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Our Therapists
Leslie Velgach
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Kathrine Brunhaver
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
Georgina Haro
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Leslie is a licensed clinical social worker. She earned her Masters in Clinical Social Work at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, and her Bachelors in Social Work at Luther College in Iowa. Leslie has experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, and adults with various issues including depression, anxiety, coping skills, difficult life transitions, and building self-compassion. She has worked with individuals in many different settings ranging from individual and group therapy to crisis intervention in the Emergency Room.
Leslie practices from a strength-based approach and combines several modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness. Throughout treatment, she works with clients to utilize coping skills, identify their core values, and develop a strong sense of self. Leslie believes that regardless of age, clients are their own expert and therefore aims to build a strong therapeutic relationship that provides a warm and accepting environment that can lead to positive change.
Kat is a Licensed Professional Counselor and art therapist. She received her Masters degree in
Art Therapy & Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Kat works collaboratively with children, adolescents, young adults, and adults using the creative process to pave a path to a more satisfying life. She loves to make art with people to explore, affirm, and celebrate each client’s unique identity. In sessions, she tunes into strengths and interests that can improve the lives of clients and make it easier to engage in daily living. She is passionate about supporting people in combating the emotional barriers in school settings and uncovering confidence in their abilities. She has experience teaching executive functioning skills to support success for neurodivergent people.
Kat encourages the creative process as a means
to come into one’s authentic self and find flexibility and growth in the place of old labels.
Kat believes that when people feel lost or stuck, creating art can offer clarity on where to move
forward. Art offers a means of expressing what cannot be said in words. In art therapy, she
works with clients to investigate thought patterns, big emotions, and create new pathways to accessing courage.
Kat approaches art therapy and counseling from a relational, strengths-based, and gestalt
perspective. She aims to develop a therapeutic relationship that promotes self-awareness and
self worth through creativity and mindfulness.
Kat celebrates differences and honors that
everyone is the narrator of their own story.
Georgina Haro is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has experience working with families and individuals across the lifespan. She is a bicultural, bilingual Mexican American clinician who offers culturally and linguistically appropriate services in English and Spanish.
Georgina earned her Master of Social Work degree from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has experience working with families, children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of settings such as residential programs and federally qualified health centers.
Georgina specializes in working with clients who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and complex trauma. She also specializes in working with clients with diverse sexual and gender identities and is dedicated to providing gender affirming care to gender diverse clients. Additionally, Georgina is a certified perinatal mental health professional and she is looking forward to providing a safe space for individuals that honors their emotions and transitions throughout the perinatal period."
Georgina also has a passion for working with clients who are navigating the pressures and expectations that come along with being first-generation. She utilizes different techniques to best serve her clients such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Using a strengths-based approach, she helps empower her clients to amplify the skills, strategies, and resilience that are already within them.
Georgina acknowledges that our bodies carry our experiences, memories, and traumas. Georgina utilizes approaches that include mindfulness, breathwork, and grounding to help clients form a deeper understanding of the connection between mind, body, and emotion. Georgina honors the importance of a strong, therapeutic relationship and is grateful to be a part of her clients' journey in becoming more connected to their authentic selves. Georgina aims to create a safe, therapeutic space in which her clients feel truly heard and validated.
Christy Stewart
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Ellen Oanes
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
Vanessa Moran
LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
Christy is a dedicated licensed clinical social worker with a passion for utilizing an anti-oppressive lens in her therapy practice, with the foundational understanding that mental health treatment is inherently a social justice issue and that social problems cannot be treated solely with interventions at the individual level.
Christy earned a Master's in Social Work degree with a certificate in evidence-based mental health practice from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Christy has experience working in a variety of practice environments, including both residential and outpatient settings, in addition to having experience working with a variety of populations, including people of every age range and at every stage of the life course. Christy utilizes a warm, trauma-informed, holistic, person-centered approach in her therapy practice, and loves receiving feedback on how to better serve her clients.
Christy also has experience working from a variety of treatment modalities and recognizes that the diversity of human experience calls for an equally varied and individualized treatment approach. Christy is especially interested in working from an anti-oppressive lens modeled on the liberation health model of mental health treatment. However, she is always open to discovering and learning new ways of relating to and supporting her clients.
Christy is dedicated to providing a welcoming and inclusive space that centers the intersecting identities of her clients and that prioritizes the autonomy and empowerment of her clients above all else.
Ellen is a Licensed Professional Counselor and art therapist. She received her Masters degree in Art Therapy & Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Ellen loves working with children and young people. She has experience working with neurodivergent children on issues such as social skills, impulse control, and emotional regulation. Ellen also has experience in providing affirming care to the LGBTQIA+ community.
As an art therapist, Ellen utilizes art and art making to facilitate therapeutic discussions and insights with her clients. She utilizes a wide variety of art mediums to explore, create, and investigate within therapy. This practice appeals to a wide variety of populations and experience levels–no prior experience with art is required! Ellen firmly believes in the healing power of art making and sharing that power with others.
Ellen’s practice as a therapist is founded on social justice and feminist frameworks, as well as relational-cultural theory. This means she conceives of therapy as a collaborative partnership between therapist and client, one that that relies on respect for each other’s knowledge and perspectives. Ellen holds space for all of a potential client's identities and cultures as you work together in the therapeutic
space.
