Dear Friends and Supporters: Commemorating 60 Years
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we commemorate 60 years of delivering compassionate mental health care in 2025, I am once again reflecting on the question we explored in last year’s annual report: Why are we committed to this work? This past year, as more individuals faced challenges accessing mental health services, I took a fresh perspective on our mission. I was reminded of the teachings of Christ in Matthew 25, which call us to care for the “least of these.” Our commitment remains strong as we seek new ways to serve those who are marginalized, overlooked, and forgotten.
Sanctuary Counseling Group had much to celebrate this year. We started 2025 with our largest grant to date, enabling us to reach more people and make mental health care accessible, affordable, and available across an increasingly diverse range of communities. This aligns perfectly with Sanctuary’s mission and my vision for the organization. Our dedicated staff, including several new therapists who joined us over the past two years, have expanded our ability to serve an even broader population. Today, we have specialists who work with couples, families, men, women, and children as young as 3 years old. Our newest team members bring expertise in addiction, eating disorders, play therapy, adolescent care, trauma recovery, and support for neuro-divergent individuals. Their efforts made this our most impactful year yet. Additionally, our team was strengthened by three graduate student interns and three undergraduate interns, all contributing to our shared goals.
As we enter 2026, we are mindful of the challenges that arose in 2025. Increased insurance premiums and added costs have left many individuals “insurance poor” or “under-insured,” meaning they can no longer access the care they previously afforded. While Medicaid and Medicare remain secure in North Carolina for now, threats to these crucial programs are a concern, especially for our most vulnerable clients. At Sanctuary, we are working diligently to support economically challenged communities. Our ongoing presence at Appalachian State University has highlighted the urgent needs in Watauga County, NC, an area that remains a mental health desert. We are actively working to establish offices in Boone and Blowing Rock to provide local, accessible services.
While 2025 brought many successes and we have exciting plans for the future, we also recognize our limitations. I invite you to join Sanctuary Counseling Group and support our fundraising efforts. Financial resources remain a constant concern, guiding us to use our funds wisely. As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, your participation in our campaign would be a meaningful way to make a difference. Together, we can continue to fulfill our mission and serve the “least of these” in 2026. Thank you for your ongoing support, dedication, and belief in our work.
With gratitude,
Jay Cobb, M.A., LCMHC-QS
Executive Director, Sanctuary Counseling Group
