Wholeness Healing Center

STAFF INTRODUCTION Melanie Gabbert

Greetings! I am Melanie Gabbert, Ph.D., M.A., LMHP, LPC (she/her). I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska in May of 1992. I followed that up with an M.A. in Community Counseling from Andrews University in Michigan in May of 1995. I then took a break from school for a while, focusing on working and honing my skills through practicing as a therapist and being a mom. I completed my Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in May of 2023 (Yippee!!!!). Work and life have conspired to allow me a little free time at this point in my life, so I am very excited to join Wholeness Healing as a part-time therapist offering telehealth services.
My career in clinical work has included higher levels of care such as partial hospitalization and day treatment as well as serving as clinical director for outpatient and community-based services. Through this work, I developed skills related to trauma, depression, and anxiety. It also encouraged my interest in advanced studies in emotion regulation, temperament, and an awareness of how people’s experiences are influenced by where they are developmentally.

In addition to formal education and work experience, personal experiences are also a source of learning and provide a foundation for greater empathy and understanding. While each person’s experiences are unique, I know that I have grown as a therapist through personal experiences of foster parenting, adoption, aggressive medical treatment for cancer, being a caregiver for and going through hospice with my aging parents, losing a family member suddenly, and building my family as a single parent.

Midway through my career as a therapist, I spent twelve years as a foster parent. Through this experience, I developed a true heart for the challenges that every individual goes through in this situation. Biological parents, children in my care, siblings, case managers, and therapists all taught me many lessons about how crisis hurts – but also has the potential to promote change and healing. It also brought into my life four forever children, three of whom I adopted.
As a therapist, I work to integrate an understanding of how the human brain works, how people develop across the lifespan, and principles of wholehearted living into my interactions with clients. I enjoy seeing clients explore how they can increase and deepen healthy connections with others in their lives as this is directly connected to how satisfied and resilient they will be in their lives moving forward.

I have lived in Lincoln, NE for over 25 years and enjoy teaching psychology at a University in Lincoln. My greatest joy is spending time with my family. My children keep me busy as a cheerleader, chauffeur, and study hall monitor, as well as with general shenanigans. We love volleyball, soccer, camping, and spending time with extended family.
I am very excited to become a part of the Wholeness Healing team. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, please call our office at 308.382.5297. I provide Telehealth services.

Tags: Melanie Gabbert