Highlights
Licensed clinical social worker, specializing in anxiety and PTSD
Private practice therapist and mental health educator and consultant
Writer and journalist, focusing on mental health and wellness
Mental health isn’t just about being free from symptoms. It’s about finding yourself and what makes you happy. Once you know that, you can create an authentic and joyful life.
— Jennie Bedsworth, MSW, LCSW
Experience
Jennie Bedsworth, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist with 20 years of experience in journalism, teaching, and mental health. Prior to completing her master's degree, she wrote for The Furrow magazine and was editor of Missouri Ruralist magazine. Following her master’s program, she taught communications at a technical college for 4 years and went on to work for the Missouri Department of Social Services, as well as the Missouri Department of Mental Health. With the Department of Mental Health, she provided case management and trauma therapy at Fulton State Hospital, the state’s largest inpatient psychiatric center, often working with those who dealt with psychosis along with personality disorders. While there, she also completed extensive training and supervision in dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), prolonged exposure, and DBT-enhanced prolonged exposure.
Jennie went on to work in a community mental health setting for Compass Health, where she provided trauma therapy as well as treatment for substance use, depression, relationship problems and other issues. At Compass Health, she completed a year-long training program in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and became a registered provider.
Currently, Jennie owns a private practice and a consulting and educational service called The Counseling Palette, which provides therapy resources like guides and worksheets, along with consulting and training. She writes mental health content for numerous sites, including Psychology Today, E-Counseling.com, and Medium. She is also a continuing education provider for CHI Professional Development and provides training at events for the Missouri Department of Mental Health and Missouri Department of Public Defenders.
Education
Jennie received both her undergraduate degree in agricultural journalism and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Missouri. While pursuing her graduate degree, she was inducted into the Phi Alpha Honor Society. Jennie also completed multiple internships and practicums, including at Missouri Ruralist magazine and the Missouri Department of Mental Health.
