Nebraska Mental Health Centers

MEET THE FACULTY

Melissa Lafferty, Ph.D., Internship Training Director, Supervisor, Psychologist, Training Team Member

Dr. Lafferty is Nebraska native and a graduate of both NMHC’s Psychology Internship and Residency Programs as well as the University of Nebraska-Kearney and Walden University. She focuses her services within the Lincoln and Beatrice office sites. Dr. Lafferty provides and coordinates NMHC-provided services for Beatrice Public Schools Special Education. She also serves as a mental health provider/consultant with the Blue Valley Community Action Partnership that provides Head Start services and Early Intervention Services for Southeast Nebraska. Dr. Lafferty has experience conducting psychological, psychoeducational, social security disability, and court-ordered evaluations.

Dr. Lafferty is co-supervising Parent Child Interaction Training (PCIT) training at NMHC and is certified to provide this specialized intervention.

Lee Zlomke, Ph.D., Associate Director of Internship Training, Supervisor, Training Team Member Director of Residency Training Program

Dr. Zlomke is a Nebraska Licensed psychologist and a Diplomate in Child Psychological Specialties. He received his doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has 35-plus years of experience in the provision of psychological services as well as professional leadership and training. He specializes in behavioral psychology and interventions for a wide array of clinical presentations and has a specialty in child/family, developmental, forensic, and school psychology. Dr. Zlomke has provided clinical direction and special consultations for numerous agencies regarding individuals with severe and persistent mental illness and persons with developmental disabilities. He served as the Internship Training Director beginning with the 2011-2012 internship class and until November of 2016.

Dr. Zlomke is the founder and CEO of Pediatric Psychology Associates, a private psychology practice.

Kate Higgins, Psy.D., Internship Program Supervisor

Dr. Higgins joined the NMHC Psychology Training team in August of 2023, serving as a primary supervisor with the internship program, consultant and didactic presenter. She also serves with the Nebraska Athletic Department in April of 2019 as an athletic neuropsychologist. Higgins oversees concussion management and baseline concussion testing, performs individual neuropsychological evaluations for student-athletes with concussion, ADHD and learning difficulties, provides individual counseling and also has clinical duties with CB3 and the UNMC Neuropsychology department.

Prior to coming to Nebraska, Higgins ran a concussion/traumatic brain injury clinic with Sanford Orthopedic and Sports Medicine. Originally from Beatrice, Neb., Higgins earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and theology from Fresno Pacific University in 2006. She then earned a master’s degree in Experimental Psychology from Fresno State in 2009 before earning a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on Neuropsychology from Forest Institute in 2015. Higgins did a two-year fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology at Nebraska's CB3 and UNMC in 2017.

Ashleigh Clarke, Psy.D., Training Team Member

Dr. Clarke obtained a Master’s Degree from Pacific University in Counseling Psychology and a second Master’s Degree from Marywood University in Clinical Psychology. She is a proud graduate of NMHC's Psychology Internship Program. She utilizes a process oriented, client-centered and strength based approach integrating Interpersonal and Cognitive-Behavioral techniques with her clients. She has a passion for working with adolescents, young adults, and women who have experienced trauma or are experiencing stress related to life changes and adjustments. She has a goal to utilize her skills for social change and advocacy as she develops into a professional psychologist.

Dr. Clarke is passionate about rescuing, fostering and adopting senior dogs and providing a loving home for even those with medical needs.

Jill Zlomke McPherson, M.A., LIMHP, Executive Director, Clinical Director, Training Team Member

Ms. Zlomke is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner and graduated with a Master in Educational Psychology-Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska in 2005. She began her career as a therapist at NMHC before serving as Treatment Coordinator at Excelsior Youth Centers (a residential treatment center), in Aurora, Colorado, and later, as Director of Outpatient Treatment at Pediatric Psychology Associates in Beatrice, Nebraska.. Her areas of specialization include cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal relationships and healthy communications, PTSD, and general mental health services surrounding issues of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders. Ms. Zlomke has specific expertise in assessing and treating adolescent females and young women with severe symptoms including traumatic histories such as domestic violence, abuse and sexual offense victims.

Ms. Zlomke serves as the primary supervisor for provisionally licensed mental health practitioners and for Master’s-level psychology practicum students. Additionally, she is the coordinator of the Domestic Violence Program utilizing the Duluth Model.

OTHER TRAINING PROGRAM STAFF

Several other staff are involved with intern training. These individuals are not on the Training Committee but are important contributors to the interns’ experience. The Training Committee works closely with these individuals regarding Intern progress and training needs.

Lisa Logsden, Psy.D., Supervisor, Psychologist, Training Team member

Dr. Logsden is a licensed psychologist and has an independent license in clinical psychology. She completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University in San Francisco. She completed her internship at Colorado Western Regional Mental Health Centers, and a two-year residency at Nebraska Mental Health Centers (NMHC) Psychology Residency Program.

Sean Thomas, Psy.D., Adjunct Training Staff and Secondary Supervisor

Dr. Thomas is a licensed psychologist with several years of experience assessing and treating persons with sexual offending behaviors and dangerous aggressive behaviors. He has expertise and interests in neuropsychological assessment and treatment planning for persons with cognitive impairments and providing assessment and treatment for sex offenders. Dr. Thomas serves as a didactic presenter and as a secondary supervisor, providing supervision in the absence of a primary supervisor and in situations where his specific expertise is of benefit to the intern.

Alexandra Munet, Psy.D., Adjunct Faculty/Psychologist

Dr. Munet is a licensed clinical psychologist at CHI Health Clinic Psychiatric Associates in Omaha, NE. She routinely provides didactic training and consultation for the NMHC-PIP. Dr. Munet completed her doctorate at Ponce School of Medicine and Health Services in Ponce, Puerto Rico. She provided psychological services for a number of years in Puerto Rico before completing a two year residency with the NMHC Psychology Residency Program. Dr. Munet has extensive experience providing psychotherapy, court-ordered assessments, psychological assessments, and clinical consultation.

Jamie Monfelt, M.A., LIMHP

Ms. Monfelt is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner and graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master’s degree in Counseling from Doane College. She has worked with the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice systems, including serving as a Director of Child Welfare Services. She has also previously served on two governor-appointed committees including the Commission of the Protection of Children, and the Women’s Health Initiative Council. She serves as NMHC’s Rural Services Coordinator that promotes NMHC within the rural communities by collaborating and networking with rural referral sources and attending community meetings regarding development of ongoing mental health services, providing teaching/training on rural mental health, and supervision for clinical staff in rural areas. Ms. Monfelt also works with individuals and families with multi-morbid, multi-systemic issues, including but not limited to, severe and persistent mental illness, individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities, and substance abuse. Her particular areas of interest also include assessing function, identifying risk, and teaching therapeutic interventions to other providers, students, and community members.

In her free time, Jamie enjoys spending time with her family, playing volleyball, jogging, and chasing sunsets.

Anne Vrbka, M.A., LIMHP, LADC

Ms. Vrbka received her Bachelor of Science degree with minors in Sociology and Anthropology from Nebraska Wesleyan University. She received her Master of Arts in Counseling from Doane College in 2008. She has worked in direct care as a family support worker at Visinet, Inc., and as a Psychiatric Tech at Lincoln Regional Center prior to obtaining her licensure. She is dually credentialed as a LADC and LIMHP.

Anne is a feline enthusiast and also enjoys all the flora and fauna she can, as evidenced by the time she spends outdoors in her yard at home and all the plants in her office!