641-682-8772 – 1527 Albia Road, Ottumwa
Southern Iowa Mental Health Center offers therapy and psychiatry services for children and adults, as well as individual, family and group sessions.
SIMHC has trained therapists to offer therapy modalities such as:
SIMHC has a full time Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, Dr. Hilda Mascaro.
Dr Hilda Mascaro is a Medical Doctor and is trained in the full spectrum of psychiatry, but specializes in mental health disorders in patients under the age of 18. In addition, she has specialized training in the pharmaceutical options for those concerns. Dr. Hilda Mascaro is currently accepting new patients and is available via telehealth. Dr. Hilda Mascaro speaks fluent Spanish, and sees patients of all ages. Dr. Hilda Mascaro also serves as the Laboratory Director at SIMHC.
Mendy Shepard, ARNP – Mendy Shepard is a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and is trained to treat patients of all ages. Mendy has many years of experience working in hospital nursing, including inpatient mental health nursing. Mendy is easy to talk to and is passionate about helping her patients find the right medications to help with their symptoms. Mendy is currently accepting new patients.
Integrated Health Home (IHH) services are available for children and adolescents.
IHH is not a physical place, but rather a concept that includes a team of professional that can help individual and families navigate the healthcare system when needed.
IHH is available for adolescents and children who receive Medicaid and have a mental health diagnosis. The program focuses on the whole health of the individual, helping to coordinate both physical and mental health care needs as applicable.
Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT) is a specialized therapy, primarily designed for children, ages 2 – 7 * years old, who are displaying disruptive behavior. * May be adapted for older children.
Parents of challenging kids spend a great deal of time pointing out what their child is doing wrong. They pay a lot of attention to bad behaviors, which only increases bad behaviors. Parents who learn to pay attention to positive behaviors will begin to see more of these behaviors. Moreover, they will begin to build their child’s self – esteem by pointing out that they can make good choices.
Behaviors that may be helped with PCIT include, but are not limited to: Tantrum, Arguing, Fighting, Defying Parents or Teachers, Aggression, ADHD, Stealing, Lying, Destructive Behavior, Low Self Esteem, Sad mood, Bonding in blended families, Post-divorce adjustment, Foster Children, Adopted Children.
In PCIT, parents will learn the PRIDE Skills. PRIDE stands for: Praise: Say What You Like! Reflect: Say What They Say! Imitate: Do What They Do! Describe: Say What They Do! Enjoyment: Positive Energy!
When parents learn to use these skills effectively with their children, they begin to see a change in their child’s behavior.
SIMHC began offering Substance Abuse services in November 2018. Treatment is provided to youth (12 and up) and adults with substance use issues. The goal is to provide quality, cost-effective substance abuse behavioral health multi-disciplinary care to patients.