Meet Emily Jensby, Rainbows’ Mental Health Specialist:
With a Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Psychology and a dual minor in history and sociology from Wichita State University and a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Friends University, Emily brings knowledge, experience and an appreciation for the value of team work to Rainbows. She is a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT) and is also a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) through the Association for Play Therapy.
Before joining the Mental Health Team at Rainbows, Emily had worked with children for over 10 years. She began her career as a substitute teacher and psychosocial rehabilitation provider, and has been working as a therapist since completing her Master’s degree in 2015. After earning her graduate degree, Emily worked at a few different Community Mental Health Centers providing therapy to children, teens, adults, and families in more rural communities, along with providing crisis intervention and assessment services.
In September of 2018, Emily brought her skills to Rainbows. “Rainbows has an excellent reputation around the Wichita Metro area,” said Emily, “both as a place to get services and to work, so I was excited by the prospect of working for a place with such a great reputation.”
“My days vary some depending on where I am in a semester,” said Emily. “I like the variety. Most often, my day involves going to the childcare center that I am working with that semester and meeting with children age 5 or under who I’ve identified as having social/emotional needs. Early Childhood is a very important stage of development and helping children learn to regulate and express their emotions, control their behavior, and build strengths and resiliency is critical to their future success.”
“I love my job!” she said. “As a therapist, I have learned to celebrate even small achievements, because over time they add up to big achievements. I love to celebrate progress, big and small, that the kids I work with make”.
One of the things Emily enjoys most about working at Rainbows is the relationships she’s built with the Mental Health Team. “I work with a bunch of wonderful, amazing ladies,” she said. “I love that we can be silly and quirky, too.”
“Emily is a helper,” said Audra Kenneson, Mental Health Services Coordinator. “When there have been times of flux on our team, she reaches out to ask how she can help. She has supported me and other members of our team in countless ways. I’m very thankful that she chooses to stay with us and share her skills.”
Emily loves arts and crafts and always has at least 5 different projects she’s in the middle of. Some of her favorite crafts include crochet, scrapbooking, drawing/coloring, miniature kits/dioramas, sewing, beading/wire wrapping, and making wreathes. She loves to read and enjoys traveling.
Emily and her husband and have been married for almost 4 years. “I’m an animal lover and would love to have all the animals if I could,” she said, “but we just have one cat right now.”
