Tony Peterson has been on a 20-year journey to sobriety. It’s been a ride made less bumpy, he said, with help from ThedaCare Behavioral Health-Waupaca.
Peterson, 39, recently recalled his struggles with substance and alcohol abuse. It’s been a challenge since high school, he said.
When the turmoil in his life – a divorce, family estrangement, repeat driving under the influence citations, a major car accident, a prison sentence, and becoming houseless – forced him to make meaningful and lasting changes, he sought help from ThedaCare Behavioral Health-Waupaca.
“I decided I wasn’t going to do this anymore,” Peterson said. “I had enough. I wanted to start over. I wanted what I had back. The counselors and people to talk to at ThedaCare Behavioral Health are some of the best resources that have helped me.”
Expanding Access to Health Needs in Rural Communities
People like Peterson and others seeking professional assistance with their behavioral and mental health needs are why ThedaCare Behavioral Health-Waupaca opened its renovated facility in July of 2024, said ThedaCare Behavioral Health Interim Director, Carrie Kubasta. Located at 710 Park Ave., the facility serves community members in Waupaca, New London, Manawa, Wautoma, Wild Rose and Weyauwega, as well as other surrounding areas.
“Our Waupaca facility offers people a range of services, including Substance Use Treatment, Mental Health Therapy, Outpatient Psychiatry and Group Therapy options,” Kubasta said. “We have expanded space to allow for bringing more health care providers to the area, extending our hours, and offering additional group therapy options.”
In addition to the services, the physical building offers intangibles that can help enhance the overall patient experience, Kubasta said.
“It’s open, airy, and comfortable which is important for a behavioral health setting,” she said. “It also features artwork by local artists. We were intentional to support balance, harmony and flow of positive energy through the facility.”
Peterson is thankful for the scope and availability of services. He said he’s especially pleased by the proximity of the facility, right in Waupaca.
“Transportation is an issue for me,” he said. “With the clinic being in town, I can walk or get a taxi ride. For a lot of people in my shoes, we don’t have access to transportation.”
And when he was ready to get help, convenience was important.
“If I needed to travel to a site in Appleton or Oshkosh for help, I am not sure I would have done it,” he explained. “Being so close makes it easy.”
The renovated facility came about as a result of community discussions, Kubasta explained.
Every three years, ThedaCare hospitals conduct assessments of the health and well-being of the communities served, she said.
“We complete these assessments in partnership with other health systems, public health, Community Health Action Teams, community members, and other stakeholders such as the ThedaCare Foundation-Waupaca, that are dedicated to maintaining an incomparable quality of life in the region,” Kubasta said. “The latest Community Health Needs Assessment identified the need for mental health services.”
To address that need, the assessment report offered several recommendations, including expanding behavioral health treatment capacity, opening a new behavioral health clinic in Waupaca, and increasing the number of providers.
“Our facility is a direct response to the findings in that assessment report,” Kubasta said. “We are proud to offer this facility and all of its resources to Waupaca and the surrounding communities.”
Peterson said he’s still traveling along his journey to recovery, and he feels good about his progress knowing that support is available nearby.
“Personally, I am very happy with where I am today,” he said. “I want to keep going forward with it so I’m going to keep seeing the folks at ThedaCare. Shari Stenerson, my provider, has helped me realize that I deserve to be happy and that the only person holding any of us back from the help we need, and the happiness we want, is the person we look at in the mirror.”
Start Your Journey
People looking to schedule an appointment with ThedaCare Behavioral Health-Waupaca should begin with their primary care provider who can help them navigate any concerns, Kubasta said. Their provider will then refer them for an appointment.
Those seeking care will see a provider who specializes in mental health and/or substance use. An entire team of specialists and the comprehensive ThedaCare health system backs the ThedaCare Behavioral Health team, Kubasta said.
For more information, visit ThedaCare Behavioral Health.
