Pawnee Mental Health Services

Pawnee Mental Health Services offers two levels of outpatient addiction treatment at its Manhattan, Kansas clinic: a standard Outpatient Program and an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). These levels of care are designed for people who are committed to recovery but want to remain embedded in their home lives — family, work, and community — rather than entering a residential setting. The IOP provides a more frequent and structured schedule for those who need closer support in early or ongoing recovery, while the general outpatient program supports those who have already established some footing and need consistent, regular care.

The clinic's hours extend well beyond a typical 9-to-5 schedule. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday hours run until 9:00 PM, and Tuesday until 7:00 PM, meaning that employment or caregiving responsibilities do not have to stand in the way of consistent treatment. Telehealth is also available, which is especially relevant for clients in Washington County or more rural corners of the service area where travel is a real obstacle to sustained participation in an outpatient program.

Recovery rarely involves substance use alone. At Pawnee Mental Health Services, the clinical team treats co-occurring disorders and trauma or PTSD as part of addiction treatment — recognizing that mental health and substance use issues are often deeply connected. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the confirmed therapeutic approach, equipping clients with practical skills to identify thoughts and behaviors that drive addictive cycles and to replace them with healthier patterns over time.

This dual focus on mental health and substance abuse treatment is a meaningful distinction for people who have found that addressing only one side of the equation has not produced lasting results. For families supporting a loved one in recovery, knowing that a program accounts for underlying trauma or mental health conditions can be an important factor when choosing a long-term recovery partner in the Kansas region.

One of the more distinctive features of Pawnee's recovery ecosystem is the Discovery Sober Living house, a safe and supportive housing option reserved for people who are actively receiving Pawnee Mental Health services. Sober living is often the bridge between structured treatment and full independence — a place where the habits and community built during outpatient treatment can take root in day-to-day life. Having that resource available within the same organization reduces the gap that often leads to relapse between levels of care.

For anyone planning a recovery journey that extends beyond a single program or episode of care, this connection to sober living housing is a practical advantage. It means a client moving through an IOP at Pawnee can potentially continue that community connection in a structured living environment, rather than stepping out of treatment into an unsupported setting.

Pawnee Mental Health Services serves men and women across Riley and Washington counties in Kansas. The clinic is equipped to work with individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing, reflecting a commitment to serving the broader community rather than a narrowly defined population. Crisis services are available for people facing immediate mental health or substance use emergencies — an important safety net for individuals in any stage of recovery.

Accessing care is made easier by a wide range of accepted payment methods: Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, state insurance, sliding scale fees, and self-pay. This breadth of payment options means that financial circumstances are less likely to be the reason someone delays or avoids treatment. To learn more or to get started, contact Pawnee Mental Health Services directly at (785) 587-4300 or visit pawnee.org.