Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital

04/24/2026

Zayd joined Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital's Volunteer team with one goal in mind: to help the community now and in the future.🤍

Wanting to gain experience for medical school, Zayd started volunteering here to understand what patients are walking in with and how to actually help in those first few moments.

For patients, he is there for you in the small and big moments.

To answer your questions.
To guide you to where you need to go.
To be another safe person in your healing journey.

For Zayd, it's this experience that will carry him into medical school and into every patient interaction that comes after.

We are thankful to all of our volunteers for wanting to make a difference for our community. Happy National Healthcare Volunteer Week! ♥️

04/22/2026

Owen and Pat were the first faces someone saw walking in that day. 🤍

And for people who walk into our hospital unsure on what to say first, Owen and Pat know exactly what to say.

“Here’s where you go.”
“I can help you find that.”
“You’re in the right place.” 💙

They are the ones to help you figure your next step out and make you feel less alone.

Over the past year, those small moments added up to 1,700 hours of volunteer time. ⏰

Why do people volunteer? What do they get from it?

For Pat: "Volunteering here at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital has been very rewarding for me over these past 8 years.

Part of volunteering is helping people who come in for an evaluation, have specific questions, are looking for information about programs or how we can help in general.

Everyone appreciates the help volunteers provide. The staff is great to work with and I feel like I make a difference." 🌟

National Healthcare Volunteer Week is April 19 to 25, and at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, it’s felt in every moment a volunteer who steps in quietly, answers questions, points someone in the right direction, and makes the space feel a little less overwhelming. ♥️

Thank you to every volunteer making the most meaningful impact for our patients. You make the best difference. 💕🌸

04/20/2026

Some nights feel fun. 💃
Some nights actually change something. 💝

Last night at the Ascension Illinois Foundation Gala, it was both. 💙

What started as a room full of people dressed up at The Old Post Office turned into something bigger real fast. Conversations about mental health that usually stay quiet were happening out loud. People leaning in. Listening. Showing up in a different way. 🎉

And by the end of the night, over $800,000 was raised to expand behavioral health programs across Chicagoland.

That only happens because people decided it matters.

From the energy that Ryan Chiaverini brought to the room, to the pace our auctioneer, Brett Walkow kept all night, to the support from Superior Ambulance Service, every piece of it pushed this forward.

And behind it all, the Ascension Illinois Foundation team making sure this is something that actually moves care forward.

Behavioral health doesn’t get louder on its own.
Access doesn’t expand on its own.

It happens when a room full of people decides to do something about it.

This past weekend proved that’s exactly what this community is willing to do. 💙

04/19/2026

Skipping care shouldn’t be normal—but for many people, it is.

We’ve met patients who wait months. Who live with pain. Who put their health last because cost, insurance, or access get in the way.

This is one day where that doesn’t decide anything.

Medical Mission at Home brings care into one place.

🩺 Medical care and screenings
🦷 Dental care
💊 Prescriptions and lab work
🦶 Foot and wound care
🧠 Mental and behavioral health
🥗 Food, nutrition, and community support

All of it, in one place. For anyone who needs it.

📍 Willow Creek Care Center
🗓 Saturday, May 16, 2026
🍓🕰️Food distribution: 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
🕰️💉Clinical services: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

A day built with community partners to make sure care shows up where it’s needed, without adding another barrier to get through.

Learn more and register in the link in the comments! 💙

Join us at the Medical Mission at Home event on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Willow Creek Care Center.

04/17/2026

Going back for inpatient care isn’t an easy decision. 🤍

It means trusting that this time will feel different.
That you’ll be understood.
That you’ll be treated with dignity in moments that don’t always feel easy to share.

For one patient at Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, that trust came down to one person. 🌿

Darlene.

In group sessions, she made sure things were understood, not just said.

✅ She checked in.
👂 She listened.

