My undergraduate degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, and I worked for people with developmental disabilities in order to put myself through college. Eventually creating a career working for people with disabilities, I became a behavior support specialist and worked as a state consultant for community service providers. In 2003 I heard speaker Tom Pomeranz, Ed.D. speak about quality supports for persons with developmental disabilities. One phrase stuck with me, “You can’t fix a broken life with a behavior support plan.” It summarized my experience completely.
I decided to get my counseling degree to help people find their own direction to fix what is broken in their lives. I expanded my focus from persons with intellectual disability by concentrating my studies in time limited, outcomes focused therapies such as Solutions Focused therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. In 2007 I started my year long practicum/internship under Jackie Egan, LCSW and graduated in December 2007 with my MS in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University – a CACREP accredited college. I have since worked for the state of Nebraska at Lincoln Regional Center as well.
Starting in February of 2008 and supervised by James Carmer, Ph.D I started AdultSpan Counseling. My goal was simple. To provide quality, outcomes focused, time limited mental health services to people in the Lincoln, NE area. AdultSpan Counseling is expanding, but remains focused on a vision of mental health services helping clients find their personal strengths to be able to fix what is missing in their lives. I take a client-strengths based approach to therapy with an eye for meeting outcomes designed by the client. True to my roots, I continue to dedicate a portion of my practice to persons with intellectual disabilities.
Education/Experience
University of NE at Kearney 1991-1995 – BS in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Mid-Nebraska Individual Services 1992-1995
(Direct Support Staff)
Bethphage 1996-1999
(Associate Manager, Program Manager)
State of Nebraska Outreach Treatment Services 1999-2002
(Human Services Treatment Specialist)
Community Alternatives Nebraska 2002-2006
(Behavior Specialist, Director of Behavioral and Medical Services)
Capella University 2004-2007
(Internship at Tabitha)
AdultSpan Counseling 2008-present
(Therapist / Partner)
State of Nebraska Lincoln Regional Center, Forensic 2008-present
(Therapist)
J. Kipp Lanning, LIMHP
