Our Therapists & Staff
COUNSELORS WHO ARE
Skilled, highly qualified, and trained to help
The counselors here at Colegrove Counseling Center, LLC, are highly qualified and trained to address most situations that individuals or families face. Some of the styles of therapy the counselors provide are solution-focused therapy, reality therapy, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help individuals maximize their ability to change their lives. We believe each person and family has the ability to make positive changes in their life when new skills are implemented or old skills are brushed up on.
The qualifications and credentials of the therapists are as follows:
• LMHP: Licensed Mental Health Practitioner
• LIMHP: Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner
• LADC: Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor
• LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
• MSW: Master of Social Work
• LICSW: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
If there is a P prior to the LMHP (i.e., PLMHP) or prior to the LADC (i.e., PLADC), that indicates that the individual has completed all requirements for licensure, however, needs to be and is supervised for an additional 2000+ hours.
The State of Nebraska Justice System requires that therapists go through extra training to become a Preferred Provider for the Nebraska Justice System. This then allows a therapist to perform counseling and evaluations for the court system.
Jill Colegrove, LIMHP, LADC
Jill is from Columbus, however lived in the Kansas City area for about 15 years. She returned to Columbus in 2004. Jill is married, has 3 children, enjoys running and scrapbooking. She is passionate about her work and thoroughly loves the balance of work and family. Jill is the owner as well as a therapist. She is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP), a Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor (LADC), a Certified Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP). Jill is a preferred provider for the State of Nebraska Justice System. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas. She then completed her Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Doane College in Lincoln, Nebraska. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and the Nebraska Counseling Association. Since 1994 Jill has been working in both mental health and substance abuse facilities with adolescents and adults. This experience includes working in settings of mental health institutions, long term inpatient substance abuse facilities, long term outpatient substance abuse facilities, and short term outpatient settings. She is also trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing). Jill is the Clinical Director for the Columbus Area LOSS team; is the chair of the Drug and Alcohol Licensing Board and chairs the Justice Behavioral Health Provider Subcommittee.
Mary Phillips, LMHP, LIMHP, LPC
Mary is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) and a Preferred Provider with the State of Nebraska Justice System. She completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Rural Sociology from South Dakota State University and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a Community Agency specialty from the University of South Dakota (USD) in Vermillion. Mary was a teaching and research assistant in the Department of Counseling Psychology there and taught graduate student counseling skills and parent education courses. She also developed and taught courses in parenting after divorce. She has over 20 years of counseling experience and has worked with clients in residential, educational, and outpatient settings treating mood disorders, impacts of domestic abuse, substance abuse, parenting issues, and severe and persistent mental health problems. Mary completed specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, including EMDR for pain management with Dr. Mark Grant, an internationally-recognized EMDR expert. She has also completed specialized training in and utilizes Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and Borderline Personality Disorder and to assist clients in preparing for EMDR treatment. She currently works with adults and adolescents treating anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders, impacts of domestic abuse, alcohol and drug evaluations and treatment, and couple’s counseling. Mary also teaches Introduction to DBT Skills classes.
Shelli Cornwell, PLMHP, PLADC
Shelli is a provisionally licensed mental health practitioner and a provisionally licensed alcohol and drug counselor; she is also a Preferred Provider with the State of Nebraska Justice System. Shelli received her Bachelors of Science degree in Human Services Counseling at Wayne State College and her Masters of Science degree in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University. Shelli has also completed specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy which has helped millions of people decrease or alleviate many types of psychological stress, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Shelli has worked in behavioral health, addictions, and the health care fields since 2001. She has experience in working with clients in short-term residential treatment programs, outpatient settings, and in-home settings.