And in quieter moments, she stepped in without being asked, helping with the things that felt too hard to bring up, while protecting that patient’s dignity every step of the way.

That kind of care stays with people.

It’s what made coming back feel possible.

Recognized with a BEE Award, Darlene represents the kind of presence patients remember, not just for what she did, but for how she made them feel while they were here. 🤍🐝

04/15/2026

You don’t usually think about genetics until something forces the question. 🤍

A diagnosis in the family.
A pattern you start to notice.
Or just that feeling of not really knowing what your risk actually is.

This webinar breaks that down in a way most people haven’t heard before.

What your family history is actually telling you.
When genetic testing is worth exploring and when it’s not.
What changes if you do find something early.

Because this isn’t just information for right now.

It can shape how you get screened, how often, and what you’re watching for long before symptoms ever show up.

And for some people, that’s the difference between reacting later… and knowing sooner. 🌿

Presented by Anastasia Kathrens-Gallardo. The webinar will cover how recognizing patterns in your family and personal health history can help you understand your risk for cancer. It will explain when it may be helpful to see a genetic counselor and what to expect from a genetic counseling visit. Att...

04/14/2026

A table full of high school students and a stack of sticky notes.

One simple question: what does taking care of yourself look like? 🤍

At Fremd High School's Self-Care Fair, that’s what the team from Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital spent the day talking through. 🌿

And the answers were honest.

Going for walks. 🚶‍♀️
Talking to someone they trust. 💬
Working out. 🏋️
Building Legos. 🧩

Real things they’re already doing to manage stress and take care of themselves.

By the end, those answers covered Kristen’s back, a visual reminder of how many students are actively trying to take care of their mental health in their own way.

Alongside that, conversations around support for school anxiety, eating disorders, and what care can look like not just for them, but for their families too.

Because support doesn’t start later, it starts here.

And showing up for that matters. 🤍

04/14/2026

A table full of high school students and a stack of sticky notes.

One simple question: what does taking care of yourself look like? 🤍

At Fremd High School's Self-Care Fair, that’s what the team from Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital spent the day talking through. 🌿

And the answers were honest.

Going for walks. 🚶‍♀️
Talking to someone they trust. 💬
Working out. 🏋️
Building Legos. 🧩

Real things they’re already doing to manage stress and take care of themselves.

By the end, those answers covered Kristen’s back, a visual reminder of how many students are actively trying to take care of their mental health in their own way.

Alongside that, conversations around support for school anxiety, eating disorders, and what care can look like not just for them, but for their families too.

Because support doesn’t start later, it starts here.

And showing up for that matters. 🤍

04/13/2026

He worked around the pain for years… 🤍

🧍A knee that didn’t feel stable.
🩹 A brace just to get through the day.
💪 And a routine built around avoiding the wrong step.

Golf was the one thing he held onto, even when it got harder. ⛳

At some point, it stopped being about pain, it was about whether he could trust his own leg. That was when Ralph decided to move forward with a knee replacement at Ascension Saint Alexius.

At a center built specifically for joint replacement, where everything, from the surgery itself to recovery and rehab, is designed to work together in one place. 🌿

What happened next wasn’t at all what he expected.

👣 Walking the same day.
📈 Progress within days, not weeks.
🚶 And getting back to movement in a way he hadn’t felt in years.

That shift doesn’t happen overnight, but having a team focused on every step, from preparation to recovery, makes it feel possible. 🌿

If something has been limiting how you move, or how you live, it doesn’t have to stay that way. 🤍

Read his full story and what recovery looked like here:

Discover life after knee replacement at Ascension Saint Alexius. See how expert care from Dr. Paul S. Nourbash helped one patient regain mobility, reduce pain and return to golf with confidence.

04/13/2026

Every day, the phone rings and someone is trying to figure out what to do next, and the first conversation matters more than people expect. 🤍

Especially in behavioral health.

It’s not always clear what to say.
Or what kind of help you even need yet.

