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Working as a school-based therapist in Reading, Tremayne Jones was bothered by what he perceived as gaps in the service component of the mental health industry
He observed that treatment was not always evenly allocated, leaving some students short-changed in their care
“I saw this pattern of how people who had medical assistance were treated, and I always thought that if I ever had the chance to operate a clinic, I’d do it differently,” he said. “I wanted to make it better for the kids.”
Just five years after leaving his school job, Jones, a 1996 graduate of Reading High School, is the owner of Betterview Counseling and Trauma Recovery, a practice with 60 employees and locations in Berks and Chester counties
In addition, Betterview provides therapy services in 30 different schools within five Berks County school districts
His business model, explained Jones, who holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from Lincoln University, is to make every client feel comfortable and respected while providing a range of proven therapy options to treat patients of all ages and circumstances
He eventually hopes to create entities within Betterview that span the breadth of the mental health treatment chain – from outpatient to hospitalization
“I’d like to offer every level of care so that clients can get the services they need in a seamless manner,” Jones said
Working to Make Care Accessible
Determined to close the treatment gaps he’d experienced during his work as a school therapist, Jones worked tirelessly to get his practices in Berks and Chester counties certified as state licensed clinics
Having that certification enables the counseling firm to serve clients who receive medical assistance as well as those with private insurance
Being able to provide care for those with medical assistance helps to fill a widespread need
“Without access to a state-licensed clinic, these folks have a lot of trouble finding mental health treatment,” he said. “They fall through the cracks, and that’s not right.”
Currently, staff members see clients in two buildings in Wyomissing, both located on North Park Road. The larger of those facilities, located at 716 N. Park Road, operating as Betterview Community Mental Wellness, opened in June 2024 to provide more space than was available at the original Wyomissing location
The larger practice was certified in May as a state-licensed psychiatric clinic, with a ribbon cutting held in August to celebrate the transition
The Chester County location, 21 E. Lancaster Ave. in Downingtown, was acquired last November and was licensed as a psychiatric clinic in June
Recognizing a need for additional treatment opportunities in Schuylkill County, Jones is working on preliminary plans with the O’Pake Institute for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship to open a counseling center there
Betterview also recently was credentialed with Medicare, enabling it to bill for services provided to eligible patients. That helps fill a need in Chester County, where there’s a shortage of providers who accept Medicare coverage
“Wherever the need is, we’ll gravitate toward it,” he said
Creating a Welcoming Space
Jones is adamant that Betterview’s client spaces be welcoming and friendly, and has gone to some lengths to make that happen
The lobby of the primary Wyomissing treatment facility includes artwork by Theron Cook, a local artist known for his murals. Cook, who recently painted inside the Reading Pagoda, also is the founder of Don’t Quit, an entity focusing on mental health
There also is space in the lobby for clients to leave or take encouraging notes such as “Good things take time,” “My future is filled with possibilities,” and “Keep going, you’ve got this!”
“The intent was to create an environment that people would want to come to,” Jones said
Also in the Wyomissing location are 17 therapy rooms, an office for a nurse practitioner, a medical room where professionals monitor patients receiving medications, business offices, a kitchen and lunch area and a large conference room used for trainings, orientations and group therapy sessions
Some of the therapy rooms are especially outfitted for children, one with a large, smiling giraffe painted on the wall
“It’s about making people feel comfortable,” Jones explained. “If you can do that, you’ll have much more successful treatment.”
Jones also works hard to create a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for staff members, believing that caregivers must be treated well in order to do their best work
Wide Range of Services
Betterview offers a wide range of services, including online therapy, anxiety treatment, teen counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma therapy and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment, family therapy and treatment for depression
The practice also includes five therapists trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocess (EMDR), a type of therapy that uses bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or tapping to help the brain reprocess traumatic memories
In addition to providing in-school therapy for students in Reading, Wilson, Gov. Mifflin, Antietam and Conrad Weiser school districts, Betterview partners with Reading Pediatrics to serve patients
Jones explained the practice is always looking to add services that fill needs within the communities it serves
“We’re always looking to fill those gaps, but we aren’t just trying to check a box,” he said. “We want to provide care that is unique and produces positive outcomes.”
Breaking Down Barriers to Treatment
In addition to their goal of making treatment accessible to everyone seeking it, Jones and his employees work to destigmatize negative attitudes regarding mental health treatment
Staff members spend time at community events, meeting people and letting them know that help is available. As a result, Jones explained, clients talk to and encourage one another in their care, which decreases anxiety over seeking treatment
“Nobody talks about therapy, but when people feel comfortable, they’re more likely to be okay with it,” Jones said. “Most of our patients hear about us from other patients and to me, that’s the ultimate validation.”
