The Brief
• Lutheran Community Services Northwest received a $500,000 anonymous donation plus matching funds up to $1 million to expand mental health services in Kennewick
• The Tri-Cities has only one counselor for every 350 residents, creating wait times of one to six months for routine therapy appointments
• The nonprofit plans to hire 25 additional staff and open a larger facility this summer at 7011 W. Canal Drive to address rising anxiety and depression cases among children and teens
KENNEWICK, Wash. — Mental health providers in the Tri-Cities say the region faces a critical shortage of counselors, particularly for youth services, as anxiety and depression cases continue to rise among children and teenagers.
Research conducted by Grace Clinic shows that the Tri-Cities has only one counselor for every 350 residents, contributing to wait times of 1 to 6 months for routine therapy appointments. Wait times for child and adolescent counseling often reach three to six months in the region.
“Particularly with young people, we’re seeing a lot of anxiety and depression seemingly on the rise,” said Dr. Wallace Robert Ascencio, a psychologist in the area.
The counselor shortage has become a significant barrier to accessing care, according to Ascencio, who noted that families often face delays when seeking help for their children.
Parents should watch for warning signs that may indicate their child needs mental health support, Ascencio advised. “Withdrawal, agitation, changes in demeanor, isolation, increased anxiety… those are generally some red flags,” he said.
Lutheran Community Services Northwest is working to address this shortage through a major expansion funded by a $500,000 anonymous donation and a dollar-for-dollar matching campaign, with a cap of $1 million. The organization plans to hire approximately 25 additional staff members to meet increasing demand for mental health services.
Sharon Gentry, district director for Lutheran Community Services Northwest, said more families are requesting help, but the current system cannot keep pace with demand.
“There’s just not enough out there to provide the level of care that is needed right now. So expanding for us is just being able to meet the need,” Gentry said.
The organization is partnering with universities and internship programs to recruit new counselors to the Tri-Cities and create pathways for them to remain in the community long-term.
“We partner with schools and students who are finishing up their practicum hours so that we can help invite students here to learn alongside us and then get hired on,” Gentry explained.
The strategy aims to address both immediate staffing needs and long-term retention by providing training opportunities that lead directly to employment in the region.
“As we grow, we will do that on time and be able to expand those services to the youth and families in our community,” Gentry said.
The new facility will be located in the former Amazon call center building at 7011 W. Canal Drive in Kennewick, situated near Hobby Lobby. The location is scheduled to open later this summer, while the matching campaign will continue through March 2027.
Once the new building opens, Lutheran Community Services Northwest plans to offer comprehensive mental health services for youth from birth to age 24, including individual and family counseling, medication management for ages 5-21, crisis stabilization programs, and school-based mental health support. The organization will provide evidence-based therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care, and EMDR.
The expansion will also include intensive programs such as Wraparound with Intensive Services (WISe) for youth under 21 with complex needs, and SWIFT, a 24/7 crisis stabilization program designed to help youth experiencing severe mental health crises avoid out-of-home placement.
Organization leaders hope the initiative will not only expand services but also encourage broader community conversations about mental health support for youth and families across the Tri-Cities.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY APPLE VALLEY NEWS NOW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.