Jody has earned her degrees from the University of Nebraska. Her fist degree was a bachelor of science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 1997. She later received her Masters of Education in Community Counseling at the University of Nebraska – Kearney in 1999. Jody held her first job providing outpatient therapy at the Child Guidance Center in Lincoln, NE. She then moved to Richmond, VA in late 2000 where she began her career in VA working at a day treatment center as a clinician. Within two years she started her employment with Dominion Youth Services (DYS) in Richmond, VA where she served as the Clinical Director and ultimately site director in Fredericksburg, VA. Jody remained with DYS for over 10 years, where she led child and family programs, such as day treatment, outpatient therapy, intensive in-home services and case management services. Jody led over 50 employees at the site in Fredericksburg, where she first was introduced to Bruce Perry and a further understanding of the impacts and importance of neurodevelopment in the field of psychopathology and mental health.

Jody then returned to NE in 2011 with her family, after having her first child to be closer to friends and family. Jody now owns a small private practice in Kearney, NE with an emphasis on trauma, attachment and early childhood development. Currently, Jody is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner, with a strong passion for helping children, adolescents and their families find relief from stress or trauma experienced in their development/relationships. She works from a very holistic perspective, as she has extensive training in trauma, neurodevelopment and attachment issues. As she has returned to NE, Jody has spent considerable time and efforts to better understand neurobiological impacts of stress on the developing brain, how to treat these impacts and learning from professionals and clients about effective treatment models. Trainings over the years include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), CPP (Child Parent Psychotherapy), Play Therapy/Expressive Arts, Mindfulness Skills, TF-CBT (Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), TANT (Trauma Art Narrative Therapy) and NMT (Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics). Jody also enjoys teaching COSP (Circle of Security Parenting) and providing supportive reflection for other facilitators across the state of NE.

Jody spends much of her time providing trainings and workshops for early educators in the state of NE, supervising clinicians, practicing and working with organizations within the Kearney area. While Jody enjoys teaching others, she also enjoys learning and continuing to deepen her own understanding of herself, the treatment of others through the power of connection.

When not working with children in the office, you can find Jody chasing her own children, 12 and 6 years old. She also loves all things that include chips, salsa….. and good coffee!