March 29, 2024

Integrated Treatment Services LLC relocates

Substance abuse can be a touchy subject, but for the Sallis family they deal with it every day. When the opportunity arose for them to purchase their own building it was an easy choice. Terry Sallis is the executive director for Integrated Treatment Services LLC and has been proudly helping Newton for a number of years.

“We have been in the Center for Arts & Artist building since 2004, and we had several therapist there, but they were in different sections,” Sallis said. “We wanted everyone in the same section, and we wanted to own our own building.”

He is excited about the new location, because the building is not shared by anyone. Before Integrated Treatment Services shared their building with about eight businesses.

“It was fine,” Sallis said about their former location. “We didn’t have any problems while we were over there. The opportunity came for us to purchase this building, and get everybody into the same office, and have our spot independent — it just worked out so much better for us.”

Sallis credits proper planning on the smooth transition.

“We had anticipated moving for the past few months,”  Sallis said. “During the course of that time we have been packing things  up. We closed the building on Dec. 17, and we were in here within a week.”

Integrated Treatment Services has more than 35 years experience in substance abuse work, and their new location may allow them the opportunity to expand their services.

“We are in discussion with providing remedial services, in addition to the mental health services ,” Sallis said. “There is a huge need for that in this county. We are talking about it, but nothing is concluded yet.”

In addition to substance abuse, they also offer services in mental health. Most clients with substance abuse issues also have mental health issues Sallis said.

One of the major reasons on the purchasing of the new building was to keep the practice in the family. His son, Terris, is working to complete his degree.

“That was one of the primary reason why we purchased the building. My wife and I don’t plan on doing this for more than five years.” Terry Sallis said. “That will give him enough time to give him to get his graduate degree. When he was in high school, he was the go to person when people had problems.”

“I like working with people,” Terris said. “I figured that this would be something that I would like to be in - to interact with different people, and get them help.”

The work environment can be stressful at times which has allowed the staff to became like a second family to Sallis. One staff member, Joni Hunley, started off as a intern.

“Joni actually started off as an intern with us for her chemical dependency counseling, which makes us different from a lot of the other agencies,” Sallis said in regards staff members becoming “like an extended family.”

His wife, Karen, who happens to be the clinical director for the program, said research has shown that the longer programs are, the higher the success rate for the patient. They currently have about a 60 percent success rate.

“Our program is extensive, rigorous and we have people who stay in the process for in excess of a year,” Sallis said

Integrated Treatment Services LLC is located at 303 S. Second Ave. W. For more information, call (641) 275-7533.

Staff writer Matthew Shepard may be contacted at (641) 792-3121, ext. 425, or at mshepard@newtondailynews.com.