nebpsych

July 2026 – DeAnne Printz, PhD

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 20:19:56 GMT

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 psychologis t
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.

June 2026 – Ashleigh Clarke, PsyD

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 14:47:52 GMT

How long have you been a member of NPA, and why did you join?
I joined during my internship year in 2018 and have been active ever since. I had a supervisor turned mentor, who is also an NPA member, who felt I would benefit from being involved with the Legislative Committee given some of my experiences, interests, and long-term career goals. She sponsored my membership, and I loved the experience from the very beginning.

What do you like most about being a member? How has your career benefited from being a member?
I love how much I have learned and continue to learn through NPA. One of the biggest benefits has been gaining a better understanding of all the different pieces that go into being a psychologist, the workings of Nebraska, the systems we work within, and how psychology intersects with those systems.

Just as importantly, I have benefited from the support of other NPA members. Learning new things and taking on leadership opportunities can be intimidating, but I have always found experienced psychologists who are willing to share their knowledge, answer questions, and offer guidance. I do not think I would have pursued many of these opportunities if I felt I had to do it alone.

Do you now, or have you ever volunteered for NPA?
I have been part of the Legislative Committee since I first joined NPA. I currently serve as Legislative Committee Chair and recently began serving as NPA’s Federal Advocacy Coordinator.

Where are you now working and what is your role?
I am still with the same organization where I completed both my internship and residency, Nebraska Mental Health Centers. I am a Staff Psychologist and member of our training team within the APA-accredited internship program.

My role includes a little bit of everything. I work in both our Lincoln and Beatrice offices providing school-based services, supporting rural mental health initiatives, supervising trainees, and conducting psychological assessments. Much of my assessment work is in forensic contexts, including evaluations for DHHS and juvenile probation departments across the state.

Tell us about your path to becoming a clinical psychologist.
This answer could probably fill an entire book chapter.

My path was not particularly traditional or linear. Although I always wanted to be a psychologist, I viewed that goal as largely unattainable when I was younger. I started at community college, took several years off between periods of enrollment, and explored different options before eventually earning a degree in Sociology, which remains my first academic love.

I attended Portland State University during a particularly active political period, including the Occupy Wall Street movement. Being immersed in sociology in Portland during that time profoundly shaped how I understand people, systems, power, and the ways social, political, and economic forces influence our daily lives. It reinforced my belief that individual experiences rarely exist in isolation and that understanding people requires understanding the broader systems around them.

I later pursued a Master’s degree in Counseling. During that time, I developed a mentorship with my statistics and research professor, largely because I spent a fair amount of time in her office crying over statistics homework. She saw something in me that I did not fully see in myself and encouraged me to consider doctoral training. On a whim, and very late in the application cycle, I applied to Psy.D. programs across the country, interviewed, and was accepted into my first-choice program.

Even then, the journey was not straightforward. During graduate school at Marywood University, my educational assessment professor worked hard to recruit me into school psychology, pointing out that it required less schooling and often offered better pay. I was genuinely tempted, but ultimately realized that clinical psychology was where I belonged.

While at Marywood, I also attended the first Women’s March alongside a group of fellow students. How a group of retired Catholic nuns helped facilitate that trip is probably a story for another day, but it remains one of my favorite graduate school memories.

Looking back, the common thread through all of these experiences has been a desire to understand people within the context of the systems they live in and to find ways to create meaningful change, whether through clinical work, training, assessment, or advocacy.

What experiences and past roles have led you to where you are today?
Oddly enough, I think one of the most influential roles I ever had was working as a live-in nanny while I was in high school.

One of my mother’s close friends was a single parent who was working full time while completing a Master’s degree in a psychology-related field. After the children were asleep, I would often find myself reading her textbooks for fun, especially abnormal psychology and social psychology. Looking back, that was probably where my love of psychology, learning, and understanding people really began.

Over time, experiences in sociology, counseling, psychology, assessment, supervision, and advocacy all built upon one another. What connects them is a curiosity about people, systems, and how we can create meaningful change.

