Chelsey Hirt, MA, LMHC

Director/Therapist (Glenwood, Red Oak, Plattsmouth Offices) 

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, Healthy Blue), Cigna 

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

Tawnie Ware, MS, LMHC, LIMHP

Therapist (Glenwood and Plattsmouth Offices) 

Education:  Masters of Science, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Licensure:  Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of Iowa

                    Licensed Independent 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, Healthy Blue), Cigna  

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

Megan Ruff, MS, LMHC

Therapist (Glenwood Office) 

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, Healthy Blue), Cigna   

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

Janice Zoucha-Jensen, MSW, LISW

Therapist (Glenwood Office) 

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, Healthy Blue), Medicare, Cigna 

Megan Matulka, MS, PLMHP, TLMHC

Therapist (Glenwood Office) 

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  

Certifications:  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, Blue Cross Blue Shield , United Healthcare/UBH/Optum, Aetna, Midlands Choice, Tricare, Cigna, Nebraska Medicaid (Nebraska Total Care, UHC, Healthy Blue), Cigna

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

 Montsi

Therapy Support Provider (Glenwood Office) 

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 (Plattsmouth Office)

Education:  Masters of Science, Mental Health Counseling

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

                    Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, State of Nebraska

Certifications:  EMDR Provider 

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

Modalities:  EMDR, Sand Tray, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

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

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

Shanen Taylor, MS, TLMHC, PLMHP

Therapist (Glenwood Office) 

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, Blue Cross Blue Shield , United Healthcare/UBH/Optum, Aetna, Midlands Choice, Tricare, Cigna, Nebraska Medicaid (Nebraska Total Care, UHC, Healthy Blue), Cigna

Karla Deacon, MS, PLMHP, PLADC

Therapist (Plattsmouth Office) 

Education:  Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of Nebraska at Omaha

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

                    Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (Provisional), State of Nebraska 

Experience:  Experience with Intensive outpatient therapy, group counseling, and ASAM assessments

Modalities:  Telecare, Group, one on one 

Insurances Accepted: Nebraska Total Care, Healthy Blue, Optum, Midlands Choice, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare

Danielle Kempkes, BS, MS (in process)

Therapist Intern (Glenwood Office) 

Education:  Bachelors of Science in Psychology, University of Nebraska at Lincoln

                     Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health, Adams State University (in process)

Experience:  Trauma, Family and Couples Counseling

Modalities:  Client-Centered, Cognitive-Behavioral, Existentialism 

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

Tiffani Taylor, BS, MS (in process)

Therapist Intern (Glenwood Office) 

Education:  Bachelors of Science in Biology, Bellevue University

                     Master of Science in Clinical Counseling, Bellevue University (in process) 

Experience:  Currently working in the medical/pharmaceutical field 

Modalities:  Person-Centered

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

Theresa Brockmeyer, BA, MS (in process)

Therapist Intern (Red Oak Office)

Education:  Bachelors in Management of Health Information, Bellevue University

                     Masters in Cyber Security, Bellevue University

                     Associates in Criminal Justice, Metropolitan Community College

                     Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Bellevue University (in process)

Experience:  Experience working with troubled populations in confined settings to encourage and train prosocial behaviors

Modalities:  Social Learning, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

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

Justina Reeves, BS, MS

Therapist (Red Oak Office)  

Education:  Bachelors in Human and Social Service Administration

                     Masters of Science in Clinical Counseling                    

Licensure:  IADC ( International Alcohol and Drug Counselor) 

Experience:  Extensive experience working with youth, young adults, school age students, and youth in foster care.  

Modalities: Solution Focused, CBT, DBT

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

Shane Mercure, BS, MS (in process)

Therapist Intern (Glenwood Office) 

Education:  Bachelors of Science in Political Science and Psychology, Northwest Missouri State University 

                     Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Bellevue University (in process)

Experience:  Over 23 years experience working with adults and youth in treatment facilities providing direct care, emotional support, life skill teaching, group interventions, crisis intervention, and individual/group counseling

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

Joel Wallace, MSW, LMHP, LCSW

Therapist (Plattsmouth Office)

Education:  Master of Social Work, Springfield College

Licensure:  Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, State of Nebraska

                    Licensed Clinical Social Worker, State of Nebraska 

Experience:  Extensive experience working with youth and young adults, as well as, school students, and youth in foster care. 

Modalties:  Solution Focused 

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