All Souls Counseling Center is a leading nonprofit provider of quality mental health services in Western North Carolina, with a crucial mission to serve those who are underinsured or uninsured. Born in 2000 from a grassroots response to closing mental health hospitals, All Souls emerged when community therapists recognized a critical gap in care for those who couldn’t access traditional services.
What began in a donated space at All Souls Cathedral has blossomed into a vital community resource. Today, their converted historic home on Arlington Street houses 17 licensed therapists who provide compassionate counseling for depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction recovery, grief, relationship challenges and more, ensuring that cost never becomes a barrier to healing.
“The work that individuals have been able to do with their therapists has really saved their lives,” said Meredith Switzer, the executive director of All Souls. “We’re not just changing lives — for a lot of people, we’re saving them.”
When Hurricane Helene devastated the region, the All Souls team felt compelled to respond quickly, even though they were greatly impacted and left without electricity or running water in their own homes and at the counseling center. They stepped directly into the storm’s aftermath, demonstrating their commitment to community well-being beyond their clinic walls.
“Our therapists were really a calming presence,” Switzer said. “Sometimes it was just giving someone a snack and a bottle of water and helping them process what they were experiencing. If someone was in tears and feeling hopeless, we were there.”
They jumped into action alongside World Central Kitchen, distributing meals before stationing therapists at FEMA sites for nearly three months. There, they became emotional first responders, meeting with up to 70 people daily — listening, supporting and reminding devastated residents that they weren’t alone.
“I’ve been really encouraged by all the coming together that I’ve seen across the community,” said Switzer. “Groups can’t work in silos. The more we’re out showing up for people, we’re demonstrating that there is hope in these recovery efforts.”
This spirit of collaboration sparked “Mental Health Mondays,” a partnership with the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce offering practical recovery tools. From breathing techniques to emotional regulation strategies, these sessions provided visitors and locals with simple ways to reset their nervous systems during overwhelming times.
The generosity pouring into Asheville allowed All Souls to waive all client fees for six months, removing financial barriers when they would have hurt the most. They brought community dinners to harder-hit rural areas, like Hot Springs and Bat Cave, places where clinical support was scarce.
“We’re still committed,” Switzer added. “I think a lot of people feel like Western NC has been forgotten on the national stage, and it’s critical to keep showing up for those who are recovering and rebuilding.”
For visitors falling in love with Asheville’s stunning mountains and resilient spirit, supporting All Souls offers a meaningful way to connect with the community’s recovery journey. Whether through website donations or volunteering at their annual events — Hope is in Bloom in May or the Mental Health Matters Walk/Run for Awareness in September — every contribution strengthens this vital safety net.
In Asheville’s ongoing recovery story, All Souls Counseling is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most profound rebuilding happens within the human spirit.
