Divorce has become a fact of life for many and about half of all marriages end in divorce in the United States. There are a variety of reasons given for why a couple may choose to divorce including, infidelity, alcoholism, physical or emotional abuse, incompatibility, lack of communication, lack of sex, or lack of sharing of household tasks.

Divorce will impact all members of the family, including the children, and will usually be a temporary strain. Children suffer from not only the physical loss of a parent, but the financial strains, parental incompatibility and feelings of being "caught in the middle".

We can help through all three stages of divorce: pre-separation period, divorce transition period, post-divorce period.

All three of the therapists at Park Professional Group provide couples therapy. This can be sessions with the couple, or individual sessions for each partner prior to work on the couple relationship. Couple issues may include: communication difficulties, stage of life changes, grief, depression, mental health problems and family issues. Cathy is also well trained in issues of Domestic Violence in relationships.

Both Michele Missel and Mary Haskins treat children in therapy. In addition to utilizing behavioral and family approaches we often use Play Therapy. Play Therapy is a structured, theoretical based approach that utilizes the curative powers of play to help children express feelings, explore their troubles and learn more adaptive behaviors. Play therapy differs from regular play in that the therapist helps children to address and resolve their own problems. Play therapy builds on the natural way that children learn about themselves and their relationships in the world around them (Axline, 1947; Carmichael, 2006; Landreth, 2002). Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and learn a variety of ways of relating to others.

Bereavement is the period of sadness after losing a loved one through death. Grief occurs during the period of bereavement and grief is the normal process of reacting to the loss. Symptoms of grief may include: feeling emotionally numb, unable to believe the loss occurred, feelings of depression and anxiety. A variety of losses can lead to symptoms of grief.

Commonly we experience grief in five stages and our therapists can help you successfully move through these stages, although each person's grief and recovery is personal. The stages of grief are Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Through the process of therapy and counseling you can find support as you cope with your loss.

Parenting can be wonderful and rewarding, but it can also be difficult and unpleasant. Most parents experience moments (or months or years) of feeling overwhelmed. There's a lot of information out there about what we "should" do to raise "good" kids. In reality, there are no guaranteed methods for ensuring we and our children will be happy, healthy, and successful in life. There is, however, plenty of research showing that parents can make a significant, positive difference through a number of simple approaches. (http://www.parentfurther.com)

Our therapists can assist parents in resolving their own childhood struggles, family of origin problems, adult-child relationship problems that further impact parenting. Therapy is often needed to assist children, who are experiencing family difficulties, have school problems or mental health disorders.

Family therapy helps families resolve mental and emotional disorders within the context of the family. Therapy is meant to increase overall well-being of the family. Goals established to help accomplish this might include: the creation of clear boundaries, effective communication, and exploration of the family structure. At Park Professional Group we are committed to helping, engaging and supporting families. We can help you and your family learn effective communication, understand feelings, improve social and problem-solving skills, and assist you in helping your child/adolescent with a variety of challenges

PCIT is a specific therapy approach designed to address disruptive behaviors in young children ages 2 to 7. PCIT has been found effective in treating oppositional behavior, inattention, and aggression. The child's parent(s) is actively involved in PCIT. PCIT teaches parent(s) specific strategies to increase the child's compliance and decrease aggression.

Mary Haskins became a certified PCIT Therapist in 2012. Her services are provided in the office at Park Professional Group and may include other locations depending on the needs of the child and family.

In today's fast paced world of instant gratification and constant technology it can be difficult to navigate the challenges of child rearing. The therapists at Park Professional Group have extensive experience working with both parents and their children. Michele has had over twenty years of experience and education addressing adolescent transitions and working with adolescents in the juvenile justice system. All three of our therapists have expertise and treatment strategies to address the full range of child/adolescent issues facing youth today, utilizing a wide variety of techniques including play therapy.

A substance use disorder is present if an individual continues to use of one or more substances despite significant substance related problems such as: failure to meet work, family, or school obligations, interpersonal conflicts, or legal problems. Substance Abuse Counselors provide treatment for individuals with substance use disorders, which range from abuse to dependence. Many individuals have both a Substance Use Disorders and a Psychiatric Disorders. This is termed Co-Occurring Disorders. A therapist licensed in both fields may be able to provide the help needed by these individuals. Mary Haskins is dually licensed. She is also a Registered Provider for The Justice Treatment System of Nebraska; this allows her to provide substance abuse evaluations for probation.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can actually be beneficial in some situations. For some people, however, anxiety can become excessive. While the person suffering may realize their anxiety is too much, they may also have difficulty controlling it and it may negatively affect their day-to-day living. There are a wide variety of anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder to name a few. Collectively, they are among the most common mental disorders. Anxiety is treatable with a variety of different interventions and there is no need to suffer.

When you have depression, it is more than feeling sad. Intense feelings of sadness and other symptoms may last for a while. Symptoms can include: difficulty concentrating, fatigue, feelings of guilt, worthlessness or hopelessness, trouble sleeping, loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, and sad, anxious or empty feelings, or thoughts of suicide. Depression is a medical illness, not a sign of weakness and it is treatable. We can help you explore your symptoms and move toward healing.

Both Cathy and Mary have been trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a powerful psychotherapy technique which has been very successful in helping people who suffer from trauma, anxiety, panic, disturbing memories, post-traumatic stress and many other emotional problems. Until recently, these conditions were difficult and time-consuming to treat. EMDR is considered a breakthrough therapy because of its simplicity and the fact that it can bring quick and lasting relief for most types of emotional distress.

The EMDR therapy uses bilateral stimulation, right/left eye movement, or tactile stimulation, which repeatedly activates the opposite sides of the brain, releasing emotional experiences that are "trapped" in the nervous system. This assists the neurophysiological system, the basis of the mind/body connection, to free itself of blockages and reconnect itself.

As troubling images and feelings are processed by the brain via the eye-movement patterns of EMDR, resolution of the issues and a more peaceful state are achieved.

Stress isn't always bad and in small doses, it can help you perform under pressure and motivate you to do your best. Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger - whether it's real or imagined - the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the "fight-or-flight" response. But when you're constantly running in emergency mode, your mind and body pay the price. Stress stops being helpful and can cause damage to your physical and mental health, your productivity, your relationships and quality of life. At Park Professional Group we can help you recognize when your stress levels are out of control and identify the core issues contributing to your stress, develop coping strategies and learning how to incorporate those strategies into your everyday life.