If you could choose anyone as a mentor or collaborator, who would you choose and why?
My sister-in-law, who lives in Spokane, Washington, is a Ph.D. research psychologist. I think it would be incredibly fun to collaborate with her on a research project. Beyond the fact that she is brilliant, we genuinely enjoy spending time together and can happily spend hours nerding out about psychology. Combining her research expertise with my clinical experiences would make for a pretty fun project.

What is your favorite place you’ve traveled to, or what’s on your travel bucket list?
I am a city girl at heart. My dream is to live somewhere that does not require owning a car. If there are tall buildings, public transportation, and city noises drifting through an open window, I am happy. Drop me in the middle of a city with my phone’s GPS, and I will find coffee, good food, and interesting things to explore.

Some of my favorite cities are New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston. If anyone would like to sponsor my relocation, I would happily move into a tiny city apartment tomorrow.

If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? What is your go-to comfort food?
Thai food, without question. My comfort food favorites are chicken panang curry and pad thai (hold the bean sprouts!).

Download Member Spotlight PDF: Ashleigh Clarke, PsyD

NPA Named National Register 2026 Award Recipient

Mon, 25 May 2026 19:08:57 GMT

We are proud to announce the

Nebraska Psychological Association has been selected

as a recipient of the National Register 2026

SPTA Advocacy Award!

This award is presented annually to State, Provincial, and Territorial Psychological Associations (SPTAs) to honor excellence in advocacy.

April D. Fernando, PhD , member of the National Register Board of Directors and Chair of the National Register’s SPTA Advocacy Award Committee, said of the Nebraska Psychological Association: “The Committee was incredibly impressed with the results of NPA’s advocacy work to addresses the broken relationship between behavioral health providers and Nebraska’s managed care organizations (MCOs) through audit transparency, appeals protection, statute of limitations, proportionality standard, and dup process. We were also delighted that NPA was able to secure Medicaid reimbursement for doctoral psychology interns. Truly remarkable accomplishments – congratulations to NPA!”

After receiving notice of the award, Carmen Skare, NPA Executive Director, stated, “ NPA is extremely honored to receive the National Register’s SPTA Advocacy Award recognizing the relentless work of our very dedicated volunteers. The successful passage of two bills addressing Medicaid audits and psychology intern reimbursement during a single session is an extraordinary outcome for NPA, and evidence that small SPTAs can achieve landmark legislative victories through persistence, expertise, and heart. It acknowledges the power of psychologists who believe deeply in their mission and act on it. We now focus on diligently monitoring implementation of the new requirements, and continuing our efforts to build strong advocacy coalitions as we address our state’s access-to-care and workforce shortage challenges.”

About the National Register of Health Service Psychologists

The National Register of Health Service Psychologists was established in 1974 and is the largest nonprofit credentialing organization for psychologists and psychology doctoral students. The National Register is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to improving healthcare by identifying psychologists who meet specific education and training standards, and by verifying these professionals to consumers, healthcare organizations, and regulatory bodies. The National Register currently credentials 10,000 Health Service Psychologists and has approximately 5,000 psychology doctoral student and postdoctoral trainee members in its Associate Program. For more information, visit www.nationalregister.org

May 2026 Spotlight – Dave Carver, PhD

Fri, 01 May 2026 14:58:04 GMT

How long have you been a member of NPA, and why did you join?
I joined NPA in 1987 when I moved from Minnesota to Omaha to become the Student Counseling Director at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Previously I was a licensed psychologist and Director of Counseling at the University of Minnesota, Morris. UMM is a public liberal arts college, so the move to UNMC was quite a change in my work environment. NPA membership helped me to meet other psychologists in Omaha and across the state of Nebraska. It also provided access to excellent continuing education programs.

