Blog

LICSW

Pat comes to Spence with a master’s degree in social work and public administration. She has worked with people in various circumstances and many needs for the last 44 years. She is experienced with working with adults and older teens in both inpatient and outpatient settings. In her free time, she enjoys church activities, puzzling, Bible study, and enjoying the company of family and friends.

Executive Administrative Assistant, CNC

Laura has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Grace University, an Associates in Communication, and is currently getting her Masters degree in Applied Nutrition Science. She hopes to blend nutrition and psychology to help those with disordered eating patterns. Laura grew up in the Omaha area and has worked with a diverse group of people in many different business settings. She has been at Spence Counseling since 2017 and loves interacting with the clients, therapists, and staff. Laura has extensive experience with administrative tasks including scheduling, billing, training, and correspondence. She also enjoys writing handouts and blogs for Spence Counseling as well as posting on Spence’s Social Media accounts. In her free time, Laura coaches high school cheerleading and loves fishing at the lake or traveling with her husband and 3 girls.

Intern

Whitney attends Crown College where she is currently getting her Masters in Counseling. She previously attended North West Missouri State University and University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a double major in Art and Art History. She feels God gave her a unique calling to love people and see His healing and purpose come to fruition in people’s lives. She takes delight in following and obeying him and counseling others is a big part of that. In her free time, she enjoys long walks with her husband, games, eating good food, and cuddling up on the couch with a hot beverage, soft blanket, and watching a good show.

Certified Therapy Dog, Good Girl

Eva pursued counseling because she loves helping people and being there for her clients. She is fully certified as a therapy dog with her mom/handler Danielle. In her free time, she enjoys sticks, long walks, napping, and meeting new friends.

MS, PLMHP, PLCSW

Kim earned her Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Nebraska – Omaha in 2019 and has worked in the fields of child-welfare and behavioral health for over 20 years. Kim and her husband are adoptive parents of three children. Kim’s personal and professional experience have equipped her to work with parents with complex family dynamics and histories of attachment and trauma difficulties.Kim sees clients of all ages and has experience with parenting children with complex needs, trauma, grief, behavior disorders, depression, and anxiety. Kim also enjoys working with individuals experiencing life transition stages and career changes. Kim believes in equipping others to find their unique and individual strengths, helping them to see themselves as Christ sees them, a beloved son or daughter of God. In her free time, she enjoys photography, traveling, hiking, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Administrative and Billing Assistant

Laura comes to Spence with four years of medical billing and customer service experience. She loves to put a smile on the face of clients by helping in whatever way she can. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, reading poetry, and sitting in her outdoor hammock on a nice day.

LMHP

Bob earned his Master’s in Community Counseling from the University of Portland (Oregon) in 1996.  Bob has served as a Youth Director in churches since 1988 and genuinely enjoys teenagers and their families.  As a therapist he has historically worked with individuals addressing chemical dependency, marriage and family issues, depression, anxiety, grief, and vocational transition.  He has been joyfully married to his wife since 1989 and they have three adult children with their own families.  Bob enjoys woodworking, home remodeling, bicycling, reading, singing, playing guitar, and goofing off with the family’s three dogs and two horses!  Bob’s mission is to encourage individuals to discover their unique design in God’s creation and experiencing the freedom for which Jesus died and rose again for them.

Administrative & Billing Assistant

Ashley comes to Spence with over 7 years of medical administrative experience. She is excited to be a part of a team that helps make a difference in people’s lives. In her free time, she enjoys kickboxing, working out, traveling with family, and wondering the isles of Target.

Administrative Assistant – Kansas Location

Rhonda comes to Spence with over 30 years of office experience. She works in our Kansas location helping the therapists with billing, insurance, and administrative duties. She enjoys being part of a team to help the office run smoothly and successfully. In her free time, she loves to travel with her husband, spend time with family, play with her grandchildren, and go for long walks.