Misty Lawrence, PLMHP, PLADC
Misty is a Provisionally Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (PLMHP) and Provisionally Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (PLADC). She is also a Preferred Provider with the State of Nebraska Justice System. She completed her undergraduate degree in education at Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska and worked in educational settings for over 10 years before returning to school for her graduate degree. Misty received her Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and is a member of the American Counseling Association. Misty has gained practice in both outpatient and inpatient settings, working with both individuals and groups. While she has worked with a diverse range of clients, her focus has been in cooccurring mental health and substance use disorders. She works with adults, adolescents, and couples. Misty uses an eclectic, but person-centered, approach to her counseling practice. Personally, Misty enjoys camping and boating with family and friends and is especially fond of attending community events and watching her two children in all their various activities.
Jill Hunzeker, LMHP, LIMHP, LPC
Jill is originally from Columbus but lived in Lincoln and Kansas City for ten years. She moved back to Columbus in 2004, is married and has two kids. She loves to learn, is drawn to art and decorating and enjoys biking and walking. She is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP), a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner (LIMHP) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Jill is also a Preferred Provider with the State of Nebraska Justice System. Jill obtained her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and her Master of Arts in Community Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Jill's experience includes working with severe and persistent mental illness; running dialectical behavior groups; doing crisis work; providing community support; assisting with residential treatment; providing individual, family and group counseling; as well as in-home work and on-call services. She has also worked at a residential treatment facility where she counseled children ages 5-12. Jill was fortunate to be able to study under an Art Therapist and an MSW that was well-known for her work with child abuse. She currently works full-time for the State of Nebraska at Voc Rehab. She gets to fulfill her passion for counseling by working part-time at Colegrove Counseling L.L.C. . As a counselor she enjoys providing therapy to individuals, couples and families.
Karmen VanDeWalle, PLCSW
Karmen has lived in the Columbus area for about 20 years. Karmen is married, has six fur children (four dogs and two cats), and enjoys crafting and spending time with family. Karmen received her Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences from Bellevue University and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2023. Karmen is a Provisional Licensed Clinical Social Worker (PLCSW). Karmen is a preferred provider for the State of Nebraska Justice System and a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Karmen has been working in both the mental health and substance misuse profession since 2017. Karmen is the Vice-President of the Center for Survivors Board of Directors, a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the foster care system, and active in several other community organizations working towards improving the quality of life for all. Karmen is passionate about improving the mental health and wellness of the entire community.
Cathy Garrod
Cathy graduated from Albion High School. She has worked for Pizza Hut for 27 years, managing one of the offices and finished her career being an Area Coach for the company. Cathy has been married for 21 years and has 2 daughters. Cathy and her family love camping and boating throughout the summer. She and her husband love to go on cruises to the Caribbean every couple years.
Jax
Jax is a purebred Blue Great Dane. He was born on October 25, 2019. He will be around the office from time to time and mostly spending time in Jill Colegrove’s office. Jax loves to have his ears rubbed, his belly scratched and his chest rubbed. Jax is best approached with your hand palm up and going to rub his chest. Jax is a large dog and does not know his size as he will try to lean against you and sit on your lap. These are signs of affection from a Great Dane. He loves the attention, but also has to “work.” These include not barking, not playing and be available to comfort others and to be petted.
Bella
Bella is a beautiful lab-mix who joined the team on April 16, 2018. Bella has completed her Basic and Advanced Obedience Training and is hoping to continue her training so that she is able to further work with her person, Shelli Cornwell, in many therapeutic environments. When you see Bella in the office, there are some things to be mindful of with Bella to assist her in remembering her training. Don’t give Bella any food!! This way, she’ll remember not to take food from others when they are not looking! Bella also doesn’t shake hands/paws with others because some people’s skin is more fragile, and this is a good reminder for her to just sit and look pretty to get her attention. Here is some knowledge Bella would like to share, did you know Bella in Spanish means “beauty”? She is that! Bella loves her ears scratched, her belly rubbed, and being talked to. When she comes to the office, you can always find her working along side her person, Shelli. If you see her in the waiting room, she’ll say she is there to greet people who come to Colegrove Counseling, LLC, but those that work with her know better…she looking for attention!!