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St. Luke’s recently established the St. Luke’s Mental Health & Wellness practice to address a growing need in the community for adults 18 years and older.

Improving your mental well-being requires taking the first step. As daunting as that may feel, reaching out demonstrates tremendous courage. 

“Finding the path to recovery can be overwhelming,” said Practice Manager Katheryn Lowrie, MSW, LCSW. “We’re here to treat you with empathy, compassion, and a commitment to providing nonjudgmental care.” 

The practice will see patients virtually 18 years and older.

St. Luke’s Mental Health & Wellness practitioners include Thabit Al-khateeb, MD, and Anna Watkins, LCSW. 

Dr. Al-khateeb currently resides in Charlottesville, Va., and often spends time in Asheville to visit family. He completed his adult psychiatry residency training at Harlem Hospital Center in New York in June 2023. During his last year of training, he served as their chief resident. Dr. Al-khateeb appreciates that psychiatry allows more time to get to know his patients. His colleagues and patients describe him as friendly, compassionate and an excellent listener with a passion for minimizing the stigma that surrounds mental health challenges.

Anna Watkins is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently residing in Fayetteville, N.C. From a young age, she knew she wanted to work in a field that allowed her to help others. She earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice with a concentration in corrections from North Carolina University. This field of study sparked her interest in clinical social work and helping individuals with mental health conditions and addiction. Anna later went on to earn a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in children and family services from Fayetteville State University.

Services at St. Luke’s Mental Health & Wellness include psychosocial assessment, psychiatric evaluation and diagnosis, ongoing medication management and behavioral psychotherapy with an emphasis on evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy. Patients are free to work with providers from the comfort of their own homes or through the safe space located in the office of Saluda Family Medicine. 

Mental health conditions treated by St. Luke’s Mental Health & Wellness include anxiety, depression, trauma and grief, addiction, stress/burnout, relationship issues, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, behavioral issues, mood disorders and attention issues.

“Don’t wait until your symptoms overwhelm you,” says Lowrie. 

If you need immediate assistance or are having suicidal or homicidal thoughts, a severe medication reaction, or any emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You may also contact Vaya Health’s Behavioral Health crisis line at 1-800-849-6127 for local crisis support in western North Carolina. The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is also available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.

The practice sees patients Monday–Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After-hours appointments may be available upon request. 

To learn more about St. Luke’s Mental Health & Wellness, visit StLukesNC.org/mentalhealth, or call (828) 894-0853.

 

Submitted by Dean Graves