ASL Psychotherapy

Licensed mental health practitioner Shane Crockett

Helping Clients Communicate and Heal

By Kit Boesch

Many years ago, my dad and I had a “grave discussion” regarding hisability to drive and my hiding the car keys. It did not go well. I wish I hadknown then about licensed mental health practitioner Shane Crockett atASL Psychotherapy. What a great resource he would have been as I stumbledthrough this difficult conversation with my dad! Many of us could use a little work on our communication skills from time to time, and Shane is in a great position to help us navigate strong feelings with our families.

Shane’s road of diverse experiences makes him a personable and well-qualified therapist. His counseling career began in the Lancaster County Department of Corrections, where he provided counseling within the department as a correctional specialist. This gave him “a crash course in mental health,” he says. Since then, he has taught at Doane College and at Southeast Community College (SECC), all while seeing a caseload of 25 to 30 clients each week. At SECC, he had the opportunity to supervise student teachers. He has also provided counseling to residents at Tabitha Health Care Services and the People’s City Mission. These experiences put him on the path to establishing his own psychotherapy practice—ASL Psychotherapy.

Psychotherapy focuses on the treatment of mental health and disorders by psychological rather than medical means. Referrals to ASL Psychotherapy come from many sources, including teachers, clergy, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and parents who either call or walk though his doors at 8101 O Street, Suite 118.

One client population that Shane particularly enjoys working with is families and children. For children who are having difficulty in school, Shane counsels on what he calls “educational attention.” This often includes children who have trouble paying attention, possess different learning styles, or have developmental challenges. Shane believes that the primary grades are some of the most important years of a child’s life because they lay the groundwork for sound educational development. It’s a time for youth to develop skills and confidence, and Shane is happy to help kids find their own paths.

Shane also practices what he preaches as a community volunteer. He worked with the School & Communities Intervention & Prevention (SCIP) program at the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership for 12 years. “Shane was a valuable resource to the SCIP program,” says former assistant director Sara Wolter. “He helped schools identify youth who may have had issues with substance abuse or mental health concerns.”

In some cases, people who have endured some type of trauma need psychotherapy to work through the experience; this is known as trauma counseling. These clients may be seeking direction after experiencing sexual or emotional abuse, traumatic parenting experiences, or toxic living environments. Shane is sometimes called to work within the court system, testifying in custody cases or on behalf of his clients. He has also worked closely with the Insight Program, which offers counseling opportunities to businesses and non-profit organizations.

ASL Psychotherapy does accept private insurance, though it does not accept Medicaid clients. Shane provides a sliding fee scale for his clients when necessary. Because he is a psychotherapist, Shane does not write prescriptions for his clients. However, he has the ability to address the need for psychological medications using several referral sources for medical management.

John F. Kennedy once said, “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” Taking these words to heart, Shane continues to work diligently on his own educational goals. He is currently working toward a PhD in leadership and management through Capella University (in Minneapolis). “With continuing education,” he notes, “I continue to learn. This lends credibility to the experiences I have had.”

Shane’s family is very important to him, and they’re always on his mind. “It seems like I come to work with them every day,” he explains with a smile. “See, ASL stands for Angela, Stormi, and Lexxi,” who are his wife and daughters. He highly values quality family time, for others as well as himself. In his leisure time, he enjoys his boat and his motor home, and he loves Branched Oak Lake.

The next time you reach a crossroads when you’re working through an issue with a spouse, a parent, a child, or even yourself, know that this community is very fortunate to have an excellent resource in Shane Crockett. He can help you communicate your own thoughts and feelings and better understand the thoughts and feelings of those you love. To make an appointment, call ASL Psychotherapy at 402-484-0444.