Chelsey Hirt, MA, LMHC

Director/Therapist 

Education: Bachelors of Arts in Psychology, Morningside College

                   Masters of Arts in Clinical Counseling, University of Nebraska at Omaha 

Licensure: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of Iowa

Experience: Experience working with Family Therapy, Couples Therapy, Adjustment Periods, Trauma, Domestic Violence, Behaviors, Anger Management, Depression, and Anxiety

Modalities: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused, Strengths Based approaches, Transactional Analysis

Insurances Accepted: All Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Optum Behavioral Health, Midlands Choice, Aetna, Tricare, Nebraska Medicaid (Nebraska Total Care, UHC), Cigna 

For more information about Chelsey, visit her Psychology Today profile by CLICKING HERE 

Tawnie Ware, MS, LMHC

Therapist/In-Home Services Supervisor 

Education:  Masters of Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Licensure:  Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of Iowa

                    Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, State of Nebraska

Experience: Experience providing Group, Family, and Individual therapy across various settings.

Modalities: Solution Focused, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Holistic, Trauma Informed

Insurances Accepted:  All Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare/UBH/Optum, Aetna, Midlands Choice, Tricare, Nebraska Medicaid (Nebraska Total Care, UHC), Cigna  

For more information about Tawnie, visit her Psychology Today profile by CLICKING HERE 

Megan Ruff, MS, LMHC

Therapist 

Education:  Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology, Iowa State University

                     Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling, Bellevue University

Licensure: Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of Iowa 

Experience: Over 3 years experience working with individuals with Mental Illness and Substance Abuse.  Over 9 months experience working with Children's Behavioral and Mental Health issues. 

Modalities: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused, Play Therapy

Insurances Accepted:  All Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, Blue Cross Blue Shield (pending), United Healthcare/UBH/Optum, Aetna, Midlands Choice, Tricare, Nebraska Medicaid (Nebraska Total Care, UHC), Cigna   

For more information about Megan, visit her Psychology Today profile by CLICKING HERE 

Janice Zoucha-Jensen, MSW, LISW

Therapist 

Education:  Masters of Social Work, University of Nebraska at Omaha  

Licensure:  Licensed Independent Social Worker, State of Iowa

                    Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, State of Nebraska

                    Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor, State of Nebraska

                    Licensed Certified Social Worker, State of Nebraska

Experience: Experience working with Substance Abuse, Depression, Trauma, and Anxiety in a variety of settings

Modalitites:  EMDR, CBT, Gestalt, Motivational Interviewing 

Insurances Accepted:  All Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare/UBH/Optum, Aetna, Midlands Choice, Tricare, Nebraska Medicaid  (Nebraska Total Care, UHC), Medicare, Cigna 

Megan Matulka, MS, PLMHP, TLMHC

Therapist 

Education:  Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling, Bellevue University 

Licensure:  Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (Provisional), State of Nebraska

                    Licensed Mental Health Counselor (TEMP), State of Iowa  

                    HeartMath Certified Practitioner

Experience:  Experience working with individuals with substance abuse, anxiety, depression, stress, and anger.  Additional experience working with LGBT+ populations, group work, and individual therapy.  

Modalities:  Cognitive-Behavioral, Solution Focused, Holistic, Motivational Interviewing, Strengths Based, and Person Centered.

Insurances Accepted:  All Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, Nebraska Medicaid (Nebraska Total Care, UHC)

For more information about Megan, visit her Psychology Today profile by CLICKING HERE 

 Montsi

Therapy Support Provider

Hello there!

May take a moment of your time to introduce myself?  My first name is Montsi short for Monzerella, and my middle name is Muenster just like the cheese. I guess you can say I have a cheesy yet bold personality to match. I am a silver sable German Shepherd Puppy. I am three months old and have been on the Family Connections team for the past month. 

As a therapy dog training I am a great listener with no judgements, observant,  and enjoy meeting/ comforting people. I also love to lay on air vents, enjoy a good challenge,  and have lived up to the title nap champ.

I am on track to get my full therapy dog certification and practice deep pressure therapy (DPT).

I look forward to meeting you!

Therapeutic benefits of DPT include but not limited to:

- Reduction in arousal levels by creating a shift from the sympathetic nervous system responsible for fight or flight to activating the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for regulation of calming functions.

- Reduction in cortisol.

- Increase endorphins and neurotransmitters.

-  Promotes the release of serotonin (responsible for mood regulation) and dopamine (responsible for reward, pleasure, and regulates emotional responses).

Joyce Hicks-Kalvinek, MS, TLMHC, LIMHP

Therapist 

Education:  Masters of Science, Mental Health Counseling

Licensure:  Licensed Mental Health Counselor (TEMP), State of Iowa 

                    Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, State of Nebraska

Experience:  EMDR, Trauma and Addictions, Conduct Disorders, Anxiety, Depression

Modalities:  EMDR, Sand Tray, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Insurances Accepted:  All Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, Nebraska Medicaid (Nebraska Total Care, UHC) 

For more information about Joyce, visit her Psychology Today profile by CLICKING HERE 

Shanen Taylor, MS, TLMHC, PLMHP

Therapist 

Education:  Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling, Bellevue University

Licensure:   Licensed Mental Health Counselor (TEMP), State of Iowa             

                     Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (Provisional), State of Nebraska

Experience:  Experience working with individual and group therapy as well as crisis intervention.  

Insurances Accepted:  All Iowa Medicaid Managed Care Organizations,  Nebraska Medicaid (Nebraska Total Care, UHC)