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, the registration team is where that conversation starts. 🌿

Helping someone put words to what’s going on.
Breaking down what their options actually are.
And getting them to the level of care that makes sense for them.

It’s steady work, and it’s the same responsibility every time someone reaches out. Patient Access Week gives it a name, but this is what it looks like every day. 🤍

04/13/2026

You finally have a minute… and remember the thing you’ve been meaning to check. 🤍

🤢 The random symptom.
❓ The question you keep Googling.
💭 The “I’ll deal with it later” that keeps getting pushed.

That’s usually when people decide to make the appointment.

Lorena Poggensee, PA-C, is now seeing patients in Bartlett. 🌿

She’s someone you can come to with the everyday stuff that doesn’t feel clear yet, and the ongoing things that need consistency, not just quick fixes.

📆 Annual check-ups.
🌡️ Managing something that’s been building over time.
🧩 Figuring out what needs attention now and what can wait.

And when it’s not something simple, she helps connect you to the next step, whether that’s testing, treatment, or a specialist, so you’re not left trying to figure it out on your own.

So you’re not leaving with more questions than answers. 🤍

04/12/2026

When it comes to your child’s health, you don’t just want answers… you want someone who actually knows your family. 🤍

Not just the diagnosis, but also the little things too.

What makes your child nervous.
What’s improved since last time.
What a “good day” looks like for them.

That’s the kind of care Denise Andres, RN, builds every day at Saint Alexius. 🌿

With a background rooted in pediatrics, she’s spent her career showing up for kids and their families, and now, in pediatric specialty care, she gets to stay with them over time.

👣 Following their progress.
🏆 Celebrating their wins.
⚖️ Supporting them through diagnoses that can feel overwhelming at first.

Because when care becomes ongoing, it becomes personal.

And for families, that changes everything. 🤍

04/11/2026

Some days, it’s hard to put into words what someone’s feeling… 🤍

That’s where a different kind of support steps in. 🐾

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, therapy dogs are part of the care team in a way people don’t always expect, but quickly come to appreciate. 🌿

A calm presence during group therapy.
A quiet moment of comfort when things feel overwhelming.
A connection that doesn’t require explanation.

Because for many patients, that’s what helps first.

Not having to explain everything, not feeling judged, just having something steady, right there with you.

Therapy dogs help lower stress, ease anxiety, and create space for people to open up at their own pace.

And in behavioral health, that kind of environment matters.

On National Pet Day, this is about the role they play here, supporting patients, building trust, and helping people move through difficult moments with a little more ease. 🤍🐶

04/11/2026

Some days, it’s hard to put into words what someone’s feeling… 🤍

That’s where a different kind of support steps in. 🐾

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, therapy dogs are part of the care team in a way people don’t always expect, but quickly come to appreciate. 🌿

A calm presence during group therapy.
A quiet moment of comfort when things feel overwhelming.
A connection that doesn’t require explanation.

Because for many patients, that’s what helps first.

Not having to explain everything, not feeling judged, just having something steady, right there with you.

Therapy dogs help lower stress, ease anxiety, and create space for people to open up at their own pace.

And in behavioral health, that kind of environment matters.

On National Pet Day, this is about the role they play here, supporting patients, building trust, and helping people move through difficult moments with a little more ease. 🤍🐶

04/11/2026

Four years of paws on the floor and somehow still the most popular one in the building… 🐾🤍

Link doesn’t carry a badge.
Doesn’t run tests.
Doesn’t write charts.

But the second he walks in, you can feel the shift.

At Ascension Saint Alexius, Link has become part of how people experience care. 🌿

A distraction during a long day.
A reason to smile when it’s been hard to.
A moment that breaks up everything else going on.

You’ll hear it before you see him…

“Is Link here today?”

Because for patients, families, and even staff, those visits stick.

The tail wags. 🐕
The quiet sits.
The way he somehow knows exactly where to be.