Do you now, or have you ever volunteered for NPA?
In 2008 NPA President Shannon Black invited me to join the Board of Directors as the Academic Affairs Committee chair. Since then, I have served as NPA President-elect, President, Past-President, and in recent years, as Treasurer and Leadership Development Academy co-chair with Carmen Skare. I also followed my friend Dan Ullman as our Nebraska voting member on the American Psychological Association Council of Representatives (COR) where I served for two terms. While on the Council I led the successful effort to create a Council Ombudsperson role and chaired the Council Effectiveness Plan Implementation Oversight Task Force.

In addition to my various NPA-related roles, I served as the co-chair of the APA Advisory Committee on Colleague Assistance. I was also the chair of the Nebraska Board of Psychology (state licensing board) for eight years and was honored to receive the State Leadership Award from the Association of State & Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB). In 2025 I was elected for a three-year term on the APA Ethics Committee.

In 2021 I stepped down as Executive Director of Counseling and Student Development at UNMC where I was also the Student Senate Advisor. At that time, I accepted a newly created position as the UNMC Ombuds Program director. In that role I provide confidential, off-the-record, behind-the-scenes problem solving consultations to UNMC faculty, staff, and students. I also continue to facilitate communication skills training classes for medical students and offer workshops on peer support and conflict resolution skills by request. I am an active member of the International Ombuds Association and completed two terms on the IOA Board of Directors where I co-chaired the Standards of Practice Task Force.

What have been your biggest professional achievements?
During my many years at UNMC I have provided counseling, consultation, and ombuds services to thousands of health professions students, faculty, and staff - helping them overcome personal/professional challenges and utilize their strengths to achieve meaningful life goals. I am also proud of my various leadership roles in NPA, APA, IOA, and the licensing board. My biggest reward has been the opportunity to collaborate with great colleagues/friends. I believe strongly that NPA is the best small population state psychological association in the country!

What are fun facts that people may not know about you?
I attended high school in Wheaton, Illinois and participated in sports with comedian John Belushi. My nickname to high school friends was (and still is) “Coach” Carver. In college I was a “career student,” completing three master’s degrees before my PhD. In each of these graduate programs I had wonderful faculty advisors/mentors that were excellent role models for how to treat their students and colleagues. I still think of these mentors often. Finally, while serving on the APA Council of Representatives, I was appointed by APA Board member Mary Ann McCabe as the official DJ for the COR. In that role I selected pre and post meeting songs that I shared via email with the COR members. Here is my musical selection for this NPA Spotlight.

Al Stewart – “Time Passages” (live)

Download Member Spotlight PDF: Dave Carver Ph D

April 2026 Spotlight – Helen Montoya, PhD

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 16:29:02 GMT

How long have you been a member of NPA?
I became a member shortly after my internship in 1993.

Why did you join?
Being a student of Jim Cole, a former NPA president and active member/advocate, I had no questions about joining NPA. Jim made membership an obvious choice for new psychologists and I agree!

What do you like most about being a member?
NPA offers so many opportunities and I really appreciate the Continued Education programs! I have benefited from the remote learning opportunities during the pandemic and beyond. I appreciate NPA’s active advocacy for the populations we serve and the protection of the integrity of our profession!

Do you now, or have you ever volunteered for NPA ?
I had the opportunity to serve in NPA for a couple of years as a member at large but had to refocus my time and energy when my 10 year old became ill and faced multiple hospitalizations and specialized care out of state.

My path to becoming a psychologist.
As a first-generation college student I happened to find my way with the guidance of a psychology professor during my first year of college. His psychology class inspired me to take another class and another class until I was completely enamored with psychology. That same professor was a graduate of the UNL Clinical Psychology program and challenged me to apply for graduate schools, especially UNL. He guided me through applications, personal statements and ultimately interviews and was so proud that I chose UNL for my graduate program! I have always leaned toward psychological readings and seemed to be the one others confided in… Turns out I love psychology and love being a psychologist!