Intern – Kansas Location

Shay has a decade of experience in the mental health field in various capacities, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with an emphasis on special needs children from Kaplan University. She is midway through her intership for her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and will graduate in May 2023. Shay has worked with clients of all ages and has experience with depression, anxiety, personality disorders, Identity Disorder, Autism, PTSD, and trauma. She has worked with these clients in individual, family, and group settings. Shay is interested in the mind-gut connection and hopes to incorporate nutrition into her practice, combining this with being an accomplished cook and baker – having won several competitions. Shay feels that God has placed her in this new career path and she intends to do God’s will and is here to help others and walk beside them through their most difficult times. With God working through her, she wants to help clients heal in all aspects of body, mind, and soul. Shay is a United States Navy Seal veteran and has the distintion of being one of the first females to serve on a combatant’s vessel. In her free time, she enjoys taking her 69 Chevy Chevelle to car shows, reading, and knitting.

Intern

Linda received her Bachelors in Behavioral Science from Bellevue University and is currently attending Crown College for her Masters in Clinical Counseling and is interning at Spence Counseling Center for her fall semester. In her free time she enjoys gardening, crafts, and soap making.

MS, PLMHP

Luci earned both her Bachelors of Science in Psychology and her Masters in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University. She has experience working with individuals, couples, and families struggling with depression, anxiety, bipolar, binge eating, and post traumatic stress disorder. She is a Certified Precision Nutrition Coach and specializes in obesity that is directly related to mental health. In her free time, she enjoys learning about health and fitness and working out. She loves spending time with her family while going on walks, hiking, and camping together.

MS, PLMHP, PLCSW

Amy comes to Spence with 16 years of social work experience. She gained her Masters in Social Work from the University of Missouri at Kansas. Amy loves providing a safe space for clients to talk. She wants people to know it’s okay to not be okay. She loves helping people work on themselves daily to create a positive outlook for their future. In her free time,she enjoys road trips, crafting, walking, cooking, and being with family.

MSW, LIMHP, LICSW

Danielle earned her Master’s in Social Work and Master’s in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Danielle likes to be able to help people holistically heal spiritually, emotionally, and mentally and to grow into what God created them to be. Her specialties are working with teenagers and trauma. She is also certified in Clinical Anxiety Treatment. In her spare time, Danielle likes spending time with her husband, paddleboarding, Brazillian jiu jitsu, and reading.

Intern

Ben gained his Master of Science in Secondary Education and is currently finishing his Master of Science in Clinical Counseling from University of Nebraska at Omaha with an expected graduation date of May 2023. He is also gaining his certification in EMDR. He is passionate about mental health because he has witnessed the positive changes in both family and friends who have made counseling a part of their journey. His main goal with counseling is to seek and love Jesus while helping others find healing. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and his rescue dog, playing sand volleyball, football, basketball, yard games, and reading.

Administrative & Billing Assistant, CPC

Caitlin came to Spence Counseling from Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management at Bellevue University. She is also a Certified Professional Medical Coder. She is a mother to five girls and wife to an amazing husband. She is originally from Louisiana and absolutely despises the cold weather. Caitlin also enjoys spending time with her family and reading when she has the time.

Administrative & Billing Assistant

Ashley comes to Spence with experience in Human Resources, mental health, and medical billing. She is great with administrative skills such as scheduling, project panagement, and multitasking. Mental Health is something that she has always been passionate about. Throughout her education and professional career, she has taken a role of advocating for mental health services and self care. She loves assisting people and seeing the amazing transformation they go through once they’ve opened themselves to healing. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, camping, and exploring nature with her family. She also loves to cook, bake, and escape with a good book.

PLCSW, PLMHP

MA, LMSW

Ryan earned his Master of Social Work degree from The University of Kansas and Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Kansas State University.  His work experience in the mental health field has been in both inpatient and outpatient services and with individuals that struggle with anxiety/panic attacks and trauma/PTSD.  He chose his path in counseling because it gives him the opportunity to serve God and others alike.  Ryan is married with his two wonderful children.  In his off time, he enjoys being a dad, spending time with his family and friends, following the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, and barbecuing. 

MA, LIMHP, LPC, PCDGC
Terapia en Español.

Amelia holds a MS in Rural Development as well as her MA in Mental Health and Counseling from Grace University. She specializes in Couples, Family, and Children’s Therapy, and caters to those who speak either English or Spanish. She loves traveling home to Columbia and visiting her family. Amelia finds that helping people is like giving a glass of clean water to a thirsty person and then show them the way to the fountain so that they can go and drink the water by themselves. She loves to see how the Holy Spirit empowers people to make the right changes in their lives so that they can heal, healthy and whole.

