Burrell celebrates grand opening of Marshfield clinic

MARSHFIELD, Missouri — Burrell Behavioral Health celebrated the grand opening of its new Marshfield clinic with state lawmakers and leaders from the Marshfield Chamber of Commerce. 

The 5,210-square foot clinic is located at 1069 Banning Street. Its offerings include addiction recovery services, community services, adult outpatient, youth outpatient, adult psychiatry, youth psychiatry and telehealth services. The new clinic will be accessible from Interstate 44 to people from surrounding communities. It’s also bigger in both size and scope than the previous Marshfield clinic.  

Clay Goddard, Southwest Region President of Brightli, Burrell’s parent company, said the expansion is part of a system-wide effort to offer more behavioral health care access to rural residents. 

“Providing a client-centered space where clients can heal is at the core of what we do, and this space was designed with purpose, heart and that mission in mind,” Goddard said. 

The ceremonial ribbon cutting Aug. 1 was also a chance to celebrate builders from Storee Construction, and architects from Springfield-based Hood-Rich Architecture, which designed the building with advice from Burrell counselors and team members. The Missouri Department of Mental Health helped fund some of the construction costs. State Rep. John Black, R-Marshfield, helped secure part of the funding for the $2 million project, and helped cut the ribbon to celebrate the clinic’s opening on Aug. 1. 

“Time to treatment is critical for helping someone with a mental health or substance abuse problem, and this clinic creates a wonderful opportunity to shorten that time for treatment to a time where people can and will continue to seek help for their problems that not only affect them, but their entire family and their community,” Black said. 

Webster County Health Unit Administrator Scott Allen said Webster County residents looking to establish themselves with behavioral health care providers sometimes exceeded 30 days. The Burrell Marshfield clinic has walk-in hours that can sometimes allow for same-day service for new clients. 

“We effectively just in this year doubled the number of behavioral health providers per capita for our residents, so we’ve really expanded access to care,” 

Allen points to stigma, cost and a lack of service close to home as barriers to health care for residents of Webster County. 

“Mental wellness is the foundation for strong families, healthy children and a resilient community. When we take care of our mental health, we improve our ability to learn, to work, to connect with others and to live fuller lives.” 

With the larger space in Marshfield, Burrell Behavioral Health intends to expand the number of providers working from the Marshfield clinic. That will strengthen existing service lines and allow for the development of additional services, such as group therapy. Burrell Behavioral Health CEO Mat Gass hopes Webster County residents will be encouraged to seek help if and when they need it. 

“This clinic is a visible sign to rural Missouri that health care is possible,” Gass said. “Rural health care is health care; mental health care is health care, and this building represents a very visible stance that we’re here to serve, that access to care is available and that everyone’s life is valuable.” 

Meet a mental health professional 

Therapist Coral Krueger has 15 years of experience in social work with three years of experience working at the Marshfield clinic for Burrell Behavioral Health. Krueger describes Marshfield as a place where the people have a “let’s get it done, let’s get things rolling,” attitude. 

“I would describe Marshfield as a very comforting place, and I say that because the people are just amazing,” Krueger said. “I have run into so many people from so many walks of life who are charismatic, who are welcoming, who very much make this community what it is.” 

Krueger sees clients with mood disorders, depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. She practices cognitive behavioral therapy. 

“Whatever kind of negative thoughts are contributing to the bipolar, or the anxiety or the depression — that’s what we tend to go to the root of the problem and start to dissect it and figure out how we can alleviate that issue and better deal with it.” 

Fear is the biggest barrier to treatment for behavioral health clients in Webster County. 

“It’s scary, it’s kind of intimidating. You’re basically going to open yourself up to a stranger you just met,” Krueger said. “I ask, ‘What do you think therapy is supposed to be like?’ and I get their perception because I want to know what they’re expecting.” 

Clients’ expectations can vary, and so Krueger lays out expectations to her clients and builds their relationship as treatment begins. 

“I’m not going to make you talk about things that are going to make you uncomfortable to begin with, because I want you to build that trust with me” Krueger said. “I’ve got you. I’m going to keep you mentally safe and I’m going to help you work through these things.” 

As Krueger works with her clients, she points out to them moments of success and signs of progress that she notices. 

“Many people come in here with trauma from childhood on,” Krueger said. “These things have been haunting them for so many years, that once we start making some progress, every step forward that we make is a big step.” 

 About Burrell Behavioral Health: Burrell Behavioral Health serves 18 Missouri counties and provides behavioral health, substance-use treatment, case management, crisis, developmental disability, and employment services. Learn more at burrellcenter.com 

About Brightli: Brightli, Inc.’s subsidiaries include Burrell Behavioral Health, Preferred Family Healthcare, Places for People, Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health, Adult & Child Health, Firefly Supported Living & Employment Services, Comprehensive Mental Health Services, and Clarity Healthcare. While these organizations operate independently and are governed by separate boards of directors, Brightli’s parent-company model allows them to collaborate, share resources and system supports, increase team member recruiting and retention efforts, increase access to specialized care, and meet the growing demand for behavioral and addiction recovery care. Learn more at livebrightli.org