In graduate school I focused on community psychology and after my internship I was approached by the Nebraska Medical Director about starting a rural community outreach program with the help of Jim Cole, who would be my supervisor. We created the first rural community outreach program in Nebraska and staffed the program with myself, a psychiatrist and a social worker. Together we traveled throughout the north-eastern part of the state and ultimately earned awards for our innovative program and connection to rural communities. After a couple years I got recruited back to Lincoln to serve as the supervising psychologist for a multi-disciplinary health care facility. This opportunity set me up for private practice when the clinic closed unexpectedly. I have had an amazing private practice and have supervised great clinicians along the way!

While in private practice I have worked with a variety of individuals but just by chance I developed a specialization in mood disorders simply by studying best practices to help the clientele sent my way. I feel like the most blessed person alive- I have loved every step of the way in my career and as I approach retirement I pay tribute to those that guided me along the way!

Who/What inspires you?
I have had amazing mentors and wonderful opportunities and I have learned so much from each of them. The most influential person in my life however, has been my dad. A child of migrant workers, having to leave school in 5th grade to also work in the fields, he has been the greatest example of living an honest, compassionate, grateful, and graceful life. Despite hardship and educational disadvantages, he served his community, was an advocate for the disadvantaged and mentored many. He worked his way to a leadership role in his job and served as a well-respected and adored leader and teacher of many. He instilled humanity and humility in his children and I remain committed to his dedication for the less fortunate. I have volunteered for organizations that serve the disadvantaged ongoing through my career.

What I do when not working- hobbies/interests:
I am an avid walker- for almost 40 years I have taken a 2 to 4 mile walk early morning before work. Walking has kept me grounded and ensures that I enter work with a fresh mind. My adult children and grandchildren are my favorite people- they help me keep work/home life balance. I can always count on them for adventures, good food and game nights. My hobby however is gardening. My husband and I have a large garden and grow vegetables for ourselves and our family for the upcoming year and donate our spares. Walking and gardening are my therapy and have been for as long as I can remember!

Download Member Spotlight PDF: Helen Montoya, PhD

March 2026 Spotlight – Hope Thilges

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:40:13 GMT

 Hope Thilges is a fourth-year doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology Training Program at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) and member of the Pediatric Health Lab, directed by Dr. Timothy Nelson.

Prior to moving to Nebraska, Hope received her bachelor’s degree in developmental psychology with minors in integrative neuroscience and public health from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities (UMN). During her undergraduate studies, she was a part of Mayo Clinic’s Undergraduate Research Employment Program and the Gunnar Laboratory for Developmental Psychobiology Research, which sparked her interests in pediatric pain rehabilitation, stress physiology, and mechanisms supporting child development.

Her clinical and research interests include examining biopsychosocial factors associated with child and adolescent health and wellbeing to inform prevention and intervention efforts, especially among youth experiencing chronic pain and their families. She is also a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. Clinically, Hope is currently a student psychology extern at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Omaha, NE, where she primarily works on the pediatric acute rehabilitation unit. She previously completed a clinical placement at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Psychology at Munroe-Meyer Institute.

How long have you been a member of NPA?

Hope has been a member of NPA since 2025 following receipt of a gifted student membership by a generous donor. She joined after attending NPA events, such as NPA’s webinar, “Culturally Responsive Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Tips, Tools and Techniques” and the NPA 2024 Fall Conference (Autism and ADHD Assessments for Youth and Adults). She has been a part of NPA’s Membership Committee since March 2025. As part of her activities on the NPA Membership Committee, she has engaged in membership recruitment and retention, especially increasing student awareness of NPA and opportunities for committee, advocacy, education, and professional development engagement (which were all opportunities that encouraged her to join NPA and one aspect she loves most about it)! Her career has benefited from educational and professional development opportunities, including training in youth autism and ADHD evaluation and suicide risk assessment, along with connecting with others in the field.

What’s a project you’re working on right now?