MS, LMLP, LMAC

Faith graduated with masters degree in clinical psychology from Fort Hays State University. She is licensed in both mental health and substance abuse treatment and uses evidence based approaches such as CBT, DBT, ACT, Trauma Informed care, Solution-Focused therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Behavior Therapy, and more to help individuals in one-one-one and in group settings. She has experience working with behavioral problems in children/adolescents and their families, adults, addiction treatment, trauma focused care, women’s issues, crisis intervention, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Faith chose counseling because it allows her to serve God and others alike. She values her clients and will meet them at their point of need to walk with them on their healing journey. Her hobbies include hiking, traveling, reading, volunteer projects, spending time with family and friends, hanging out with her dog.

MS, LMHP, LPC

Melissa earned her Master’s in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2003. She is a licensed therapist in Nebraska and has been with Spence Counseling since 2021. As a former homeschool mom, she understands the struggles of parenting and family dynamics. Melissa sees clients of all ages and has experience with grief, autism, behavior disorders, depression, anxiety, anger, and trauma. She enjoys helping clients discover their strengths and find hope through Christ. In her free time, she enjoys being involved with Boys Scouts and creating things with her hands – knitting, crocheting, needlework, etc.

MS, LIMFT, LIMHP

Betsy is passionate about assisting individuals, couples, and families as they navigate difficult circumstances that life and relationships bring. She offers a compassionate ear and applicable resources to help her clients. Betsy utilizes evidenced-based theories and a trauma-informed approach to understand each situation while acknowledging that Christ is the ultimate source of healing. She strives to help clients identify and adapt core beliefs that may lead to or result from anxiety, depression, PTSD/trauma, relationship distress, grief, and a variety of other concerns, in order to promote true freedom in life and relationships. Betsy is EMDR trained and earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

MSW, LIMHP, CMSW, LCSW, LMSW

Regina graduated from Wayne State College with degree in Elementary Education. She then made a career change from teaching to social work to be able to better serve others and graduated from UNO with a Masters in Social Work. She has worked with adults and the elderly for the past 30 years in the community, nursing homes, and hospice. She specializes in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and grief and loss. She believes in serving others with the assistance & presence of the Holy Spirit and gets excited when a person experiences the “light bulb” moment when something is figured out and resolution is made. In her free time, she enjoys playing music, quilting, church activities, and being with friends and family.

MS, PLMHP, PCMSW

Alanah earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Nebraska – Omaha and her Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Saint Louis University. She has experience working with individuals and groups, with a variety of focus areas including domestic violence, women’s issues, gender/sexuality, and addiction. She is able to provide services in English and Spanish. Alanah loves getting to walk alongside people as God walks with them toward their healing and wholeness. In her free time she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time outside in the sunshine.

Administrative & Billing Assistant

Deb comes to Spence Counseling with 35 years of experience in an administrative setting. She is passionate about helping clients in their mental health journey by assisting them with administrative support. She is particularly experienced in the aspects of internal and external communication and upkeep of the day to day operations. When not at work, Deb enjoys spending time with her doxies, reading, and shopping.

MS, PLMHP, PLADC

Morgan earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She is passionate about assisting individuals, couples, and families as they navigate through their restorative journey by walking with them and creating a space for hope and exploration of personal strengths. Morgan utilizes evidenced-based theories and a trauma-informed approach to help people holistically heal emotionally, mentally, and spiritually while acknowledging that Christ is the ultimate source of healing. Morgan is EMDR trained and has her provisional alcohol and drug counselor licenses. In her spare time, Morgan likes spending time with her family, working out, traveling, and reading.

MS, LMHP

Ivy earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling from Doane College. She has experience working with a wide variety of individuals, couples, and families in outpatient, intensive outpatient, and residential settings. She has worked with children and adolescents with behavioral problems, and adults with addictions, depression, anxiety, grief, and parenting concerns. She enjoys helping individuals build upon their own strengths and develop new skills in order to lead a fulfilling life.

