Where you are now working and what is your role?
I am in solo practice at Prairie Family Counseling and Consultations. I provide therapy services and psychological evaluations for families/individuals – many of whom are involved in the Juvenile Court or District Court – needing parenting plans, parental fitness assessments, attachment/bonding assessments, reunification plans, or who are involved in parental termination proceedings. I am also a Specialized Alternative Dispute Resolution mediator and, more recently, have completed my Parent Coordinator certification from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. I try to help children who are caught in the middle of dysfunctional and/or high conflict dynamics. I have also served on the Second Judicial District Mental Health Board since 1998.
What’s a project you’re working on right now? Why is it meaningful to you?
For the last four years, I am proud to have served as a volunteer consultant to the Sarpy County Wellness Court, a pilot program for the state of Nebraska – that is, a problem solving court that provides an alternative to offenders who have committed felonies – but who have a history of serious mental health conditions (and also often struggle with co-occurring substance use disorders). It has been so rewarding to watch individuals stabilize on mental health treatment plans, become productive (with employment and/or structured timed), create appropriate support networks and sometimes reconnect with previously alienated family members. When the participants successfully graduate from the program, their criminal charges are dismissed. Graduation ceremonies sometimes bring tears to my eyes.
Tell us about your path to becoming a clinical psychologist.
I fell in love with psychology as an undergraduate at Penn State. I attended the University of Mississippi for my masters and doctorate degrees. I originally thought I might like to have a career in research but I became fascinated by clinical psychology. After being accepted into the clinical program at “Ole Miss”, I was awarded an Air Force Health Professional Scholarship – which resulted in a terrific internship at Wilford Hall, a large military hospital in San Antonio, Texas. After serving in the Air Force for four years, I was able to work full time as a civilian psychologist and, at the same time, attend part-time studies at Creighton Law School – where I earned my Juris Doctorate in 1994. While at Creighton, my favorite law professor approached me – and said that he could tell I was a “peace keeper” – and encouraged me to begin taking his classes in mediation and alternative dispute resolution prior to passing the bar. To this day, I continue to be involved the community of mediators – and, whenever asked, assist in training others in mediation – hopefully, keeping many from experiencing adversarial court proceedings.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
I love being with my family. I love to travel – and have visited over 40 countries now – with plans on visiting many more in the next few years! I enjoy learning about different cultures. I especially love visiting national parks and archeology sites. Half the fun for me is researching the places to which I will be travelling.
A few years ago, I completed the training necessary to become an UNL extension program master gardener volunteer (as I feel I have so much more to learn, I call myself an “Imposter master gardener”) – volunteering primarily at the garden adjacent to the Papillion Library, which serves as a Monarch Waystation and has a “hotel” for native bees. As I learn about plants, trees, and pollinators, I am able to pass on this knowledge to visitors to the garden. So: If you are ever in the garden, please say, “Hi”.
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