On National Pet Day, and as Link celebrates his 4th birthday, it’s a reminder of the role he plays in this community.

Not just as a therapy dog… but as part of the care itself. 🤍🎉

Happy Birthday Link! 🥳

04/10/2026

Over 100 kids. One walking path. And it was chaos in the best way. 🐰🥚

Kids running 🏃‍♀️
Laughter carrying across the walking path 😂
Families taking a moment to just enjoy being together 🌸

This past weekend at Ascension Saint Alexius, alongside Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, that’s exactly what it looked like. 🐰🥚

More than 100 kids showed up ready to hunt, explore, and fill their baskets, while parents and associates got something just as important… time together outside of the day-to-day.

Photos with the Easter Bunny 📸
Eggs scattered across the grounds 🧺
And a lot of moments that didn’t feel like work at all

Because community here isn’t just about the care provided inside the building, it’s also about creating space for families, connection, and a sense of belonging outside of it. 🌿

And days like this are a reminder of how much that matters. 🤍

04/10/2026

Over 100 kids. One walking path. And it was chaos in the best way. 🐰🥚

Kids running 🏃‍♀️
Laughter carrying across the walking path 😂
Families taking a moment to just enjoy being together 🌸

This past weekend at Ascension Saint Alexius, alongside Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, that’s exactly what it looked like. 🐰🥚

More than 100 kids showed up ready to hunt, explore, and fill their baskets, while parents and associates got something just as important… time together outside of the day-to-day.

Photos with the Easter Bunny 📸
Eggs scattered across the grounds 🧺
And a lot of moments that didn’t feel like work at all

Because community here isn’t just about the care provided inside the building, it’s also about creating space for families, connection, and a sense of belonging outside of it. 🌿

And days like this are a reminder of how much that matters. 🤍

04/09/2026

Reaching out for behavioral health support doesn’t come with a clear starting point. 🤍

It usually starts with uncertainty.

❓ A question you’re not sure how to ask.
❗ A situation that’s been building for a while.
💭 A moment where you finally decide to look for help.

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, patient access teams meet people right there. 🌿

🧩 They help sort through what’s going on.
💬 Talk through options.
🔎 And guide each person to the level of care that actually fits.

No bouncing around, no trying to figure it out alone, just someone helping you take the next step forward. 👣

Patient Access Week is a reminder of the people who show up at that exact moment, and make it easier to keep going. 🤍

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, we provide personalized mental health treatment plans.

04/09/2026

Reaching out for behavioral health support doesn’t come with a clear starting point. 🤍

It usually starts with uncertainty.

❓ A question you’re not sure how to ask.
❗ A situation that’s been building for a while.
💭 A moment where you finally decide to look for help.

At Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, patient access teams meet people right there. 🌿

🧩 They help sort through what’s going on.
💬 Talk through options.
🔎 And guide each person to the level of care that actually fits.

No bouncing around, no trying to figure it out alone, just someone helping you take the next step forward. 👣

Patient Access Week is a reminder of the people who show up at that exact moment, and make it easier to keep going. 🤍

04/09/2026

Family history comes up in conversation more than people realize… 🤍

Someone mentions an aunt.
A grandparent.
A pattern you didn’t think much about at the time.

And later, you wonder if it actually means something.

That’s exactly what this webinar is built to help you understand. 🌿

Join us for a free webinar, Decoding your DNA, where genetic counselor Anastasia Kathrens-Gallardo walks through how your personal and family history can reveal more about your cancer risk, and what you can do with that information.

She’ll break down when it makes sense to see a genetic counselor, what that process looks like, and how personalized screening and prevention can make a real difference.

Because understanding your risk shouldn’t feel overwhelming… it should feel like something you can actually do something with. 🤍

📅 Wednesday, April 29 at 6 p.m.
📲 Register link in the comments!

