Cross Connections Brings Telehealth Counseling to the Area

Cross Connects is physically located on the eastern outskirts of the town of Windham, along Route 23, offering rental office space to multiple health care professionals while fully accessing the cyber world.

WINDHAM - It makes perfect sense that a simple song can easily explain the inspiration behind Cross Connects, a telehealth network of mental health practitioners based in the town of Windham.

Charlene Cross, a native daughter of the mountains, has returned home while adapting to changing times, helping clients internally do the same.

“When the traditions of Mental Health are not meeting your needs, Cross Connects is a small and personable group of providers dedicated to providing something different,” her website states.

“We work towards providing a safe place to feel free to be yourself in the environment you feel most comfortable in ways that are best suited for you,” the website states. 

“Every person is different- shouldn't their treatment reflect that individuality? Telehealth is a great way to provide support at a time and place, and in a way, that can bring an "out of the box" experience,” the website states.

“Cross Connects is a primarily telehealth practice with some in person session options (hybrid approach),” the website states.

Areas of expertise include addiction, ADHD, anxiety, career counseling, depression, divorce, domestic abuse, eating disorders, family conflict, elderly persons disorder, grief, infertility, infidelity and life transitions.

Therapeutic sessions are also available in marital and premarital parenting, pregnancy, prenatal, postpartum, relationship issues, school Issues, self esteem, spirituality, stress, substance use, suicidal Ideation and women.

Cross, in a recent interview, told how her own life took an unexpected path, serendipitously nudged toward a career in psychotherapy by a singing appearance in the summer of 1999, when she was 9 years old.

“My dad was good friends with the late, great Guy Garraghan,” says Cross, referring to the original voice of WRIP radio in Windham.

“They were having their Grand Opening and wanted somebody to sing the National Anthem. I auditioned, got chosen, and I was even able to cut the [ceremonial] ribbon,” Cross says.

Growing up in nearby Gilboa, earning a scholarship for Music Education, she attended college in Rochester, intent on a music career.

Fate intended otherwise. “We had a lot of requirements in undergraduate studies where they sent us out to schools to work with students. I was assigned a special education classroom,” Cross says.

“I found it to be such a beautiful experience, seeing what they gave each child in such a short period of time. I felt pulled to it.

“I would have loved to be a singer, but I feel there is a higher power that leads us in the direction we are supposed to go,” Cross says.

“That classroom was the pull I needed. I switched my major and this became something I fell in love with,” Cross says.

“My right direction is helping people navigate their past so they can move forward with their future, helping them figure out how to make it through today or this hour or this moment.”

Cross, one of the last babies born in the old Catskill hospital, still sings at her local church or any karaoke spot she happens upon.

So the words from a Simon & Garfunkel song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” are particularly relevant to her most heartfelt purpose. 

“When darkness comes, I’m sailing right behind,” the folk duo sang, “Like a bridge over troubled water, I will ease your mind,” 

Uniquely servicing the realities of client’s specific needs, the physical location of Cross Connection is merely part of the story.

“There an overwhelming need in our community, and in general, for mental health services. At the same time there is a low number of professionals available to support that need,” Cross says.

“Our hybrid approach allows us to address both. And we aren’t here only as a space to meet my clients. We are also an open setting for other professionals to meet their clients.

“Many of our clinicians work with us part-time while also working in hospital settings or elsewhere. This setup enables us to connect clinicians across New York State with clients in need at times that are convenient for both. 

“As a new practice, we are eager to collaborate with organizations to support their staff, assist schools in meeting the mental health needs of their students and help any individuals,” Cross says.

“Our local office will soon have options for daily office rentals to other health care professionals in need of a space to see their clients from time to time.

“Everybody’s reason for coming to us is valid and appropriate,” says Cross. “We want to find the right person for the type of support needed.”

Cross Connects, located along Route 23 between Windham and Ashland and in the ether, can be contacted at CrossConnects.org (click on their “contact us" page), or call (607) 246-3657.