Our Story

2012-2017

The Willow Center was created out of lived experience. We opened our doors on August 6th, 2012 in Brownsburg, Indiana under the leadership of our founder, Ashley English. As a person in long-term recovery, Ashley understands how hard it is to ask for help, how much courage it takes to walk into treatment, and how deeply addiction and mental health struggles affect not just individuals, but also the people who love them. This center was created with a clear personal mission: to build the kind of treatment center that was once wished for – a place where people want to work, where people want to heal, and where they know they are truly seen. At The Willow Center, people are not treated as their past nor are they defined by their hardest moments. Care is offered by walking alongside people, not pushing or fighting against them. After achieving certification as a treatment provider from the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration – Division of Mental Health and Addiction in early 2012, The Willow Center has consistently provided excellent care while pursuing steady growth to meet the needs of the greater Hendricks County community.

2018-2023

As The Willow Center team grew, so did our footprint in Brownsburg with our offices doubling in size at our original location in 2018. Shortly thereafter, our team focused our energy on removing the barriers that our clients experienced to accessing the treatment they needed. These efforts included contracting as the Hendricks County Drug Court treatment provider since 2012, purchasing a 14-passenger van to provide transportation services in 2016, adding mental health counseling and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy group services between 2018-2021,and expanding to accept private insurance, Medicaid, and Indiana Recovery Works plans in 2019. By improving access to The Willow Center, we have ensured that no one gets left behind when they are looking for help. From 2020-2022, The Willow Center never once closed its doors or shied away from in-person services in the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, ensuring our clients got the same reliable care they could always count on. Throughout our years of service, our clients and their families are reminded again and again that they are not alone, that there is hope, that recovery is possible, and that change can happen.

2024-2025

From day one, The Willow Center has prioritized listening to our surrounding community when they voice a need. In 2024, the three greatest gaps for treatment in Hendricks County according to families in our community were children and adolescent services, jail-based reentry services, and medication assisted treatment services. In direct response to these needs, The Willow Center opened our second location in Pittsboro, Indiana to serve children and adolescents in October 2024, opened our new Wellness Center for medical services at our Brownsburg headquarters in January 2025, and started our Reentry Program within the Hendricks County Jail in April 2025, thanks in part to local grant funding. Additionally, we achieved and continue to maintain full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) International, a testament of our commitment to quality and ethics. As we look to the future, The Willow Center remains guided by one simple commitment: everyone who walks through our doors – clients, families, team members, and community partners – should leave knowing they matter and that healing is possible.

Significance of the Willow Tree

At first glance, the so-called “weeping” willow tree may seem sad or broken. But in reality, the willow tree is refined and graceful. A willow tree’s deep roots are as robust as its flexible branches. It is resilient and beautiful, just like each person who walks through the doors of The Willow Center.

People who have experienced drug and alcohol addiction, mental health struggles, and other life challenges have the ability to grow and thrive where they are planted as they deepen their roots into their recovery and wellness. Like a willow tree, they can bend in the storms of life and ultimately overcome them with the right support.

At The Willow Center, we believe in the power of change, and we believe in you!

certifications

Get Help Today

At The Willow Center, we believe that everyone deserves access to high quality care and a team that truly listens. Our staff is here to guide you with respect, understanding, and personalized treatment options that support lasting recovery and mental well being.

faqs

Frequently Asked Questions

At The Willow Center, we understand that starting care can bring up a lot of questions. These answers can help you learn more about our outpatient mental health and substance use treatment in Brownsburg and Pittsboro.

The Willow Center primarily provides outpatient substance use treatment and mental health counseling for individuals and families. Our services include group programming, intensive outpatient treatment, specialized support for children and adolescents at our Pittsboro location, and community programming.

The Willow Center serves people of all ages who are seeking support for substance use concerns, mental health needs, or both. Adults can access individual counseling, group services, and intensive outpatient treatment, while youth can receive age appropriate mental health and behavioral services at our Pittsboro office. Families often come to us when they need guidance, structure, and a team that communicates clearly. We welcome individuals from anywhere in Central Indiana, and our goal is to make care accessible for all.

Yes. We accept private insurance, Medicaid, and Indiana Recovery Works plans, which helps reduce the financial strain that can come with seeking treatment. Our administrative team is available to help verify coverage and walk you through any questions about deductibles or out of pocket costs. For those without insurance, we accept private pay and in some cases work with clients to identify resources that may help support access to care.

We remove barriers wherever possible so people can enter treatment without unnecessary stress. Transportation support is available for clients who need a reliable way to attend appointments. Our long standing collaboration with the Hendricks County Drug Court allows participants to receive coordinated and consistent care. Both of our locations serve specific needs to reduce travel and wait times, and our expanded insurance acceptance helps ensure that cost is not a reason someone goes without help. Throughout each step, our staff members stay in close communication with clients to help them maintain engagement and feel supported.

Since 2012, our care has been guided by a commitment to ethical practice, clinical quality, and meaningful relationships with the community. We grow in response to what local families say they need, including youth services, jail based reentry care, and medical and medication assisted treatment. Our accreditation from CARF International reflects our dedication to safe, effective, and person centered care.