West Texas Counseling & Guidance CEO Receives Award

SAN ANGELO, TX - West Texas Counseling & Guidance (WTCG) announces Chief Executive Officer Dusty McCoy, LPC-S, as the recipient of the Roger J. Tierney Service Award through the American Association of Suicidology. 

According to information, McCoy is being honored for the impact he’s had through WTCG thanks to his visionary stewardship and dedication to making a difference in the suicide crisis faced in West Texas.

In 2018, WTCG, with McCoy’s guidance, developed its Zero Suicide Program aimed to eliminate the attempts and deaths by suicide through the increase of suicide screening, providing evidence-based practices, the implementation of the Zero Suicide model in primary and behavioral care agencies, and in community education. 

Reducing suicide deaths and attempts is the Zero Suicide program’s goal, and requires action at the prevention, intervention, and postvention stages. 

WTCG has a rotation of over 40 counselors available to provide crisis appointments Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Face-to-face and telehealth crisis appointments also are available. 

Program staff also schedule, track, and follow up with each crisis client, ensuring continuity of care as they transfer to a long-term WTCG counselor for continued therapy. In 2019, the first full year, the program served 564 clients. In 2023, 997 unique clients received crisis intervention services – an increase of 77% since the program’s inception.

The Roger J. Tierney Service Award recognizes time and effort given to advance the association’s principles, growth, and development, and/or for applied contributions to the fields of suicidology and crisis intervention. 

The award is to recognize broadly defined service contributions that are to be distinguished from academic or research endeavors.

WTCG’s mission is to enable individuals and families to reach their full potential in body, mind, and spirit, using evidence-based counseling and educational services. WTCG is a nonprofit, 501c3 organization that serves children, teens, families, individuals and couples, Veterans, and dependents, providing evidence-based therapy, regardless of one’s ability to pay.