Therapy Services
Individual, group, or family treatment through talking with a professional to build strategies to live a happier and healthier life.
What is therapy?
Also referred to as psychotherapy, talk therapy, or mental health therapy. Therapy is a term for treating mental health problems by talking with a psychologist, social worker, counselor, or other mental health provider. You learn about your condition, your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.
Over time, participating in therapy sessions can help you respond to challenges differently, build strategies to live your life in a healthier way, and work through your problems with professional guidance. Most therapy focuses on individuals, although therapists also work with couples, families and groups.
How to Start Therapy at Bert Nash
To access services at the Bert Nash Center, simply drop by our main location or complete an online inquiry form and call to schedule an appointment. Appointments are available but not necessary to access services.
What We Treat with Therapy
We have a team of highly trained and compassionate clinicians who are skilled in providing therapy for individuals and families who are facing a variety of behavioral health challenges
Depression
Trauma Related Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
Disruptive Mood and Behavior Disorders
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Bipolar Disorders
Personality Disorders
Sexual Disorders
LGBTQIA Affirming Care
Psychotic Disorders
Gender Affirming Care
Therapy Services For Children
Our therapists are trained in a variety of evidenced based practices and will work with you to determine which treatment approach is best suited to meet each family’s individual needs.
The types of treatment we offer include:
Play Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Behavioral Activation (BA)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Mindfulness
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT)
Exposure Therapy
Group therapy is a form of counseling in which a small number of people come together under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help themselves and one another. Participants may benefit from understanding, support, and encouragement from others facing similar issues when they become engaged in group therapy.
Some of the Benefits of Group Therapy Are:
Participation in a group can help you develop new social skills and insight into yourself and improve understanding of others.
Groups can provide valuable social and emotional support and increase your sense of belonging, trust, and protection.
Groups can provide solutions to problems you would not think of on your own and give you a chance to try new behaviors.
Groups are less expensive and led by the same therapist you may have had in individual therapy, so you have access to professional expertise when needed.
Participants must be current clients of Bert Nash. If they are not a current client and want to participate in a specific group, they can complete an intake and discuss their desire to participate in a group with their intake clinician. Individual therapy in addition to group therapy is recommended so participants can build on the skills they learn in the group. For questions regarding our youth therapy groups, contact Tamara Heishman. Youth Outpatient Groups Offered
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) Skills Group This group focuses on middle school aged teens learning about AD/HD and basic skills to manage their ADHD diagnosis. The client must have a confirmed AD/HD diagnosis and be seeing an individual therapist to review and build on the skills learned in the group. Parents are encouraged to attend for a portion of the group to know what is being taught each week. Anxiety Skills Group This group focuses on high school aged teens learning about Anxiety and basic skills to manage their Anxiety diagnosis.
Anger Management Group
This group is currently accepting referrals to form elementary age and middle school/high school age groups. This group focuses on teaching clients about anger emotions, the purpose of anger, how to communicate anger emotions, and build on effective communication skills.
Dual Diagnosis Intensive Outpatient Group
This is an intensive outpatient group for clients struggling with substance use along with mental health diagnosis.
Adolescent Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Group
This group is designed for clients who struggle with intensive self-harm and/or suicidal ideation, struggling with interpersonal skills, and difficulty using more traditional forms of psychotherapy.
Coming Soon:
Grief Group for all ages
Bullying Group
LGBTQIA Group
Psychosocial groups are organized each semester to address the needs of the current participants. Groups are kept small and staffed with at least two group leaders.
Activity-based groups address such topics as:
anger management
independent living skills
leisure activities
problem-solving skills
relationships
self-esteem
social skills
WRAP provides Wellness, Resources, Access & Prevention. For more than 25 years, the WRAP Program has been providing therapeutic and supportive services to students throughout Douglas County. WRAP has always been a program focused on the wellbeing of students, providing services to help students stay in school and be successful.
In 2022, the WRAP program more closely aligned our core values of the program with the services we offer. This means that WRAP therapists primarily focus their work on therapeutic interventions and services that utilize their professional skills to provide students with high quality therapeutic services.
In addition, the WRAP program has added case managers to the team. These case managers work exclusively with students served by the WRAP program and offer additional support to students.
WRAP services is in 19 Douglas County schools in Lawrence, Baldwin City, Eudora, and Perry-Lecompton. In Lawrence, the WRAP team is divided following district boundary lines for the two high schools.
