Therapists in Seward, NE

My goal is to work with clients to understand their addictions and substance issues and empower them to take control of their recovery.

My mission is to interactively provide individuals, couples and families the tools to rebuild, restore and regain control of their lives, exploring underlying issues related to cognitive and dialectical reframing, addiction & trauma related issues. I am also trained in (PCIT) Parent Child Interactive Therapy- A short-term program, specialized behavior management program designed for young children experiencing behavioral and or emotional difficulties. I am also trained in (EMDR) Eye Movement Desensitization, Adoption Competency and Addiction/Sex Offender Treatment.

We are made for relationships. When we don't have good relationships, the rest of life becomes overwhelming. Therapy is about learning how to relate to people in a healthy way, with good boundaries, emotional intelligence, and (appropriate) love. By looking at the past and how it shapes the present, we can be more free to choose a different future. Healing comes for those who don't want to repeat the past anymore but have freedom moving forward with those that they love. We will work on this goal together.

Barbara Peeks Dunn, M.S., Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, Certified Professional Counselor: I counsel individuals, couples, adolescents, children and families. My home office is comfortable, private, and centrally located in Lincoln. You will never wait for your appointment to begin and will generally be able to make an appointment within a few days. Counseling sessions are focused on helping clients develop problem-solving strategies for life's difficulties by using their personal strengths and natural family network. I coordinate services with other professionals, including teachers, physicians, and social service agencies and accept most health insurance including Tricare, BlueCrossBlueShield and United Healthcare.

I work with adults and adolescents seeking to improve their relationships and emotional well-being. I partner with my clients to achieve their goals; improving their feelings about themselves and others; and fostering a sense of well-being using effective, evidence-based methods. I work well with individuals, families, and couples seeking relief from depression, grief, anxiety, traumatic events and abuse, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and borderline personality disorder. I have extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy. I also utilize Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in my approach and have completed Level 2 training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

I am uniqely qualified in treating youth and family with mental health and substance abuse issues. I will assist family in maintaining appropriate parent-child boundaries and recognizing how feelings are connected to misbehavior.

Although we may share similar circumstances with others, our very own take on things is what makes us unique. I support my clients to work through their very particular and subjective experiences of sadness, anger, fear or sense of failure, to explore purpose and identity, and to gain the strength and clarity to move forward.

NOTE new address! I have moved! I work primarily with children, adolescents, and their families. However, I additionally work across the age spectrum and throughout the adoption network with adoption-related issues. I see behaviors as communication of unmet needs. As a client-centered therapist, I work to learn where clients have unmet emotional needs, how their family can work to meet those needs, and what barriers there are to that process.

Life happens and life goes on. It is when we struggle with life that we sometimes feel overwhelmed, out of control, and we question many things. In these situations, we might experience depression, anxiety and stress. Life’s history can be carried on for many years creating, in some, a continuation of trauma, adjustment, and unhealthy coping. As we move through life, our environment (including individuals, events, places, and things) can move in directions that we do not prefer. As we realize we do not have control of our environment, we can find ourselves losing control of ourselves.

Day and Late Afternoon Availability, telehealth: Do you feel like perfectionism and self-criticism are robbing joy from your life? Does eating feel like it's tied to your depression or anxiety? As a counselor, I feel it is important to have an understanding of where my clients are now and where they want to go. It takes self-compassion and strength to deal with issues like eating disorders, depression/anxiety, and perfectionism. Growth and self-acceptance are achieved by looking within yourself and discovering your strength.

It is important to build a positive and candid therapeutic relationship first. My therapy partner, Grayson the Golden Retriever (picture below), is also on hand to provide comfort (if desired) during our therapeutic partnership. I work with teens, college students, and adults to assist in times of transition, new relationships, past relationships, and stress. I look forward to being a valuable part of your process. Grayson is AKC Canine Good Citizenship (CGC) Certified. He is always happy to help.

Human beings fascinate me. I am intrigued by both the "why" of how people came to be sitting with me sharing their story and the "how" of helping them change their lives for the better. When we work together, you are not your diagnosis or your problems but, rather, you are a human being trying your best to be content with yourself. It's as simple as that. I always tell my clients "you can't drive to happiness" and by that I mean happiness is fleeting. The goal of therapy, in my mind, is contentment. We will always be working toward that!

Whether we're working with young, seasoned, or somewhere in between, the ideal clients are the ones with moxie. Their issue or presenting need is immaterial as we believe humans desire safety and acceptance. The challenge for therapists is to determine if that safety and acceptance is defined internally or externally. Collaboratively, we seek to assist you in identifying your goals and through empowerment, determine the best approach to achieve success.