design. We try to not only work but live our mission. Everyone has a significant part in making LBD the agency it is today,” said Plourde.
Clinician Dale Saucier began working in the Presque Isle office, but also spends time in Caribou at the new location. “The integration of Caribou to LBD has allowed us to provide this service on a county-wide basis. Additionally, having psychiatric services provides for greater continuity of care and greater accessibility for collaboration. It extends the continuum of care,” said Saucier, who has been with the agency for nearly a year.
“The true mission and philosophy of LBD is to work with people to help them through their adversity, while recognizing that adversity happens to everyone, but it doesn’t need to be the thing that stops your life completely,” Saucier explained.
“The small agency atmosphere will be maintained when you, as a clinician, reach out and partner with people. Working on the relationship piece is how that small agency feeling stays consistent,” he said. “Essentially, it’s about the relationship-building process and allowing people to see the possibilities of moving through adversity. The difference is choosing to empower others, not enable them,” he added.
“It’s hard for me to speak about LBD without actually talking about [Deb Gray’s] role. It is her attitude and philosophy that filters down to the staff. As the company grows, she’s been able readjust some of her practice and find creative ways to maintain interaction with other branch offices. The heart and soul of LBD is leadership that is also part of the work process. Every person in leadership in LBD takes an active role in the direct service in the company – I think that’s what’s unique and different. For a CEO to be performing at that level in direct service says that the company will always remain invested with customer service as its priority,” Saucier said.
Gray’s efforts to intertwine the philosophy of the past with the changes of the present in order to offer the best possible services for people in Aroostook County today, and in years to come, remains at the heart of LBD. “My hope is that we never move away from the overarching philosophy of meeting people where they are at with compassion and understanding.”
In addition to their recent Caribou opening, Life By Design is also adding staff to their other offices. The most recent additions to the Houlton office are Carol Westerdahl, RADC and Ashley Russell. Westerdahl is available for substance abuse assessments and Russell works as a community integrative support worker.
Today, Life By Design has four locations, all conveniently and strategically located near hospitals. 18 High St., Houlton; 147 Academy St., Presque Isle; 272 W. Main St. Suite 102, Fort Kent; 7 Hatch Dr. Suite 290, Caribou. Life By Design is also on the web at www.lifebydesignpa.com. To speak with someone directly about services or the company in general, call 866-532-9660 and ask to be forwarded to any of the four specific offices.
