Ellie Mental Health - Johnson County, KS

08/22/2025

Back-to-school nerves? Totally normal. Help kids feel more in control with a variety of simple coping skills they can use anytime. What coping skills work best for you or your kids?

08/13/2025

Hi, I’m John Kyle! I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor who’s passionate about helping people navigate the messy, beautiful, and sometimes overwhelming parts of life. Whether you’re dealing through anxiety, grief, life transitions, relationship struggles, or just feeling stuck, my goal is to create a space where you feel heard, grounded, and capable of moving forward—at your own pace.

I work with preteens, teens, adults, couples, and families, and I tailor my approach to fit each client’s unique needs. I draw from Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other evidence-based tools that support healing and personal growth. I’m especially passionate about walking with clients through men’s issues, trauma, relationship challenges, anxiety, addiction, spiritual wounds, and major life changes with compassion and a sense of realism.

Before becoming a therapist, I spent time working in education mentoring young adults. It was through that experience (alongside my own internal work) that I felt called to enter the counseling field. That real-world perspective shapes my style: conversational, down-to-earth, and often filled with humor and curious.

Outside of the therapy room, you can find me watching movies, reading, diving into video games, or running an epic D&D campaign. 🎲📚🎮 I’m a firm believer in the power of storytelling, connection, and a little laughter to help us feel more alive and understood.

Wherever you’re coming from, you don’t have to navigate it alone. I’d be honored to walk alongside you on your journey.

Ready to get started? 🐘 Tap the link in our bio to schedule an appointment today! ✨

08/11/2025

Struggling to set boundaries without feeling like the bad guy?

This podcast episode is for anyone who's ever struggled to say no, felt drained by unclear expectations, or wondered how to protect their peace without burning bridges.

Therapists Miranda Barker, LICSW, Letisha Harris, MA and Madison Wozniak, LCSW have an honest, practical conversation inspired by the book "Set Boundaries, Find Peace" by Nedra Glover Tawwab.

We explore:
🔹 What healthy boundaries actually look like in real life
🔹 How trauma and guilt can make boundary-setting harder
🔹 The difference between time, material, emotional, and internal boundaries
🔹 How we've grown (and stumbled) through boundary work ourselves

Whether you’re a therapist, a client, or just someone navigating the messiness of relationships, this episode offers tools and takeaways you can use right away. Here's the link to the episode on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/07cgH1wdmbfORDCfHiT0Bp?si=73TM0KZzQlSqSCGyreN-lg

Let us know what you think of this episode in the comments! ⬇

08/08/2025

Big emotions in little bodies can feel overwhelming-- for them and for us. Here’s how to respond without losing your cool. 💥➡️💞

08/06/2025

What a great gathering of mental health professionals, all focused on making care more accessible and effective for our community. I always leave these conversations feeling more informed, encouraged, and connected.

Grateful for the chance to work alongside such thoughtful, smart people doing meaningful work.

08/05/2025

Back-to-school season is here and for many families, so is back-to-school anxiety.

Whether it’s the fear of new routines, separation from parents, or social pressure, the transition can bring up gigantic feelings for kids of all ages.

In this blog, therapist Miranda Barker, LICSW shares:
✅ Common signs of back-to-school anxiety in kids and teens
✅ Practical tools and coping strategies to try at home and in the classroom
✅ Book recommendations to support emotional wellness
✅ Simple morning and evening routines to ease transitions
✅ When it might be time to seek additional support

Let’s normalize school jitters and empower our kids with the tools they need to thrive (not just survive) the school year. 🍎🎒

📖 Read the full blog here:
https://elliementalhealth.com/calming-first-day-fears-a-parents-guide-to-back-to-school-anxiety/

Ready to get started on your own journey? 🐘
Tap the link in our bio to schedule an appointment today! ✨

Help kids conquer back-to-school anxiety with practical tips, calming routines, and coping strategies for a smooth transition.

