J. Mark Blakeslee, LCMFT, LCAC
Mark Blakeslee has worked in a great number of settings in the areas of substance use, sexual abuse victims, juvenile sexual offenders, grief, PTSD, depression, gambling, troubled children and adoption. He graduated from Hastings Nebraska College in Psychology/English Magna Cum Laude with a BA and Friends University in Family Therapy with an MS. He also completed the Substance Abuse coursework from DCCC in Dodge City. He is a Certified Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, Clinical Additions Counselor, Kansas Certified Gambling Counselor level II and Clinical Marriage/Family Therapist. He has a “Heart” for kids but loves to work with all kinds of exceptional people.
Rita O’Gwin, LSCSW
Rita joined the Heart of Kansas staff in January 2015. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from St. Mary’s of the Plains College in Dodge City. In 1997 she obtained her Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas. Rita is retired from Larned State Hospital after working for the state of Kansas for approximately 30 years. While with the state, Rita worked with children as young as 5 years of age and with adults into their 90’s. At Heart of Kansas she specializes primarily in working with adults, but also works with clients of all ages.
LeAnn Petersilie
LeAnn joined Heart of Kansas in 2019. She received her Bachelor of Social Work and Psychology from Bethany College in 2002. She has worked in residential mental health settings as well as foster care. She returned to school to complete her Master of Social Work from the University of Kansas in 2019. She is also licensed to provide addiction counseling services. LeAnn sees clients of all ages and backgrounds.
Deanna Gray
Deanna Gray joined Heart of Kansas in 2021 as a care coordinator. She brings with her experience in the IDD population, at-risk youth and foster care families. Deanna received her associates from Barton County Community College and received her Bachelor of Social Work from Kansas State in 2020. She went to graduate with a Masters of Social Work from Fort Hays University in 2021. She is trained in Batterers Intervention, EMDR and is a facilitator of the Love and Logic Parenting classes.
Deanna has five children and four grandchildren. She enjoys working with all ages and all populations.
Julie Belt
I started as a certified nursing assistant when I was 18 years old. I worked in a long-term care setting while earning my associate degree in nursing at Barton Community College. I graduated from Barton in 2006 as a Registered Nurse. I worked in several different settings as a RN including acute care, skilled care, juvenile corrections, inpatient adult psychiatric services, substance abuse residential services, and intellectual/developmentally disabled residential services. I graduated from Tabor College in 2011 with my bachelor degree in nursing. I went on to graduate from Walden University in 2019 with my master degree in nursing for family nurse practitioner. I went on to complete my post-master certificate for psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner from Maryville University in 2022. I have been married for 17 years to my husband, Ryan Belt, and we have 5 children between the ages of 13 and 23. I love spending my free time outdoors with the family including camping, fishing, swimming, boating, and running the river!
Professional Experience and Accomplishments: I worked a total of 5.5 years at Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility. I developed and implemented a sexual education course for the juveniles while working in the clinic. I worked a total of 4.5 years at Larned State Hospital. I revised and implemented the new MHDD and nurse orientation classes while in the training department. I also served as the interim and director of nursing for two years prior to my departure in 6/2016. I worked a total of 6 years at Diversicare of Larned. I served as the director of nursing for almost 5 years and managed to lead the facility and nursing department from a 2-star to a 5-star rating prior to my departure in 2/2023. I am ANCC board certified as a family nurse practitioner and psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I am currently loving my role as a PMHNP in an outpatient setting at Heart of Kansas. My goal is to expand mental health services to Great Bend and surrounding communities.
Jesse Sloan
Providing care coordination services, Jessie started working for Heart of Kansas in February 2016. She received her Bachelor's Degree in General Studies with an emphasis in Psychology and a Minor in Sociology from Fort Hays State University in 2001. Jessie later obtained her Master's Degree in Social Work from Washburn University in 2006. Prior to joining Heart of Kansas, her work experiences include working as a school social worker, as a Care Manager, and as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Today Jessie works at Heart of Kansas as the Behavioral Health Consultant and as one of the Behavioral Health therapists.
Teresa Stenzel
Teresa E. Stenzel, LSCSW, began her social work career in 1993 after obtaining her bachelor's degree in social work from KU. In 2005, Teresa received her MSW from Newman University in Wichita, KS. Upon completion of her clinical hours, Teresa obtained her LSCSW in 2009.
Teresa has worked in a variety of settings providing out-patient treatment. In 1997, Teresa worked in the foster care system for a private contractor. Beginning in 2000, Teresa collaborated in developing a Therapeutic Animal Program (TAP), with an emphasis in equine assisted therapy at Youthville in Dodge City. In 2011, Teresa opened her private practice (Healing Place Counseling, LLC) in Ness City, KS. Over the years her private practice has served multiple locations including Ness City, Scott City, Ransom, Hays and Larned. In addition, Teresa provides consultations for various long term care facilities on a contractual basis.
Teresa’s training and skills are focused on teenagers and adults of all ages. She brings healing experience in PTSD and trauma informed care, depression, anxiety, suicide and self-harm intervention, conflict resolution, anger management, adjustment disorder, as well as many other client presented needs. Some modalities for treatment include CBT, mindfulness intervention, and Life-Span Integration (a gentle, body-based therapeutic method promoting healing of ego-states without re-traumatizing).