Why is it meaningful to you? I am a member of UNL’s Pediatric Health Lab, where I work with Dr. Timothy Nelson, and I collaborate with my mentors at UMN’s Institute of Child Development (Dr. Megan Gunnar) and Mayo Clinic (Drs. Leslie Sim, Cynthia Harbeck-Weber). Across projects, I have sought to investigate biopsychosocial factors associated with health and health-related outcomes among children and adolescents, with recent work focusing on the role of executive control, home and neighborhood food environments, psychopathology, and stress physiology in relation to youth health. It is incredibly meaningful to engage in work seeking to achieve a better understanding of factors associated with healthy development with the hopes of informing targeted prevention and intervention efforts that can support children and families!

Any tips or advice for new NPA members?

Please do not hesitate to express your interest in getting involved with NPA! In my experience, joining the Membership Committee was a very easy process, where NPA Director Carmen Skare was able to provide information about the committee and joining monthly meetings. NPA has been so welcoming to me as a student member and has allowed me to be involved in ways that feel manageable with my schedule. There is great flexibility and variety in opportunities for involvement!

What do you like to do when you aren’t working? Any fun hobbies/interests?

I love to try out new restaurants and coffee shops (especially with other lab members and graduate students!), video call with family and friends, go to markets or other fun events, watch TV shows and movies, and read!

What is your favorite place you’ve traveled to, or what’s on your travel bucket list?

One of my favorite places that I have traveled to most recently is Houston, Texas! I especially loved visiting The Museum of Fine Arts, the Space Center, and Discovery Green! I have many places on my travel bucket list, including England, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, and Greece.

Download Member Spotlight PDF: Hope Thilges

February 2026 Spotlight – Kate Linder, PhD

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 16:47:33 GMT

 How long have you been a member of NPA?

I joined NPA as an early-career psychologist, encouraged by my supervisors and professors who emphasized that professional involvement was not optional, it was part of being a psychologist. At the time, I saw NPA as important, but I did not yet appreciate how central it would become to my professional identity.

What do you like most about being a member?

What I value most about NPA is that it is truly run by its members. During the pandemic, I became active in committee work and had the opportunity to watch NPA continue to grow into an engaged, thriving community of psychologists who are actively improving the practice of psychology in Nebraska. The organization functions because people show up, serving on committees, asking hard questions, and doing the unglamorous work that actually moves things forward.

Where you are now working and what is your role?

I currently work as a Clinical Psychologist at Nebraska Medicine, where I provide psychological services across inpatient and outpatient medical settings with pediatric and adult patients. My work includes diagnostic clarification, pre-surgical evaluations, support of interns, and consultation within high-acuity medical teams. I especially enjoy working at the intersection of psychology and medicine, where psychological insight can meaningfully shape clinical decisions. My current role also dovetails nicely with my continued studies in clinical psychopharmacology, as I am pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Psychopharmacology (MSCP) to further strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and patient care.

Tell us about your path to becoming a psychologist?

My professional path has included experience in community mental health, state facilities, private practice, and academic medical centers. Over time, my work expanded beyond individual clinical care to include systems-evel advocacy, driven largely by seeing how policy decisions affect patient access, quality of care, and the sustainability of psychological practice.

Tell us about your path to becoming a psychologist?

Within NPA, I currently serve as Chair of the Professional Affairs Committee (PAC), after first joining the committee during the pandemic. When I was initially asked to join, I had no idea what the PAC actually did. Over the past five years, my professional focus has increasingly centered on advocacy, including protecting the public, promoting access to psychological services under Medicaid, and advancing thoughtful scope-of-practice initiatives, including prescription authority for psychologists (RxP) in Nebraska. Through my work with NPA and the Professional Affairs Committee, I was directly involved in advocacy efforts that led to the passage of LB381 and LB332.

LB381 addressed program integrity and audit practices under Medicaid, helping balance accountability with fairness and access to mental healthcare.
LB332 expanded Medicaid coverage to include psychology services provided by supervised doctoral interns and postdoctoral fellows, a critical step in supporting training pathways, improving access, and recognizing the essential role trainees play in service delivery.

