Therapists

Ken DeBlock , MA, LPC, MCB Clinical Supervisor
Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery Bio

Ken DeBlock , MA, LPC, MCB Clinical Supervisor // Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery

Ken received his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Rutgers University. During his senior year, Ken became an assistant chaplain at the Morris County Juvenile Detention Center in New Jersey. Over the next two years, he completed a family life ministry internship at his local church and discovered his passion for working with at-risk teens and their families.

Ken pursued his master’s degree in counseling at Dallas Theological Seminary where his focus transitioned to substance abuse treatment. Ken and his wife, Janelle, moved to Kansas City in 2011, where he worked as both a case manager and a therapist in residential, transitional and intensive outpatient substance abuse programs. Ken received a Clinical Supervisor certificate from the Missouri Credentialing Board and currently leads and supervises Shelterwood’s Substance Abuse Therapy team.

Alex Cosio-Santillan , MAADCII
Addiction Counselor Bio

Alex Cosio-Santillan , MAADCII // Addiction Counselor

Alex earned his bachelor’s degree in therapeutic and community psychology from Point Loma Nazarene University. During his senior year of college, he was heavily involved in research and worked with adults suffering from addiction at the Sharp McDonald Center in San Diego. While there, he also helped with the art therapy and spirituality group.

Alex began his time at Shelterwood in May of 2016 and spent a year in the direct care role in the Guy’s House. Alex was deeply impacted by the diverse community of staff at Shelterwood and the quality of care provided to not only the students but also the staff who work with them. Alex studied the principles of Love and Logic and sought to provide clinical excellence in his interactions with students. After a brief time away from Shelterwood, Alex returned in September of 2017 in the role of Substance Abuse Counselor. He receives ongoing training and supervision from the Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery, Ken DeBlock. During Alex’s free time, he is an avid reader, coffee drinker, and member of Kansas City’s Symphony Chorus.

LaTisha Robinson , MA, LPC
Therapist Bio

LaTisha Robinson , MA, LPC // Therapist

LaTisha earned her bachelor’s degree in child and family development at Missouri State University. She later earned her master’s degree in counseling from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, where she completed the dual track program in both Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) and Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). LaTisha has experience working with anxiety, attachment, behavioral issues, depression, grief and loss, self-harm, trauma (physical, mental and sexual), and the family system. Prior to joining the Shelterwood team, LaTisha worked for a private practice group where she worked with both individuals and families. LaTisha joined the Shelterwood team in 2017. Outside of Shelterwood, LaTisha enjoys going on walks, riding her bike, eating good food, spending time with her family and friends and being with her husband and dog, Tucker.

Melissa Winston , MSMFT, LMFT
Therapist Bio

Melissa Winston , MSMFT, LMFT // Therapist

Melissa received her bachelor’s degree in Christian education with an emphasis in youth ministry. Melissa has served adolescents for her entire career in various ministry and public-sector capacities (they’re kind of her thing). Over time, she discovered a great need for ministers and youth-service professionals who not only understood the unique dynamics of teens and their families, but who had the clinical skills to help them with life’s toughest issues.

Melissa went on to earn her master’s degree in marriage and family therapy from CACREP & COAMFTE accredited Capella University. Since then, she has worked in public education, a Level IV residential facility for adolescents, private practice with teens and their parents, and a therapeutic boarding school for adolescents before coming to Shelterwood.

Melissa is passionate about helping teens and their families find wholeness and healing. She appreciates that Shelterwood offers the unique opportunity to integrate the latest evidence-based therapeutic practices with the truth of scripture. Outside of Shelterwood, Melissa loves to decorate and spend time with friends and family.

Michael Weiberg , LCSW
Therapist Bio

Michael Weiberg , LCSW // Therapist

Michael received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and religion from Truman State University. From there, Michael began working for an adolescent drug rehabilitation program called Preferred Family Healthcare. Michael spent almost ten years there working with substance abusing youths in a variety of different roles including direct care staff, caseworker, substance abuse counselor and therapist. While working at Preferred Family Healthcare, Michael received his Master of Social work degree from the University of Kansas and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri. Michael is trained in EMDR and is currently working towards full certification in this treatment modality.

Nate Rayburn , CBT, EMDR**, PT, TFCBT, TIC
Therapist Bio

Nate Rayburn , CBT, EMDR**, PT, TFCBT, TIC // Therapist

Nate has a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and achieved a master’s degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. As a therapist, Nate has experience working with addiction, attachment disorders, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, developmental disorders, autism, cognitive disorders, personality disorders, grief and loss, premarital and marital issues, family issues and issues related to faith. Nate has worked in the residential setting for the past five years in the therapist role. Nate also worked in the direct-care role as a mentor at Shelterwood in 2008. During his free time Nate enjoys spending time with his wife, daughter and two dogs.

