When someone is struggling with their mental health, the path to getting help can sometimes feel daunting, confusing, and impersonal. But at Santé, the goal is simple: to make care human again, and to meet people where they are, in every sense of the phrase. Whether that’s a therapy session in a coffee shop, a conversation at a park, or a welcoming space led by people who have been there themselves, Santé’s approach is breaking down barriers and stigma around mental health, one connection at a time.
A Model Built on Accessibility and Understanding
For over 30 years, Santé has been a leader in behavioral health and crisis response across Maryland and North Carolina. Beyond the life-saving work of its Mobile Crisis Teams, the organization offers a comprehensive network of outpatient and rehabilitation programs designed to help people regain independence, stability, and hope.
According to Sam Richberg, Chief of Programs at Santé, these outpatient programs are a cornerstone of the organization’s mission. “Our outpatient clinic really feeds a lot of the other programs that are connected,” he explains. “We provide therapy, medication management, and are working on building group sessions for people to take part in.”
The outpatient services serve as a foundation for other vital programs, including the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP), which helps clients translate the skills they learn in therapy into real-world success. “You might have someone who’s struggling with major depression but still going to work every day,” Richberg says. “They’re functioning in some ways, but maybe their home is falling apart around them. So, our PRP staff help them figure out small, manageable steps by setting up routines, building motivation, and tackling life’s daily challenges.”
This philosophy, supporting people in the environments where they actually live and work, is what makes Santé’s approach so transformative.
Taking Therapy Beyond Four Walls
Traditional therapy models often ask clients to come into a clinical setting, but Santé’s community-based approach flips that expectation. “We’ll meet individuals in their homes, at a library, or in a park. We meet them where they’re most comfortable,” Richberg shares. “It might even be a coffee shop. Nobody knows you’re meeting your therapist; it just feels normal.”
That sense of normalcy is key to breaking stigma. Many individuals facing depression, anxiety, or other behavioral health challenges already feel isolated or “different.” By creating opportunities for connection in familiar, everyday environments, Santé helps people rebuild confidence and reengage with their communities.
“It’s about meeting people where they are, both physically and emotionally,” Richberg says. “We’re not putting anyone in situations they’re not ready for. Everything is done collaboratively with the therapist to make sure it feels safe and right for the individual.”
This real-world support bridges a crucial gap between clinical treatment and day-to-day life, helping clients practice skills like social interaction, problem-solving, and emotional regulation in real time. It’s care that doesn’t just treat; it empowers.
Destigmatizing Day Programs and Redefining Recovery
One of the biggest misconceptions Santé works to challenge is the stigma around day programs. Too often, these spaces are misunderstood as being only for people with severe or “extreme” mental health challenges. But the reality is that they serve everyday people navigating life’s ups and downs.
“Our day programs focus on skills that matter to everyone. Things like financial literacy, social connection, and independent living,” Richberg explains. “It gives people meaningful activity during the day instead of being isolated at home. It normalizes the idea that everyone needs support at times.”
These programs don’t just teach practical skills; they foster community. Through group sessions and social outings, clients realize they’re not alone in their struggles. They build friendships, learn from others’ experiences, and rediscover joy in shared moments which is something Richberg believes is vital for long-term recovery.
“Being out in the community, being seen, that’s part of healing,” he says. “We want people to feel it’s okay to be who they are, to know they can be active, productive members of society regardless of what they’re struggling with.”
Peer-Run Wellness Centers: Where Lived Experience Leads
Perhaps one of Santé’s most inspiring initiatives is its peer-run Wellness and Recovery Centers. Located in Silver Spring and Gaithersburg, Maryland, these centers are operated entirely by certified peer specialists: individuals with lived experience who have walked their own path of recovery and now support others in theirs.
“Peers are people who’ve faced challenges like substance use or mental illness and have come through it,” Richberg explains. “They go through a certification process, maintain their recovery, and then help others who are where they once were.”
The result is a uniquely empathetic environment. The centers operate as drop-in spaces, not clinical offices. People can participate in group activities, access computers for job searches, connect with others, or simply take a break from the pressures of daily life.
“It’s not about paperwork or charts, it’s about people,” Richberg says. “We’re creating a safe, judgment-free space where individuals can engage, grow, and feel seen.”
Many participants are unhoused or experiencing instability, and the centers provide structure and community. From job readiness workshops to social activities, these programs remind people that recovery isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.
A Holistic Vision for Mental Health
At the heart of all Santé’s programs is a belief that mental health care should be as compassionate and diverse as the people it serves. Whether through crisis response, outpatient care, or peer-led wellness centers, the organization prioritizes dignity, empathy, and accessibility.
This philosophy extends beyond treatment to advocacy and systemic change. Santé continues to push for better funding, equitable access, and a broader understanding of what recovery looks like. It’s about helping individuals while also transforming communities.
“When people see others in recovery out in public…at a park, or café, living their lives, it helps dismantle stigma,” Richberg says. “It shows that mental health challenges don’t define someone’s worth or their potential.”
That ripple effect of understanding and compassion is what Santé strives for every day.
Building a Future of Connection and Hope
Santé’s work demonstrates that true progress in mental health care doesn’t come from clinical innovation alone. It comes from human connection. It comes from sitting with someone over coffee and listening. From providing a safe space to belong. From saying, “You don’t have to go through this alone.”
As the organization continues to expand its reach across Maryland and North Carolina, its mission remains constant: to make behavioral health support accessible, compassionate, and grounded in real life.
“Our vision,” as Santé’s leadership often reminds their teams, “is a world where everyone has access to compassionate support on their journey to wellness.”
And for thousands of people every year, that vision starts with one small act: a conversation. Authentic connection that reminds them recovery is possible one step at a time.