Trained mental health professionals serving as “Counselors-in-Residence” are available to meet with students close to home in the residence halls. Services offered include:
- One-on-one appointments
- Drop-in consultations
- Group sessions
- Interactions through hall programs
While located in a designated hall, counselors can meet students from any residence hall. There is no cost and no session limit.
Common session topics include homesickness, school stress, depression, anxiety, coping skills, developing healthy habits, family struggles, roommate and relationship problems, trauma, racial injustice, and COVID-19 stress and loss.
Meet the Counselors
All counselors are second-year graduate students in the Marriage and Family Therapy program.
Malaz Lain
Eastside Suites, Room 34
Email: couplefamilyclinic@unl.edu
Coming to therapy can be intimidating and I want students to know that there is space for them. I hope for us to collaborate to help heal and work through any stressors students might be navigating. I am passionate about relationships; I believe we are shaped by our interactions with meaningful others, and so I welcome (and encourage!) sessions with roommates, significant others, siblings, parents or anyone who is important to you.
I am currently working towards my master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy here at UNL. Outside of life as a graduate student, I am a mom to a 10-month-old, a partner to my husband, an outdoor-enthusiast and a creative writer.
Olivia Schmidt
Harper Dining Center, Room 115
Email: couplefamilyclinic@unl.edu
My name is Olivia Schmidt and I’m thrilled to be a Counselor in Residence at Harper Dining Center this school year. I know therapy can be intimidating, so I aim to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone who walks into my office. I want students to have a space where they feel safe, heard and empathized with by their therapist, but laughter and a healthy amount of humor always are welcome in the therapy room!
I graduated from UNL in May of 2021 with a major in Psychology and minors in Child, Youth, and Family Studies and Sociology. Now, I am beginning my second year in the UNL Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate program where I’ve been able to gain knowledge about working with individuals, couples and families.
In my free time, I like to spend time binge-watching television shows, cuddling with my dog and cat, hanging out with friends or getting lost on Tik-Tok. I’m very excited to be working with UNL students and I know we will have a great time together. Everyone has their own story, and I can’t wait to learn those of students I get to work with.
Hannah Thiele
Abel/Sandoz Welcome Center, Room 132
Email: couplefamilyclinic@unl.edu
My name is Hannah Thiele, and I am very excited and honored to be a Counselor in Residence serving in Abel Hall this school year. I am passionate about fostering healthy relationships that create connection and wholeness, and I strive to understand each person I encounter from their personal worldview. I aspire to create an atmosphere of growth and collaboration that allows students to explore their life experiences and be able to relate to others in a meaningful way. Understanding the importance of each person’s unique story is something I value greatly.
I recently graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, majoring in Child, Youth, and Family Studies while minoring in Psychology. It was here that I found my passion for working with individuals, couples and families in the marriage and family therapy profession.
Outside of my life as a student and a therapist, you can find me spending time with my family and friends, baking and cooking, going on a walk or run, or sitting down to read a good book.
About the Program
Since its launch in 2019, the program has seen increased use with more than 382 individual counseling sessions taking place in spring 2021. In addition to supporting residents, the counselors also provide consultation to resident assistants and residence directors.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Women Investing in Nebraska, the program expanded to three residential complexes in Fall 2020. The program operates in partnership with University Housing, the Marriage and Family Therapy program, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Student Advocacy and Support.