Dr. Philip Girling, MD, Psychiatry
Dr. Girling is a graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina. He is Board Certified in Psychiatry.
His psychiatrist interests are diagnostic evaluations, mood disorders, ADHD and opiate addictions. Fifty percent of his
work is conducting psychotherapy. He works with children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Girling works to keep
medications simple and rational with patients who need them. Far too often, he finds people who are on unsafe
combinations or have a medical problem contributing to mental illness.
He is the manager and co-owner of Human Dynamics & Diagnostics, a mental health and substance abuse treatment
programs. Dr. Girling has served as a physicians advisor to the Idaho Medicaid program from December 2007 to
present, a mental health advisor on the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee for Idaho Medicaid 2008 – 2010,
and a consultant to the US Department of Energy 2008-present. He has practiced in Idaho Falls since 2003
and treats patients in our Idaho Falls and Salmon offices.
Dr. Shawn Thurber, PhD, LMFT
Dr. Shawn Thurber has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for since 2005. He completed an internship in New Jersey before returning to Idaho. For 5 years he worked at agencies in Idaho Falls in Pocatello and then spent 6 years at the BHC at EIRMC. He has worked primarily with adolescents and specializes in helping kids with depression, anxiety, personality and behavior issues. He is also comfortable working with adults and enjoys doing work with couples. He is a trained Couple Communication Instructor and has years of experience leading parenting classes. Dr. Thurber is currently accepting new patients at Human Dynamics and Diagnostics in Idaho Falls.
Eric Davenport, LMSW
Mr. Davenport is a Licensed Master Social Worker. He received associates and bachelor’s degrees in Child Development from Boise State University and recently received his Master’s degree in Social Work from Northwest Nazarene University. He has worked with children with developmental disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, and trauma for 21 years. He utilizes client-centered and directive play therapies to help children identify and express their feelings in a safe, therapeutic environment. Mr. Davenport works with children who are coping with divorce, grief, adjustment, oppositional behavior, ADHD, family relational problems, anxiety, and depression. He is sensitive and responsive to the needs of children and their families. Mr. Davenport is working toward the designation of Registered Play Therapist. He practices in the Idaho Falls office.
Sarah Hernandez, LCSW
Ms. Hernandez is a Licensed Master Social Worker from CSUS. She provides psychotherapy to adolescents and adults in individual, family and group settings. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure Therapy, Attachment Focused Family Therapy and Motivational Interviewing, for the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, anger, self-harm thoughts or behavior, substance abuse issues, personality disorder, adjustment, stage-of-life transitions and grief. Clients are assisted by gaining an awareness of thoughts, emotions and behaviors and finding skillful ways of coping with life stressors and their environment to improve their quality of life. She is also the Addictions Program Manager, and provides out-patient substance abuse treatment utilizing various evidenced based treatment methods for low, moderate and high risk populations. She is working towards her clinical licensure and to become certified in Motivational Interviewing. Ms. Hernandez practices in the Idaho Falls office.
Bonnie Horsburgh, LCSW
Ms. Horsburgh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience in social and behavioral health services. After receiving her Masters degree in 2008, she received specialized training and supervision in the area of early childhood attachment and the treatment of attachment trauma. She facilitates Child Parent Relationship Therapy, which helps parents learn to emotionally connect with their children and create deeper, more meaningful relationships with them. She also specializes in enhanced cognitive behavioral treatment for adolescents and adults who are coping with depression, anxiety, trauma, and stage-of-life transitions. Ms. Horsburgh uses Mindfulness-Based and Acceptance and Commitment Therapies to help her clients learn to tolerate distress while achieving the goals of creating richer, more meaningful relationships and experiences. She has also received Level 1 training in the Gottman Method for treating couples. She is a certified to provide clinical supervision to Masters level social workers. She practices in the Idaho Falls office.
Shannon Johnson, LMSW
Ms. Johnson is a Licensed Master Social Worker who graduated from Northwest Nazarene University. She has worked in mental health and developmental disability programs over the past 12 years. Ms. Johnson provides psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families. She uses a strength-based perspective taking into account how history influences present circumstances and beliefs. Ms. Johnson teaches skills to help her clients create a more joyful and meaningful life experience. She has specialized training in working with couples as she has completed the Level II Clinical Training for Gottman Method Couples Therapy. She provides pre-marital, marital, relationship, parenting, and co-parenting counseling for couples. She practices in the Idaho Falls office.
Mark Kelsch, LCSW
Mr. Kelsch is a Licensed Master Social Worker. He has worked with individuals in a variety of settings and with a diverse client population. Mr. Kelsch has extensive experience in treating preadolescents, adolescents, and young adults. He helps clients who present with a variety of concerns, such as, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, anger management, behavioral disorders, grief and loss issues, trauma recovery, life transitions, conflict resolution. He teaches parenting skills and conducts family therapy sessions. Mr. Kelsch does bring in elements from several modalities, but primarily uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). His overall goal is to help his clients and families better cope and deal with life challenges, while making healthy and positive changes. Mr. Kelsch practices in the Idaho Falls office.
