Jennifer Colby

Jennifer Colby serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Sociology at Fort Hays State University, teaching both virtual and on-campus courses. With over 18 years of clinical experience, she bridges academic instruction with frontline mental health practice.

Her academic credentials include:

• Bachelor of Science in Sociology with Criminal Justice emphasis from Kansas State University
• Master of Social Work (MS) from the University of Kansas (2009)

Ms. Colby specializes in evidence-based clinical interventions for complex mental health conditions. Her expertise spans trauma-informed care, addiction treatment across the lifespan, and therapeutic approaches for women's issues, grief processing, and dual diagnosis populations. She integrates her sociology background with clinical social work to address systemic factors in mental health outcomes.

Professional certifications include:

• Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor
• Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker
• Substance Abuse Professional

At High Plains Mental Health, she provides outpatient substance abuse therapy while delivering adolescent-focused assessments and group therapy at KVC Wheatland. Her clinical work emphasizes individual, family, and group modalities for SPMI (Serious and Persistent Mental Illness) populations.