WRAP therapeutic services include:
Therapy | Case Management |
Individual | Student support in the school setting |
Group | Resource coordination |
Family | Family Support |
Crisis intervention | |
The Referral Process
Students are referred to the WRAP Therapeutic Program through the mental health team at the school they attend. Teachers, parents, school counselors and others are able to ask the school mental health team to consider whether or not a student is appropriate for WRAP services. Once a referral is made, the WRAP Therapist, Case Manager or Bert Nash staff will reach out to the student and their family to begin the process of setting up services.
Privacy
All students who work with WRAP Therapists are served as clients of Bert Nash Center and therefore, all of the privacy protections that come with that service apply. WRAP Therapists will only share information with the schools with parent/guardian permission through a formal release of information. Through this process, parents/guardians are able to specify what information can be shared.
If you, or your family member, are in need of immediate mental health care, please visit the Treatment & Recovery Center of Douglas County at 1000 W 2nd Street Lawrence ,KS 66044.
You can also call HeadQuarters at 785-841-2345 or 988.
If you or your family member lives in Kansas but not in Douglas County, please call: 988
Therapy Services For Adults
Our therapists are trained in a variety of evidenced based practices and will work with you to determine which treatment approach is best suited to meet your individual needs.
The types of treatment we offer include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Behavioral Activation (BA)
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Mindfulness
Trauma Specific Treatment approaches
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Prolonged Exposure (PE)
Group therapy is a form of counseling in which a small number of people come together under the guidance of a professionally trained therapist to help themselves and one another. Participants may benefit from understanding, support, and encouragement from others facing similar issues when they become engaged in group therapy.
Some of the Benefits of Group Therapy Are:
Participation in group can help you develop new social skills and insight into yourself and improve understanding of others.
Groups can provide valuable social and emotional support and increase your sense of belonging, trust, and protection.
Groups can provide solutions to problems you would not think of on your own and give you a chance to try new behaviors.
Groups are less expensive and led by the same therapist you may have had in individual therapy, so you have access to professional expertise when needed.
Several groups are available, thus increasing the likelihood of a good fit for your presenting problem. In each group, everyone agrees to mutual confidentiality. Depending on your circumstances and needs, the group that you participate in may be time limited or may be on-going.
Adult Outpatient Groups Offered
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Supports individuals in managing anxiety, depression, stress, and strong emotions and helps clients build flexibility in their thoughts and emotions.
Anger Management
Meets court ordered requirements for anger management. Offers participants an understanding of how anger impacts functioning, offers assertiveness training, cognitive restructuring, along with stress and relaxation strategies.
Anxiety Treatment
Provides a general overview of anxiety in its many forms and offers participants various strategies for managing anxiety.
Breaking the Chain-an Addiction Recovery Group
Explores recovery tools and offers peer support for clients who want to stop using addictive substances. Clients will learn to recognize triggers and prevent relapse.
Building Healthy Self-Esteem
Explore what low self-esteem is, how it develops and how it is maintained. Participants will learn to change thinking and behaviors to improve self-esteem.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Tools for Depression
Provides a general overview of depression and offers participants various strategies for managing depression using CBT. Strategies include cognitive restructuring, assertiveness training, social skills training, sleep hygiene, problem-solving and relapse prevention skills.
Healing Through Loss
Some of the topics that this grief group will cover are getting in touch with the emotions of grief, tools for self-care, and exploring the new normal.
Healing Together
This group discusses and encourages deliberate change in thought, behavior, and circumstance to improve sense of well-being. Participants share with one another their efforts and successes and find opportunities to offer or receive support or encouragement. The group can be a place to explore priorities or to gain a sense of accountability.
Inside & Out; Skills for Managing Big Feelings
This group is designed for individuals who have an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) in addition to a mental health diagnosis. Participants will learn and practice a range of skills to help individuals develop a greater capacity for managing emotions, stress, and relationships. Efforts will be made to communicate learning with care givers who can help prompt clients to utilize their skills in their living environment. Prior to joining, a client and caregiver may be asked to complete a screening interview with one of the group facilitators to determine fitness for the group.
LGBTQIA+ Identities
A weekly space for folx who identify themselves under the queer and/or trans+ umbrellas to process identity in a face-to-face environment. Participants can expect to discuss various topics, share lived experiences, and to support one another. Direction of group sessions will be determined by the choices and needs of participants. Participants must be aged 18 or older and identify with the LGBTQIA+ community.
