Help change a life in your community. Your donation to The Up Center’s mental health and substance use programs provides vital support for those who are struggling.
Please support mental health and substance use counseling. At The Up Center, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to heal, grow, and feel supported – no matter where they are in life. We’ve been helping people for more than 140 years, and in that time, we’ve found that when it comes to mental health and substance use, no one heals alone. Healing happens in community. It occurs when people are met with compassion, not judgment. It occurs when help feels close, not far away
Our Impact
individuals, families, & youth received mental health counseling
of individuals reported improvement in their mental & emotional health
individuals received REVIVE! a life-saving training that teaches how to respond to opioid overdoses
Understanding the Connection
Mental health and substance use are deeply connected. For some people, substance use begins as a way to handle anxiety, depression, trauma, or stress. For others, substance use itself creates new emotional and psychological struggles. One challenge fuels the other, and before long, life becomes overwhelming.
At The Up Center, we don’t see two separate problems – we see a single person with a story that deserves to be heard. That’s why our Mental Health and Substance Use programs are designed to work hand-in-hand. Whether someone comes to us because of depression, trauma, or addiction, we approach their care in a way that considers the whole person – mind, body, and spirit.
When people feel supported, recovery becomes possible. When they are surrounded by a caring team, they can begin to imagine a different kind of life – and that’s often where real change starts.
Approach
Our philosophy is simple: meet people where they are and guide them toward where they want to be. We call it person-centered care, but to us, it’s really just human care. We listen first. We learn what’s really going on beneath the surface. And together, we create a plan that feels achievable, not overwhelming.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Integrated care – We treat mental health and substance use together because they are often connected.
- Family and youth focus – We work with children, teens, and families, helping them build healthier relationships and stronger emotional foundations.
- Peer recovery support – In our Substance Use program, clients are supported by people who have walked similar paths. These peers bring understanding, encouragement, and real-life hope.
- Trauma-informed practice – Many who come to us have experienced trauma, and we take great care to ensure that our services are safe, respectful, and empowering.
- Ongoing support – Recovery doesn’t end when the crisis does. We help people build the skills, community connections, and confidence to sustain long-term change.
The goal isn’t just to treat symptoms – it’s to help people rediscover their sense of self-worth and purpose.
Our Programs
Mental Health
Mental health is the foundation of everything we do. It shapes how we think, feel, connect, and make choices. Our Mental Health program provides counseling and therapy for children, teens, adults, and families.
We offer individual therapy, family counseling, and specialized services for people coping with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, and other challenges. For children and teens, our team uses age-appropriate therapies to help them express emotions, build resilience, and strengthen relationships at home and school.
Every session is approached with compassion and understanding. We don’t rush people toward solutions; instead, we focus on creating a space where they can feel seen, safe, and supported. Because only when someone feels truly heard, healing becomes possible.
Our clinicians are also trained to recognize when mental health struggles may be linked to substance use. That’s when we collaborate closely with our Substance Use team to ensure clients receive holistic care that addresses both issues.
Substance Use
Recovery from substance use is rarely a straight path – it’s a process of rediscovery. In our Substance Use program, we help people rebuild their lives with dignity, hope, and practical support.
We provide counseling, recovery coaching, and group sessions for individuals who want to change their relationship with substances. We work with adults and youth at different stages of readiness – some just starting to think about change, others already in recovery.
One of the unique features of our program is peer recovery support. Peers are individuals who have experienced addiction and recovery themselves. They understand what it feels like to struggle and what it takes to rebuild. Their insight and encouragement make a tremendous difference in helping people feel less alone.
We also address co-occurring disorders, when someone is dealing with both a mental health challenge and substance use. Our integrated model ensures that neither issue is ignored, and that the path toward recovery feels cohesive and compassionate.
At The Up Center, recovery isn’t just about abstaining – it’s about reclaiming a full, meaningful life. That includes reconnecting with family, finding stable housing or employment, and developing coping tools that support lasting wellness.
Why your Support Matters
The Up Center’s mission depends on people who believe that strong families create strong communities. When you donate, you directly support programs like Strengthening Children and Families, helping parents build stability and giving children the safety and guidance they deserve.
Your contribution—whether a single gift or a monthly commitment—provides counseling, parent education, and early interventions that keep families together and help them grow. Even small acts of generosity create real change for children who need steady support and for caregivers doing their best under pressure.
If you’re able, we invite you to stand with us. Your support ensures we can continue offering practical help, compassionate guidance, and hope for families across our region. Together, we can give every child a stronger foundation.
Holistic Support Succeeds: How it Works
Mental health and substance use are not isolated problems, they are part of a larger picture that includes relationships, housing, finances, and community. That’s why The Up Center offers multiple services under one roof. When someone comes to us for counseling, we can also connect them with resources for family support, housing stability, and financial coaching if needed.
