Lamar Payne

Lamar Payne is a Behavioral Health Consultant whose career reflects a deep, lifelong commitment to helping people through difficult and often critical moments in their lives. He earned his bachelor's degree in social work from Missouri State University and his master's degree in social work from the University of Kansas. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Missouri, Lamar brings more than two decades of experience to his practice, including extensive work in suicide prevention, crisis intervention, and community-based mental health care. Much of his career has been devoted to serving veterans, where he held roles such as Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Community Engagement and Partnerships Program Manager, building vital connections between individuals, families, and the support services they need.

At the heart of Lamar's approach is a belief in whole-person health care. He takes the time to truly listen to his patients, hearing their stories and partnering with them to determine the course of treatment that will work best for them. Guided by a focus on self-determination and a strength-based philosophy, Lamar became a provider to be a guide and a source of support for people navigating life's challenges and times of crisis. He finds genuine joy in being a comfort to others, building relationships, and walking alongside his patients on their path toward wellness.

Beyond his clinical work, Lamar is dedicated to giving back to his community. He previously served two years on the board of NAMI for Southwest Missouri, currently volunteers with the STOMP the Blues out of Homelessness charity, and makes monthly pet food donations to the Community Partnership of the Ozarks to help unhoused and near-unhoused neighbors care for their pets.