Being part of these legislative successes was both humbling and energizing. I never set out expecting to work in legislative advocacy, and now it is one of the most meaningful parts of my professional life. I am especially excited to continue supporting RxP-related efforts and hope to contribute to similar success through ongoing committee work.

In addition to my work with NPA, I serve as the Vice-Chair and ASPPB Delegate on the Nebraska DHHS Board of Psychology, where I am involved in regulatory oversight, education and investigation consultation, and professional standards. This role has deepened my appreciation for the balance between public protection and supporting ethical, accessible psychological practice across the state.

What do you love most about your current position?

At Nebraska Medicine, I enjoy the complexity and collaboration. Working in a medical center requires psychologists to think beyond individual treatment and consider systems, ethics, policy, and interdisciplinary care. I enjoy being part of teams where psychology has a clear voice and a tangible impact. It is challenging work and exactly the kind of challenge that keeps me engaged.

Any tips or advice for new NPA members?

State association membership matters. NPA plays a critical role in protecting the profession, supporting ethical practice, and advocating for access to psychological services in Nebraska, work that directly affects how and where we practice. From there, I encourage new members to explore the committees and attend a few meetings. I did not anticipate the depth of advocacy I would reach through my role on the Professional Affairs Committee, and I certainly never imagined I would help get not one, but two bills passed in Nebraska. Committee involvement is where you see what is really happening behind the scenes and where your voice can matter more than you expect. Sometimes showing up is the most important first step.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

When I’m not working, I spend a lot of time with my dogs and my family, which is always grounding and reliably never boring. I enjoy crocheting, playing video games (currently Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing), running, and unwinding with TV, especially The Pitt and many cooking shows. I also spend a fair amount of time in the kitchen myself. Having a mix of creative, active, and purely fun downtime helps me recharge and keeps me sane alongside clinical work and advocacy, which both tend to follow me home if I let them.

Who is someone who’s made a big impact on your life? Why?

My family has had the biggest influence on who I am. I was inspired early on by my grandmothers, one who taught in a one-room schoolhouse and another who went back to earn her high school diploma later in life, graduating the same year as my mother. My parents consistently emphasized the importance of education, and my brilliant siblings, whether they knew it or not, were my fiercest academic competition. That family culture around learning and persistence continues to shape how I approach leadership, advocacy, and my career.

Download Member Spotlight PDF: Kate Linder

January 2026 Spotlight – Anne Talbot, PsyD

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 16:58:59 GMT

Anne Talbot, PsyD and her generous dedicated driver and husband, Dave Calkins

How long have you been a member of NPA?

I joined the Nebraska Psychological Association about 30 years ago, shortly after earning my psychologist license—midlife, mid-career, and ready for a new chapter. By then, I’d already spent more than a decade working in health professions, so joining NPA felt like the natural next step in staying engaged and connected in the field.

Why did you join?

It was an easy decision. I saw firsthand how NPA’s advocacy, mentorship, and sense of community helped my colleagues thrive, and I wanted to be part of that. Over the years, NPA has been my reliable source for professional growth, inspiration, and staying informed in a field that never stands still.

Where do you work?

Scottsbluff, Nebraska, has been my home and professional base for decades. I co-own Options in Psychology, LLC, with my long-time business partner, Mark Hald, PhD. We started as a team of two psychologists, and together with our master’s-level colleagues, have trained and collaborated with more than 30 therapists. Today, our clinic includes eight psychologists and several master’s-level clinicians, offering care across the lifespan. I’m also licensed in Wyoming, and my work occasionally takes me across state lines—and sometimes three time zones!

What do you love about being a psychologist?

Psychology has always been both a calling and a continual source of learning for me. I appreciate the complexity of the work and the privilege of helping people navigate real challenges. Building a practice in rural Nebraska wasn’t part of my original plan—my early ambitions leaned toward urban centers like New York or even the UK and Europe—but settling here has brought a level of professional fulfillment and genuine community connection that I deeply value.

Hobbies and Interests?

