The Student Counseling Center at Creighton strives to offer mental-health counseling to all of our students. For students on our waitlist, for students who wish to seek services outside of our clinic, and for students who have left the University we offer this community resource guide.
If you are experiencing an emergency, please stop reading and refer to our Emergency Contacts page.
The following information is intended to assist anyone seeking counseling in the Omaha area. This task can be frustrating and confusing for anyone unfamiliar with the counseling and mental health field. We hope that this information demystifies this task and provides useful information to help you find the best counselor for your situation.
Step 1: Assess your insurance benefits, or if you do not have insurance with mental health coverage available in the state of Nebraska, the amount you are able to pay for therapy
Step 2: Think about what qualities are important to you in a counselor
Step 3: Search for a counselor who will be the right fit for you
There are a number of different licensures counseling professionals can have, and it varies by state. Each licensure indicates a professional's different experiences with work and education. That said, those with the licensures listed below can provide quality mental health counseling and therapy.
Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP / LIMHP): These therapists have obtained at least a master?s degree in a mental health counseling field and have training in a wide variety of issues and concerns. They have obtained a state required amount of education, supervision and counseling hours to obtain licensure in their state of practice.
Certified Marriage and Family Therapist (CMFT): These counselors have obtained at least a master?s degree in marriage and family therapy or mental health counseling and see individuals, but also have special training working with couples and families. They have obtained a state required amount of education, supervision and counseling hours to obtain licensure in their state of practice.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW / LICSW): Licensed clinical social workers have obtained at least a master?s degree in social work and are trained to help clients who are experiencing a variety of issues. These therapists are trained to look at issues from both a social as well as an individual context. They have obtained a state required amount of education, supervision and counseling hours to obtain licensure in their state of practice.
Psychologist (Psy.D. or Ph.D): Psychologists have received a doctorate. They have been trained to work with clients facing a variety of issues and also are trained to administer psychological testing for evaluation purposes. They have obtained a state required amount of education, supervision and counseling hours to obtain licensure in their state of practice.
Psychiatrist (M.D.): Psychiatrists have obtained a doctorate of medicine with at least a 4-year psychiatric residency and have special training in how the body affects mental health issues. They meet with clients who are experiencing significant emotional distress and/or mental health disorders and can prescribe/monitor medication for these issues. They often work collaboratively with a psychologist or master?s level therapist who provide counseling to their client, but some psychiatrists counsel their clients as well.
***Educational requirements and post-graduate counseling hours as well as license title may vary by state. Contact your state licensing board for clarification.
The following websites provide information about independent self-employed counselors. Each website lists only those practitioners from a specific discipline as described in the previous section, e.g. mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists. The fees for private practice counselors vary. The range is $50 to $175 per session. However, if you have insurance that covers counseling services and the private counselor is a member of your insurance plan, part or all of the fee will be covered by your health insurance plan (see Step 1 in at the beginning of this document).
Creighton has also compiled a Community Resource List, or list of referrals. These are individuals we have met, worked with, and/or referred to in the past.