Perinatal Support
This open group welcomes birthing parents at any point in their journey through 18 months postpartum. From fertility testing, to pregnancy, to birthing, and through the highs and lows of the postpartum period. Participants can learn skills and strategies to manage the feelings that accompany the journey into parenthood.
Recovery Is Possible
Empower clients to manage their illnesses, find their own goals for recovery, and make informed decisions about their treatment by teaching them the necessary knowledge and skills. The core components of this program include psychoeducation, behavioral tailoring, coping skills and relapse prevention training. This group is appropriate for people who have experienced symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression at any point in the recovery process.
Stress Busters
Strategy-focused group for anyone who is feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, disconnected, and struggling to balance it all in life. Learn resiliency through connection, authenticity, and boundaries. Group members will learn about skills and strategies from Dr. Brené Brown’s shame resiliency research which she presented in the best-selling self-help book “The Gifts of Imperfection.” Members are NOT required to obtain a copy of the book to participate in the group.
Strengthening Your Emotional Balance
This is an open 12 session skills group intended for clients who are experiencing troubles with regulating emotions, struggling with communication, or getting their needs met. Clients will be learning new coping strategies for managing strong or painful emotions, assertiveness skills, and building a life worth living.
Understanding Trauma
Gain a greater understanding of the physical and emotional impact of trauma. Participants will learn to identify symptoms consistent with a trauma-response, and learn skills aimed at growth and recovery. This is a non-processing, time-limited group for clients with any history of trauma.
The Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) provides therapy services to individuals who are in acute distress and at high risk for inpatient hospitalization. The program also provides help to those recently discharged from inpatient or residential settings. IOP is a short-term crisis stabilization program that acts as a bridge from crisis to ongoing treatment. Participants engage in IOP for one to six weeks and receive a minimum of 9 hours of services each week.
IOP groups are structured and use DBT skills training, REBT, and Daring WayTM materials to provide clients with coping skills. IOP groups may include a variety of mindfulness activities, and group exercises that are relevant to the teaching materials.
Services Provided in IOP include:
Weekly individual therapy
Medication management
Care Coordination
Crisis and after-hours services as needed
8-10 Hours of Group Therapy Weekly provided from 9 - 11 am, Monday through Friday
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence based comprehensive treatment for individuals who struggle with emotional and behavioral dysregulation. The DBT program serves individuals with severe mood disorders, PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, anger issues, relationship problems, addictions or who have suicidal/self-harming behaviors.
Behavioral Health Court (BHC) is a specialized court service for people with mental illness who have been charged by Douglas County District Court. The BHC will serve individuals who are charged or arrested and whose mental illness contributed significantly to behaviors that lead to the offense. BHC team members help connect defendants with community support services and reduce criminal involvement of defendants who live with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders thereby enhancing public health and safety.
Referrals:
Prosecutors and defense attorneys, jail staff and treatment providers, police and probation officers, Municipal and District Court Judges can refer potential participants based on eligibility criteria. Potential candidates for the BHC program are screened and enter into the program if the referral is appropriate.
The Bert Nash Center’s (BNC) Forensic Services Program provides access to mental health services for individuals in custody in the Douglas County Correctional Facility. Forensic Services is designed to support the operations of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department Corrections Division staff, Re-Entry staff, and contracted medical service providers to address mental health crises, psycho-pharmacological referrals, interpersonal, daily living, and environmental support issues as needed to enhance the client’s functioning while in custody.
Referrals:
the Forensic Services Program is designed to stabilize clients with identified mental health needs, including psychiatric crises.
Appropriate referrals come from sources in the jail or the community and include:
Initial booking screening indicating positive answers to mental health screening questions
Staff (correctional/medical) referral
Current BNC client identified via medical records review
After-hours crisis intervention by HealthSource Integrated Solutions
LMH Health ED referral
Lawrence Police Department/Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Mental Health Team
Mental Health Co-Responder
BNC’s Crisis Intervention Program
Self-referral via Medical/Mental Health Services Request form
Family members of incarcerated individuals
Navigating Your Care
We are committed to working with you and delivering complete and affordable services in an atmosphere that is sensitive to your personal values and beliefs. We believe trust is the heart of the health profession. Laws that govern professional ethics define how we provide services to you, but in addition to these guidelines, we believe in working with you as partners in your care, working together in mutual respect and good faith.
