We heard from Nikki Lightner on the Bryan Cancer Center and the Mental Health support they provide on September 5, 2025 at Lincoln South Rotary Club.
The focus of Nikki's presentation was the therapy that is provided to individuals and families facing cancer. She is based at the Bryan West Campus location on 16th and South St.
This is the main location for mental health services at Bryan, offering a continuum of care. The care ranges from the highest level of care and the most intensive treatment with inpatient hospitalization to the lowest level of care being outpatient services.
Nikki works in the Outpatient areas focusing on mental health. Patients generally attend a 45 minute session every week or even monthly to address their mental health or emotional concerns. We have 5 psychologists and 9 masters level therapists, and each provider has different areas of specialization. She mentioned that Dr. Tom Cardwell is one of their psychologists.
There are also satellite locations for outpatient services in Crete and Women's Health.
She also works at the April Sampson Cancer Center which is located at 4101 Tiger Lily Road in Lincoln. They provide services in collaboration with Cancer Partners Nebraska.
They provide cancer specialists under one roof. The providers work together to determine the treatment plan and you can receive all services in one place - no need to drive to various facilities for various treatments. She shared that this is a huge relief to patients, especially if they are not feeling well. After a cancer diagnosis, relieving some of the stress and anxiety helps the patient make a full commitment to the physical treatment and healing - that is where the mental heath services are important.
She showed pictures and described the spacious grounds. Garden of hope and healing – a place for respite, reflection and a sense of calm. Patients that are receiving chemo treatment have floor to ceiling windows that face this view. It is also the view from the counseling office space. Nikki shared that this green space was designed to be dedicated to nurturing the mind, body and spirit. There are walking paths with many benches, it features native plantings, a grove of trees and a pond..
Research suggests stress can influence cancer risk and outcomes by weakening immune function, increasing inflammation, and driving unhealthy coping behaviors such as smoking, poor diet, inactivity, and drinking alcohol.
Through the mental health services, they focus on reducing emotional concerns related to cancer or other life stressors. It is important for cancer patients to learn ways to manage their emotions in positive ways so that more of their energy is going into healing their body from surgery, chemo, radiation - instead of the stress response.
Nikki shared that, in the mental health world they help people learn to focus on what they can control, because when you focus on what you can’t control it builds up to anxiety and fear. Some factors that lead to cancer are not in our control, but fortunately some factors are. These lifestyle behaviors you can do for yourself and to set an example to encourage and motivate your loved ones and colleagues.
https://www.bryanhealth.com/
Nikki.Lightner@Bryanhealth.org
BIO
Nikki Lightner provides therapy to adolescents and adults. She offers individual and family counseling to help with stress, anxiety, depression and life changes. She has experience helping people with medical conditions, co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns, and grief or past traumas. She enjoys helping people improve their quality of life through a holistic approach that incorporates the mind, body and soul. Nikki is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement and Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Motivational Interviewing.
Nikki earned a Master of Counseling degree from Doane College in Lincoln. She works with clients with diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and cancer.