These days, I still run, though at a slower pace and for fewer miles than I did when training for three marathons and over 14 half-marathons. I especially enjoy hiking and running on Saddle Rock Trail at Scotts Bluff National Monument, where the scenery and fresh air help spark new ideas. I’m also an avid vegetable gardener and a recent enthusiast of pollinator gardening, thanks to my daughter.

My husband Dave is the creative force in our family—a filmmaker, musician, and wildlife photographer. I’m his roadie and assistant director, always happy to help behind the scenes and share in the adventure. We’ve traveled widely and collaborated on projects, including a short film about Bosnia I produced around 2015 with Dave’s input. I’m currently reconnecting with Coventry, UK, my birthplace, which has become a center for peace and reconciliation. Travel is part of my DNA, and I’m always eager for new experiences, whether it’s across the Atlantic or across the Nebraska prairie and up and down the Rocky Mountains.

What do you most like about being a member of NPA?

It’s the people who make NPA exceptional—a diverse group of passionate and wise psychologists. I was first recruited to the board by a psychologist who was from Scottsbluff and Gering, (past NPA President, Shannon Black!), and have since served as board member, committee chair, president-elect, president, and past-president. Each role has brought meaningful connections with mentors and colleagues. My term as president was succeeded by an impressive group of women – Diane Marti, Katie Carrizales, Sarah King, and Cate Jones-Hazledine. I am proud to note that three of these last five presidents are from western Nebraska, and this strong western leadership pipeline continues with Devynn Campbell, who joins the board this year as Member at Large – Greater Nebraska!

The longstanding exchanges with such a broad range of psychologists serving on the board over the years, as well as the wide range of members involved in research, clinical practice and advocacy from whom I’m always learning, and for whom I have everlasting respect, are unmatched by other associations for me. I’m especially committed to advancing prescriptive authority for specially trained psychologists in Nebraska—shout-outs to Dan Ullman, our newest colleague Megan Lawhon, and the hardworking RxP Committee; the Professional Affairs Committee led by Kate Linder; and one of our longest-serving board members, Dave Carver, a dear friend and colleague. I want to also recognize Will Spaulding, Joe Swoboda, Lori Wall, and Jim and Lynda Madison who have each contributed so much to NPA and to me over many years! So many people to remember with not enough room to name all of them! And of course, special thanks to our outstanding Executive Director, Carmen Skare, who keeps everything running smoothly and energetically. Carmen is truly a nonpareil!

What might surprise people about you?

I’m sometimes surprised myself by where my interests and opportunities have led me. From Coventry, England, to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts (where I earned a nursing degree at Boston College), Colorado (for a master’s in psychiatric nursing and later a doctorate at the University of Denver), New York, and finally Nebraska—now also co-located in Indiana. My husband and I split our time between Scottsbluff and Indianapolis, enjoying grandparent life with our daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters, all while continuing to do the things we’ve always loved.

Why do you find NPA inspiring and worthwhile?

NPA is much more than an association—it’s a family of professionals who support, challenge, and inspire one another. The advocacy work, legislative efforts, and commitment to recruiting and retaining psychologists—especially in rural areas—make NPA vital to our state. I’ve seen firsthand how NPA helps us grow, adapt, and make a real difference.

If you’re an early, mid, or late-career psychologist, I encourage you to stay active, share your wisdom, and help keep NPA the vibrant, dynamic, and exemplary association it is. We accomplish so much more when we work together.

Download Member Spotlight PDF: Anne Talbot

Click for to learn more about Dave Calkin's music, film and photography: Ancova and Poustomedia

December 2025 Spotlight – Louise Foster, PsyD

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 17:07:20 GMT

How long have you been a member of NPA?

I think I joined NPA the year I was first licensed in 2000, which sounds like so long ago now!

Why did you join?

Since I was new to both professional psychology and Omaha, I was eager to try to make connections and meet folks. I moved to Nebraska for the Internship Consortium after training in Chicago and truly felt like a fish out of water. I remember tagging along with my internship supervisors, and later my post-doc supervisors, to NPA conferences and was immediately hooked by the warm, welcoming NPA community.

