The Guidance Center

06/18/2026

Employee morale officers conducted an unexpected lawn inspection at Horizon Renewal Center today. Their report: plenty of grass, plenty of sunshine, and plenty of reasons to keep moving forward. 🐴☀️

The Guidance Center

06/16/2026

Looking for care that sees the whole you? Whole Health Primary Care is now accepting new clients!

Located on the same campus as The Guidance Center, Whole Health Primary Care makes it easier to care for both your physical and mental health in one convenient location. Whether you need a primary care provider, psychiatric medication management, or both, our compassionate team is here to help.

We believe your health is connected — mind and body — and your care should be too. That’s why we go beyond the exam room by helping coordinate care with mental health services, community resources, and support for your total well-being.

✨ Whole Person. Whole Care. Whole Health.

📍 3117 So. 70th Street, Fort Smith
📞 479-785-9400
🕗 Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
✅ Accepting most major insurance carriers

Call today to schedule an appointment with Whole Health Primary Care!

06/11/2026

Join Our Growing Team in Conway and Russellville!

Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance, dba The Guidance Center is excited to announce: as a long standing Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) for the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services, we are expanding our services into Region 2. This expansion will allow us to serve an additional 10 counties and continue our mission of providing quality behavioral health services to communities across Arkansas.

As part of this growth, we will open new office locations in Conway and Russellville, and we are seeking passionate, dedicated professionals to join our team.

Current Openings:

Conway Office
● County Service Representative
● FORP (Forensic Outpatient Restoration Program) Paraprofessional Provider
● Licensed Mental Health Professionals

Russellville Office
● County Service Representative
● FORP (Forensic Outpatient Restoration Program) Paraprofessional Provider
● Licensed Mental Health Professionals

Why Join The Guidance Center?

At The Guidance Center, we are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of
individuals and families throughout Arkansas. We offer the opportunity to work alongside a compassionate team dedicated to excellence in behavioral healthcare and community support.

If you are looking for a meaningful career where you can make a difference, we would love to hear from you!

How to Apply:

Please send your resume with the location you would like to work at to:
[email protected]

We look forward to welcoming new team members as we continue to grow and serve more communities across the state.

Guidance & Counseling We can help.   We will help. As a licensed and accredited community health center, The Guidance Center provides a wide range of coordinated health care services to treat mental, emotional, behavioral, and substance use disorders across Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Polk, Scott, a...

06/11/2026

What a great day at the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Business Expo!

Sylvia and Bobby were proud to represent The Guidance Center and Horizon Renewal Center, connecting with community members, business leaders, and fellow organizations while sharing information about the many services and programs we offer throughout the River Valley.

This event is always one of our favorite community gatherings of the year. It provides a wonderful opportunity to build relationships, learn from others, and showcase the resources available to help individuals and families find hope, healing, and support.

We would also like to give a special shoutout to The Guidance Center's own Saige Small, who was recognized today as a graduate of the Leadership Crawford County - Arkansas Class of 2026. We are incredibly proud of Saige for her commitment to professional growth, community involvement, and leadership. Congratulations on this well-deserved accomplishment, Saige—we can't wait to see all the great things you'll continue to do!

A big thank you to the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce for hosting another outstanding event and for bringing together so many businesses and organizations that are working to make our communities stronger.

If you stopped by our booth today, thank you for visiting with us—we loved seeing familiar faces and meeting new friends!

Rustic Farm & Pet Services - Member of the Year Entrepreneur
Renae Fight - 2026 Mover & Shaker Award
Matthew Pewterbaugh - Ambassador of the Year
Arts On Main - Member of the Year Business Nonprofit
Maryl Purvis - 2026 Iverson Riggs Citizen of the Year Award

United Way of Fort Smith
Rhodes Chevy
Keep Van Buren Beautiful
Methodist Village Senior Living
River Valley Nonprofits
Elmer's Chem-Dry

06/11/2026

🎉 Congratulations, Jamie Ridgley and Eric Selby! 🎉

The Guidance Center is so proud of Jamie and Eric for graduating from the Fort Smith Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association! This 12-week program was both educational and fun, but it was also a big commitment — and they showed up ready to learn, grow, and represent The Guidance Center well.

The graduation ceremony was held Tuesday evening at Grand Avenue Baptist Church. While Eric wasn’t able to attend the ceremony, our CEO, Rusti, was there to cheer Jamie on and celebrate this exciting accomplishment.

Jamie and Eric already go above and beyond every day in their roles with the Crisis Stabilization Unit and Crisis Services. Now, thanks to the knowledge and training gained through the academy, they are even better equipped to serve our community and continue building strong connections with local law enforcement.

We are also grateful for our local law enforcement officers and all they do to protect, serve, and support the citizens of Fort Smith and the surrounding area. 💙

Way to go, Jamie and Eric! We are proud of you both! 👏🚔

06/03/2026

Today, we attended the Poverty Simulation Event hosted by Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and it was truly an educational and eye-opening experience.

Through real-life scenarios and role playing, participants were given a deeper look into what individuals and families living in poverty may face every day — the difficult choices, barriers, stress, and challenges that can come with trying to meet basic needs.

It was also a great opportunity to network with other local organizations such as Harbor House, Inc., River Valley Primary Care Services, Arc for the River Valley, Literacy Council of Western Arkansas and Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs to share resources supporting people in our area. Eric and Saige also hosted a table for The Guidance Center, sharing information about our services and the help available in our community.

We are grateful for opportunities like this that help us better understand, connect, and serve with compassion. 💙

06/03/2026

We are looking to hire RN & LPN nurses with hearts for helping others!

The Crisis Stabilization Unit is hiring PRN nurses to work as needed, with the possibility of additional hours or even full-time opportunities in the future.

Our CSU is open 24/7, so available hours may include any of our three shifts. This is a meaningful opportunity to work alongside a wonderful, caring team while making a real difference in the lives of clients during some of their most difficult moments.

If providing exceptional patient care and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others is a passion, The Guidance Center would love to welcome a dedicated professional to a team committed to bringing help, hope, and healing to our community.

Please email your resume to [email protected].

Questions? Call Jamie at 479-785-9480 ext. 13000.

The Guidance Center is a licensed and accredited non-profit community health center, we provide a wide range of coordinated services to treat mental, emotional, behavioral and substance use disorders across six counties in western Arkansas.

06/01/2026

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, our commitment to mental health continues year-round.

Keep the conversation going. Check in on friends, neighbors, and family—sometimes a simple “How are you really doing?” can make all the difference.

If you're struggling, know that there is no shame in asking for help. Seeking support is a sign of strength, and you don’t have to face challenges alone.

Together, we can reduce stigma, encourage open conversations, and build stronger, more supportive communities.

At The Guidance Center, we're here for you. Mental health awareness doesn’t end with May—and neither does our support.

💚 Help. Hope. Healing. We're Here.

05/30/2026

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