Our Model
For All Counseling aims to increase access to mental health evaluations for people going through immigration and asylum proceedings despite language, location, or ability to pay. We also aim to pay clinicians a fair market rate in order to create a sustainable model in which both the clients and clinicians feel valued. We seek funding from individual donors and grants to offset the cost of our subsidized evaluations.
The examples below are from past clients. The specific details have been changed in order to protect client privacy.
How You Can Help
A psychosocial evaluation has the potential to impact the outcome of an immigration case. It may be the reason that a family stays together or someone is allowed to remain lawfully in the United States. Your donation to For All Counseling will help ensure that more people have access to this valuable service.
How You Can Help
A psychosocial evaluation has the potential to impact the outcome of an immigration case. It may be the reason that a family stays together or someone is allowed to remain lawfully in the United States. Your donation to For All Counseling will help ensure that more people have access to this valuable service.
Clinicians
Claudia Herrera
Clinical Lead
PLMHP, PCMSW (she/her)
Life experiences have an impact on our perspective about the world. Immigration issues are stressful experiences that can affect your well-being in every aspect, including mental health. As an immigrant, Claudia knows from first-hand experience how immigration issues can change lives. Her goal when conducting an evaluation is to tell your story in a well-written report that tells a structured story but also includes your essence. Resulting in a strong and individualized assessment.
Claudia is a first-generation Mexican; her first language is Spanish, and she has experience working with trauma and domestic violence. Claudia received specialized training to provide immigration evaluations through “Immigration Evaluation Training” with Georgia King.
Claudia provides individual therapy through AM Counseling and Consulting. Her clinical focus is the facilitation of psychological and emotional healing from traumatic life events with the help of brain spotting. Her goal as a therapist is to build a relationship with you and make you feel accepted and heard. She helps you build a series of behavioral and emotional coping skills that allow you to live your best life. Claudia understands that making the first appointment can be intimidating. Please, do not let that stop you from reaching out.
Makenzie Schmitt
Executive Director
LIMHP, LCSW (she/her)
Makenzie Schmitt is a bilingual (Spanish/English) licensed independent mental health practitioner in the state of Nebraska. She has over eleven years of experience working within immigrant and refugee communities. She currently works exclusively as an immigration evaluation therapist. She has completed specialized evaluation training through the Immigration Evaluation Institute and Physicians for Human Rights. She’s trained in the trauma specific therapies of TF-CBT and EMDR. She’s passionate about increasing access to mental health care for all people. She founded For All Counseling because she believes everyone deserves the opportunity to tell their story.
Dr. Megan Manheim
PhD (she/her)
Dr. Megan Manheim earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Forensic Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD), where she conducted psychological and forensic evaluations for the juvenile court system. Following her internship, Dr. Manheim stayed with HCJPD, completing a forensic fellowship with the mental health and commercial sexual exploitation specialty courts. In this role, she evaluated youth for court suitability and served as an expert consultant in these areas.
Dr. Manheim’s diverse training includes conducting forensic evaluations for the federal legal system and providing therapeutic services to both adults and adolescents adjudicated for sexual offenses. As a bilingual clinician fluent in Spanish, she has worked extensively with immigrant populations and is dedicated to expanding this population’s access to mental health services.
Odalys Pérez
MS, LIMHP, RPT (she/her)
Odalys is a bilingual (English-Spanish) and bicultural therapist, fully licensed in the state of Nebraska and Iowa. Odalys received specialized training to provide immigration mental health evaluations through the Immigration Evaluation Institute. She has been conducting immigration mental health evaluations for the past ten years.
In addition to providing immigration evaluations, Odalys is a registered play therapist and is trained in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy. Odalys founded Pérez Counseling Services. Through her private practice, she provides therapy to families and children. She has helped hundreds of families conquer hardship over the past 12 years.
As an immigrant herself, Odalys is well aware of the many barriers that exist for individuals and families going through immigration proceedings. She aims to support families through this process by conducting mental health evaluations for their immigration cases. She is passionate about making the report comprehensive and strictly following immigration standards.
David Soriano
LIMHP (he/him)
David Soriano is a bilingual therapist (English & Spanish) who provides mental health evaluations for immigration cases. He completed his training through the Immigration Evaluation Institute and offers telehealth evaluations to increase accessibility. David conducts thorough, objective assessments to document the psychological impact of his clients’ experiences in an unbiased and professional manner.
In addition to immigration evaluations, David has extensive experience working with individuals, adolescents, and couples. He is passionate about helping couples strengthen their relationships and overcome challenges. He is Level 3 trained in the Gottman Method and is working toward full certification. He also has training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) for couples, providing research-based support for relationship growth.
David is committed to offering professional, ethical, and supportive services to all his clients, whether they are seeking mental health evaluations or therapy.
