Supervision is taken very seriously. Time will be scheduled to ensure supervision is provided on a consistent, timely basis. Interns can expect to receive the minimum number of the hours of supervision as stipulated by NPTC. Supervision is a two-way street, a collaborative relationship between individuals who learn from each other.  Being prepared to ask questions, express concerns, sharing of successes, reviewing cases, discussing theories, address ethical elements of providing counseling, and other issues relevant to counseling are all potential “grist”  for the supervision “mill”. Supervision is not therapy. But, individual issues and personal concerns that may impact the delivery of counseling services are also important elements of supervision. Interns are encouraged to be assertive, to be invested in the process, and to expect the supervisor to be responsible and responsive colleagues who are part of a team. 

The area for which the Clark Center serves as a CCBHC consists of three rural counties in southwest Missouri. The population of the largest community in the three county area is approximately 9,000 residents. The population of one of the counties served is essentially the same as that of the largest town in our service area, making it very rural with a great deal of open farmland. With fewer than 85,000 individuals living in a three county area, population density is very low.

The median household income in the three counties is approximately $40,000 per year with nearly 20% of the population living in poverty. Even in the largest community in the three counties where there is a relatively high percentage of white-collar jobs, over 60% of school students receive free or reduced lunches. Even though there are many families struggling with low incomes, the rate of street homelessness is very low; this is attributed to friends and families being willing to house individuals.

Due to serving a largely low-income area, the Clark Center has not and will not turn away individuals with moderate to severe needs based upon an inability to pay. All regardless of socio-economic status who enter through our Open Access model for screening receive a free screening; no pay source is billed for the service. In order to meet the needs of those who have inability to pay, we attempt to utilize the services of interns and we are an NHSC site where professionals can benefit from loan repayment if they work at a facility that utilizes an approved sliding fee scale.

The area largely consists of white residents with approximately 90% of the population being white. With that being said, there is a growing Hispanic community in two of the counties. In those counties, it is not uncommon for 30% of the students in the school classroom to have Hispanic ethnicity and it is estimated that approximately 7% of those older than five years old speak a language other than English in the home. Though a relatively small number from this community are seeking services, the agency hires at present three bilingual staff to assist individuals who might have a language barrier which would otherwise prevent treatment.

Richard Brewer, Psy.D.

Dr. Brewer received his master’s degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton Graduate School in Wheaton, Illinois, and his doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology at the School of Professional Psychology at Forest Institute in Springfield, Missouri. His pre-doctoral internship was completed at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners and his post-doctoral residency was completed at the Family Institute of the Ozarks. Dr. Brewer’s theoretical orientation is Cognitive-Behavioral.  Before coming to the Clark Center, Dr. Brewer was a professor of psychology for 33 years.

Melissa Ussery, Psy.D.

Dr. Ussery received her master’s and doctorate degrees at Forest Institute in Springfield, Missouri. Before joining the Clark Center, Dr. Ussery served as the Director of Mental Health services for the Greene County Sheriff’s office, the largest sheriff’s office in the State with the third largest jail in the State of Missouri. She often has been called on to serve as a forensic expert regarding in-custody deaths as well as jail policies and procedures.

Matthew Dzak, Psy.D.

Dr. Dzak earned bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Business Management from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. He then earned master’s and doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield. He has roughly eight years of experience working as a Clinical Psychologist in rural mental health settings, where he has served in both clinical roles and leadership capacities. His interests include psychological assessment, program development, clinical supervision, and administration. He has developed multiple psychological testing programs from the ground up. As the primary supervisor for psychological assessment at the Clark Center, Dr. Dzak’s approach to assessment supervision is Socratic, growth-minded, scaffolding-based, and feedback-heavy. He enjoys teaching interns how to write final reports that are accurate, integrated, accessible, and ultimately helpful to the client.

Clark Center requires background checks and drug tests on all incoming interns as well as the COVID-19 vaccine prior to the start date.

All employees of the Clark Center are required to pass a drug screen and pass a background check before starting employment.  Individuals taking medications that may cause a positive screen must be able to produce a valid prescription.  A positive screen for marijuana will prevent employment even if its use has been medically recommended.

Background checks may prevent employment if the record shows activities disallowed by the DMH.  Individuals taking medications that may cause a positive screen (stimulants, benzodiazepines, opiates) must be able to produce a valid prescription.  A positive screen for marijuana will prevent employment even if its use has been medically recommended.

Clark Center looks for interns who possess the following characteristics:

Clark Center follows CDC and OSHA guidance regarding COVID-19 regulations. All guests and clients are screened for COVID-19 prior to entry to any buildings and the buildings are cleaned on a regular basis. All employees (including interns) are required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine or an approved exemption prior to the start date. All clients and employees wear masks in the building regardless of vaccination status in situations where social distancing cannot be guaranteed. Clark Center has also implemented special COVID-19 related sick leave allowances for employees in various situations such as needing to quarantine, isolate, etc. Interns at Clark Center provide a mixture of in-person and tele services both from the office as well as some work from home as needed.

Clark Center continues to monitor the current infection rates and CDC guidance for regulations and makes changes as necessary.