This is a paid piece from Encompass Mental Health, LLC.
Simplified: Encompass Mental Health meets kids where they are – and not just emotionally. Therapists work to reduce barriers to mental health treatment with play therapy, in-daycare visits and the support of a nonprofit arm to make sure finances don't get in the way of a child's healing.
Why it matters
- Founder Emily Learing started her career doing in-home therapy for kids in child protection services, and even ran her own daycare for a short time. In 2014, she founded Encompass with a goal to "encompass the lives of children" in every aspect of her work.
- Today, Encompass has a staff of 17 practitioners who work to support children, teens, women and couples with the ultimate goal of supporting kids and strengthening child-parent relationships. Over the last decade, the business has supported more than 2,000 individuals.
- Encompass also partners with child care providers in Sioux Falls to bring play therapy techniques directly to young children with the goal of learning feelings, improving self esteem and making meaning of different situations.
"It is really powerful to see what kind of a positive impact we can have," Learing said. "I wouldn’t choose any other job besides this one because there’s just something amazing about coming to work every day and knowing that you're trying to make life better for others."
Tell me more about Encompass
Learing initially ran Encompass as an individual practice, but expanded in 2018 to a group practice. It quickly grew – accelerated in part by the coronavirus pandemic.
"Everything just exploded," Learing said. "People were in need ... that is when we started to see these waiting lists develop."
She's still seeing the ripple effects of the pandemic on children's social and emotional wellness, particularly a lot of anxiety in children.
"We're seeing kids who were in kindergarten (when the pandemic hit) really struggling with behaviors," Learing said. "They didn't get that proper introduction into what school actually looks like ... they didn't have that socialization."
In addition to supporting kids, Encompass offers therapy services to teens, women and couples. That includes mindfulness therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), which is designed to help people reprocess traumatic memories.
Encompass also developed a nonprofit arm, "Finding Better Tomorrows," in recent years to help offset the costs of therapy for families who cannot otherwise afford it.
Through it all, Encompass' mission is to provide counseling for real life.
"Our goal is to work with you and to work ourselves out of a job," Learing said.
How can I learn more?
You can learn more, inquire about counseling options or schedule an appointment on the Encompass website.
You can also support Finding Better Tomorrows by attending a upcoming golf tournament fundraiser this fall. Find more details here.
