Briana Woodside, LMHP, LCSW

Briana Woodside is a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner (LMHP) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Briana joined MECC with 15 years of experience working with children and families, specifically in the field of adoption. Through this work she supported all members of the adoption constellation in navigating their roles and understanding and honoring the child’s perspective and experiences. Briana has received certification in TAC (Training for Adoption Competency) and enjoys working with birth parents, adoptive parents and adopted persons. Briana is trained in CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), CPP (Child Parent Psychotherapy), PCIT (Parent Child Interaction Therapy) and is a trained facilitator of COSP (Circle of Security of Parenting).

Briana provides individual and family therapy. She has a passion for helping families to strengthen their connections with one another and heal attachment injuries. Briana recognizes the impact of our earliest attachments and has a heart for supporting expectant mothers, helping them to attune to their own needs as well as foster attachment with their growing child. She offers compassionate support to individuals and couples who are experiencing infertility and is able to support children who have been impacted by their caregivers’ early losses. As humans we are wired for connection and belonging. Briana supports individuals, as well as caregivers helping their children, to explore and understand their cultural identity to achieve that sense of belonging.  She has experience working with young children, adolescents and young adults experiencing a range of challenges including anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, and divorce of caregivers.  Briana strives to provide support tailored to the needs of each individual, child and family, and to do so in an environment that promotes safety, respect, and belonging. She values a collaborative approach with clients and caregivers to foster growth and healing.

Briana has a passion for the work she engages in with children and families in the therapeutic setting, and she is equally passionate about supporting knowledge growth through presentations to educators, caregivers, and other community partners to further strengthen the support network available to children and families in Kearney and the surrounding areas.