Debbie Thurston, MA, LCPC
As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I have more than 20 years of clinical experience working with individuals, families, and groups. I have practiced in a variety of clinical milieus including inpatient and outpatient community mental health settings. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas in Psychology and Human Development, and then earned a Master of Arts degree in Community Mental Health Counseling from Roosevelt University. I have worked extensively with childhood disorders, marital conflict, anxiety disorders and mood disorders. I enjoy providing therapeutic services to individuals, families and couples. I utilize a systems approach and behavior modification, within a positive and safe environment, in order to improve an individual’s ability to navigate their personal environment. I welcome new referrals ages 12 and older.
Devon Block, MA, LCPC
As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I believe each individual deserves a safe place to process life transitions, frustrations, worries, fears, or sadness. As an empathetic and nonjudgmental clinician, I know it can be challenging or frightening to enter into counseling and open up. I place emphasis on creating a safe place where children, adolescents, adults, and families can comfortably explore the nature of their issues as well as to find successful solutions and a positive path to continue on their journey.
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from DePaul University and a Master of Arts degree in Community Counseling from Argosy University. I work with children as young as six, adolescents, adults, couples and families. Using a mixture of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques and Positive Psychology techniques, I work with clients to process their past and present, to build self-confidence and self-esteem, to develop positive coping skills, and to develop future goals. I use a strength based approach to help clients reach their goals.
Katherine Blum, MS, MEd, LPC
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I work with clients experiencing a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, loss, and relationship struggles. I also have 10 years of experience as a clinical prenatal genetic counselor and am uniquely qualified to help individuals with peri-partum difficulties including genetic and pregnancy complications, post-partum depression and anxiety. My counseling approach generally includes a combination of psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral and mindfulness techniques, and I am committed to developing an individually focused counseling program for each of my clients. As an empathic and caring counselor, I focus on providing a warm environment in which every client feels safe to engage in his or her therapeutic process.
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, a Master’s degree in Genetic Counseling from Northwestern University and a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University. I enjoy counseling families, couples and individuals ages 12 and older and welcome referrals.
Ghana Cooper, LCSW, DMin
I develop genuine connections with my clients and partner with them toward success. Working with individuals, families, and couples is my passion. I enjoy seeing families break free from the patterns that cause continual chaos and confusion in their own homes. When couples develop active communication that leads to fulfillment, they no longer stay trapped in resentment and the danger of placing their desires in other locations.
My educational background includes earning a Masters in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Doctorate of Ministry from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.
Kelly Matthews, LCSW
After more than 20 years of working as a clinical social worker, I continue to be excited to work with individuals, couples and families. I see most of life’s difficulties stemming from anxiety and stress. If one is interested in addressing an issue(s), the most thoughtful way of doing that is to understand one’s response to stress and anxiety (which are always woven into issues). Life is unpredictable and constantly changing. If we focus on how we respond to it, we will be better able to successfully work on the challenge. I enjoy working with people to look at the problems at hand, learn about attempts to deal with it and then discover better, more successful solutions.
I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Mundelein College. I completed my Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1996 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 1998. I have worked in child welfare, in-patient psychiatric and private practice settings. I completed a post-graduate training program in Bowen Family Systems Theory in 2005 and have been on the faculty since 2011.
Lisa Moss, LCSW
As a clinical social worker, I see myself as a coach, working to reduce anxiety by identifying the patterns that have created problems and stress in your life and formulating a plan for change. I believe change is possible at any age or stage of life. Through work experience and continuing education, I have studied and learned about marriage, family, relationship patterns, sibling behavior, and human behavior for more than 20 years. I work with adults, couples and families.
I have a Bachelor of Science from the University of Kansas. I received a Master of Social Work degree from Loyola University, Chicago in 1993. I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1995, practicing in a variety of settings including a hospital, community-based agency and private agency. In 2007, I completed the two-year post-graduate training program in family systems theory at the Center for Family Consultation in Evanston. I am a certified Parenting Effectiveness Instructor and a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Janine Ryan-Herrera, MA, LPC
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Masters Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Argosy University, Schaumburg.
I have gained experience in various settings such as partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, community mental health agencies, clinics, nursing homes, as well as in-home services. Within the past 3 years, I have worked with children under 10 years of age, both verbal and non-verbal, on the Autistic Spectrum, conducting Applied Behavior Analysis therapeutic approaches. Across these settings, I have also gained experience working with adults, children and adolescents who are seeking support due to anxiety, depression, trauma, loss/grieving, bullying, relationship issues, family system issues, identity development, transitions and symptoms related to schizophrenia. I enjoy working with all ages.
As a therapist, I am rooted from a Gestalt and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy theoretical orientation. However, I believe that it is essential to utilize an integrative approach and offer various treatment methods that are tailored, in order to best fit the needs of my clients. Other utilized approaches are mindfulness, motivational interviewing, experiential, solution-focused and family systems therapy. I believe it is important to meet patients where they currently are at and collaboratively work together on how they can become the best version of themselves.
Felicia Schneider, MEd, LCPC
As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I view therapy as a collaborative process between myself and the client. I recognize that it can be difficult to make that initial call seeking treatment, so I strive to make the therapeutic environment one that is safe, accepting and without judgement. As a therapist, I help clients identify the stressors that have brought them into treatment. Together we will examine their strengths as well as patterns of behavior that have kept them stuck in order to help them make positive changes and achieve personal growth.
I have an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I received a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology at DePaul University. In 1995, I completed a 2 year post graduate training program in marital and family studies at The Family Institute, an affiliate of Northwestern University.
Dr. Irma A Sharp, PHD, LCSW
I have more than 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. I have practiced in different outpatient child psychiatry settings and community mental health agencies. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1991. I later obtained a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1995. I continued my education at Loyola University Chicago where I earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work. I have expertise in working with childhood disorders, immigration related issues, family therapy, postpartum depression, and grief/loss, and use an insight oriented approach within the context of the patient’s current situation. I believe that therapy can provide a facilitating environment where the patient’s strengths can be accessed to create a positive change in their emotional well-being.
I welcome new referrals ages 6 years and older. I am bilingual and can provide services for patients and families seeking a Spanish speaking provider.
Ashley Young, LCPC
As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, I have almost 10 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults. I have practiced in settings such as private practice, psychiatric hospitals, emergency rooms, and residential facilities. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Roosevelt University in Psychology, and went on to earn a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. While in my master’s program I specialized in treatment of adolescents with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and self-esteem difficulties. I also have a special interest in providing therapy to first responders and their families. Additionally, I enjoy providing therapy to adults with marital conflict, anxiety disorders, and post-partum depression. I approach each client as an individual, and work off their strengths while incorporating cognitive behavioral, solution focused, and mindfulness techniques. I also believe that working collaboratively with psychiatrists, physicians, and school staff is important in creating and maintaining extended support.