Presented by Anastasia Kathrens-Gallardo. The webinar will cover how recognizing patterns in your family and personal health history can help you understand your risk for cancer. It will explain when it may be helpful to see a genetic counselor and what to expect from a genetic counseling visit. Att...

04/08/2026

A hospital room can feel long for a child… 🤍

Same walls 🏥
Same routine 🔁
A lot of waiting ⏳

Then something small changes it. 🎨

At Ascension Saint Alexius and Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, expressive art therapy is showing up at the bedside in a different way. 🌿

Drawing 🖍️
Laughing 😊
Actually looking forward to something ✨

Families are noticing it too.

One parent shared that it “made me happy,” and another said their child was “very happy and excited” after participating.

That shift matters.

Because care for kids isn’t just about treatment.
It’s about how they feel while they’re here.

And sometimes, healing looks like a marker, a piece of paper, and a moment that breaks up the day. 🤍

04/08/2026

The emergency room is rarely someone’s best day.

It’s the moment when worry, pain, or uncertainty brings someone through the doors looking for help.

For Ashley Guy, RN, those moments are exactly why she chose emergency nursing. 💙

Ashley is a Clinical Lead Specialty nurse in the Emergency Department at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago, where she helps guide the night shift team while caring for patients during some of their most vulnerable moments. With experience as a travel ER nurse across the country, she quickly recognized something different when she arrived here.

✨ A team that moves together
✨ A culture built on supporting one another
✨ A focus on making sure patients leave feeling better than when they arrived

That mindset is deeply personal for Ashley. Her inspiration came from her grandmother, known as Grandma Buttons, a former ER nurse who practiced well into her 100s and built lifelong relationships with the families she cared for.

That legacy still shapes the way Ashley approaches every shift.

💙 Compassion first
💙 Dignity for every patient
💙 Teamwork that turns hard nights into meaningful ones

Ashley often reflects on a quote that guides her work in the ER:

“We’re all just walking each other home.”

And for every patient who walks through the emergency department doors at Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago, Ashley and her team are there to help guide the way. 👣

04/07/2026

🌏 Every year, World Health Day highlights a simple idea: health should be within reach for everyone.

But access still isn’t a given—especially for those who are uninsured or underinsured in our own communities.

That’s why we host Medical Mission at Home.

On Saturday, May 16, we’re opening the doors at Willow Creek Care Center to provide free care—no insurance, no cost, no barriers.

🩺 Medical care & screenings
🦷 Dental care
🧠 Mental & behavioral health support
🦶 Foot & wound care
🥗 Food & nutrition services
🏠 Housing & employment resources

🕗 Food distribution: 8–10 a.m.
🕚 Clinical services: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Since 2007, this work has been about more than a single day—it’s about making sure people don’t have to choose between their health and everything else.

♥️If you’ve ever had to delay care, you’re not alone. Please help us spread the word.

Learn more here: http://ascn.io/6189B6vSm3

Join us at the Medical Mission at Home event on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Willow Creek Care Center.

04/07/2026

🌏 Every year, World Health Day highlights a simple idea: health should be within reach for everyone.

But access still isn’t a given—especially for those who are uninsured or underinsured in our own communities.

That’s why we host Medical Mission at Home.

On Saturday, May 16, we’re opening the doors at Willow Creek Care Center to provide free care—no insurance, no cost, no barriers.

🩺 Medical care & screenings
🦷 Dental care
🧠 Mental & behavioral health support
🦶 Foot & wound care
🥗 Food & nutrition services
🏠 Housing & employment resources

🕗 Food distribution: 8–10 a.m.
🕚 Clinical services: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Since 2007, this work has been about more than a single day—it’s about making sure people don’t have to choose between their health and everything else.

♥️If you’ve ever had to delay care, you’re not alone. Please help us spread the word.

Learn more here: http://ascn.io/6183B6vSmR

Join us at the Medical Mission at Home event on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Willow Creek Care Center.