July 2026 – DeAnne Printz, PhD
I have been a member of NPA since 2000. I joined for several reasons. I wanted to stay connected with colleagues in the field. I appreciate the advocacy work that NPA does and it is a wonderful way to stay connected with changes that effect our practice of psychology. I have enjoyed attending continuing education programs where I not only learn, but also love to see other people in the field.
My path to becoming a psychologist
I grew up in Nebraska and had one high school psychology course which inspired me to major in psychology at UNL. It was a rather lucky pick as I actually knew very little about the field when I picked my major. I was fortunate as an undergrad to have the opportunity to help Dr. Brian Sarata with a research project. He encouraged me to pursue graduate school and was a positive mentor. I ended up doing my PhD at UNL in the clinical psychology program, and completed a child/adolescent internship at the University of New Mexico Medical School. My early career jobs focused on providing therapy to children and adolescents.
In 1991 I started working in private practice. Though I enjoyed working with children and teens, I found myself really starting to enjoy my adult clients. Over time, I gradually transitioned to only working with adults. I think my background with children and adolescents has been invaluable. I often get referrals from child psychologists now, who refer the parents of their clients to me.
What do you love most about your current work?
I enjoy the variety of clients in terms of their issues, their ages, and their diverse backgrounds. I love that I might see an 88 year old one hour and the next have a socially awkward college student. I think I can get bored a bit easily so the variety of challenges suits me well. The independence of private practice is one of the benefits I appreciate the most. It’s been a life time ago since I had a boss or dealt with work place challenges. There is the nonsense of dealing with insurance however.
What do I do when not working?
I’ve played tennis since I was about 13 years old and keep eternal hope that I will keep improving. I appreciate league tennis in terms of getting to interact with women from all age groups. A few years ago my husband and I started riding e-bikes which has been a fun way to spend time together. I play backgammon almost every day with my spouse, and we frequently play cards with friends. We also both enjoy any chances go hear live music. My daughter has lived in Amsterdam for about 7 years, so visiting there has become a part of our vacation life
Are you currently binge watching any shows?
Yesterday I finished binge watching the West Wing. There are actually seven seasons so this was quite a marathon. The actors are very talented, and it portrays a president who actually acts presidential which is refreshing.
What is my favorite place I’ve traveled to?
One of my favorite trips was eons ago right before I started graduate school. I went with the UNL rec department on a raft trip down the Salmon river in Idaho. I love being outdoors, and the water was crystal clear. That was my first time rafting and there was no contact with civilization for several days. Amsterdam ranks up their high as a place to visit as my daughter lives there. Last year we were fortunate to attend SAIL Amsterdam, an event that happens every five years in their harbor. Tall ships and historic vessels from around the world dock in the harbor for several days. We were on a boat in the harbor on the last day when the ships began to sail out of the harbor.
Download Member Spotlight PDF: DeAnne Printz, PhD.