Ready to get started?
Our Board
Jessica Linskens-Kowalske
(she/her)
Jessica Linskens-Kowalske started her passion to impact the lives of those affected by domestic violence 12 years ago. She oversaw both the criminal and civil advocacy program for the largest domestic violence agency in the state of Wisconsin, Sojourner Family Peace Center. As a bilingual staff member, she assisted with Spanish speaking clients who faced additional obstacles related to language barriers and concerns with possible repercussions related to reaching out to law enforcement (for both the victim and abuser). In this role Jessica had the opportunity to provide instruction to law enforcement, district attorneys, and other community members for better understanding and awareness surrounding domestic violence.
Lisa Garland
(she/her)
Eunises Casillas
(she/her)
Whitney Laws
(she/her)
Jonathan J Allocca
(he/him)
Jonathan Allocca graduated in 2009 with his Bachelor’s in Finance and International Economics. Upon graduating, he briefly worked in finance before moving to marketing and advertising in New York City. He has spent the last 15 years in advertising, working for agencies, publishers, and clients, all focusing on advertising analytics. He currently works for a multi-national consultancy where he advises clients on marketing strategy changes to better generate profitability. He is also incredibly passionate about mental health and ensuring people seek and receive treatment for mental health issues. He believes equity in access to mental health services should be a foundational principle for any society. In his free time, he is passionate about exploring other cultures and understanding their differences to find commonalities across the human family.
Appointed Positions
- President – Eunises Casillas
- Vice President – Jessica Linskens-Kowalske
- Secretary – Whitney Laws
- Treasurer – Jonathan Allocca
Key Contributors
Leo Torres
Project Manager & Communications Lead (he/him)
Fluent in both Spanish and English, Leo is the driving force behind For All Counseling’s project management and communications initiatives. With an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science from Metropolitan Community College and nearing completion of his Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems with a Computer Science minor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Leo brings a unique blend of technical and strategic expertise to our organization.
He has successfully led the development of our new brand identity, established comprehensive social media strategies, and oversees our website’s management. As Communications Lead, Leo utilizes his exceptional client relations and linguistic abilities to ensure For All Counseling’s message is delivered professionally and resonates with our diverse community. His commitment to creating culturally relevant and linguistically accessible content is paramount to our mission of inclusivity. His ongoing work continues to shape how For All Counseling engages with and serves a diverse population.
Brenda Sanchez
Administrative Assistant
(she/her)
Brenda, fluent in Spanish and English, is our Administrative Assistant, bringing a unique blend of healthcare and administrative skills to For All Counseling. As a Registered Nurse with a BSN from Clarkson College, she has over 13 years of experience in underserved pediatric care, fostering a deep understanding of community needs. Her leadership as a Lead RN, focused on patient care and quality improvement, equipped her with strong organizational and communication skills, vital in her support of the Executive Director.
Brenda excels in managing data tracking and donor lists, ensuring our financial health. She also develops key organizational materials and contributes to our social media strategy with Spanish-language content and impactful infographics, broadening our reach. Her dedication to accuracy and collaborative approach make her an indispensable asset to our mission.
Kristine Ono
Digital Marketing Coordinator (she/her)
Kristine Ono is a multilingual (English/Tagalog/Visayan) business student based in Omaha, Nebraska. She is graduating from Creighton University with a degree in Business Administration, specializing in Accounting, Financial Technology, and Business Intelligence and Analytics. Over the past 10 months, Kristine has managed social media accounts for this organization, enhancing engagement on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn while creating promotional flyers and updating the website. Driven by a passion for supporting others, Kristine looks forward to applying her diverse skills and experiences to promote For All Counseling’s mission and make a lasting impact in the community.
Kacy Hamaoka
Social Media Coordinator
(she/her)
Kacy Hamaoka, BSBA, a Creighton University graduate with double majors in Marketing (Strategic Communications) and Management, volunteers as the content creator and social media coordinator. Her education provides a strong foundation in strategic messaging, consumer behavior, and organizational leadership. She utilizes these skills to develop engaging social media content, including informative infographics about our services, helping to expand For All Counseling’s reach and connect the community to vital mental health support.
Community Partners
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the community groups and organizations that have supported us through student-led projects, consultation, tech updates, and the sharing of their invaluable expertise and experiences.
- Community Assistance Team at Creighton University
- College of Information Science & Technology at the University of Nebraska Omaha
- The Immigrant Legal Center
- AM Counseling and Consulting
- Restoring Dignity
- IMPACT – Immigration Psychology Access Team
- Humanitarian Outreach for Migrant Emotional Health
- Shibley Psychology
Interested in being a board member?
Sponsors
Our work would not be possible without the support of generous funders!
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