BUFFALO, N.Y. — The West Side Bazaar is known for its food from around the world, but the small business incubator is also home to several other types of businesses.
Two Buffalo women saw a need and a unique space for their counseling services, so they opened their office at the West Side Bazaar in November to serve the community.
"With the mission of serving the community, specific to the West Side is really important to us," said Elisabeth Burn, a licensed mental health counselor.
Licensed Mental Health Counselors Elisabeth Burn and Danielle Prester worked together before and wanted to open their own private practice.
"It's been really fulfilling. It's what I wanted to do, and I'm very grateful that I'm able to do it, so it's just been a really wonderful experience," said Prester, a licensed mental health counselor.
They both live on the West Side and when the new West Side Bazaar location announced it had office space, it was the perfect match.
"It's accessible by public transportation, we offer telehealth and in-person visits, so I think that's also a little less intimidating and also inclusive for everyone," Burn said.
They say people have responded really well to the new space and are excited to have access to mental health services they might not have used before.
"Typical session is really just getting to know, get to know the person. Me explaining what I do, and what I can offer, and kind of how I conduct things, and then just getting to know them and getting to know each other, so just building that relationship," Prester said.
Both Prester and Burn have already helped a lot of people.
"Language barriers, understanding even like the systems and services that we have here, so like sometimes those can lead to anxiety, depression, other kinds of barriers as well and just sometimes, too, just being physically away from family and the experience that they might have had before coming here," Burn said.
They do take insurance and you can just stop by the office to chat if you have questions.
"I think people just need support. Life is really stressful right now, and I think they just need that support and need that person to talk to," Prester said.