Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health

02/06/2026

SPVMHC Executive Director William Mahaffey will be the speaker/trainer for the Psychosis: The Misunderstood Symptom portion of this event. Registration is open now!

Are you a clinician that lives or works in Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike, or Ross County? If so, don't miss this training!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hope-is-our-why-tickets-1982049177445?aff=oddtdtcreator

02/03/2026

Jessica Bastian named new Chief Operating Officer!

Jessica Bastian has been named Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center’s new Chief Operating Officer.
After joining SPVMHC in August 2020 as an Outpatient Therapist in August 2020, Jessica was named Director of the Pike County Clinic in October 2022.
Now, though her office will remain at the Pike Clinic, her role will expand to oversee operations at all SPVMHC facilities.
“I want to learn the needs of each community and what the directors of each clinic are facing this year,” Jessica said. “I want to bring a connectedness to each clinic, support each clinic director, and focus on our mission of providing quality services to each of our communities.”
Jessica, an LISW-S, is a native of Mt. Vernon, OH, who moved to Ross County with her husband, whose family lived in Chillicothe.
The COO position oversees and coordinates all clinical services at SPVMHC facilities and provides guidance to the clinic directors, and also assists the Executive Director in formulating and administrating agency policies and procedures.

02/02/2026

Vicki Harper named new Martha Cottrill Clinic Director!

It wasn’t that long ago that Vicki Harper was an intern at Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center’s Martha Cottrill Clinic.
Today, she is its new Clinic Director.
“The staff here feels like family,” Vicki said. “That makes a big difference. We spend most of our time here. Sometimes we see our coworkers more than we see our families. We have a really good working team.”
Vicki joined SPVMHC almost five years ago, hired as an Outpatient Therapist in July 2021.
“I did my internship here and got hired in the middle of that,” she said.
Like many people who work in mental health, Vicki’s career path took some twists and turns.
“I started my Ph.D. for psychology. I got sick and quit the program. I became a clinical social worker instead,” she said. “Life caused me to veer in different directions. But I finally landed where I always intended to be.”

01/30/2026

Happy Retirement to Tonnie Guagenti!

People said it would never happen.
Members of the Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center family had heard the rumblings for months – hints that had been dropped in meetings, rumors of a possible date – but never an official word.
Today, however, is the day.
Tonnie Guagenti is retiring.
“Today I really don’t feel any different than I did last week or two months ago,” Tonnie said Friday morning. I feel like I’ve accomplished the tasks that I needed to do here.”
Tonnie arrived at SPVMHC on November 4, 2013, newly hired to lead the Crisis Center.
When Ed Sipe retired a few years later, she tacked on the mantle of Martha Cottrill Clinic Director. Not long after that she received the Associate Director of Social Work title. And most recently she has been the organization’s Chief Operating Officer.
“My really favorite moment was when we got these files done,” she said with a laugh, pointing to the stacks of boxes in the corner of her office. “No, don’t put that. I guess just being a team member and being a part of things.”
Over the last year, Tonnie started to prepare the organization for her departure.
Madison Joseph took over the reins of the Crisis Center in 2025. Next week, Jessica Bastain will become the new COO and Vicki Harper will become Clinic Director at MCC.
If you’re counting, that’s three people to replace one Tonnie.

01/30/2026

Happy Retirement to Katherine McCoy!

Katherine McCoy has no plans for Monday. In fact, no plans for Tuesday or Wednesday either.
“For the first week I’m going to sleep,” she said. “Then, I will do whatever I feel like doing.”
Today, after two stints with Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center that amounted to 11 years, Katherine is retiring.
“I don’t know what it feels like to not work for a living,” she said.
Katherine, an LSW and LICDC, found her calling to work in mental health in an unusual way.
“It was my ambition all through high school that I would be a commercial artist and journalist,” she said. “But then I found out you had to have talent.”
She ended up working at a department store in Chillicothe called Rink’s.
“I was working there in 1980 and perfectly content in the stockroom. They decided they were going to put me at the service desk,” she recalled. “I thought I’d hate it. But I loved it.”
Katherine said it was common for Rink’s to advertise sales on specific products that were then not in stock.
“People would be mad about the store not having things,” she said. “Then they’d come talk to me and I’d help them with their problems.”
When she eventually lost that job, she missed the feeling of helping people.
“I thought, ‘what could I do that made people happy like I did working at that service desk?’” she said. “That was counseling.”

01/28/2026

We are looking for a proven leader to take on one of our most challenging and rewarding positions!

01/25/2026

Due to inclement weather, all SPVMHC outpatient clinics will be closed on Monday, January 26. If you have a scheduled appointment, our staff will be reaching out to you to reschedule. If you are in crisis, please remember that our Crisis Center is always open and can be reached by dialing 988. Stay safe and warm and we'll see you soon!

01/20/2026

We are looking to fill an immediate need! If you meet the criteria, please apply today!

01/20/2026

Now Hiring!

01/19/2026

Just a reminder that all of Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center's outpatient clinics are closed today in observance of Martin Luther King Day. They will reopen Tuesday at 8 a.m. If you are in crisis, the 988 Su***de and Crisis Line is open 24 hours a day to assist you.

01/13/2026

Our next Positive Parenting Group at the Martha Cottrill Clinic starts in just three weeks. Contact us today to reserve your spot!

01/07/2026

Through a collaboration with the Circleville Kiwanis, this spring our Pickaway County Clinic will be the new home of a Pollinator Garden Project! Read more about it here.