HBH Primary Care & Behavioral Health

07/24/2025

Exciting news for our Huntington location!

Every Monday and Tuesday from 8:00am - 5:30pm we will be providing Walk-in PRIMARY CARE services at our Huntington Office!

If you don't have a Primary Care Provider, or have an immediate need primary care need on Mondays or Tuesdays, please call for an immediate appointment or drop by and "walk-in".

For questions please call the office at 304-523-1142.

07/21/2025

Another Monday Mental Health Minute with Michael.....

There is a difficult truth that needs to be said.

We’re often taught from a young age to “be nice.”
Smile. Say please. Don’t make waves. Keep the peace.

But somewhere along the way, many of us confuse being nice with
being kind, and there is a big difference.

Being Nice is About Appearance.

It wants to avoid conflict. It plays it safe.
It says what people want to hear even if it’s not honest or helpful.

Nice is often, polite, even when something’s wrong, agreeable, even when something needs to be said, focused on being liked rather than being real

But here’s the thing, nice can leave people feeling comfortable, but unchallenged, unchanged. Is that a good thing?

Being Kind is About Integrity.

Kindness is rooted in truth.
It’s loving, but it’s also honest.
It doesn’t avoid conflict to keep the peace, it creates real peace by caring enough to speak or act, even when it’s hard.

Kindness looks like, setting boundaries with love, saying no without guilt, speaking the truth in grace, not in silence, doing what’s right, not just what’s pleasant

Kindness is a risk, you risk looking “mean”, uncaring, being misunderstood, But that risk is to actually help someone heal.

Nice avoids tension.

Kindness enters the mess.

Nice says nothing when something's wrong.

Kindness speaks when silence is harm.

Nice wants to be liked.

Kindness wants to love well.

We need more kindness in the world, not just niceness.
The kind of love that shows up, even when it's inconvenient.
The kind of presence that holds space for truth, even when it’s uncomfortable.

So today, let’s choose something deeper than being “nice.”
Let’s choose to be kind. Brave. Honest. Human.

~Michael Starr, LICSW, Behavioral Health Director

06/23/2025

Please stay hydrated and out of the heat as much as possible over the next couple of days. If you don't have a place to cool down, please look at visiting one of these cooling centers in our area.

🪭🧊🌞 Come cool down with us ❄️🪭☀️

06/17/2025

Today's post was written by Michael Starr, LICSW, Behavioral Health Director

Sometimes we just need to be reminded that the light is still there—and that we still belong in it.

I will never claim to have the answers. I don’t think it’s about having answers at all. I think it’s about curiosity, not judgment—the question why asked with a heart to understand, not to demean.
I’ve stumbled. I’ve struggled. I’ve wrestled with purpose. And if you’ve ever felt like you’re too far gone, too broken, or too stuck, I ask you to remember this:

You are not.
You carry strength.
You have worth.
And no matter how quiet that inner voice gets, you are not alone.

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being willing—

Willing to try again.
Willing to believe that healing is possible.
Willing to reach for something better, not because it’s easy, or because it always feels good in the moment, but because deep down, you know you were meant for more.

Sometimes we just need someone to say:
“I see you. I’ve been there. You don’t have to stay there.”

If that’s you, if this post resonates, maybe it’s time.
And if you’ve already started the climb, maybe you’re not alone, maybe you’re just early.
And maybe, just maybe, we are meant, not to look back to judge
We look back with a hand extended, to help someone else rise.

If you are ready to rise, call us today.
304-523-1142

06/12/2025

Today's post was written by our Behavioral Health Director, Michael Starr, LICSW.

What if the opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety… but connection?

There’s a study I can’t stop thinking about. Researchers gave mice unlimited access to co***ne and of course, they got hooked. But here’s the twist, when those same mice were taken out of isolation and placed in a vibrant, enriched environment filled with toys, tunnels, social interaction, and stimulation they stopped using. Not because the drug became less addictive… but because life became more meaningful.
That’s not just about mice. That’s about us.

Healing isn’t just about removing the substance, the behavior, or the pain. It’s about building something in its place. A life worth staying for. A circle of people who see you. A rhythm that makes sense. Purpose. Play. Presence.
If you’re struggling, or if someone you love is don’t underestimate the power of community and purpose. Don’t underestimate the impact of shared laughter, movement, creativity, and simply being with one another.

