About Us

Director of Operations, Therapist

Dana Ritterbush, LIMHP, LADC, CEAP

Education: MS in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Experience: Dana has over 15 years of experiencing working with children, adolescents, adults, families and couples. She has provided mental health and substance abuse services for an outpatient counseling agency, a domestic violence women’s shelter, schools, and a corporate Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Expertise: Dana is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of Nebraska. She is also a Certified Employee Assistance Professional. She completed her internship in a domestic violence program providing services to children and women who lived in a shelter setting. Dana worked in an EAP for 8 years where she provided services to employees and employers to help address personal and work-related concerns that impact productivity and performance. Other areas of expertise include depression, anxiety, grief/loss, trauma, anger management, stress management, substance use, marital/couples counseling and family therapy.

Insurance Panels: Aetna, BCBS, UHC Optum, Molina, Midlands Choice

Administrative Manager

Alexa Bock

Alexa is the Administrative Manager at A Better Way Therapy. She has held previous positions similar to this one at former jobs. She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology. Alexa is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Counseling to become a therapist herself.

Therapist

Carole Nelson LIMHP

Experience: Carole has over 20 years’ experience working with adolescents in school settings and in foster care. She also has 10 years’ experience with providing in-home therapy services to families in crisis.

Expertise areas: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety/ Depression, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills for Borderline Personality Disorder, Mood Disorders, works with Developmental Disabilities, Christian counselor

Insurance panels: Self-Pay, BCBS, Aetna, Midlands Choice, Molina, Medicaid, Well Care, Nebraska Total Care, UHC Optum and others.

Therapist

Travis Brock, LMHP, LPC, PLADC

Education: MS from Bellevue University in Human Services and Clinical Counseling.

Experience: Travis has over 20 years of experience working in the human services field assisting individuals of all ages, genders, races, and cultural backgrounds with cognitive disabilities and criminal backgrounds. He has over 8 years of experience working with individuals with addiction and severe mental health issues. Travis worked for 2 years as the Director of a long-term residential treatment program.

Expertise: Philosophy of CBT and DBT and working with individuals with addiction and severe mental health issues. Working with adolescents dealing with anger management and family issues. Couple’s and Marriage Counseling: improving communication and quality of relationships

Insurance Panels: Aetna, BCBS, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Nebraska Total Care, United Behavioral Health, Molina

Therapist

Paula Kohrt, LMHP, CCMHC

Education: M.Ed. in Agency Counseling from the University of Virginia.

Experience: Paula has worked in the human services/child welfare field for 37 years. Her experience includes working with special needs in a group home setting, working with adolescents in a group home setting, working with children ages 2-7 in a day treatment center, and conducting therapy in office and in-home settings. Paula has extensive experience working with young children, adolescents, and their families.

Expertise: Working with young children, adolescents, and families with behavioral and relational issues.

Insurance Panels: Optum UHC, BCBS, Midlands Choice, Molina

Therapist

Rose Kirkpatrick, PLMHP

Education: MS in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University, MA in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a BA in Journalism/Mass Communications from Iowa State University.

Experience: Rose has approximately 5 years of experience in the behavioral health field, over 15 years in the education field, and 15 years in the business world. Rose is EMDR trained and has training/experience with CBT, DBT interventions, solution focused therapy, and motivational interviewing. Previously, she worked with individuals and couples of all ages in a community mental health care setting. She enjoys helping clients with the challenges of mental health and daily living. She counsels from a practical and experiential perspective, believing in understanding her clients from their own experiences outward. She enjoys bringing art, writing, performance and other creative aspects to her counseling. Rose began her career in counseling after benefitting from her own experience with mental health and working in correctional mental health care after a career in education and marketing. Rose focuses on adults, couples, teens and the LGBTQIA+ communities. She is currently under supervision by a provider at A Better Way Therapy.

Expertise: Working with adolescents, adults, and couple for issues such as: Adjustment Disorders, Anger Management, Anxiety, Behavioral Issues, Bipolar, Career Counseling, Caregiving Issues, Codependency, Depression, Domestic Abuse, Dual Diagnosis, Grief, LGBTQIA+, OCD, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Phobias, PTSD, Relationship Issues, Self-Discovery, Self Esteem, Self-Harming, Sexual Abuse, Stress, Substance Use, Trauma, Women’s Issues.