Katie McFarland, LMSW
Ms. McFarland is a licensed Master Social Worker who graduated from Northwest Nazarene University. Ms. McFarland has worked in the mental health field for over 5 years. She provides psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families. Ms. McFarland utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindfulness-Based Therapy to help individuals who suffer from depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, low self-esteem, behavioral disorders, and anger management. She has been doing in-home counseling and community-based counseling with individuals and families. Ms. McFarland also helps facilitate a child grief group where she helps children and families learn effective techniques to help them cope with the loss of a loved one. She practices in the Idaho Falls office.
Aaron Schaerrer, LCSW
Mr. Schaerrer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and graduate of Northwest Nazarene University where he studied clinical social work with a rural and spiritual emphasis. He has worked with children, families and adults (as well as geriatrics) providing clinical counseling, psychosocial rehabilitation and case managed services. Mr. Schaerrer is trained to address both specific and generalized anxieties, including post-traumatic stress, major depression, and grief/loss. He has also specialized experience and/or training working with couples/families, in treating co-occurring disorders (including sexual addiction), late/end of life issues, domestic violence related abuse, play therapy, and integrating clients values/belief systems into treatment. Mr. Schaerrer is a strengths based, solution focused counselor, helping individuals and families successful resolve concerns and move forward in achieving their best possible quality of life. Mr. Schaerrer practices in the Idaho Falls office.
Emily Smith, LCSW
Ms. Smith is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been practicing in the field of social work since 2010. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at Idaho State University and completed her Master’s Degree in Social Work at Northwest Nazarene University. She is a general practitioner who utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing techniques for the treatment of anxiety, depression, trauma, schizophrenia, addictions and personality disorders. She has experience working for a law enforcement agency and understands the hardships of law enforcement and first responders. She is a certified in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) techniques and has conducted dozens of debriefings for local law enforcement officers, dispatchers, firefighters, EMTs, and correctional staff following a critical incident. She has also worked full-time providing oversite and treatment of substance use disorders since 2012. She provides individual psychotherapy to adolescents and adults in the Idaho Falls office.
Carrie Wright, LMSW
Ms. Wright is a Licensed Master Social Worker who works with adolescents and adults suffering from substance use, mental health, and trauma disorders. She graduated from Idaho State University with a Bachelor in Social Work in 2014, and then continued her education at Northwest Nazarene University. She attained her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a dual concentration in addictions and mental health in 2015. Carrie has been extensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), 7 Challenges, Prolonged Exposure, and Trauma Recovery and Empowerment therapy modalities. She enjoys working with teenagers who have struggled with or have been affected by substance abuse issues and/or trauma. Carrie has worked in the drug court setting for three years. Her goal is to assist families in creating healthy family dynamics and communication patterns. Carrie provides psychotherapy in group, family, and individual settings. She is currently practicing and accepting new clients in the Idaho Falls office.
Betsy Petersen, LMSW
Betsy Petersen is a Licensed Master Social Worker. Betsy is a new resident of Idaho Falls after recently moving from Tennessee, her home state. Betsy received her education from the University of Tennessee and has been working in the mental health field since 2014. She strives to bring an empathetic and motivated approach to therapy and uses a holistic view to explore all areas of life that affect the person and their environment. Betsy provides supportive counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy techniques as a starting point but also integrates other techniques that match clients’ needs, personality, and comfort level. Betsy has experience with depression, anxiety, female-related issues, grief and loss, self-esteem, trauma, and life transitions. She enjoys working with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors.
Jordan Wixom, LCP
Ms. Wixom is a Licensed Professional Counselor who graduated from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho. She has three years of experience working as an advocate and counselor for adult and child survivors of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Ms. Wixom enjoys providing mental health counseling to people of all ages as individuals, families, and groups. Through a trauma-informed lens, she practices counseling from Client-Centered, Narrative, Mindfulness-Based, and Play Therapy approaches. Through the power of the therapeutic relationship, Ms. Wixom collaborates with her clients to help them move through challenges in life, including relationship concerns, stress, trauma, depression, anxiety, and more. She is an LGBTQ+ Safe Space Trainer through the Idaho Association of LGBTQ+ Issues in Counseling (IALGBTIC), and has provided training to local community organizations and schools. Ms. Wixom appreciates developing relationships through counseling that allow for self-growth and exploration in a warm and non-judgmental setting. She practices in the Idaho Falls office and provides home-based counseling services.
Jennifer Hess, PA
Ms. Hess is a graduate of Idaho State University Physician Assistant program. She is board certified as a Physician Assistant. Ms. Hess has worked with a variety of diagnosis including ADHD and mood disorders. She has worked with all age ranges. She is passionate about people improve their quality of life. She practices in the Idaho Falls office.
