LPS threat assessment team adds psychotherapist to assist with prevention, restoration work

October 23, 2024

When Liesel Hogan and Yeti walk through the hallways of Lincoln Public Schools buildings, every step can literally be lifesaving.
 
Hogan is helping students and families heal from traumatic experiences as the newest member of the LPS threat assessment team. She is the team’s first full-time psychotherapist. Hogan brings years of knowledge as a licensed independent mental health practitioner (LIMHP) to the school district. She and her therapy dog Yeti have supported many students in grades K-12 during the first ten weeks of the academic year.
 
“I’m really happy to be in this role,” Hogan said. “Just being in schools has been a dream, but being able to be involved in that intersection of risk prevention and mental health is where my passion has always been. To have an opportunity to work in that specific space has been wonderful. I’m super excited that LPS created the role and I’m able to be part of the team.”

Hogan said she is grateful to be serving the LPS community. The Sidney native worked in outpatient therapy before becoming an integrated therapist in Educational Service Units that serve public schools outside of Lincoln. She now provides LPS students with mental health services and strategies for conflict resolution, anger management and social skills development.
 
Joseph Wright is director of security at LPS and oversees a department that is focused on both prevention and restoration for students and families. The team includes a certified threat manager, two licensed clinical social workers and a police detective.

“If you look at all the different disciplines, now we’ve pulled in a high-level licensed mental health professional,” Wright said. “We’re really creating this high-level multidisciplinary team that can look at kids and families who are in really unique and challenging situations and hopefully decipher how we can lend supports and help kids be successful. A successful kid and a successful family are going to be a safe family.”

 
Wright said adding Hogan to the group has already made a major difference for the entire community.
 
“We’ve seen a lot of insight that is extremely helpful and that is at a higher level,” Wright said. “Her appreciation of what she’s seeing and the information we’re getting from kids and about kids and the situations they’re facing is incredible. Her expertise is already showing us that she’s going to bring a lot more to the table for us than we’ve previously had.”
 
Hogan was interested in becoming an elementary education teacher when she first attended Hastings College, but she soon discovered that her biggest passion was for helping people outside of the classroom. She wanted to support children who were facing serious situations such as abuse or violence or who were having suicidal thoughts.

 
Hogan meets students on an individual basis and works with families, school staff and community partners to provide both intervention and healing. Her job at LPS also allows her to support teachers, as she is able to listen to their concerns for students and help them realize that they are not alone.
 
“When you have mental health assistance readily accessible to students and teachers, it provides that layer of support so that someone is there to intervene and provide follow-up and a back end on everything,” Hogan said. “Teachers get to feel safer in having relationships with students and asking them what they need if they see that they’re struggling, rather than feeling like it’s all on them.”

Hogan spends a majority of her time at middle and high schools, but she is also supporting students at many elementary schools. Wright said early intervention is essential for creating safe and successful outcomes for all children.
 
“For us to have Liesel available to help younger kids is really beneficial,” Wright said. “The sooner we can start with kids and the sooner we can approach, define and start to heal kids who have been through a lot of trauma, we’re going to have a lot more success than if we wait until a kid really starts getting into a dangerous place. The sooner, the better is really a literal thing here.”
 
Yeti has been a key partner for Hogan in her prevention and healing efforts. He is starting his third year as a therapy dog, and is the first LPS dog to travel to all buildings. Hogan said Yeti’s presence in school has been “enormously helpful” for building initial trust and rapport with everyone.

 
“Students naturally understand that the adults are here and they’re working, and they might say hello to an adult, but they’re not going to stop and interact with them as much as when I walk down the hall with Yeti,” Hogan said. “Then I have an opportunity to create a relationship with them and open up conversations with them.”
 
Yeti provides even more support during individual sessions with students. Hogan said Yeti has an untrained ability to sense if someone is upset or sad. She has watched him extend a paw or lay his head in a student’s lap to calm them down, which jumpstarts the entire healing experience.

 
“I’ve seen it personally where kids are really struggling, and then they start to pet Yeti, and you can just watch that process happen,” Hogan said. “They start breathing deeper, they start re-engaging with their environment, they start responding to questions and interactions from adults in the room more. It’s really quite impressive and moving.”
 
Hogan said her goal is to work with others to create lifesaving outcomes at LPS every day.
 
“My role is only part of a multidisciplinary approach to ensuring the safety of our students, staff and buildings,” Hogan said. “I am grateful to bring my experience to an incredibly talented and passionate team.”

To learn more about the LPS safety and security team, visit our website at https://home.lps.org/security/. 
 
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