Insurance Panels: UHC Medicaid, Nebraska Total Care, Molina, BCBS, UHC, Aetna, and self-pay.

Therapist

Erin Talbert, LIMHP, LPC

Education: Masters of Science in Counseling Psychology from Avila University in Kansas City, MO

Experience: Erin is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP), a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and is in the process of receiving her Certified Sex Therapist (CST) licensure. She has been a licensed clinician since 2013, and has 10 years of experience in the mental health field. Erin has experience working in several types of mental health settings, including Acute Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient Programs, Partial Hospitalization Programs, Long Term Trauma therapy unit specializing in treatment for military personnel and first responders, and Outpatient care, including individual, couples, family, and group therapy.

Expertise: Erin is an LGBTQ+ therapist, as well as gender affirming and kink affirming. She is empathic, kind, and is comfortable with working with clients wherever they are in their mental health journeys. She works with adolescents and adults (ages 16 to 60), with depression, anxiety, mood disorders, PTSD/trauma, and specializes in sex therapy and sex related issues including arousal disorders, erectile dysfunction, intimacy concerns, performance anxiety, struggles communicating with partners, as well as processing through concerns surrounding sexual activity, desires, and kinks, while affirming individuals and helping them to manage their worries and anxieties.

Erin is strongly motivated to help others, and enjoys watching the growth and strength that clients bring to therapy sessions every single day.

Insurance Panels: Aetna, BCBS, Midlands Choice, UHC Optum, Nebraska Total Care, Molina, UHC Medicaid.

Telehealth Therapist

Nicole Nixon, PLMHP

Education: MS in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University.

Experience: Nicole is a provisionally licensed mental health practitioner (PLMHP). She graduated from Bellevue University’s Clinical Counseling program and received her provisional license in March 2023. Nicole has experience working with clients who have co-occurring mental health disorders, stress and anxiety, depression, domestic and sexual violence/abuse and human trafficking. She was an advocate and case manager with the Women’s Center for Advancement for 1.5 years, working closely with clients who have experienced trauma and crisis. Nicole’s internship experience was at Stephen Center, working with clients who struggle with addiction, as well as co-occurring mental health. She has experience utilizing CBT and person-centered approaches to therapy. She is currently under supervision by a provider at A Better Way Therapy.

Expertise: Working with adolescents, teens and adults on issues such as: anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, domestic and sexual abuse, addiction, trauma and self-discovery.

Insurance: Nebraska Total Care, Molina, BCBS, Aetna and self-pay.

Therapist

Jessica Petersen, MSW, LIMHP

Education: Bachelors and a Masters in Social Work with a specialty in Health and Mental Health from Saint Louis University.

Experience: Jessica is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) and a Certified Master Social Worker (CMSW). Jessica has experience working in the mental health field for over 15 years to include working inpatient acute mental health, child protective services, residential treatment, foster care, and doing case management services in the outpatient setting. Jessica is experienced working with all ages from children to the geriatric population and enjoys individual and group settings.

Expertise: Jessica is trained in Strength Based Solution Focused, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Informed Care to Crisis Intervention. Jessica has worked will all ages from children to the geriatric population.

Insurance: UHC – Optum UBH, Nebraska Total Care, Molina, Aetna and BCBS.

Therapist

Shae Frederick, PLMHP, PLMSW

Education: Master’s of Social Work from University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Experience: Shae is a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) and a Provisionally Licensed Master Social Worker (PLMSW).

Passionate about promoting acceptance, healing, and resilience, Shae believes in the power of therapy to facilitate growth and transformation. She is dedicated to creating a safe and nonjudgmental space where clients can explore their emotions, gain insight into their experiences, and cultivate a sense of empowerment and self-worth. Throughout her career, Shae has worked to advocate for and empower survivors of domestic violence, LGBTQ+ teens and adults, youth involved in the juvenile justice system, parents seeking resources for their child with challenging behaviors, and children within the child welfare system.

Expertise: Shae specializes in trauma-informed therapy, utilizing evidence-based approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Common Sense Parenting, and crisis intervention skills to support clients in processing their experiences and developing healthy coping mechanisms. Shae understands the complex interplay of trauma, mental health, and social factors, and tailors her approach to meet the unique needs of each client. Shae has worked with all ages but prefers working with adolescents ages 13-18 years old and young adults.

To inquire about scheduling with Shae, please contact our main line at 402-356-3332