The People Who Helped at the Beginning of ACP

Some things are seemingly done in isolation, but even then, there's a support team. Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, but someone built the scaffolding. Springsteen played the concert tours - but a team of people tuned all those guitars, strung those lights, and ran the sound board. It's been no different with ACP.

Each of the original owners of Associated Counseling Professionals brought a section of the mosaic. We pieced it together, then rearranged the bits of ceramic over the years. Janell Weeks was substantially responsible for locating our first office. Sue Williamson took charge of the interior design and remodeling project to transform a former pediatric medical office into something more workable for counseling. Sandy Kutler and Karen Stacey handled phone systems and other office fundamentals. Julie Jurich helped make sure that payroll and tax obligations were correct and on-time. Linda Schaefer was largely responsible for setting up a series of planning meetings in the Spring and Summer of 1993 and helped set up a budget for the enterprise. I became the IT department.

Tracy (standing) & Bridget - 1993

At the beginning, we had two dedicated support staffers, too. Tracy (Polito) Johnson and Bridget Wiede Brooks answered the phones, booked the appointments, brewed the coffee, and did the billing. There's no way we could have gotten up and running, and gotten billing setup properly without them. Over the years since that original crew, we've had many other helpers. Mary Palik and Rita Eisma each dedicated more than 20 years to ACP - providing us with steady continuity. Our clients loved 'em, and things got done - so we could focus on our clinical work.

The Middle Years

As happens inevitably, things change - and the staff did, too. Mary and Rita's daughters worked at the front desk as they were moving through high school and college - providing extra help for late afternoons and Saturdays. My mind bogs down as I try to conjure up the names of all the therapists who passed through our doors. Some stayed just a little while; others stayed and became owners of the business, too. Until very recently, we always shared the ownership among seven people. It's been challenging, and a therapist must step into a business state-of-mind to figure things out.

At least two of our former college student-admin staff entered graduate studies in Social Work and went on to become a part of our helping community. One is Rachel Rippon, MSW. She had done some missionary work in Africa through her church, and currently serves as a school counselor in Kenya, according to her profile on LinkedIn. The other is Jenna Schaecher, MSW, a Medical Social Worker at Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha.

Ownership changes eventually began to take place, as well, bringing renewed energy and vision to our group. Karen Stacey, when we opened, split her time between our office and another practice group. She soon consolidated her practice to Therapy Resource Associates. That change opened up an office, and we invited Glen Fineman to join us. Janell Weeks moved out of Omaha after a wedding, which ushered in Laura Lentz. In addition to her dedication to therapy with children and families, Laura demonstrated a keen interest in the business side of our practice - encouraging all of us to think and plan carefully for using our resources wisely. A few years later, Laura decided to establish her own practice group, Cornerstone Psych & Collaborative Care, in 2017. With Laura's transition came Kerry Matuszek's arrival. It was always clear to me that Kerry had a deep commitment to her clients and the healing journey they shared. Beyond her clinical work, Kerry encouraged planful, modulated and respectful dialogue amongst the ACP owners to maintain clarity of our mission. Additionally, she put considerable effort into the marketing of our practice - helping us look at all the media options available. We continue to use logo designs that she helped develop on ACP's behalf. Kerry practices now at Great Oaks Counseling, here in Omaha.

Life is what happens to you while you're making other plans

- John Lennon

The Prairie Life Center Move

We moved the office to the 132nd Street location of the Prairie Life Center in 2009. It took a great deal of planning and coordination - and gave us upgrades in just about every area. More room, more parking, more windows, and more to think about. The next 11 years seem like one big blur of clients, training, and community involvement. I was on the LMHP Board for 6 years and helped out with the Association for Private Practice Therapists. I'm not sure how it all happened. I guess a Go-Pro camera would have helped. But who'd want to watch all that footage?

Covid-19

Peanut

When we shut down in-person services in March of 2020, we all thought it was going to be for a few weeks, right? Then it turned out to be very different from what was originally predicted. It was tough on everyone - but I am distinctly proud of how our staff pulled together to be able to keep providing services to our clients. Most of our clients pivoted over to telehealth, and we made it work in spite of wobbly wi-fi connections, software crashes, and that whole trainwreck.

Many staffers worked from home. I came to the office everyday - and only saw Rita and Mary through the windows that front our admin office. Hours and hours in front of the camera. Kidney stone surgery! Early 2021 brought the vaccines - and we eventually eased the doors back open mid-year.

Coinciding with the Covid lockdowns, Linda Schaefer retired. About a year later, Julie Jurich did, too. I'd met both of them originally at the Hudson Center for Brief Therapy in the late 1980s. Linda had already worked successfully as a Speech Pathologist in Omaha and came to The Hudson Center as a graduate student. Dr. Hudson saw her promise and invited her to stay on as a staff therapist. Julie Jurich originally came to the center for some of the great seminars that Hudson Center had sponsored in that era. After getting to know her in that training environment, Julie was invited to join the staff there, too. It boggles my mind how all of these events brought a group of ambitious clinicians together. Sue Williamson retired, moving to the Sunshine State of Florida, turning her ownership over to Todd Kerr.

Five more people to mention - for now

My wife, Cathy, has hung in here with me - since 1978. There are no words to express the value of this kind of support and endurance and love - and how it enabled me to do the work I have. Onward we go!

Our current administrative staff - Jen and Heidi - have been superb in helping me navigate through the final months of clinical work at ACP. I'm grateful for their grit, persistence, and willingness to learn and take on so many vital functions for our practice. Flexible, adaptable, and fun to work with!

Lastly, I want to thank the other co-owners at ACP that have been helpful and supportive to me as I've been winding down here. Glen Fineman is as dependable as a fine Swiss watch. Todd Kerr has taken on several tasks from me with poise and readiness. Scarlett Shockley almost single-handedly got our billing system tuned up for accuracy and reliability over the last two years. This was equivalent to turning an oil tanker around 180 degrees, in a pond, on a cloudy/moonless night, while blindfolded. Pretty good trick! Pam Feldman offered timely, accurate, and useful guidance, always delivered with kindness, as I contemplated this transition.

Oh, I almost forgot - my cat's name is Peanut, and she may possibly be the best cat ever to inhabit my home. You likely feel the same about your companion animal, too!

PS: It's entirely possible that I've forgotten key people or scrambled events. If you see a gaping hole of information, please let me know.