Thanks to the successful recruitment of four new therapists, The Center for Counseling & Consultation has enhanced its coverage throughout the agency’s four-county service area.
The four are Courtney Craig, Kaycee Bieberle, Marsena Irvine and Shannon Merhoff.
“These professional therapists are a great benefit to The Center, allowing us to care for more clients more frequently,” said Tracie Haselhorst, The Center’s clinical director. “They bring a variety of experiences to The Center and are devoted to their work.”
A majority of Craig’s and Bieberle’s clients are children, while Irvine specializes in adults.
Merhoff, who recently interned at The Center, is filling a dual role by offering therapy and assistance to the mobile-crisis team.
“It is so gratifying that these new additions to our staff are involved in three of our specialties,” Haselhorst commented.
Courtney Craig
Prior to her work at The Center, Craig spent five years as a high school counselor.
“I love working with kids, especially teenagers,” Craig said. “I pursued this field so that I could be in a position to support them as they navigate adolescence and approach early adulthood. I am excited to be at The Center with a collaborative team.”
Craig earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Benedictine College and a master’s in clinical and school counseling from Spring Arbor University.
Kaycee Bieberle
Kaycee Bieberle also cares for children and adolescents “because those early and transitional years are so important in shaping how someone views themselves and their place in the world. In addition to their mental-health needs, I also support behavioral challenges by helping build self-regulation skills, manage impulses and develop positive ways of interacting with others.
“Seeing progress in emotional growth and behavioral improvement is incredibly fulfilling.”
Bieberle spends two days a week in school settings, which “allows me to meet kids where they are, collaborate with teachers and staff, and provide timely support. It is a unique opportunity to make therapy more accessible and impactful.
“I truly love helping clients feel heard and supported,” she added. “So many kids struggle to express themselves and I want to help them find their voice. Children are incredibly resilient and it is rewarding to walk alongside them as they begin to turn over the tough cards they were dealt and grow into their strengths.”
Bieberle is glad to be at The Center because of its “strong, compassionate team. We are genuinely dedicated to showing families this is a safe, supportive place to get help. There is a shared commitment with the work we do in the office and the community.
“We are building trust, increasing access and breaking down the stigma around mental health. It is inspiring to be on a team that truly wants to make a lasting difference.”
Bieberle earned a master’s of social work at Fort Hays State University. Previous positions include school/family social worker in USD 320, Wamego, and youth mental-health case manager at Pawnee Mental Health Center in Wamego and Manhattan.
Marsena Irvine
Marsena Irvine chose her career path “because I genuinely enjoy engaging with other people, promoting access to resources and assisting those in their time of need. This career also runs in my blood – a grandfather who was a college counselor and grandmother who was a licensed addiction counselor. Their legacy means the world to me. I am proud to follow in their footsteps.”
Irvine also noted she has “loved every minute of being at The Center, especially because it is a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic. I really value this holistic approach to mental healthcare for everyone, regardless of background and socio-economic status.”
Irvine has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and family studies from Barclay College and master’s in social work from The University of Kansas. She also earned credentials as a certified medication aide and certified nurse’s aide at Barton Community College.
Previous employers include Sunflower Behavioral Health, Heart of Kansas Family Health Care, Kenwood Plaza and Horizons Mental Health Center.
Shannon Merhoff
Shannon Merhoff is thankful that The Center accepted her as an intern last year when she became acquainted with “the amazing people who helped get me to where I am today.”
Merhoff spends half her time with the crises team and the other half with individual clients.
“I am fascinated by the human mind, especially in those moments when it feels like the world has tilted sideways,” Merhoff commented. “Working as a crisis therapist feels like stepping into the storm with someone. I can say ‘okay, it is dark but I have my flashlight and a map.’
“My goal is to help people find that light again, even if it’s just a flicker at first.”
Merhoff noted she has learned that “building a rapport is about meeting people where they are, whether it is the edge of panic or knee-deep in uncertainty. I firmly believe that therapy doesn’t have to be stiff or scary. It can start with bonding over favorite music, artists or video games. It can be warm and creative, and sometimes, laughter can be a small kind of magic.
Merhoff earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and master’s in clinical psychology, both at Fort Hays State University.
She previously worked at Larned State Hospital where she provided basic care to patients to help them with daily-living needs.
The Center for Counseling & Consultation, a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, 5815 Broadway in Great Bend, serves Barton, Pawnee, Rice and Stafford counties. Professionally trained personnel offer: individual and group therapy; marriage and family counseling; community-support services; community-based services; psychosocial rehabilitation; peer support; and medication management. The confidential 24/7 crisis hotline number is 800-875-2544.
