Chief Clinical Officer Christie Owen announced the hiring of two primary therapists as Directors of Branch Operations for the Russellville and Clarksville branches.

Emma McCarley, LPC, accepted the Russellville Director of Branch Operations position, moving from a therapist role at the AHC branch in Benton. McCarley worked as a Recovery Assistant, Shift Supervisor, and Program Tech in Clarksville for five years. She returned to Birch Tree Communities as a therapist after completing a graduate degree in 2019. McCarley has also worked as a Program Coordinator for the Conway Human Development Center and an adjunct professor at Arkansas Tech University. She has worked with Birch Tree Communities for a total of eight years.

Angella Watson-McHallfey, LCSW, accepted the position of Clarksville Director of Branch Operations. She received a Bachelor of Art in History from Arkansas Tech University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Alabama. Watson-McHallfey spent her last internship restructuring a substance abuse clinic at the House of St. Francis in Accra, Ghana, West Africa. She also has a certification in Cognitive Processing Therapy, an extensive background in substance abuse/dual diagnosis treatment, and inpatient experience.

“Congratulations to these two outstanding mental health professionals,” said Christie Owen. “Birch Tree Communities is fortunate to have them on our staff, and we are grateful that they want to continue to further their careers serving those living with serious mental illness in our state. We look forward to seeing their achievements in these leadership roles.”

Birch Tree Communities, Inc. is a non-profit, behavioral health program which provides therapeutic community services for adults diagnosed with a serious mental illness. We serve approximately 400 members with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder in 11 branches across the state of Arkansas. Our services include, but are not limited to rehabilitative day treatment, group and individual therapy, medication management, and group and transitional housing. The mission of Birch Tree Communities is to guide members in their mental health recovery and assist them in living a satisfying life in the community.