This holistic approach makes recovery more sustainable. It’s not just about reducing symptoms; it’s about rebuilding stability, security, and hope. People are more likely to stay in recovery when they have a safe place to live, a supportive network, and a reason to believe in the future.
Our mission has always been to lift people up – to help them find strength, dignity, and connection when life feels overwhelming. Every service we offer, from therapy to peer mentoring, is built around that believe.
Overcoming Barriers to Care
Many people delay getting help because of shame or fear. They worry that addressing they’re struggling will make them seem weak, or that no one will understand. That’s why one of our top priorities is to create an environment of safety and acceptance.
We remind our clients that asking for help isn’t a sign of failure – it’s a sign of courage. It’s the first step toward something better.
We also understand that life doesn’t stop just because someone decides to get help. Our programs are flexible, designed to fit into busy lives and changing circumstances. Whether through in-person counseling, group support, or community partnerships, we do everything we can to make care accessible and approachable.
Real life success stories
F.A.Q.
Everything you need to know about donating to the Mental Health & Substance Use Programs
Donations allow The Up Center to offer counseling, peer support, crisis intervention, and long-term recovery services to people who otherwise could not afford care. Community support ensures that no child, teen, or adult is turned away because of financial barriers.
Your gift helps fund therapy sessions, trauma-informed care, youth counseling, and specialized services for people coping with depression, anxiety, grief, and other mental health challenges. Donations also help shorten waitlists so families can receive support when they need it most.
Contributions make it possible to provide recovery coaching, substance use counseling, peer mentoring, and support groups. Donations also help individuals access the tools they need—transportation, recovery resources, safety planning, and life-skills coaching—to stay on the path to long-term sobriety.
Many clients struggle with both mental health challenges and substance use. Donations fund integrated, holistic care that treats both issues together. This kind of support is life-changing—and often life-saving—because people receive the full spectrum of services they need to heal.
Yes. Donations help support family counseling, youth mental health services, prevention programs, and early intervention for teens at risk of substance use. When families receive support together, recovery becomes stronger and more sustainable.
Every gift strengthens the foundation for long-term recovery by helping clients secure stable housing, access financial counseling, rebuild family relationships, and develop coping skills that last. Your support creates ripple effects that strengthen the entire community.
The Up Center provides multiple services under one roof—mental health counseling, substance use treatment, youth programs, family support, housing stability, financial coaching, and more. Your donation fuels a holistic model proven to help people rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and hope.
Absolutely. Even modest contributions help cover session costs, transportation, emergency needs, and materials for counseling or support groups. Small donations multiply into big impact—especially for families in crisis.
Yes. Every dollar stays in our community, supporting children, teens, adults, and families across Hampton Roads and surrounding areas. Your contribution directly helps neighbors who are struggling.
You can donate online, by mail, or by reaching out to The Up Center’s development team. Every gift—no matter the size—helps provide life-changing mental health and substance use support to people who need it most.
A Message of Hope
Mental health challenges and substance use disorders can feel isolating—but no one has to face them alone. At The Up Center, we’ve built programs that focus on human connection, understanding, and empowerment. We believe in meeting people with compassion and guiding them toward recovery that lasts.
If you or someone you love is struggling, know that help is available—and healing is possible. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You just have to take the first step, and we’ll be here to walk beside you.
We’ve seen incredible things happen when someone finds the courage to reach out for support. A parent who thought they had lost their child to addiction watches them rebuild their life, one day at a time. A teenager who felt invisible begins to find their voice through counseling. A person who once believed they were beyond help learns that they can laugh again, work again, dream again. Every one of these stories begins the same way—with someone deciding they don’t have to go through it alone.
Recovery is not a straight line. It’s a journey filled with progress and setbacks, hope and hard work. But each step, no matter how small, is a victory. At The Up Center, we walk that journey – celebrating the milestones, sitting with them through the hard days, and always reminding them that growth is still possible. Our team believes that every person who walks through our doors already has the strength they need inside of them. Our role is simply to help them see it, nurture it, and trust it again.
At The Up Center, we don’t just help people recover – we help them rediscover who they are and who they can become. We believe that every person has a story worth rewriting, a future worth fighting for, and a life worth living fully. And every day, in big ways and small ones, we see that transformation happen. That’s what keeps us going. That’s what keeps us hopeful.
So if you’re reading this and wondering whether things can get better, we want you to know: they can. They do. And they will. Every journey begins with that first step. You don’t have to do it alone. We’ll walk with you every step of the way – because everyone deserves the chance to heal, to grow, and to find their way back to hope.