Tom Booth , MAADCII
Addiction Counselor

Jessica Wood , Psy.D.
Shelterwood Academy Clinical Director Bio

Jessica Wood , Psy.D. // Shelterwood Academy Clinical Director

Jessica Wood earned her doctorate in psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist for the state of Missouri. Her areas of study included psychological testing and evaluation, substance abuse treatment, marriage and family therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and general child and adolescent psychology/treatment. Jessica focused her continuing education on adolescent trauma, treatment methods and dialectical behavioral therapy to assist in treating self-injurious behavior and other complex emotion regulation disorders.

Prior to Shelterwood, Jessica worked in an outpatient community mental health service center providing individual therapy; an outpatient substance abuse treatment center for families and adolescents; and provided individual, group and family therapy in a child and adolescent treatment center.

Jessica has a passion for working with adolescents and their families and loves seeing relationships and lives restored. She was drawn to Shelterwood because of the unique faith integration approach to treatment, and she is always eager to work with students to transform young lives and families.

Outside Shelterwood, Jessica enjoys spending time with her husband and baby girl, as well as bike rides, walks, working out, traveling, visiting friends and relaxing in the sun.

Josiah Johnson , BS CRADC
Addiction Counselor Bio

Josiah Johnson , BS CRADC // Addiction Counselor

Josiah Johnson has been engaged with the youth of Shelterwood since 2013. He has served as a Direct Care Staff and Assistant House Director. His focus has always been on walking through the hardships of life with students as they work on their personal and family struggles. In his current role, Josiah uses his real-life experience working with corrections and serving as a leader in Celebrate Recovery. Josiah’s focus is on addiction, recovery and maintaining sobriety. His goal for students is to regain a fun, positive and healthy lifestyle as they transition into adulthood. Josiah enjoys playing tennis, photography and reading.

Tiffany Rensberger , BS CRADC
Addiction Counselor Bio

Tiffany Rensberger , BS CRADC // Addiction Counselor

Tiffany Rensberger earned her bachelor’s degree in Biblical counseling from Calvary Bible College. Her areas of study included marriage and family therapy, counseling youth, crisis counseling, and addictions counseling. Upon graduation, Tiffany spent the summer working as a crew counselor over the high school staff at Life Action Camp. She began her journey at Shelterwood as a Mentor in 2012.

Tiffany is passionate about Shelterwood’s holistic approach and vision to see teens and their families restored physically, emotionally and spiritually. During her time as a mentor, Tiffany developed an appreciation for twelve-step addiction programs and group therapy as she attended Narcotics Anonymous meetings with students. She is furthering her education in substance abuse therapy by studying under Shelterwood’s Addictions Therapist, Ken DeBlock. In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball, going to the gym, being outside, playing guitar, drinking coffee and eating cereal.

Julie Faddis , MSCAT, LPC
Art Therapist Bio

Julie Faddis , MSCAT, LPC // Art Therapist

Julie completed her master’s degree in counseling and art therapy at Avila University and is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Missouri. Julie’s passion is for teenagers, and she uses art as a creative therapeutic strategy to help students resolve the tension and pain in their lives. Prior to Shelterwood, Julie worked at Spofford Home for Children, Re-Discover Program, and Wyandotte Center for Behavioral and Community Health.

Her desire to work more exclusively with adolescents and families led her to the Shelterwood team in February 2012. Julie enjoys applying art therapy as a catalyst for growth and healing. She also desires to help teens discover their passions and to be productively involved at Shelterwood, in their community and ultimately when they transition home.

Megan Bartlow , MS, LMFT
Therapist Bio

Megan Bartlow , MS, LMFT // Therapist

Megan earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Texas State University and continued on to Friend’s University, where she completed her master’s degree in family therapy. Megan has experience working with anxiety, depression, identity issues, attachment, problems that stem from family systems, and physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Prior to joining the Shelterwood team, Megan worked with the families of children and adolescents who experienced various forms of trauma. In 2016, she joined Shelterwood to work with a strong clinical and interdisciplinary team who values clinical excellence and integrates faith to help families find a systemic approach to healing. Outside of Shelterwood, Megan enjoys traveling, going to local festivals and trying new restaurants with her friends and family.

