Pathways to Wellness has a mission to provide accessible, high quality mental health services to individuals and families, and to support long term stability, recovery, and overall wellness. Through its partnership with Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services, Pathways to Wellness provides specialty mental health services to adults, adolescents, and children who are Alameda County Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Those services include psychiatric evaluations, medication management, mental health services, and brief case management. The company’s contract with Alameda County is specifically to treat individuals with moderate to severe mental health conditions. In addition, Pathways to Wellness has a separate clinic in Pleasanton in which the company contracts with private commercial insurance groups and accepts out-of-pocket pay for individuals in need of mental health outpatient psychiatry services. This combination helps ensure that individuals who are in need of mental health services can receive care regardless of their insurance or funding source.

“Mental health services are in extremely high demand and, unfortunately, there is often not enough capacity for people to receive timely care,” says Neisha Becton, Executive Director. “What makes us special is that we are able to provide access to services when clients need them, especially for individuals with more complex mental health challenges. We offer consistent, ongoing care and connect clients to the appropriate level of treatment to support meaningful progress and stability. We provide a very diverse group of staff to ensure all needs are met.”

The staff at Pathways to Wellness face a range of patients who have a range of needs, and there is no one way that clients benefit from the work done at Pathways to Wellness. But there are examples. Recently, the organization was able to help an individual struggling to access consistent mental health care while experiencing worsening symptoms that impacted daily functioning. Due to limited provider availability and the level of care required, this person had difficulty finding appropriate services. The Pathways to Wellness team was able to quickly assess the individual’s needs and connect the individual with psychiatric care, therapy, and ongoing support.

Many people are surprised to learn that mental health treatment exists at different levels of care, and that placing someone at the right level of treatment significantly improves outcomes, according to Becton, who adds that “matching clients to the appropriate intensity of services increases stabilization, supports recovery, and helps prevent unnecessary hospitalizations or setbacks.”

Pathways to Wellness actively supports and collaborates with several local organizations, including NAMI Tri-Valley, Keeping Hope Alive, the Suicide Awareness and Support Committee, and the School of Imagination, which serves children with physical disabilities. Community partnership is an important part of how the organization extends its impact beyond clinic walls, Becton says. The organization also hosts an annual Community Mental Health Barbecue each year. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from noon to 4 pm at Thrasher Park in San Leandro. The barbecue is open to families, partners, and community members, and is intended to bring people together in a welcoming, relaxed setting to promote mental health awareness, reduce stigma, and celebrate connection and recovery.

The organization moved to Hacienda in 2008 in response to the growing need for mental health services in the Tri-Valley area. Pathways to Wellness - Pleasanton is part of a larger organization with multiple clinic locations, including clinics in Oakland and Union City. All clinics provide comprehensive outpatient mental health services. The Hacienda location plays a vital role in expanding access to care in the Tri-Valley, which helps reduce travel barriers for clients who would otherwise need to seek services outside the area.

“It is important to understand how essential mental health services are to the overall health of a community,” Becton notes. “Mental wellness affects families, workplaces, schools, and public safety. Early access to care and consistent treatment can significantly improve quality of life and reduce long term social and economic challenges.”

For more information about Pathways to Wellness, please visit www.pathwaystowellness.net or call (800) 975-7284.