Our Therapists

Jaci Pekarek
LIMHP
Co-Owner

Jaci specializes in the treatment of complex trauma disorders. She has a special interest in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Oriented Psychotherapy, grief & loss, emotional management, and attachment/relationship issues. Jaci believes in holistic healing and compassionate healthcare to foster a transformation for true healing and well-being.

Melissa Rohrig
LICSW
Co-Owner

Melissa's focus is to create a holistic dynamic to empower a healthy mind and body.She has experience working with clients of all ages, including college students, couples, and families.Melissa uses cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, strength based and person centered approaches.She partners with clients, helping them create positive changes, and connect with their authentic self.

Best Marriage counselors in Lincoln

Seth Shelton
he/him/his
PLMHP
Online Sessions Only
Accepts BCBS and Medicaid Only

I believe, often life can feel “out of balance” and we are unsure of what to do. Sometimes we feel stuck, unable to reach a goal—or sometimes we struggle to even know what our goals are. This is where counseling can be helpful. I work with my clients to understand where they are at, and how they experience life. Together, we work to build a path toward change. I actively create an affirming, encouraging atmosphere in my sessions to assist with building self-confidence, and internal clarity. I have experience working with individuals and family members within the LGBTQ+ community

Ingrid DeVries
LIMHP, LADC
Online Sessions Only

Ingrid provides therapy to adult clients, specializing in co-occuring disorders, substance use, trauma, relationship issues, and stress management. She has worked in substance use and mental health for more than eleven years and enjoys working with culturally diverse clients. Ingrid has a strength-based and personalized approach to each of her client’s needs, helping them to explore their potential and has additional training in motivation therapy, cognitive-behavoral, trauma informed care. Fluent in spanish and portugese.

Tammy Kelch
she/her/hers
LIMHP, LADC

Tammy has been providing therapy services since 2004. She has worked with adolescents, adults and elders to address concerns of anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, domestic violence, trauma, and challenging life changes. She uses a solution focused and CBT approach. She wants to help you create the happiest healthiest lifestyle possible. Tammy also works with families, loved ones and businesses that have lost someone due to suicide or experienced a traumatic event. She provides debriefing and follow-up with them.

Emika Du
she/her/hers
LMHP

I believe that genuine connection is the foundation for fulfilling lives and therapy relies on a strong conviction that every person deserves to feel valued. My main priority is to create a safe and welcoming environment for individuals and couples to process relationship concerns, anxiety, depression, traumatic experiences, life changes, identity transitions, and emotional or behavioral issues. I am passionate about cultivating multicultural competence and welcome clients from any and all backgrounds. I favor a strengths-based approach and integrate evidence-based practices through training in DBT, the Gottman Method, and EMDR. It is not easy to reach out for help, so my commitment is to meet you with understanding, acceptance, and faith in your ability to transform pain into sustained growth.

Andrea Gardiner
LIMHP

Andrea has over 7 years experience working with a culturally diverse clientele, including adolescents, college students and adults. Her focus is helping individuals improve self-compassion, self-awareness, and self-acceptance to achieve long-lasting and sustainable change in their lives. Her aim is to create a space where clients feel supported and empowered to achieve their goals and improve their lives. Andrea uses cognitive behavioral therapy along with strength-based and person-centered approaches to individualize care for clients. Her areas of specialization include ADHD, anxiety, depression, women's issues and stress management.


Kendra Johnson
she/her/hers
LIMHP, CPC

Kendra has experience working with families and individuals with a wide range of mental health concerns and challenges including anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and life changes. She is passionate about working with the LGBTQ+ community and strives to provide a safe, inclusive, and welcoming space here at Monarch. Kendra is licensed as an Independent Mental Health Practitioner and Professional Counselor and EMDR Certified.

Dr. Alan Levinson
Psy.D.