Kayla Belle , MAADCII
Addiction Counselor Bio

Kayla Belle , MAADCII // Addiction Counselor

Kayla Belle earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Oklahoma Baptist University. Her areas of study included marriage and family therapy, youth ministry, crisis counseling, and substance abuse counseling. Upon graduation, Kayla spent the summer working to prepare for her move to Missouri. She began her journey at Shelterwood as a Mentor in August 2015.

Kayla is passionate about Shelterwood’s focus on restoring families from a therapeutic, emotional, and spiritual approach. During her time as a mentor, Kayla developed an appreciation for working with the Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery Program and later worked in the house as a Residential Manager. She is furthering her education in substance abuse therapy by studying under Shelterwood’s Substance Abuse Therapist, Ken DeBlock. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and baking, going to the gym, being outside, learning new hobbies such as long-boarding and DIY projects, drinking coffee, and spending time with her community.

Neurotherapy Team - Brain Balance

Josh Spangler
Program Director Bio

Josh Spangler // Program Director

Josh graduated with a counseling and psychology degree from Toccoa Falls College, a Christian liberal arts school in the foothills of the Appalachians in northeast Georgia. In his senior year, Josh interned at a therapeutic boarding school similar to Shelterwood and fell in love with working with teens in this type of environment. So much so, that when the opportunity arose for him to move halfway across the country to work at Shelterwood, he jumped at the chance. After a year of being a mentor at Shelterwood, Josh was offered a job as the sensory-motor coach for Brain Balance. Over a period of two years, he worked up to be the lead sensory-motor coach at the Brain Balance Center in Overland Park. After a year off from Brain Balance, he came back in December of 2017 to join the Brain Balance team at Shelterwood as a program director.

Crystal Groce
Assistant Director Bio

Crystal Groce // Assistant Director

Crystal attended Columbia International University and received bachelor’s degrees in psychology and youth ministries. Crystal has a heart for teens who are struggling and searching during those crucial high school years. She worked at summer camp, volunteered in youth groups, and served at the Department for Juvenile Justice throughout high school and college. She began her time at Shelterwood as a mentor in the girls house in 2012 and then served as a Residential Manager through 2013. She took a break from residential work to go on The World Race in 2014 and travelled throughout Central and South America for the year doing missions work. She returned to Shelterwood in 2015 to start working for Brain Balance and has since served as a sensory motor coach, cognitive coach, and in her current role as Assistant Director. She got married in the summer of 2018 and enjoys traveling, cooking, hiking, rock climbing, adventuring and riding bikes with her husband and stepsons.

Elisabeth Klemme
Brain Balance Director Bio

Elisabeth Klemme // Brain Balance Director

Elisabeth (Lis) Klemme attended the University of Missouri where she received bachelor’s degrees in religious studies and journalism. During college she worked in after-school programs and realized how much she loved working with teenagers. After college she worked for the Boys & Girls Club in Columbia, Missouri, as their teen director and manager of grant writing and grant compliance. After getting married and moving to Kansas City, she found Brain Balance. She started as the Assistant Director and was later promoted to Program Director at Shelterwood. Working at Shelterwood merged Lis’s love of God, excitement for working with teenagers, and her love of the Brain Balance program. Shelterwood and Brain Balance are both in the business of restoration and healing. Lis loves to see God’s healing in the lives of teens and to witness their process of restoration. In her spare time, Lis spends a lot of time at the park with her 2-year-old daughter, Corrine, and husband, Jason. She enjoys healthy cooking and traveling to see family and friends.

Amanda Gunter
Brain Balance Executive Director Bio

Amanda Gunter // Brain Balance Executive Director

Amanda’s work and passion is to help children reach their full potential and see families healed and restored. She comes to Shelterwood with more than 15 years of experience, beginning as a classroom teacher working with children struggling with learning and behavior issues. After witnessing the results of the Brain Balance program through one of her students, she left her teaching career to join the Brain Balance team in 2007. Amanda was the center director of Brain Balance in Peachtree City, Georgia, for five years, where she served families with children suffering from symptoms of ADHD, sensory processing, dyslexia and learning difficulties.

In 2012, Amanda moved to Kansas City to develop the Brain Balance program for Shelterwood Academy. Here she has gained experience collaborating with therapists, educators and housing staff to develop a holistic brain-based approach serving struggling teens. Currently, Amanda is working on her doctorate in brain rehabilitation and researching the development of empathy. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, the outdoors and traveling abroad.

Therapists and Clinical Team

Jessica Wood, Psy.D. — Clinical Director