About Megan
Megan Smith-Sallans, MS, LIMHP, LIPC is a psychotherapist in private practice who specializes in gender, sexuality and people in diverse relationships. In addition to her private practice, Megan is also the Director of Behavioral Health at the University of Nebraska Medicine Transgender Care Clinic.
Megan is certified in play therapy and provides therapeutic services to gender creative children (ages 3 and up). She also works with adolescents, adults, families and couples. In her practice, she approaches her clients with compassion, support, openness and curiosity. She has a respect for all forms of diversity and the creative potential within all of us. Megan uses a relational approach in her work and believes that a genuine therapeutic relationship can facilitate the process of healing and self-discovery.
Nationally, Megan is a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Heath (WPATH), the Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues and the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS).
Locally, she is the co-founder of the Professional Transgender Resource Network, and a member of the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Transgender/Gender Non-Conforming Multidisciplinary team, Children’s Hospital’s Differences in Sex Development Multidisciplinary team, and NECTR (Nebraska Collaborative for Transgender Research). In partnership with Dr. Jean Amoura at the University Nebraska Medical Center, Megan co-facilitates the Parents and Caregivers of Gender Expansive Youth Support Group.
She previously served as the Vice-President for Ally Mentoring (LGBTQ youth), and committee member for Gender Reel (transgender film festival), and the Nebraska LGBTQ+ Emerging Youth Leadership Summit.
Work Experience:
Private Practice 2004-Present, Psychotherapist
Director of Behavioral Health at the University of Nebraska Medicine Transgender Care Clinic, 2018 - Present
Co-Facilitator with Dr. Jean Amoura, Parents and Caregivers of Gender Expansive Youth Support Group, University Nebraska Medical Center
Creighton University, Adjunct Faculty/ Practicum Liaison for Graduate Counseling Department
Salvation Army’s Wellspring Program (A program for individuals involved in sex trade and those who solicit sex), Case-Manager, Therapist, Group Therapist
Wellspring, Project Coordinator for Transgender HIV Prevention Program
Addiction and Behavioral Health Services, Therapist
Owen’s and Associates, Family Preservation Worker
Family Service Enhanced Advocacy (Crisis Intervention for victims of domestic violence), Lead Advocate
Eastern Nebraska Human Service Agency- Region VI, Case Manager
Family Service Domestic Abuse Program, Case Worker
Bancroft Elementary School, Paraprofessional (Special Education)
Wellspring, Mentor
Lutheran Family Services RTA/RSAFE Program (program for sexual offenders), Therapeutic Services and Group Therapy
Parent’s United Support Groups (group consists of sexual abuse survivors, sex offenders, and non-offending parents), Group Facilitator
The Nebraska Humane Society, Outreach and Education
Publication and Interviews:
Brennan, S., Irwin, J., Drincic, A., Amoura, J., Randal, A.l, Smith-Sallans, M. (2016) Relationship Between Gender-Related Stress and Resilience Factors and Mental Health in a Midwestern U.S. Transgender and Gender-nonconforming Population
Assisted Dr. Rochelle Dalla, at University of Nebraska at Omaha, in research article: Exposing the Pretty Woman Myth: A Qualitative Investigation of Street-Level Prostituted Women
Dalla, R.L. & Smith, M. (1998, Nov.). Prostitutes and their children: Exploration and analysis of a unique population. Poster presented at Nebraska’s Youth at Risk Conference, Nov. 788, Lincoln, NE.
Identity Crisis: Good Magazine
News Interview: One Man's Story of Being Transgender in Nebraska on KOLN-TV, Lincoln, NE: 12/13/11.
PFLAG: An Update on the Standards of Care and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
News Interview: Families Supporting Gender Expansive Youth:
Professional Affiliations:
Professional Transgender Resource Network
University of Nebraska Medical Center: Transgender/Gender Non-Conforming Multidisciplinary Team
Children's Hospital: Differences of Sex Development Multidisciplinary Team
WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health)
American Psychological Association Division 39 (Psychoanalysis)
American Psychological Association Division 44 (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender)
Association of Play Therapists
Trauma Informed Nebraska
Association of Private Practice Therapists
International Association for Relational Psychoanalysis & Psychotherapy
Arizona Psychoanalytic Society
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
American Psychological Association
Film Appearances:
Featured in the Documentary “Hidden in Plain Sight: Prostitution in Nebraska”
Featured in Planned Parenthood’s National Healthcare Training Modules on “Working with LGBTQ Patients”
Community Involvement (Local and National)
Ally Mentoring (LGBTQ Youth): Vice President
Nebraska Collaborative for Transgender Research: Member and Researcher
Gender Reel Film Festival: Committee Member
Nebraska Youth Emerging LGBTQ Leadership Summit for Nebraska Youth: Committee Member
American Psychological Association’s Multicultural Abstract Review: Committee Member/Reviewer
World Professional Association for Transgender Health: Scientific Review Committee
Transgender Day of Visibility: Moderator
Domestic Violence Council LGBTQ Summit: Planning Committee
Queering Psychotherapy: Member, Conference Organizer and Presenter
Nebraska HIV Care Prevention Consortium: Committee Member-2003-2007
Dignity Cooperative (Task Force to address sex trade in Nebraska): Co-founder and Committee Member-2001-2008
T Time (transgender youth group): Creator and Facilitator-2005-2009
Helpher (A Giving Circle): Member
Grants:
Grant from Nebraska Heath and Human Services and the Center for Disease Control (HIV Prevention for Transgender Individuals)
Grant for outreach program to strip clubs and escort services
Grant for Ally Mentoring (LGBTQ Youth Mentoring Program)