07/30/2025

Today, on , we hold space for the losses that changed us— the ones we speak of often and the ones we carry quietly.

Whether your grief is fresh or decades old, visible or invisible, your pain is real. We're thinking of you today.

Here are some tips and book recommendations from one of our therapists for helping kids navigate grief and loss.

Ready to get started on your own journey? 🐘
Tap the link in our bio to schedule an appointment today! ✨

07/29/2025

Hi, I’m Josie! I’m a therapist who’s passionate about helping people navigate life’s challenges with more clarity, confidence, and connection.

In my work, I specialize in supporting individuals facing anxiety, depression, behavioral concerns, and everyday stress. I draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Process Therapy to help clients better understand their thought patterns, build emotional resilience, and improve how they relate to themselves and others. 🧠✨

I love working with both adults and children as it gives me the opportunity to tailor my approach to each person’s unique needs. With adults, that might mean exploring deeper thought and behavior patterns. With kids, it often looks like finding creative, engaging ways to help them express themselves and thrive. I also enjoy working closely with families to navigate behavioral challenges and build more connected, supportive relationships. 💬👨‍👩‍👧

Whether you're facing persistent mood concerns or just trying to manage the stress of daily life, I’m here to help you develop coping skills, gain insight, and feel more grounded in who you are.

Outside of work, you can find me spending quality time with family and friends, staying active, baking sweet treats, or enjoying a good cup of coffee. ☕🍪

I’ve always been curious about how people think, feel, and connect, and becoming a therapist has given me the incredible privilege of walking alongside clients during some of their most meaningful moments. I strive to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where you feel heard, supported, and truly understood.

Ready to connect with Josie? She’s now accepting new clients at our Blue Valley/Stilwell office.
Tap the link in our bio to schedule your first session today! 🐘

07/28/2025

Ever zoned out during a meeting, driven somewhere and not remembered how you got there, or felt totally disconnected in a stressful moment?

These aren’t just quirks.... they can be signs of dissociation, a powerful and often misunderstood coping mechanism.

In therapy spaces, we talk about dissociation often. But outside of them, people may not recognize it or know what to do when it shows up. For folks with trauma histories, dissociation isn’t just occasional spacing out—it’s the nervous system protecting itself when things feel too overwhelming to process.

➡️ In this new blog post, Ellie therapist Miranda Barker, LICSW, breaks down:
- What dissociation actually is (and isn’t)
- Why the body uses it as a survival response
- How trauma-informed approaches like EMDR, parts work, and somatic therapy can help
- Practical grounding strategies that reconnect people to the present

Whether you're a clinician, a mental health advocate, or someone who’s felt disconnected and didn’t have a word for it—this is worth the read.

🔗 Check it out here: https://elliementalhealth.com/feeling-disconnected-a-therapists-guide-to-understanding-dissociation/

🎧 Bonus: Watch this related podcast episode featuring trauma therapist Amy Wilkerson, LICSW, for more insights. https://youtu.be/2Cxr5KB8Atg?si=p-mTzj5ZgGmwveOx

Explore how dissociation serves as a trauma coping mechanism and discover therapeutic approaches for healing.

07/25/2025

Ever heard of DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and build a life worth living.

Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, DBT is now used to support anyone struggling with:
💥 Big emotional swings
🧠 Anxiety or depression
🗣️ Conflict in relationships
🧍‍♀️ Feeling stuck in unhelpful patterns

DBT teaches skills in 4 key areas:
Mindfulness
Emotion Regulation
Distress Tolerance
Interpersonal Effectiveness

It’s not just about coping, it’s about thriving with tools that actually work.

Ready to get started on your own journey? 🐘
Tap the link in our bio to schedule an appointment today! ✨

07/22/2025

Understanding your health insurance doesn’t have to be scary, in fact, the more you know, the more you can avoid surprise bills. In this video, we break down key terms like premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, and explain how benefit checks really work behind the scenes. 🧾✨