Barbour Community Health Association is excited to welcome Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill, PsyD to the behavioral health team. Dr. Cottrill will work with patients at our Brandon Wellness Center. We chatted with Dr. Cottrill to learn more about her experience in the mental health field and what she hopes to offer for her patients and this community.

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.

A: I grew up in Buckhannon, West Virginia. I earned a BA in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from West Virginia Wesleyan College, an MA in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University, and a Doctorate (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology from Marshall University. Outside of work I enjoy spending the weekends with my family and dogs at the lake, reading, and traveling.

Q: What types of conditions do you treat or work with?

A: I am a generalist psychologist who is trained to treat a wide range of behavioral health conditions across the lifespan. However, while working in school-based settings I most often work with individuals to treat various forms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and health-related struggles. 

Q: Who should seek your care?

A: The Brandon Wellness Center is located at Philip Barbour High School and primarily services students and staff. A unique aspect to this clinic is our ability to see patients for re-occurring outpatient therapy appointments as well as walk-in behavioral health crisis support. I encourage any student or staff member who is looking to make a change in how they interact with and experience their world to stop by the clinic and see if therapy might be the right fit for you. 

Q: What are some of your strengths as a doctor that impact your treatment and interactions with patients?

A: I take a patient-centered, collaborative approach in therapy. I have found that this empowers patients and engages them actively in treatment. I often begin our therapy work by teaching patients about the science or theory underlying their condition so they can best understand how and why their treatment plan will be effective. Interactive skills training is often foundational to my treatment plans so that patients leave their sessions confident in their ability to make meaningful changes within their life. I am passionate about advocating for my patients within their school system, medical care, parent-child relationships, etc, and facilitating my patients learning to do the same themselves. 

Q: Describe yourself/your professional style in 3 words.

A: Collaborative, engaging, and dynamic. 

Q: Anything else that you would like potential patients to know about you?

A: I love seeing patients grow in their confidence to make meaningful changes in their lives and am looking forward to continuing to provide services at the Brandon Wellness Center!

We are looking forward to having Dr. Cottrill share her talents with our team and patients! Students can see Dr. Cottrill at our Brandon Wellness Center located in Phillip Barbour High School. 

We are told to eat better, exercise more, sleep better, and stress less. But that sounds like a tall order if you are not familiar with all that involves! That’s where Donna Seaman, the Director of the Philippi Wellness Center had the idea to create Healthy Inside and Out! We sat down with Donna for a little Q&A about the event and what attendees should expect! Learn more about it all here:

Q: How did you get the idea for Healthy Inside and Out, what was the need that you saw in the community to create these events?

A: Well, I think a lot of times people don’t put together the entire picture of what health is made up of. And sometimes we only focus on needing to exercise more or eat differently and we don’t think about the mental health aspect of it. So much of the eating we do is connected to how we think and how we process stress in our lives. We want to look at a more holistic view of health and address some things outside of the norm that will be helpful as well.

Q: In a few words, how would you describe what Healthy Inside and Out is to participants?

A: This series of three programs will help answer your questions and give you tools to get started or to build on your goals to get healthier. You don’t have to wait until January 1st, you’ll be motivated to start making changes before that famous date rolls around. We are really focusing on being healthy not only on the outside but on the inside as well. We are really going to talk about how exercise, nutrition, and stress management work together to keep you healthier and more energized. 

Q: What will the sessions be on?

A: Our first session will be on October 25th and it’s titled ‘Food is Our Body’s Fuel’ and will be led by Barbour Community Health Association’s Nutritionist, Rachel Williams. Rachel will be answering questions such as “What do “better” food choices look like when we are racing to get out the door in the morning or sitting down to dinner at night?” and “Can healthy eating fit into my budget?” She will also be providing recipes to get you started!

The second session on November 1st will be ‘Actionable Tips for Making Lifestyle Changes’ with Dr. Casey Jo Cottrill. Dr. Cottrill is one of our organization’s newest psychologists and will focus on learning to set goals, the connection between emotions and eating, and tips for turning a new behavior into a long-term habit.

Finally, I’ll be leading the last session titled ‘Why Moving More AND Sleeping Better Matter’ on November 8th. In this session, we will explore what our bodies really need in terms of movement and present numerous ideas for you to consider, with the help of Barbour Community Health Association’s personal trainer, Misty Bradley. We will also look at the ways sleep influences every aspect of our health!

Q: Why is this an event our community doesn’t want to miss?

A: It’s free, it’s practical, it’s doable and it’s motivating! Please plan to join us for plenty of helpful information, lively discussion, valuable resources, encouragement, and door prizes!

This three-part event will be held on October 25th, November 1st, and November 8th at the Taj Moe Hall at 6:30 pm in Philippi. Check out our Facebook event for more information on our sessions and follow along on our page for more information on our speakers! You can register by clicking here, filling out the form, and returning to Donna Seaman at the Philippi Wellness Center, 206 South Main Street, or dseaman@barbourhealth.org. Please register by October 18th! If you have any questions, contact Donna Seaman at 305-457-0700.