Meet Our Team
At Mertens Counseling in Kearney, our team is led by Emily Mertens and provides compassionate counseling for children, teens, adults, and families. Each therapist brings different areas of focus, training, and experience, allowing you to find care that fits your needs. We offer in-person appointments in Kearney and telehealth throughout Nebraska. Explore our therapist profiles below to learn about their approaches, the ages they serve, and the concerns they help address.
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LIMHP, CMFT
Emily Mertens
Emily is currently accepting new clients to her waitlist
Client Ages & Types: Adults ages 19+
Areas Of Focus: Childhood trauma, complex trauma, single-event trauma, anxiety, and trauma-related emotional and relationship challenges. Additional training in EMDR therapy.
Insurance: BCBS, Medica, Midlands Choice, UMR, United Healthcare
General Availability: Monday-Thursday mornings & afternoons
Education: Masters Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from Kansas State University
Additional Info: Emily has been EMDR trained for over 10 years and regularly utilizes this approach in helping clients struggling with past trauma move from surviving to thriving. In her spare time, Emily enjoys exploring new places with her family, binging reality tv shows, reading
a good psychological thriller, and creating meaningful connections with the people closest to her.
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LIMHP, LCSW
Jessica Luttrell
Jessica is currently accepting new clients to her waitlist
Client Ages & Types: Children ages 10+, teens, and adults
Areas of Focus: Anxiety, depression, trauma, stress management, life transitions, personal growth, parenting and family support. Additional training in EMDR & DBT therapy.
Insurance: BCBS, Medica, Midlands Choice, UMR, United Healthcare
General Availability: Monday-Friday late afternoons & evenings
Education: Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas
Additional Info:
Jessica is a mental health therapist with over 11 years of experience serving children, adolescents, adults, and families in child welfare, correctional, and school-based settings. Using a person-centered approach and CBT and DBT techniques, she helps clients develop coping skills, improve emotional well-being, strengthen relationships, and create lasting change.
Outside of work, Jessica enjoys camping, boating, fishing, and hunting with her family, as well as caring for goats, potbelly pigs, and chickens on her small hobby farm.
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LIMHP
Sara Klingelhoefer
Sara has immediate openings for new clients
Client Ages & Types: Adults ages 19+
Areas of Focus: Anxiety, OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder), habits and tics, depression, stress management, sleep, life transitions, personal growth, coping with a cancer diagnosis and the emotional challenges of treatment and recovery, parenting, and family support.
Insurance: BCBS, Medica, Midlands Choice, UMR, United Healthcare
General Availability: Monday & Friday mornings
Education: Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Kearney
Additional Info:
Sara has over 11 years of experience helping children and families address behavioral concerns and build practical skills for lasting change. She is expanding her work to support adults navigating anxiety, depression, stress, life transitions, and personal growth. Her action-oriented approach focuses on realistic strategies clients can use in everyday life.
Outside of work, Sara enjoys her children’s activities, family time, home improvement projects, and documentary series. She is also passionate about raising cancer awareness and supporting individuals and families through the unique emotional challenges of a diagnosis.
PLMHP
Courtney Hughbanks
Courtney has immediate openings for new clients
Client Ages & Types: Children ages 10+, teens, and adults
Areas of Focus: Anxiety, depression, mood disorders, OCD, trauma, stress, emotional regulation, self-esteem, body image, life transitions, perfectionism, burnout, relationships, parenting, and family dynamics.
Insurance: BCBS & COMHT vouchers
General Availability: Monday-Thursday evenings
Education: Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Nebraska
Additional Info: Whether clients want to delve into deeper issues, work through relationship challenges, or find short-term solutions and resources, Courtney understands the importance of meeting clients where they are. In her free time, Courtney enjoys traveling with family and friends, discussing all things TV shows, podcasts, and movies, and spending time with Tilly, her fluffy Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield and private pay
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PLMHP
Andrew (Drew) Fritson
Drew has immediate openings for new clients
Client Ages & Types: Children ages 2+ (with their caregiver), teens, adults, and families
Areas of Focus: Anxiety, trauma, emotional and anger regulation, sleep and toileting concerns (for kids), challenging behaviors, routines, ADHD- or autism-related concerns, and parent support. Additional training in short-term behavioral therapy & EMDR.
Insurance: BCBS & COMHT vouchers
General Availability: Monday-Thursday mornings & afternoons
Education: Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Fort Hays State University
Additional Info:
Drew is a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner who provides collaborative, judgment-free care tailored to each client’s needs. He has experience supporting children, adolescents, and adults across a variety of clinical settings, helping them recognize their strengths, build practical skills, and work toward meaningful change. Drew is EMDR trained.
Insurance: Blue Cross Blue Shield and private pay
Raquel Martinez
FRONT DESK ADMIN.
Raquel is a welcoming member of the Mertens Counseling team who greets clients, assists with scheduling, and helps keep the office running smoothly. She is passionate about supporting others and helping clients feel comfortable from their first contact with the office.
CONTACT / FRONT DESK HOURS
Monday - Thursday, 8:45 AM-4:00 PM
COUNSELING APPOINTMENTS
May be scheduled outside of contact hours, depending on your therapist's availability.