Our Team
Our team of expert, caring therapists in Omaha provides personalized support and treatment plans tailored to give you the guidance you need to overcome obstacles, reach life goals, and live a more fulfilling life.
Education & Qualifications
- Years in Practice: 6
- Graduate School: South Dakota State University
- Year Graduated: 2020
- License No. and State: Nebraska/LIMHP 4290
Stephani ManzariMS, LIMHP
Stephani is a licensed independent mental health practitioner. She completed her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at South Dakota State University. Stephani has experience working with individuals and couples from diverse backgrounds and age ranges across a range of settings including inpatient, community mental health, and higher education.
She works with adults seeking support for anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, and life transitions. She is passionate about perinatal mental health and supporting women who are pregnant, postpartum, or adjusting to motherhood. This includes those experiencing postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, or intrusive thoughts.
Stephani uses a holistic approach that values connection and collaboration to create meaningful change for clients. She offers a non-judgmental space to explore emotions and patterns to help individuals reach their goals.
Education & Qualifications
- Years in Practice: 6 Years
- School: Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies
- Year Graduated: 2018
- License No. and State: Nebraska/LIMHP 3157
- License No. and State: Nebraska/LADC 1371
Katey HancockMA, LIMHP, LADC
Katey is a licensed independent mental health practitioner and licensed drug and alcohol counselor. She received her master’s degree in addiction and co-occurring disorders from Hazelden Betty Ford graduate school of addiction studies. Katey has worked in variety of settings including inpatient and outpatient substance use treatment, higher education, and as a supervisor at a non-profit organization. Her areas of focus include anxiety, depression, addiction, interpersonal relationship difficulties and life transitions. She believes that therapy can bring conscious awareness to adaptive patterns and limiting beliefs that hold us back from living authentically. Katey uses a casual, non-judgmental approach to sessions, drawing from several styles of therapy based on client needs.
Education & Qualifications
- Years in Practice: 11
- School: University of Nebraska Omaha (MS Counseling)
- Year Graduated: 2012
- License No. and State: Nebraska/LIMHP 1692
- License No. and State: Nebraska/LADC 1189
Ryan EvansMS, LIMHP, LADC
Ryan is a nationally certified counselor, licensed independent mental health practitioner, and licensed drug and alcohol counselor. An Omaha native, he received his Community Counseling degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2012.
He specializes in addressing depression and anxiety, helping adolescents and adults overcome substance abuse, supporting individuals struggling with chronic illnesses, and building strong family relationships.
After 8 years in private practice as a solo practitioner, Ryan founded Optimal Counseling & Consulting, expanding his practice to better serve the mental health needs of individuals, couples, and families in the Omaha metro area.
Ryan is an avid outdoorsman, exercise enthusiast and food lover.
Education & Qualifications
- Years in Practice: 45
- Graduate School: University of Nebraska Lincoln
- Year Graduated: 1972
- License No. and State: Nebraska/LIMHP 161
Marleen EvansLIMHP
Marleen is a Nebraska Licensed and Certified Professional Counselor and is also nationally certified as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Medical Psychotherapist. She received her masters degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and was named “Outstanding Counselor in Private Practice” by the Nebraska Association for Counseling and Development. Marleen has had clinical training and experience in individual, marriage, family, group and brief therapy, and frequently consults with organizations, businesses and schools. She also offers mediation services.
Our Approach
We utilize evidence-based treatment approaches, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, and integrated treatment methods.