Victory for mental health: First walk-in center opening in Naples

David Lawrence Center officials and supporters celebrated a new era in mental health services for the community July 7.

A ribbon cutting ushered in a new 15,000-square-foot complex on the Naples campus of the nonprofit mental health care provider that will offer behavioral health care and primary care services under one roof, among other services.

The Diermeier Access and Integrated Care Center expands access to care for more adults as the region's population surges. Along with that comes the need to expand care, including to specialized mental health services.

A key element of the new complex is a walk-in center offering same-day assessment and urgent care services without an appointment.

The David Lawrence campus is located at 6075 Bathey Lane off Golden Gate Parkway. The Diermeier center will open to patients next week.

The new complex is where patients can see their mental health and primary care providers in one location, along with being able to get prescriptions filled at a separate, on-campus pharmacy.

The nonprofit Healthcare Network, which provides primary care services and more in Collier County, has partnered with David Lawrence to see patients at the center.

Scott Burgess, chief executive officer of Davd Lawrence, spoke to the crowd how the Diermeier center is paving the way for a fundamental shift in the way care is delivered with the integrated approach.

"Today is really more than just a ribbon cutting," Burgess said. "It represents decades of vision, partnership, and persistence, and a shared belief that our community deserves a more accessible, enhanced and integrated system of care."

Patients receiving medication assisted treatment for substance abuse disorders will get their medications at the Diermeier center.

An estimated 8,000 patients will get treated annually at the center. The complex will have 45 employees.

What specialized services will be offered?

Burgess spoke of how patients will have access to immersive reality therapy that will enable them to safely and gradually engage with experiences connected to their trauma in a controlled environment.

Immersive therapy helps "the brain and the body reprocess those experiences in a way that supports their healing," he said.

"This type of treatment is not only impactful for veterans experiencing trauma, but it's also able to support individuals facing a wide range of challenges that could be the aftermath of an accident, it could be a fear of flying or a fear of elevations or extreme anxiety," Burgess said.

Also coming to the new center is transcranial magnetic stimulation for people living with depression who have not found relief through more traditional therapies, such as counseling or medication.

"TMS offers a non-invasive, highly targeted treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain that are associated with mood," he said. "For many this will represent an entirely new and successful pathway forward for them," Burgess said.

When was the project started?

Groundbreaking was held in June 2025 for the $12.5 million complex.

David Lawrence's old administrative building was torn down for the Diermeier center, named after local philanthropists Jeffrey and Julie Diermeier, who provided a $4 million gift for the project.

The state Legislature in its 2024-25 budget provided $5 million that was spearheaded by state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples.

The remaining costs were covered by donors.

Jeffrey Diermeier said the ribbon cutting represents more than just a building.

"It is about opening new possibilities for hope, healing and recovery," he said.

Burgess pointed out the Diermeier center is the first new building opening on the David Lawrence campus in many years.

"For generations this campus has been a place people came in moments of uncertainty, where they need help, when they need hope, and when they don't have anywhere else to turn. Today we take a significant step forward in strengthening that promise, and in a way that will impact thousands of lives for many years to come," he said.

There is space earmarked for workforce development and training activities.

Collier Commissioner Burt Saunders, whose district includes the David Lawrence campus, said: "Without the generosity of our community, we would never be able to have this type of facility."

What about the Collier government project?

The Diermeier center is an undertaking solely by David Lawrence.

It is not part of Collier County's $56 million project to build an 87-bed intake building on five acres adjacent to the David Lawrence campus for people needing assessment and inpatient treatment.

DeAngelis Diamond Construction is building the 87-bed complex that will have 60,000 square feet of building space. The county will own the complex and David Lawrence has the contract to operate it.

The county intake center is targeted for completion in January.

It is getting built using proceeds from a 1-cent sales tax surcharge that Collier voters approved in 2018 for a variety of projects, including for more mental health treatment beds.

The 2018 surcharge raised $490 million and is no longer being collected.

For more information visit davidlawrencecenters.org.

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Liz Freeman is a health care reporter. Reach her by emailing lfreeman@naplesnews.com

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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Victory for mental health: First walk-in center opening in Naples

Reporting by Liz Freeman, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News

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This story was originally published July 8, 2026 at 3:34 PM.