Shealah West Therapy, LLC

10/21/2026

After hours sometimes involve kitty "jump scares". This little guy is a foster of my building landlords. Of course I take the opportunity to play with him whenever possible. He's quite the naughty creature, never having had a mama cat put him in his place. Introducing "Bitey Scratchy" (which is my name for him. I have absolutely no idea what they call him. 😂)

10/19/2026

Sitting in an IEP when no one in the room has much of an idea how CRUCIAL flexibility of expectation is for a student with FASD while maintaining structure in the environment is incredibly frustrating for me as a therapist. I can't imagine how it is for parents.

10/15/2026

Heavy stuff. I think its incredibly important for anyone connected to adoption in ANY way to watch. The ripples of loss and grief, aches that don't go away. Available on Kanopy or at https://unlockingtheheart.com/buy-the-film.

To buy the DVD go to: www.unlockingtheheart.com. This 56 minute fi...

10/08/2026

Watch this video. Loss and Grief- do we allow children in foster care or those who have been adopted to GRIEVE their losses? Do we consistently acknowledge that there even IS loss or do we gloss over it with "aren't you lucky to be out of that situation" or "aren't you lucky to have been adopted and given such a great life?" Which is sooooo short sighted, and if I may say GROSS.
Loss through death is normalized, behavioral struggles in kiddos is more understood, grace given.
Children in foster care or those who've been adopted, even those adopted at birth, have experienced significant loss and it tends to manifest in behavioral struggles. If we avoid these conversations, it makes the struggle worse. There are effective ways to navigate these situations. Acknowledgment that it exists is the first step.

The authors of the book, Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanen...

09/28/2026

It is time for the 2026 Kancare provider satisfaction surveys.
I am completely dissatisfied with the number of available Behavioral Health Providers who take any of the three MCO insurances.
I am completely dissatisfied with the number of available Specialists who take any of the three MCO insurances.
When asked for feedback related to each MCO, this is my standard response:
"We need more Specialists and Behavioral Health Providers to take (whichever MCO) across the state. 99 of the 105 counties in Kansas are a mental health treatment desert. Metropolitan areas are absorbing rural patients, but there are still many providers who are being turned down for credentialing and being told there are enough providers in network. No. There. Are. Not. The CCBHC's can't absorb the overload, especially if a Specialist is needed. When qualified providers can't even move from a group practice to an individual practice or open a private practice, MCOs are willfully DECREASING provider numbers, which is going to result in a bottlenecking of services, unnecessary long wait times and underserved Kansans.

09/24/2026

🐕Wednesday Sept 30th 🐈
ALPHA clinic, 10 am (but come early!)
1902 S Hydraulic, Wichita

ALPHA clinics are urgent care type veterinary clinics for minor illnesses/injuries. Owners must be Sedgwick County residents and have an annual household income of less than $50,000.

Only 15 patients will be seen, and this clinic is first come-first serve. There is a $30 copay per pet with a maximum of two pets per family. Please come early and expect a wait.

***Change: please note that we will NO longer be offering vaccines only as we have other opportunities for that.

Thank you to the K-State Shelter Medicine program for their partnership!

09/20/2026

ADHD PARENT SUPPORT!
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BymAmExkG/

Raise Happy & Independent Teens

09/13/2026

Aaaannndddd....when a kid is earnestly trying to explain his amazing idea for a game and no amount of careful questions, reframes or reflective statements from therapist nor parent is resulting in clarity... the entire session devolving into hysterical laughter and tears.... from the therapist, however in my defense, the parent was chuckling as well... but that also may have been directed towards me and my apparent internal chaos emerging from a lack of caffeine and sleep. 🤪
*just ADHD on my end though

09/06/2026

Most people don’t realize how common Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) really is. Current research indicates FASD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Based on prevalence estimates in the general population, there are more people with FASD than the combined number of people with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and Tourette Syndrome.

This isn’t about comparing or classifying different disabilities. It’s about prevalence - and highlighting the enormous gap between how common FASD is and how little it is recognized, understood, diagnosed and supported.

There are millions of people around the world with FASD. It’s time for the world to be FASD aware. And then it’s time to turn awareness into action.