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Chairo –

The Greek word for joy, Chairo, is described as the “culmination of being” and the “good mood of the soul.” It is said that the opposite of joy is not sadness, but fear.

Secretary

Karly Humble has spent the last six years working with children and adults on the autism spectrum and those with other developmental and intellectual disabilities. She is passionate about teaching children emotion regulation strategies and social skills and has found that having these skills naturally reduces problematic

behaviors and increases confidence, engagement, and satisfaction with life. She has a degree in Psychology from Eastern Washington University, minoring in Applied Developmental Psychology.

Clinical Director

Katie Keith MSW, LICSW has 10 years of experience providing services in community mental health, medical and tele behavioral health settings. She currently provides tele behavioral health services through a HIPPA compliant platform.She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution focused,

brief intervention, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness techniques to help reduce the impact of symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions.

Executive Director & Director of Finance

Alexandria Zachariades MA, LMHC graduated from Naropa University, a Buddhist-inspired school in Boulder, Colorado, in 2019, with a focus on guiding individuals and communities through transpersonal experiences.She is a fully licensed LMHC and

has additional training and certification in Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, Harm Reduction, and EMDR Therapy while under the influence of Ketamine. She specializes in supporting at risk individuals with complex needs, particularly those with sexual trauma, using a mindfulness-based transpersonal approach to deepen self-awareness and self-compassion for healing.

About Chairo Health

We are dedicated to providing whole persons mental health services regardless of the individual’s ability to pay. Bridging the gap between traditional community mental health clinics and alternative evidence based treatment modalities is what we pride ourselves in serving to the community. Teaching individuals to become stewards of their own whole being (mind and body), while sharing our knowledge of somatic experiences with students of psychology.

What we see as Clinicians and Group Practice Owners

In Spokane County there are over 1,239 Mental Health Professionals in Private Practice. Of those 1,239 Professionals 63 take Medicare Insurance and 105 providers take Medicaid Insurance. Finding an out patient independent therapist in Spokane can be a difficult task for the most vulnerable of populations. There are many reasons why professionals are choosing not to take insurance however the biggest barrier is that Medicare does not allow for Associate Billing which does not allow for Associate Level Mental Health Professionals to support clients in out patient settings creating gaps in accessing services. Many Out Patient therapists provide specialized therapies including but not limited to a high level skill set in Trauma processing, Expressive Modalities and Family Therapy, which may be missing in Clinical Mental Health Settings.

As Practice Owners who take medicaid unable to associate bill for medicare clients, there are clients falling through the gaps as Medicaid Part B does not allow for reimbursement if Primary (Medicare) does not allow for associate billing.

As Practice Owners we see children ages 4-12 on Medicaid able to access services in Community Mental Health Clinics however in Private Practice in Spokane there are only 50 clinicians who are on Private Insurance Panels willing to see children. This gap causes late interventions further exacerbating aging symptoms later in life.

As Practice Owners We see high deductibles causing co-payment to be over $130 for services, where sometimes clients never reach deductible causing further deterrence from receiving help that is often times necessary for individuals healing and self preservation.

Our Story

Nearly four years after COVID-19 upended the ways we work and live, people are left to navigate this collective trauma from the pandemic while juggling their school, work and personal lives. In a recent survey of 250 business leaders and 3400 adults, it was revealed that, regardless of location, industry or financial status, most Americans are dealing with some type of mental health issue that is affecting them daily. One in five said that they have considered leaving their company in the last year due to their mental health and the impact on their ability to work. In this same survey, 55% of these adults said that they have children also struggling with mental health issues. These results are frightening.

While access to care is improving – about 78% of companies offer mental health resources, only about 19% of workers access these benefits.

The reasons vary and can often be complicated. The vast majority said it is challenging to navigate the system and find effective care at an affordable price. Most don’t understand the various modalities and options such as cognitive behavior therapy or other approaches, so they simply choose to do nothing. Between the costs, the stigma and the confusion, mental health problems are not easy to solve. In Spokane County, 9% of our residents are without insurance. In low-income groups, the mental health of them and their families must take a back seat to pragmatic needs such as rent and food. It is well-documented that higher levels of economic wealth can lead to more optimal health, and lower levels of economic wealth contribute to poor health. Additionally, it is well understood that one of the leading contributing factors to mental health problems is stress.

If we add the continued inflationary factors, it is no wonder that in the State of Washington over 13% of adults confess to suicidal ideations in the past month and in Spokane this number increases to 16.5%. From 2015-2019, adults with household incomes exceeding $50,000 were less likely to have mental distress (7.3%) compared to those with a household income less than 25,000 (26.6%; includes uninsured individuals). This cycle of depression may stem from early development as 43% of high school seniors in Spokane County expressed feelings of depression. Yet, despite a glaring need, the state funding has decreased 77% and local government has dropped 58% in the last 10 years. Many pundits attribute this diminished funding to the deceleration costs of medications used to treat mental illness, going off patent and lower cost equivalents becoming available. The 1990 movement of medication vs. mediation may now be allowing the government to cut vital funding programs in a time where it is in desperate need.

To put it all into perspective, mental health issues are on the rise. Options are limited and funding is scarce.

When government support fails, it is imperative for the community to take control. Chairo Health is a community-based nonprofit committed to bridging the gap between healing and pain for people of all backgrounds and financial mean

Our Solution

Access to mental health care is a fundamental human right, yet countless individuals face significant barriers in obtaining the support they desperately need. High deductibles, expensive co-pays, under insurance, and limitations within Medicare coverage often create an insurmountable financial burden for those seeking psychotherapy services. This gap in coverage not only exacerbates existing mental health issues but also perpetuates a cycle of economic instability and social isolation. A dedicated mental health fund aimed at bridging these financial barriers is essential to ensuring equitable access to care for all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status. By providing financial assistance for therapy sessions, this fund would empower individuals to prioritize their mental well-being without the fear of financial ruin. Investing in such a fund not only improves individual outcomes but also strengthens communities by fostering resilience and promoting holistic health for all members. It’s imperative that we recognize the critical importance of mental health care and take tangible steps to ensure that no one is left behind due to financial constraints. We carefully vet cases through financial hardship and insurance verification, from there we identify alternative Therapists in the community that are able to provide specific care. This can be but not limited to Art Therapy, EMDR Intensives, Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy, BioFeedback, Play Therapy, TMS.