MS, PLMHP

Corrie has a Masters in Clinical Mental Health from Harding University. She taught Kindergarten for many years before switching over to mental health. Corrie specializes in women struggling with life issues, marriage/family, grief counseling, divorce, military, and self-identity issues. God led Corrie to Spence Counseling soon after relocating from Arkansas. Her hope is that each one of her clients will become the best version of themselves while allowing the Holy Spirit to help with healing. When not in the office, Corrie enjoys Jeep rides, road trips, and doing anything outdoors! She is married with 3 children.

BS, MS, LIMHP

Becky earned her Master’s in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University. She also holds a Bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from the University of Nebraska – Omaha. Becky specializes in Psychoanalytic Therapy, PTSD, Family Therapy, and is trained in utilizing a trauma-informed approach when needed. In her free time, Becky loves learning about and preparing new foods, and spending all her time with her three sons. She began her counseling work within the correctional system, providing therapy to incarcerated adults. She also worked extensively with juveniles who have experienced severe trauma within their lives. She has a passion for working with families to ultimately achieve growth and problem solving. Becky believes that through God, she can fulfill her true potential as a mental health therapist.

MS, LIMHP

Shelly earned her Master’s degree in Professional Counseling through Mid-America Christian University and is a member of the American Association for Christian Counselors. She has been known for her down-to-earth style, and has a heart for helping people transform through mind renewal and finding their health/wholeness in Christ. She seeks to tailor therapy to the needs of each individual client, but enjoys creative/artistic assignments and integrating veins of therapy such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, while integrating things with a spiritual perspective to best help with anxiety, grief, depression, trauma, misplaced self-worth/identity, relationship issues, emotional eating, boundaries, and discovering passion in life. Shelly is enjoying her journey with Spence Counseling and finds it a privilege to care for every client walking through her door.

MS, LIMHP, LADC

Kristen earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University. She also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management from Bellevue University. Kristen has experience working with adolescents and adults in group settings, individual therapy, family therapy, and marital therapy. Her specialty involves co-dependency, co-occurring mental health and addiction diagnoses, anxiety, depression, gender issues, grief and loss, and relationships. Kristen is excited to work at Spence Counseling and get the opportunity to work with a variety of people.

Clinical Director, MSW, LIMHP, LISW, LICSW

Mark earned his Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006. He is a licensed therapist in both Nebraska and Iowa. Mark has been a part of the Spence Counseling Center family since 2006 and meets with individuals at the Omaha, Council Bluffs and Red Oak, IA locations. He has counseling experience with marriage, family, depression, anxiety, grief, PTSD/trauma, spiritual issues, and ADHD. Mark sees anyone from ten years old and up, including elderly individuals. He integrates Christian principles into his counseling work. He enjoys helping the people he meets discover how our Creator designed them, and the purposes for which He created them.

Administrative Assistant

Katelyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Medical Humanities from Baylor University and several years’ experience in administrative work in a healthcare setting. She is passionate about helping people find joy and healing in all aspects of their lives. She loves to get to know people and hear their stories. She specifically enjoys working within a healthcare setting because it is very rewarding and humbling to assist people on their journey of healing. In her free time, Katelyn enjoys drawing, painting, and playing the violin. When it is nice outside, she likes to go for nature walks.

Executive Director, MA, LIMHP, LMHC, LPC, CDGC

Chuck earned his Master’s degree in Counseling from Western Seminary in Portland, OR in 1997. He is a licensed therapist in both Nebraska and Iowa. He joined his father at Spence Counseling Center in 1999, and since 2010 has overseen the operation as Executive Director. His counseling experience expands over 20 years and involves meeting with men and women of all ages in the areas of marriage, family, depression, anxiety and addictions. Currently, he spends most of his time observing the growth of the individual therapist and the counseling center as a whole. Chuck has a passion for writing, public speaking, and mentoring new therapists, but none greater than helping people find genuine healing by solving issues at the core. Chuck is married to his wife, Rhonda and together they have two great kids, Karyna and Joel.

Administrative Assistant

Laura Thompson has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Grace University and an Associates in Communication as well. Laura grew up in the Omaha area and has worked with a diverse group of people in many different business settings. She enjoys interacting with both the clients and therapists. Laura has been married since 2005 and has three girls. In her free time, she coaches cheerleading.

