For almost a decade, the Family Wellness Center has provided mental health and wellness services for the residents of Washington from its downtown location on Union Drive.

Since October, however, the practice has been adjusting to a new location on Highland Drive, which is a more visible office space, according to owner Dr. David Bell.

Bell said the center grew out of its downtown location and needed more space to operate. The Family Wellness Center focuses on two aspects: mental health issues and wellness, but everything is based on a holistic approach, he said.

Regarding mental health, the center offers school services in Beaufort, Martin and Pitt counties, substance abuse help and individual and group therapy for all ages, among other services. From the wellness perspective, the center offers acupuncture, therapeutic massages and weight loss programs.

Bell also owns another wellness center in Greenville.

“We are structured to be at a holistic, or integrated, wellness center,” Bell said. “We try to look at the whole health of individuals.”

He said there is a stigma attached to issues of mental health, but the center attempts to combat that by offering the services of veteran clinicians, many of whom have been in the field for 10 years or more, and de-stigmatizing the need for help in these areas once patients arrive.

“We try to promote the wellness aspect of things because it’s not about making judgments,” Bell said. “At any point, you know, most probably could benefit from it.”

Bell has been in the wellness field for 16 years, and he said his services have helped more than 2,500 individuals and families.

With the new Washington location, Bell said he hopes the increased visibility will also lead to residents becoming more perceptive to this part of their health.

“We pay attention to those different aspects of life,” he said. “The need is certainly there, so we want to try to meet that.”

Bell said he thinks the practice is set apart because of its integrated approach to helping patients, with a team working together to help patients achieve their goals and improve their overall health.

The Family Wellness Center, PLLC is located at 1253 Highland Drive, Washington.