Dr. Alan Levinson has been practicing as a clinical psychologist for more than 20 years. His specialties include individual, group, and couples therapy for adults, along with complete assessments and diagnoses of more complex issues. He prefers to use a cognitive, client-centered approach to help clients recognize obstacles in their lives and work to overcome them by collaboratively setting achievable short and long term goals.

Karee Dunn
PhD, LIMHP

Karee has experience working with individuals ranging from college age to later adulthood. At any age, trauma, depression, and anxiety can make us feel stuck. Her goal is to give you the helping hand you need to get unstuck, and more importantly, to guide you in finding a sense of peace and joy that allows you to experience life to the fullest. She takes a theory-based, down-to-earth approach to help you achieve your goals through the counseling relationship. She is trained in multiple theories and evidence-based interventions. Some of these approaches and theories include EMDR, biofeedback, acceptance and commitment theory, cognitive behavioral theory, dialectical behavioral theory, and internal family systems theory.

Joan Raffety
LICSW

Joan is a licensed independent clinical social worker. She has a strengths-based and personalized approach in working with clients. She has experience working with challenging and diverse populations, including those with severe and persistent mental illness. Joan provides individual therapy, addressing depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, trauma, women’s issues, family dysfunction, emotional regulation, behavioral issues, and crisis counseling. She has additional training in trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR, DBT, and solution-focused therapy motivational interviewing.

Dina Critel-Rathje
MS, LIMHP, LMFT
Online Sessions Only

Dina is a licensed independent mental health practitioner, marriage and family therapist, with 25 years experience. She desires for clients to feel safe, respected and heard. Dina provides individual, couple and family therapy, addressing relationships, forgiveness, grief, chronic pain and illness, adoption, attachment, depression, trauma ,anxiety, CISD, crisis counseling. She practices solution focused and trauma informed care.

Gerry Merck
MHDL, LIMHP, LADC

Gerry provides group and individual therapy to adults, adolescents, seniors, foster/adoptive parents, and the LGBTQ+ community. She specializes in mood disorders, CBT, EMDR, and works with trauma and abuse, parenting, and addictions. She is a trainer for NSPRC in Assessment and Management of Suicide Risk, and offers critical incident stress debriefing. Gerry is available for community presentations on depression, anxiety, stress management, and Mindfulness Training.

Jeanne Johnson
LICSW
Online Sessions Only

Jeanne has been providing psychotherapy service for children, adolescents, and adults since 1979. She offers services for individual, marital, and family issues in the areas of depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, PTSD, grief and loss, women’s issues, and geriatric. Jeanne’s approach to treatment is eclectic to meet the needs of the individual case. Her goal is to help clients to live safe, healthy, and productive lives.

Blake Stephens
PLMHP, PLADC
Accepts BCBS and Medicaid Only

I firmly believe that healing and growth are two sides of the same coin, and we are constantly working on both at the same time. Therapy with me is all about challenging you to make the changes you can in life while learning how to manage and accept the things that we can't change. The majority of my experience is with adolescents and families, often playing the role of translator between parents and their children. I have worked with families from diverse backgrounds, with significant trauma history, ASD and autism-related concerns, eating issues, LGBTQ/transitioning youth, as well as substance use and behavioral issues. Every family is unique and so are their needs in therapy. My approach is always to work with you to set and achieve the goals/changes that you want to see happen in your life and in your family's lives.

Mary SimBarcelos
she/her/hers
LIMHP, LADC
***Not currently accepting new clients

Mary has extensive experience in the human service field, both in residential and outpatient treatment, and studied a variety of healing methods from many cultures around the world while working at Omega Institute for Holistic Studies in Rhinebeck, NY. She uses these experiences in her therapy and workshops, including mindfulness, meditation, music, and expressive arts. Mary specializes in trauma, addiction, and dis-associative disorders, and women. She is down-to-earth and creates a safe space for her clients to heal holistically through humor and gently normalizing mental health as part of being human.

***All therapists/counselors are independent contractors of Monarch Counseling and are responsible for utilizing their own professional judgment with regard to any and all services they provide.