Communicare therapist receives state award

 The service of a local therapist first garnered the attention of a Heartland Elementary School employee and, now, of the entire state.

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Suzanne Combs, an off-site therapist for Communicare who works in local elementary schools, won the Betty Triplett Award from the Kentucky Partnership for Families and Children.

Suzanne Page Combs, an off-site therapist for Communicare who works in local elementary schools, was awarded the Betty Triplett Award from the Kentucky Partnership for Families and Children. The award goes to a professional who has gone beyond the requirements in service to the mental health field, among other things. Combs was nominated by Janet Robinson, the family resource coordinator at Heartland Elementary School.

“She by far stands out as one of the best we’ve ever had,” Robinson said.

Combs has worked with students at Heartland for two years, and Robinson said she’s become a part of the school community. She has a “heart for kids” and that’s why she’s successful.

“She does it because it’s a calling, I feel like, for her,” Robinson said.

When Robinson heard of the award, she nominated Combs. Last week, she learned Combs was chosen.

Combs received the award last weekend. She was amazed when she heard Robinson had nominated her, and even more when she learned she won.

“I was really surprised initially,” she said. “I was like, ‘There’s no way.’”

Combs, a marriage and family therapist associate, credited the schools for the success she has found working with the children.

“I enjoy building relationships with the kids and seeing them succeed,” she said. “I couldn’t do it without the school.”

Combs is early in the stages of her career.

She graduated in 2004 from LaRue County High School, earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2007 from Campbellsville University and completed her master’s degree in counseling in 2010, receiving MFTA licensure.

She married her husband, Scott, two years ago.

She completed a year-long internship at Southeast Christian. She has been at Communicare for three years and along with spending time at Heartland, also works with students at Rineyville and G.C. Burkhead elementary schools. She’s glad to know someone feels she’s making a difference.

She said she enjoys working with students and building relationships with them.

“I think they’ve left me more than I’ve left them,” she said.

She is the daughter of Mike and Martha Page of Hodgenville.

Editor Linda Ireland contributed to this story.