03/17/2026
Hot Springs Health Expands Behavioral Health Services
THERMOPOLIS, WY – Hot Springs Health has added a new service to its Thermopolis Clinic as licensed clinical social worker, Kayla Sterling, joins the clinical team. Sterling brings a wealth of experience in trauma-informed care and behavioral health integration, further strengthening HSH’s commitment to providing comprehensive healthcare to rural Wyoming.
Sterling, who earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Wyoming, spent several years as a mental health tech assistant at a middle school in Billings, Montana. Working closely with the school’s therapist, Sterling’s passion for continuing her career in healthcare grew.
“I admired her approach with the kids and the impactful therapy she provided them,” Sterling said.
After watching Sterling lead a group discussion, the therapist commented that Sterling had a unique ability to hold space for clients so that they felt heard, supported and motivated to make positive change.
With some additional encouragement, Sterling went on to earn a graduate degree in social work from Walla Walla University.
“I will forever be grateful that she kindly but firmly asked me to never sell myself short,” Sterling said. “She told me I had potential. She inspired me to go back to school and navigate the graduate school process. Most importantly, her belief in me and ability to see my potential when I couldn’t, will always be an inspirational reminder of the meaningful change that social workers can have on someone’s life.”
Now, Sterling finds inspiration in helping others and is excited about her new role at Hot Springs Health. She said the human experience can be complicated to navigate, something she finds inspiring to help others make sense of their experiences, heal from trauma and build healthier relationships with themselves and others.
“I am always honored to be trusted to assist in someone’s healing process,” she said. “Supporting people as they move from survival to growth is what makes this work meaningful to me.”
In a region where mental health resources can often be limited, Sterling said she views her role as a vital link for families. She’s excited to fill this gap in Wyoming’s rural communities, providing a range of mental health services and other social support.
“I feel my job is essential in a clinic setting because it often serves multiple roles by connecting individuals and families to resources, providing direct supportive care, and advocating for their needs,” she said. “I enjoy providing care in a rural setting because it allows for stronger therapeutic connections, a better understanding of clients’ lived experiences and more individualized care. The work feels especially meaningful because small, thoughtful interventions can have a big impact in communities with limited resources.”
Sterling offers a variety of counseling services at Hot Springs Health. Her clinical experience ranges from treating mental health to substance misuse. While she specialized in trauma-informed therapy for adults, couples and families, her clinical expertise includes Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, anxiety and depression management, emotional regulation and trauma-related concerns, and substance abuse and addictions counseling. While EMDR trained, Sterling also integrates evidence-based approaches to support healing, emotional regulation and lasting change.
Sterling is currently seeing patients at the Hot Springs Health Thermopolis Clinic, with plans to expand her services to the Worland, Shoshoni and Riverton clinics in the future. Her role is integrated directly into the primary care setting, allowing for seamless collaboration between medical providers and behavioral health support.
Patients interested in behavioral health services can be referred by their primary care provider or may call the Thermopolis clinic directly to book an appointment.
“The culture here at HSH is incredibly welcoming,” Sterling said. “You can tell there has been an intentional effort to create a workplace where people actually want to be. I look forward to contributing to that growth every day.”
CEO Scott Alwin said Hot Springs Health is already seeing the immediate impact from Sterling and her expertise in trauma-informed care and EMDR is already filling a critical gap in the community.
"Integrating behavioral health directly into our primary care setting is a milestone for HSH," Alwin said. "Kayla’s unique ability to help patients move 'from survival to growth' is exactly what our rural communities need. By offering these services in our rural health clinics, we are ensuring that mental health is never an afterthought, but a core part of our mission."
