Joanie Gallion, APRN-CNP, PMHNP is a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner who joined Southern West Virginia Health System in 2023. Since then, she has been working to improve the health and wellness of the patients she sees by providing local access to behavioral health in southern West Virginia.  

Joanie works with patients of all ages and stages providing behavioral health services at our Bobcat Health Center, LCHS Panther Center, Guyan Valley Wildcat Center, and Guyan Valley Wellness Center in Lincoln County.  

Joanie Gallion, APRN-CNP, PMHNP practices at:  

• Bobcat Health Center 

• LCHS Panther Center  

• Guyan Valley Wildcat Center 

• Guyan Valley Wellness Center  

Areas of focus for Joanie Gallion, APRN-CNP, PMHNP include 

• Mental Health/ Behavioral Health  

• School Based Health 

What is APRN-CNP? 

An APRN-CNP is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse – Family Nurse Practitioner and is focused on a patient-centered model of practice and education. APRN-CNP’s undergo specialized training and have met advanced educational and clinical practice requirements such as a Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice. The type of medical services an APRN-CNP can practice range from primary and preventive care to mental health & anesthesia depending on certifications.  

What is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)?  

A Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) is a mental health professional who holds a master’s degree in nursing and is licensed to assess, evaluate, diagnose, and treat mental health and substance misuse disorders from various evidence-based models and interventions. PMHNPs help individuals address various mental health concerns for the improvement of patients’ overall well-being using psychotherapy, focusing on psychotropic medication management and lifestyle changes that improve emotional and mental functioning for our patients.   

What is School-Based Health?   

At the heart of school-based health is the opportunity to provide school-aged children access to quality-driven medical care during the school day for acute care episodes, well-child visits, and chronic condition management, in an on-site clinic environment.  

What is the goal of school-based health centers?  

The goal of our school-based health center is to provide the children in our community with easier access to healthcare services to:  

• Help meet student care needs as they occur during the school day   

• Shorten the time taken to diagnose a health-related condition and begin treatment  

• Assist parents with helping their child/children to be seen by a provider without having to take time off work or travel to another location for diagnosis or treatment  

• Provide convenient access to well-child visits, immunizations, sports physicals and more   

How can I arrange for my child to participate in receiving care at Bobcat Health Center, LCHS Panther Center, and Guyan Valley Wildcat Center?  

For your child/children to be seen at one of our school-based health centers, a parent or guardian must return a completed school enrollment and consent form to our school-based health center.  For easy access to this form, we have provided a clickable pdf that you can download, fill-out, print out, and return to our school-based health staff.  If you would like a hard copy of this form, just let our staff know and they will be happy to assist you. 

How can I schedule a Behavioral Health appointment?   

If you are an established patient with a Southern West Virginia Health System primary care provider and are interested in Behavioral Health Services, contact your primary care provider to schedule an appointment with Joan Gallion.   

If you are not an established patient and would like to be, please contact the location nearest you to schedule an appointment. 

What are Behavioral Health Services?   

Behavioral health services are a critical aspect of health care, focusing on how behaviors, emotions, and mental health affect overall well-being. At Southern West Virginia Health System, we are proud to have a team of skilled behavioral health providers who offer personalized evidence-based support to individuals of all ages, helping them achieve mental wellness and improve their quality of life.   

What are Mental Health Services?   

Mental health services are a critical aspect of health care, focusing on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health conditions with emphasis on the biological, neurological, and psychological aspects of overall health. At Southern West Virginia Health System, we are proud to have a skilled psychiatric provider in our network of School Based Health Centers (SBHC) who offers personalized evidence-based support, helping school-aged children achieve mental wellness and improve their quality of life.  

Are behavioral health and mental health the same thing?  

Though often used interchangeably, behavioral health and mental health are not exactly the same. Behavioral health is a broader term and refers to how our mental health as well as physical health impact our lives. Additionally, our behaviors, and lifestyle choices also impact our physical and emotional well-being and may be the focus of treatment. Traditional Mental health, on the other hand, typically refers to addressing mental disorders using psychotherapy, medication management and lifestyle changes that improve emotional and mental functioning.    

What behavioral and mental health conditions does Southern West Virginia Health System treat?   

Our Behavioral Health services and Mental Health Services address a range of concerns, including but not limited to:   

• Substance Misuse and Recovery   

• Anxiety   

• Autistic Spectrum Disorder identification, solution-focused therapy, and referral  

• Depression   

• Bipolar Disorder   

• Suicidal Thoughts and Other Self-Injury   

• Eating Disorders  

• Coping with Chronic Pain and Disease   

• Lifestyle Changes   

• And More!  

We are here to support you on your journey to better health and overall well-being.