Therapy Corner
Mental Health Team Spotlight: A Multidisciplinary Team Meeting a Huge Need
March 18th, 2024
By Amy Wolcott, M.S. CCC-SLP
The need for pediatric mental health services in our community is significant.
“The shortage of mental health services for children in our community has been significant for a number of years,” said Emily Stocking, Licensed Professional Counselor at The Pediatric Place. “I think Covid really added to the mental health struggles of children and created a significant influx in need for services.”
The Pediatric Place, like many providers in the region, has seen such a high demand for professional pediatric mental health services that children often experience long waits to receive the services they need. This waiting period is not ideal, because early identification and treatment of mental health disorders is vital.
“Early diagnosis and intervention is important to reduce the risk of developing more intense mental health symptoms as the child develops,” explained Chase Johnson, Licensed Master Social Worker and new addition to the TPP mental health team. “Helping young children build self-awareness and coping skills can aid them in their emotional development, and can allow them to function well in all areas of their life. Mental health education for parents is also important to ensure they have the appropriate knowledge and skills to respond to their child when symptoms are occurring.”
TPP has expanded our multidisciplinary mental health team to help meet this need.
TPP’s mental health team possesses diverse areas of expertise, from play therapy to counseling and behavioral intervention, and is experienced serving children and adolescents of all ages. This diversity in professional training has been an asset as the team seeks to serve the community in the most effective way possible.
“It is very impactful to work alongside other counselors and therapists who have different areas of expertise and practice experience in various settings,” Chase said. “Our diverse backgrounds provide us the opportunity to engage in consultations where we can make the best decisions possible for treating children and adolescents with mental health challenges.”
In addition to three Licensed Professional Counselors and one Licensed Master Social Worker, TPP hosts graduate students from local universities training for the mental health professions. These “counselors in training” serve families in our community under the mentorship of our mental health experts.
Meet TPP’s mental health team!
Emily Stocking, LPC, Lead Therapist
Emily Stocking is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in play therapy. She has 16 years of experience working in mental health and has held positions in clinic and school settings. She most enjoys being able to provide children with space to explore their feelings without setting expectations. Emily enjoys learning about children’s early childhood experiences and understanding how those moments can impact them for years to come. Her treatment of children encompasses seeing the whole person and supporting their development of self awareness.
Carolyn Johnston, LPC
Carolyn Johnston is a Licensed Professional Counselor and holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling. She has 15 years of experience in the school setting, where she has the opportunity to use play therapy. Carolyn enjoys being able to provide children with a safe space to explore their feelings without restrictions from expectation or judgment. In her free time, Carolyn spends time with her husband and 5 children.
Chase Johnson, LMSW
Chase Johnson is a Licensed Master Social Worker. He has 8 years of experience working in a K12 school setting as a Behavior Specialist and Social Worker. Chase received his Master’s degree in Social Work from The University of Kansas and is currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Social Work. He enjoys working with teens, young children, and families along their mental health journeys. Chase is trained in Cognitive Behavioral, Solution Focused, and Family therapies. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, hiking, and traveling the world!
Wendy Hamrick, LPC
Wendy Hamrick is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Avila University and has 10+ years of experience working in various settings including an autism center, special education, psychiatric inpatient hospital, and private practices. Wendy specializes in trauma and is trained in CBT, DBT, EMDR, Mindfulness, Tapping, Motivational Interviewing, and movement therapy. In her free time, Wendy enjoys spending time with her husband as well as visiting her daughter in Virginia, mother in Tennessee, and grandparents in Florida. She also enjoys roller skating, hiking, swimming, kayaking, and just being outdoors.
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Open Hours
- Monday-Friday: 8am-6pm
- Saturday-Sunday: Closed
Get In Touch
- Email: info@thepediatricplacellc.com
- 210 S. 2nd St. Clinton, MO 64735
- 1800 W. Irish Lane Knob Noster, MO 65336