Director of Operations

Rhonda earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Her experience includes records management, organization, insurance contract credentialing, claims recovery, billing/insurance issues, and project management. She has worked as Spence Counseling Center’s Director of Operations since 2006. She has oversight of all administrative staff, interfaces with all outside vendors and clinical staff, and has been part of the management team since 2008. She and Chuck have two children and in her spare time enjoys time with their family and loves to read.

MA, LMHP, LPC, PLADC

Chris has over 35 years of experience working with children, youth, adults, and the elderly. She received her Bachelors from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and her Masters in Counseling from Doane University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in counseling as well. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Mindfulness, Crisis Response Training (CRT), Addictions, Marriage and Family, parenting issues, Anger Management, and integrating Biblical principles. She enjoys counseling because it is a privilege to be able to accompany others on their life journey helping them discover and find meaning in experiences and resolutions to problems. Her philosophy is “you matter because you are a unique creation, intricately made.” When she is not helping others, you can find her spending time with her family and pets or expressing herself through music, art, landscaping, and interior design.

MA, LIMHP, LADC, CPC

Joan has over 25 years of experience in the mental health and addiction fields of psychotherapy. Joan has experience working with adults and adolescents in group settings, individual therapy, family therapy, and marital therapy. Specializing in relationships, co-dependency, co-occurring mental health and addiction diagnoses, grief and loss, parenting, anxiety, depression, and trauma informed care. Joan has a passion for using evidence based therapeutic practices to generate and encourage core changes consistent with a Christian perspective. She is also certified to provide chemical evaluations to individuals involved in the justice system or to those who need a chemical/mental health evaluation for various other reasons. Joan attended Creighton University and later received her Master’s degree in Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

PhD, Clinical Psychologist

Kevin received his doctorate in Psychology from Colorado State University. He has been practicing for the last 28 years. He specializes with those dealing with anxiety/panic attacks, marriage, counseling; working with children and adolescents with behavioral problems; those with addiction, and pain management. He chose this path because it gives him the privilege and opportunity to serve God and others, alike. In his off time he enjoys spending time with his family, pheasant hunting, fishing and cooking with his wife.

MA, LIMHP, LPC

Patricia helps individuals and families with a variety of relational and mental health issues such as anxiety, depressions, PTSD, trauma, parenting, and family of origin issues. She enjoys working with couples experiencing problems with communication, trust, and intimacy. She utilizes a variety of counseling approaches including cognitive-behavioral, narrative, solution focused, interpersonal and faith based approaches. Patricia is accredited by the National Board for Certified Counselors, and is a member of the American Counseling Association and the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.

MS, LIMHP, LADC, LPC

Lori has 30 years of experience in the field of counseling and education; working with individuals, groups, and families dealing with addiction issues, including evaluations and recommendations to meet legal requirements. Specializing in relationships, family and blended family dynamics, life stage transition, grief and loss, parenting, anxiety, depression, and sexual trauma. Lori has a passion for using evidence based therapeutic practices to generate and encourage core changes consistent with God’s truth. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management and Master’s degrees in Human Services and Clinical Counseling. She also has a certificate in Biblical Discipleship Counseling and is a member of the American Association for Christian Counselors.

MS, LIMHP, LMHC, CDGC, NCC

Megan earned her Master’s degree in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2007. She is a licensed therapist in both Nebraska and Iowa. Megan has been with Spence Counseling Center since 2008, working with clients in the Omaha and Council Bluffs locations. Megan sees clients of all ages and has experience with gambling addiction, marriage, family, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and grief issues. She enjoys getting to see growth in her clients as they allow the Holy Spirit to bring about healing and change.

PhD, Clinical Psychologist

Kevin received his doctorate in Psychology from Colorado State University. He has been practicing for the last 28 years. He specializes with those dealing with anxiety/panic attacks, marriage, counseling; working with children and adolescents with behavioral problems; those with addiction, and pain management. He chose this path because it gives him the privilege and opportunity to serve God and others, alike. In his off time he enjoys spending time with his family, pheasant hunting, fishing and cooking with his wife.