I am a therapist that has extensive experience with families raising foster and adoptive children. I obtained my undergraduate degree at UNO and completed my master’s degree at Doane University in 2018. I spent a year in an internship at University of Nebraska Psychiatry working with adults and adolescents. In between my bachelors and Master’s degrees I spent more than twenty years providing care for over 50 youth in a group home setting and in a foster/adoptive setting in my own home. I currently hold a Provisional License for therapy through the State of Nebraska.
The years of experience in the foster care industry has tutored me in a unique way about the challenges faced by those raising children with attachment issues and trauma histories. My training has been focused on working with adults and adolescents with trauma histories, as well as helping those parenting children with that history. I spent years teaching parent training courses, working as a hotline crisis counselor, served on the metro area’s LOSS team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) and Nebraska State Foster Care Review Board. I have also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) to be able to offer this specialized treatment for those in need of in-depth help with trauma.
My internship exposed me to treatments for depression, anxiety, suicidal ideations, and resilience training. I learned that my life’s work has given me decades of experience and training in working with adolescents engaging in problematic or challenging behaviors. I have developed skill to work with families as a complete system to help identify the root of the problem, finding strengths and helping develop coping skills to offer clients hope and change. I expect the client and the family to be wholly invested in the process, in session and at home, and to take an active role in the growth offered through therapy. I completely believe that individuals can heal from traumatic experiences and even become stronger than ever through therapy.
Being aware of my limitations, I do not believe everyone will fit perfectly with me as a therapist. I will gladly refer clients to other therapists if I or they do not feel that the fit is correct. I do not have the training to work directly with children under the age of 10, those with problematic sexual behaviors, or others with significant cognitive challenges, nor do I get involved with custody disputes, but will refer to other providers in the community as requested.
I have lived in the Omaha area for more than thirty years, raising my family in our community schools and participating in community and church organizations. I claim Omaha as my home and would love to get to know you, and assist you in increasing peace and hope in your life.