Ted Dondlinger, LMHP

Behavioral Health

Ted L. Dondlinger, LMHP, is a licensed mental health practitioner who focuses on behavioral health for youth, adolescents, couples, and those seeking Christian counseling. He holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Doane College (now Doane University), a Master’s in Educational Administration from Concordia University, and a Master’s in School Counseling from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Ted is also a member of the American Counseling Association and the American School Counselors Association.

Ted has been coaching and teaching since 1991. He started by coaching a youth basketball team while still in high school. Over the years, he taught and coached, mainly basketball, in places like Davenport, Wilcox, Prague, Geneva, and Omaha, even while farming for 12 years. Six years ago, he shifted from coaching to counseling after noticing how much the two fields have in common. He spent three years at Arbor Family Counseling with a provisional license, then the past year running his own practice. Ted often met clients in places where they felt comfortable, like playing catch at the park, walking trails, biking, or playing golf, since many people find it easier to talk side by side than face to face. Now, he looks forward to working in a more traditional setting with regular hours and caseloads at think.

Ted compares finding the right therapist to choosing the right school or college. It takes time to find the right fit, but when you do, it feels invaluable. He believes that growth comes from struggle. Just as lifting heavier weights builds physical strength, mental strength develops when people step out of their comfort zones and face challenges. Whole Person Healthcare is still new to him, and he is eager to learn how think’s approach is different while helping clients work through change.

Ted will be able to retire from the school system in two years and wants to have a clear plan for his next steps. He cannot see himself leaving the work of helping young people and families. He hopes think will help him move smoothly from working in schools to serving the wider community. He likes the idea of a model that offers real support instead of just using labels.

Clients say Ted meets them where they are and supports them as they grow. He remembers one high school student who was a talented athlete but struggled with behavior issues that kept her off the court. By graduation, she had become the kind of teammate others wanted by their side, and now she is going to a university on the West Coast. At her graduation party, Ted told her mother how much he enjoyed writing her letter of recommendation because of the progress she made. Watching people grow like that is what Ted enjoys most about his work.

Ted is married to Kara, and they have three boys. He works out regularly with F3, a free workout group in Omaha, and this year he has been training for a triathlon and the Market to Market Race while trying to kick his sugar habit. He also likes woodworking projects. If he had unlimited time, money, and ability, he would drive around the borders of the United States on regular highways, traveling about four hours a day, camping each night, and exploring different towns and their food. The whole trip would take about 88 days and might become a solo ‘Ted Adventure.’

Insurance and Coverage

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Licensed to practice medicine in: Nebraska
This provider has met the requirements to practice medicine in these states. To schedule a telehealth visit with this provider, you must be physically located within one of these states.