JEFFERSON, Iowa – For some parents, bringing a child to therapy can feel like admitting they have run out of options. For Kristi Clark, MS, LMHC-t, NCC, it is an opportunity to give both children and their parents new tools to move forward.
Clark, a licensed mental health counselor, has joined the Greene County Medical Center Behavioral Health Clinic Team. While she will be treating some adult patients, her focus will primarily be on pediatric behavioral health for children ages 4 and older.
Her arrival comes as mental health care continues to be an important need for children, teens and families, particularly in rural communities. Clark knows the challenges facing young people firsthand. Before becoming a counselor, she worked in youth ministry. “I kind of got my eyes opened to the mental health crisis that we have right now,” Clark said.
That experience helped shape the kind of counselor she wants to be. Clark earned her bachelor’s degree in youth ministry from North Central University in Minneapolis before earning a master’s degree in professional counseling, with an emphasis in childhood and adolescent disorders, from Grand Canyon University.
For Clark, therapy is not simply about working with a child during a counseling session. It is about giving the entire family tools they can use long after they leave the clinic. “Parents see their kids so much more than we do,” Clark said. “I want to help the parents work with them throughout their lives and to continuously use the coping skills we learn in therapy.”
That philosophy is especially important when working with younger children. Clark is interested in incorporating Parent-Child Interaction Therapy or PCIT, which helps parents develop practical ways to respond to behavioral challenges while strengthening the relationship with their child. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and goal-oriented approaches.
Whether a child is struggling with behavior, anxiety, coping skills or simply needs additional guidance, Clark wants families to have strategies they can use at home. “It’s not just working through therapy with kids, but also the parents as well and kind of making it a group effort,” she explained.
Clark also offers faith-based counseling for families who want their faith incorporated into therapy. Her background in youth ministry along with her education combined to bring these two aspects together.
Clark said the opportunity to provide behavioral health services in a rural community was a major reason she was drawn to Greene County Medical Center. Growing up in Eldora, she understands both the value of small communities and the challenges that can come when specialized services are harder to access. “Being from a rural area, I can see how sometimes we are overlooked when it comes to services,” Clark said. “But I’ve always wanted to practice in a smaller community.”
For area families, Clark hopes therapy can be a place to find something new and helpful, not just for the child, but for those who care for them as well. “I am really looking forward to getting to know our communities and to grow with them on this journey,” Clark said.
To schedule an appointment with Clark, call the Greene County Medical Center Behavioral Health Clinic at 515-386-2488.