Choices of Alabama LLC

07/06/2022

Wow! It’s hard to believe, but Choices of Alabama has been serving the Birmingham area for 10 years y’all!! 🥳🎉 We are so grateful to have the privilege of walking alongside our clients through the years. We are also so thankful for our staff both present and past. You all are the backbone of Choices, and make it special. It’s definitely a team effort.

This is as good a time as any to share our AL Dept of Mental Health site visit scores from earlier this year. Our scores reflect our efforts and work on behalf of our clients. Congratulations team, and thank you again for 10 years! 💗💗💗

08/15/2021

04/15/2021

Choices has been busy during the pandemic renovating our office!! It feels so good to be welcoming people back for face to face counseling in our relaxing, professional setting 🥰. We’ve missed seeing y’all so much!! But we’ve made it......together! 💗

08/07/2020

The end of an era 😭 as Choices wishes good luck and farewell to Kandis Welch and Melanie Kennedy. They have been with Choices for years, and loved by clients and staff alike. Wishing you much happiness and success ladies! Thank you for all you have done for Choices.

07/26/2020

Choices of Alabama is undergoing some changes that I’d like to share with you. After months of thought and consideration, I have made the decision to downsize Choices of Alabama. I want to be completely transparent and open about the factors below that influenced my decision.

• In my role as a counselor, I find myself constantly educating clients on self care, but had not been practicing this in my personal life. I have come to realize that, due to my own chronic health problems, I needed to do a better job reducing my own stress and be more proactive in taking care of my health. These changes will allow me more time to do that.

• For 8 years, Choices has enjoyed a great working relationship with UAB Psychiatry Residents as our physicians. They have been a huge part of our Choices team and have contributed to our success. However, one of the main pieces of client feedback we have received over the years is the desire to be assigned to one doctor and not have to change as the Resident Psychiatrists come and go. I fully understand this concern. In an effort meet this request and to ensure continuity of care for our clients, we are downsizing to one staff psychiatrist so that clients will be able to see the same doctor consistently. Dr. Zuomin Chen, who has worked with Choices for 7 years, will be our staff Psychiatrist moving forward.

• One of our full time counselors Melanie Kennedy, LPC is retiring at the end of July 2020. She has been with Choices for 5 years. While we are so sad to see her depart our office, we are thrilled that she is embarking on this new chapter in her life! She has touched so many clients’ lives and made great impact in her work. Melanie has been a valued team member and has been a pleasure to work with. Choices will continue to employ Marion Coleman, LPC-S, Melinda Mearns, LPC and myself as counselors.

• Our Lead Administrative Assistant, Kandis Welch, is also departing Choices. Kandis has been with Choices for almost 7 years! She has been instrumental in building the business and has always been willing to take on new challenges and duties. Our clients have known Kandis to be their main contact on the telephone, so she has been a lifeline for many people calling in crisis. As a co-worker, she has been willing to help and does what it takes to meet our goals. We wish her the best as she moves on to the next phase in her career!

• I am excited to announce the decision to partner with our Clinical Director, Melinda Mearns. In addition to being a full time counselor at Choices, she will now be my partner in Choices’ day to day operations and fiscal responsibilities. I have worked with Melinda in various capacities since 2007, and am proud to have her expertise and assistance.

The Choices team is excited about the upcoming changes, and we believe that they will improve the quality of care we offer. Please know if you have any questions or concerns, you are welcome to email me at Lcover@choicesofalabama.com, message me on the Choices page, or call the office at (205) 639-1334.

Sincerely, Lisa Cover, Executive Director

06/27/2020

Due to the spike in Covid numbers this week, Choices will be suspending in office visits for a couple of weeks or until the numbers start dropping. We care greatly about the safety of our staff and employees, and do not want to risk anyone getting sick. All appointments will be by phone or video until further notice.

06/01/2020

Choices will be resuming in office appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Saturdays. This is to accommodate those who are not appropriate for telehealth or who prefer face to face appointments. It is 100% YOUR decision if you wish to come to the office for your appointment or continue telehealth appointments!

We are taking the following precautions to protect our patients and help slow the spread of the coronavirus.

• Office seating in the waiting room and in the counseling offices has been arranged for appropriate physical distancing.
• Our staff wear masks. We also have extra masks for anyone who might need one.
• Our staff maintain safe distancing.
• Restroom soap dispensers are maintained and everyone is encouraged to wash their hands.
• Hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol is available in the therapy offices and the lobby.
• Credit card pads, pens and other areas that are commonly touched are thoroughly sanitized after each use.
• Tissues and trash bins are easily accessed. Trash is disposed of on a frequent basis.
• Common areas are thoroughly disinfected at the end of each day.

05/29/2020

So true!