What do you like most about being a member? How has your career benefited from being a member?

I love the efforts that are made to keep us connected as a community, especially both during and after Covid. Since I work in a private practice setting, it can be easy to feel isolated. I feel that both my career and my personal life have benefited from the relationships I’ve made through NPA. I also love being able to see former supervisors and colleagues at NPA events. Such a treat to have ongoing access to those who’ve known you your whole career!

Do you now, or have your previously volunteered with NPA?

I almost skipped this question because I volunteered with the Continuing Education Committee for a hot minute a couple of years ago before I realized that I had over committed. I don’t think I ever even made it to a meeting! I have such deep respect and gratitude for all those who make the NPA magic happen. To paraphrase a cultural cinematic touchstone “My idealized self is writing checks my actual self can’t cash”.

Where you are now working and what is your role?

In 2006, I founded The Center for Mindful Living as both a private practice where multiple practitioners office and as a mindfulness center. I work with individuals, primarily with anxiety and depression, using a mindfulness-informed, psychodynamic model. I’m also a drama therapist and Board-Certified Trainer in drama therapy, which is a wonderful adjunctive modality to more conventional treatment models.

I’m particularly proud of the programs we’ve developed to help people to learn meditation, with a dedicated meditation instructor, daily sits, and a mindfulness study group, all of which are free and open to the public. Occasionally, we offer classes and workshops on various topics such as Mindful Self-Compassion, Introduction to Meditation, as well as more experiential, narrative-based workshops.

In addition to our mindfulness instructor, the rest of our compliment includes an Art Therapist, an Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapist, and a psychiatric APRN.

Tell us about your path to becoming a psychologist.

My path feels more like an intuitive wandering than a goal directed undertaking. I received my undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis in Theatre and French Literature. I actually meant to become an architect but got happily diverted into the arts along the way.

After graduation, I toured regionally as an actor/director and then moved to Chicago to continue my career in theatre. Along the way, I discovered that I was less interested in the performance aspect of the work and more in the rehearsal/discovery process. By some divine providence, I happened on a Psychodrama training program at Rush Presbyterian’s St. Luke’s in Chicago and began to see how the arts and creativity can inform mental health treatment. I then went on to pursue my both my master’s and doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Along the way, I also continued my studies of psychodrama and drama therapy.

I’m often asked how I made the leap from theatre to psychology but, for me, they seem part and parcel of the same study of human motivation and behavior. I’m also very grateful for the circuitous route that I took in my career. I use my theatre training regularly in my work and enjoy being able to approach treatment with more creativity and playfulness.

What is wellness to you? How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Having been raised in a home that modeled an unhealthy relationship to work, status, and wealth, I learned early to identify personal metrics of success based on relationships, creative expression, and learning. I often wonder if I should have been a sociologist as focused as I am on the maladaptive impact of our culture on wellness.

My meditation practice is an important anchor for me, as is a regular creative practice. Every now and then, I still perform at local theatres. I love getting together with friends to play board games, write bad poetry, or learn a new skill. Now that I’m empty nesting, I find it easier to go on retreat and travel, both of which invigorate, inspire, and humble me. The theatre kid in me also really enjoys a good Renaissance Faire every now and then. I think it’s the costuming.

What is a fun fact that people probably don’t know about you?

My first language is French and I didn’t read or write in English until fourth grade. I grew up in Brussels and, at one time, spoke four languages. Unfortunately, I only really retained my French and English. It was a bit of a challenge to practice Flemish back in the day – now it would be easy to connect online with a Flemish speaker who was learning English 4500 miles away. I do have an annoying habit of intruding on Francophones when I hear the language spoken. Mercifully, everyone has been most generous with me and, fortunately, Omaha has a high number of Francophiles to target when I’m out and about.

Download Member Spotlight PDF: Louisa Foster