We don’t heal in isolation. We heal in connection.

Let’s keep building spaces that feel like home. Let’s choose each other. Let’s remember that sometimes, the best medicine isn’t a pill or a program it’s belonging.

Remember - You are never alone. We are always just a phone call away.
304-523-1142

06/11/2025

JUNE IS MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH MONTH

Let's just get straight to the point...
Men struggle too.
They just get really good at hiding it.
Because somewhere along the way,
“Be a man” started meaning that men don’t feel, don’t cry, don’t ask for help.

And that toxic noise? It’s killing people.

So here’s what we need you to know if you’re reading this and hurting:
🚫 You are not weak for feeling.
🚫 You are not broken because you’re tired.
🚫 You are not a burden just because you’re carrying too much.

YOU ARE HUMAN.

You can be strong and struggle. You can lead AND lean on others.
You can fall apart and still come back swinging.
We lose too many good men to silence.
So this month — and every month — let’s do better.
Check in. Speak up. Sit with the uncomfortable stuff.
Real strength? That’s showing up, even when you’re falling apart.

💥 This post is your permission slip:
Feel it. Say it. Get help. You deserve that much.

06/11/2025

Please note, our WAYNE location will be closed tomorrow, The HUNTINGTON office will be open and will be answering any calls made to the Wayne office. They will resume regular business hours on Monday 6/16/25.

06/10/2025

June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

But most men don’t say “I need help.”
🧔🏽‍♂️They start drinking more.
🧔🏽‍♂️Sleeping less.
🧔🏽‍♂️Getting short with their kids.
🧔🏽‍♂️Working longer hours so no one asks how they’re really doing.
🧔🏽‍♂️Staying busy or zoning out, anything to avoid feeling what’s there.

At HBH Primary Care & Behavioral Health, we get it.
You weren’t taught to talk about it.
You were taught to handle it.
But handling it alone is burning you out.

We offer:
🧠 Psychiatric assessments that help you understand what’s actually going on.
💊 Medication management if your brain needs backup.
🧩 Substance use support if numbing out has become part of the routine.
No lectures. No judgment. Just space to finally breathe and figure it out.
This month, you don’t have to make a big announcement.
Just take the first step.
We’ll meet you there:
Call us today 304-523-1142

06/09/2025

🖤 June is Men's Mental Health Month: A Time for Awareness and Support 🖤
Men's mental health is a crucial topic that often doesn't receive enough attention. Men face silent struggles and societal pressures to "man up." They are often expected to be providers, protectors, and stoic figures, but it is so important to remember that men are human too. They have emotions and can be overwhelmed by the weight of their responsibilities.

The statistics are sobering:
- Men are less likely than women to seek help for mental health issues.
- Su***de rates are significantly higher among men, often due to untreated mental health problems.
- Men are often conditioned to hide their feelings, which can lead to internalized stress and mental health challenges.

The theme for this month and beyond is: It’s strong to ask for help. It's brave to cry. It's powerful to be vulnerable.

Here are some ways to support men's mental health:
- Encourage open conversations about emotions and mental well-being.
- Check in regularly with male friends, family, and colleagues.
- Share resources and information about mental health support services.
- Normalize the act of seeking professional help when needed.
To the men who have battled through darkness, who have faced challenges head-on, and to those who are on the journey of healing, know that you are seen, respected, and valued. Your strength comes from acknowledging your vulnerabilities and seeking support. Remember, you are not alone.

Together let's break the stigma and support each other. Mental health matters, especially when it's challenging to acknowledge. 🖤

06/05/2025

🧠 June is Men’s Mental Health Month 💚

To every man who’s ever been told to “toughen up” when he was really breaking down you deserve more than silence.
To every boy who grew up thinking emotions were weakness your feelings are valid.
To every father, brother, son, or friend carrying silent battles you are not alone.
It’s time we normalize therapy, real conversations, rest, vulnerability, and emotional wellness not just survival.

Strong men speak up.
Healthy men heal.
Brave men ask for help.
This month, and every month, let’s remind our men:
It’s okay to not be okay.

Check on your people. Be gentle with yourself. Break the stigma. 💙