Bipolar disorder therapists & psychiatrists in Lincoln, NE

I have been practicing since 2017. I enjoying working with people from different walks of life. I use a mostly cognitive based approach to treatment but I also like to meet the client where they are in their present journey.

Life can feel overwhelming when anxiety, depression, trauma, or health challenges start to take over. You may feel stuck, exhausted, or unsure how to move forward, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. I work with adults and older adults who are navigating emotional stress, life transitions, and complex medical conditions. Together, we’ll untangle what’s weighing on you, build practical tools, and help you feel more grounded, in control, and hopeful again.

I’m a licensed psychologist with more than three decades of experience in psychotherapy, psychological assessment, and trauma-informed care. My background includes extensive work with adults, adolescents, and children across private practice, medical settings, and the VA’s PTSD clinic, where I provided both treatment and disability evaluations. I completed my doctorate at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in an APA-approved Counseling Psychology program and an APA-accredited internship with broad training in assessment, psychotherapy, and multidisciplinary collaboration. I specialize in trauma, mood and anxiety disorders, dissociation, family-of-origin issues, and helping people untangle long-standing patterns that keep them stuck. My style is warm, open-minded, and direct, meeting people right where they are while helping them move toward where they want to be.

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.

I found passion for mental health while working with children at an autism summer camp that I have worked for for 15 years. Mental health is a major component that makes us happy, sad, or just ok. I am here to help you meet your goals and help guide you along the way. I have experience in mood disorders, trauma, autism & learning differences, and sleep.

I believe self care is important for our health

I believe mental health care works best when people feel truly known, respected, and safe. My approach combines evidence-based psychiatric care and medication management with compassionate, whole-person support. I work with children, teens, and adults, and I strive to create a space where clients feel comfortable being honest without fear of judgment.

For clients who desire it, I also offer Catholic-integrated care that honors the role faith can play in healing, identity, relationships, suffering, purpose, and hope. My goal is never to pressure or preach, but to thoughtfully integrate Catholic values, spirituality, prayer, or faith-based perspectives into treatment in a clinically appropriate and supportive way. I especially enjoy helping clients navigate anxiety, depression, postpartum mental health, motherhood transitions, trauma, relationship stress, life changes, and struggles related to self-worth or burnout.

As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I provide medication management while also taking time to understand the deeper emotional, relational, lifestyle, and spiritual factors affecting mental health. Clients often tell me they appreciate that I am warm, approachable, thorough, and collaborative rather than rushed or impersonal.

Whether you are looking for practical symptom relief, deeper healing, or a provider who understands and respects your faith, my hope is that you feel supported, heard, and encouraged throughout the process.