02/23/2026
Dear Community,
I have recently seeen some negative comments and posts online about my office and practice at Glacier Mental and Family Health Solutions. It truly hurts to read them, because they don’t reflect the full picture or the heart behind everything we do here every day.
These can come from various places—sometimes misunderstandings, unpaid bills, past frustrations, or even anonymous sources like disgruntled former patients or employees who wish to stay anonymous (knowing there could be legal ramifications for making false or harmful statements). Regardless of the source, negativity like this stings, especially when it impacts the team and patients who rely on us.
The last few months have been some truly dark times for the practice—for various reasons involving heartache, betrayal, and heavy challenges that have tested us deeply. It’s been painful in ways I never anticipated, and it’s weighed on my heart more than I can express.
But I refuse to stay in that darkness. I will rise above this because I love Alaska—the incredible beauty, the strength of its people, the way this place inspires resilience. I love my job more than words can say. Most of all, I love helping people find hope and healing—especially our veterans, who have sacrificed so much and deserve every ounce of compassionate, innovative care we can give.
To be clear about some of the realities behind the scenes: Like many practices in Alaska and beyond, we’ve faced real staffing challenges since COVID—shifts in work ethic, availability, and reliability made it tough to find consistent local help. I’ve personally worked 7 days a week, 14-hour days (often with another full-time job) just to cover overhead, support my team, my family, and keep providing care to those who need it most.
That’s why we use vetted virtual assistants from the Philippines—they’re loyal, professional, dedicated, and sweet people who do outstanding work. With our great new team in place, communication is clear and effective. I still invest over $1,000 a week on Indeed and other postings trying to hire locally—I truly wish I could bring more folks on in person. We’ve recently hired someone wonderful for our Eagle River office (originally from Tennessee, like me!), and we’re continuing to build.
What often gets overlooked: the quiet sacrifices and acts of compassion that aren’t posted online. For example, I spent 6 hours yesterday offering free ketamine treatments to veterans battling depression. And just recently, I wrote off a very large bill for a patient who felt beholden to me and didn’t want to follow up for refills—because their ongoing mental health care mattered more than the outstanding amount. These are the kinds of things I do regularly because patient well-being comes first.
I remain fully committed to ethical, high-quality mental healthcare—including innovative options like Spravato (esketamine) and NeuroStar TMS—for our Eagle River community and beyond. These advanced therapies help those with treatment-resistant depression and other conditions find real relief when traditional approaches haven’t been enough.
If you’re a current or past patient with any concerns, please reach out to me directly—I’m always here to listen, clarify, or make things right where possible. Your trust means the world, and I’m so grateful for the support from so many who see the real work we do.
Thank you for reading this with kindness. We’re moving forward with integrity, open hearts, and Alaska strong. We’ll keep rising—together.
With gratitude and determination,
Shannon
Glacier Mental and Family Health Solutions
17051 Mercy Drive, Suite 204
Eagle River, Alaska
907-696-0096
