Marlene Knerl

Hello — I am Marlene Knerl and I look forward to meeting you. I moved to Nebraska from the west coast in the 1990s as a single mother with a desire to go to college and better our lives. I thought that Nebraska would allow for me to raise my two sons in a small town while simultaneously attending a University. First, I achieved a comprehensive degree in Psychology, then a MSed in Community Counseling.

Since becoming licensed as a counselor I have been working with individuals and families. Life can be difficult and helping people navigate the struggles is at times a challenge but nothing is more rewarding. I have always desired to help people and this profession has allowed for me to enact those intrinsic desires.

I look forward to meeting you and helping you achieve what you desire.

My approach is eclectic, which means I tailor the work to you rather than forcing everyone into the same mold. I lean toward a warm, Humanistic style while regularly drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused techniques to help you build practical tools and make real progress. This is your space and your process — I'll follow your lead and help you find the approach that actually moves you forward.

I usually start with a simple question: what brings you here today? That gives you room to share what's going on in your own words — no pressure to have it all figured out. From there, we'll shape your goals for therapy and map out a plan to get there. Mostly, I want our first conversation to feel comfortable and unhurried, and for you to leave feeling heard, supported, and hopeful that things can get better.