Spotlight Interview- Michelle Button, Passages Founder

By Karen Peterson, LCSW-R, PMH-C

What made you start Passages?

I knew I always wanted to be a therapist. From a young age, I had a curiosity about people’s stories and a passion for wanting to help others. After working in the field for a number of years, I started my own solo private practice. Although I loved the clinical work with clients, I found it very isolating. I really missed being part of a team and having other professionals to collaborate with.

At the same time, I was struggling to get pregnant and going through my own struggles with infertility. As a mental health professional, I was shocked at the lack of emotional support available during this process, and again felt very alone and isolated. 

This was where my first thought of starting a group practice came from. What if I could create a place where women felt supported and understood, without being judged? What if I could connect with like-minded professionals that could support each other and their clients?

In 2006, this was the “birth” of Passages. I  created a space for healing that focused on
supporting women through all of the different life transitions. From adolescence to the
golden years, our practice provides support to teens and women through the transitions
related to school, college, career, parenting, relationships, pregnancy and postpartum,
menopause, chronic health issues and loss and grief. As women, we appreciate the
emotional, physical and social factors related to our experiences through life.

What makes Passages unique from other mental health practices?

Passages is one of the few practices in our area that specializes in women’s mental health and wellness. Our clinicians are trained specifically in working with the unique challenges that women face throughout their life. Our Maternal Mental Health Program was also the first private group practice in Suffolk County to focus on pregnancy, postpartum, infertility and perinatal loss. 

Clients are our priority at Passages! Our staff goes above and beyond to make getting help easy and accessible for our clients. Client experience is our main focus, from the design of our offices to the most up to date training for our staff, we are always looking at ways to help our clients get the best quality care and efficient support. 

What is Maternal Mental Health?

Maternal Mental Health, or sometimes referred to as Perinatal Mental Health, focuses on the period from conception through the end of the first year after a woman has a baby. This is often an overlooked and misunderstood aspect of mental health for women. 

At Passages, our clinicians are trained specifically in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADS) and the related aspects of this specialized area of mental health for women. 

What can a potential client expect during their first call?

We appreciate how hard it can be to make that first call to get help! Our Intake Team makes the process of reaching out and getting started easy. New clients can either call or email our office directly and our Intake Coordinators will answer any questions potential clients might have. Any questions about insurance benefits, fees, scheduling or virtual and in office options can be discussed at this initial inquiry. 

Our goal is to assess your needs and match you with the best fit therapist at Passages. One of the benefits of a group mental health practice is we have a wide range of clinician specialties to match each client’s specific need.

Once you are scheduled with a therapist, we take care of the rest of the details! Our administrative team works super hard so you don't have to. From insurance verification to billing, we try to make the process as smooth as possible so you can focus on getting the support you need.

What are the offices like at Passages?

My goal was to create a warm and relaxing space for women to heal. From our beautiful and cozy offices to the spa music we have playing throughout, we try to create a peaceful environment to relax and unwind. Our goal is for our clients to experience a “time-out” from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 

Fun Fact About Me: If I weren’t a therapist, I might have become an interior designer! It is my therapy and self-care. When not at Passages, you often can find me at Home Goods!

How can therapy help?

Therapy is helpful in so many ways. At Passages, our initial evaluation is the starting point to identifying what challenges or changes a client is facing. From there, we work together to develop a plan to start to address the presenting concerns. Every client is unique and can benefit from different approaches to therapy. We help clients identify and change negative  thoughts, increase self-esteem, teach positive coping skills, learn stress management tools and techniques, address unhealthy patterns in relationships and assist in reaching personal goals. These are just a few ways therapy can be helpful. Sometimes, just having unbiased support outside of family and friends can be so helpful!

What are some of the challenges clients at Passages are dealing with?

At Passages, we work with clients dealing with a wide range of issues including anxiety & depression, pregnancy & postpartum, infertility, relationship issues, stress management, parenting, grief and loss, and couples couples therapy, just to name a few! Our clinical team all have different areas of expertise to best match the range of issues that clients are facing. 

Are all of the therapists similar at Passages?

In our practice, our clinicians share in our core values and passion in working with women, but each have different approaches to therapy and areas of expertise. Our therapists have different backgrounds and training as well as personalities. We value this diversity in our practice to help treat a wide range of clients and presenting issues. Our Intake Coordinators will help assist you in choosing the best therapist that matches your needs. 

Does Passages offer other services besides therapy? 

Yes! In addition to individual, family and couples counseling, we also offer support groups, workshops, community presentations and professional training. We are always looking to grow and expand our services and expand our reach to clients and the community.

What would you say to someone who is hesitant about reaching out for help?

You are not alone! So often when a new client reaches out, they say how long they waited to take that first step. Sadly, there is still a stigma around mental health and therapy. Some people believe you are weak if you need help or just aren't trying hard enough. That couldn’t be further from the truth. We believe having support only helps make us stronger. Therapy is often a PROACTIVE way to prevent things from getting worse. 

If you have thought about therapy but are unsure if it is the right fit for you, reach out now and we can help answer any questions you may have. Sometimes, just making that first call, is all you need to know if therapy can be helpful for you.