As the need for counseling services increases in the Bangor area, one center is expanding to meet the demand.

Higher Ground Services is adding nine additional counselors, a group therapy room and nine offices to its 235 Center St. building. Two of the nine will be added this fall with the others coming later.

The center offers many types of counseling including for substance abuse, mental health and trauma recovery. It specializes in treatment of anxiety, depression and addiction, and offers services for other mental health needs.

The expansion comes at a “vital” time as the combination of a shortage of counselors in Maine and the closures of local services has created a lengthy waitlist, according to Executive Director Jim LaPierre. As of December 2024, more than 260,000 Mainers

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