Vanessa Moran is a passionate Licensed Professional Counselor and a graduate of Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville Clinical Psychology program.
Vanessa has experience working with
individuals, couples, and groups experiencing PTSD-related symptoms, anxiety, depression,
relationship loss, life transitions, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. She is also a bilingual, Mexican American who is able to offer cultural and linguistically appropriate services in English and Spanish.
Vanessa utilizes a variety of approaches depending on the needs of the client. These include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and mindfulness techniques. She emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and believes therapy should be a collaborative space for the client and clinician.
Vanessa aims to provide a genuine, warm, and supportive environment for each individual, couple or group. This includes promoting personal growth, relief, empowerment, curiosity, and understanding.
Katerina Rios
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Clara Langrall
LICENSED SOCIAL WORKER
Eilis Fagan
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Katerina is a passionate and dedicated Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and families in a variety of therapeutic settings. She has had the pleasure of working in residential treatment, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and community mental health settings.
Katerina earned a Master's in Social Work degree with a certificate in evidence-based mental health practice with children and adolescents from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Katerina tailors treatment using techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to best support clients' needs.
Katerina has experience working with clients navigating a variety of stressors including life transitions, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, and the exploration of racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identities. She uses an intersectional and shared power approach when working with clients and believes the client should always be considered the expert of their situation.
Katerina prioritizes centering and affirming clients' identities in order to provide a safe, inclusive space that is conducive to vulnerability and empowerment. Clients can expect Katerina to use radical empathy and humor to form a strong, therapeutic alliance and create a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere.
Clara is a licensed social worker who received her Master of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a therapist, she is warm, down-to-earth, and pragmatic. Clara loves learning, especially about others' ideas and ways of life. She believes that clients are experts on their own experiences and that therapy is a unique collaboration and meeting of minds.
Clara is non-judgmental and genuine. Her work is based on the principles of humanistic, strengths-based, harm-reduction, and
trauma-informed therapies. She is trained/has experience working with a variety of modalities including psychodynamic, strengths-based,
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, CBT, and DBT.
She likes to find what works best for her clients. She will probably ask “what do you think
of how this is going so far?” She is open to creative and unconventional approaches to healing as well as life in general. She believes in transparency and if you ask what she thinks and feels about a given topic, she will definitely tell you.
Clara’s hope is to help people feel more connected, find meaning, and experience a greater amount of joy.
Eilis is a licensed social worker who received her Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Chicago. She specializes in working with youth, adolescents, and adults with various mental health concerns including depression, anxiety, substance use, and trauma.
Eilis also has experience providing therapy to survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
Eilis’ working style utilizes a strengths-based, trauma-informed approach that encourages growth and healing in a judgment-free environment. She uses a unique blend of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, harm reduction, and expressive art that is individually tailored to each person she works with based on their own interests and goals. She believes that the client is the expert in their own experience and strives to meet every client where they’re at.
Eilis seeks to balance humor and compassion within the therapeutic relationship and truly enjoys working collaboratively with clients as they work together toward positive change.
Kaitlyn Doty
LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
Allison Guimaray
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Kelsie Johnson
LICENSED MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST
Kaitlyn is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and graduate of the counseling program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Kaitlyn specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families with clinical experience working with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, school anxiety and refusal, trauma, grief and loss, and life transitions.
Kaitlyn uses a compassionate and collaborative approach to counseling, integrating person-centered philosophies to meet clients where they’re at.
Kaitlyn uses a strength-based and trauma-informed perspective to empower individuals as the authority of their own lives and foster resilience while moving towards positive change.
In her work, Kaitlyn uses traditional talk therapy combined with expressive therapies, play therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) depending on individual goals.
Through her approach, Kaitlyn is committed to providing a space where clients can be themselves, feel heard, and grow.
Allison is a licensed clinical social worker who earned her Masters Degree in Social Work from Aurora University.
Allison works with clients experiencing various issues and concerns, such as anxiety, trauma, depression, life transitions, self-esteem, and interpersonal difficulties.
Allison utilizes a strength-based and client-centered approach when it comes to therapy. She fosters the idea that supporting the client in a safe and empathetic environment is key to the therapeutic process. She is dedicated to helping clients recognize their true potential in order to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life.
Allison emphasizes modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) blended with mindfulness techniques. She believes that each person is unique in the type of support and assistance that they may need.
Allison is also committed to the belief that in learning more about oneself and developing healthy coping skills, anyone can grow and benefit in therapy.
Kelsie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a graduate from The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Kelsie has experience supporting individuals and families across the lifespan. She is passionate about working with children and adolescents as they navigate challenges that arise through life transitions. In her practice, she also believes it is important to support parents and families to build upon their strengths and develop new tools to support each member of the family system.
Kelsie utilizes a strengths based - systemic approach with clients, that integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She believes that the therapeutic relationship is imperative in working with individuals and their families. Kelsie strives to create a warm and supportive environment to help clients expand their thinking, strengthen their skills, and achieve their goals to live a more meaningful life.
Kelly Baas
LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
Gabriela Lagos
LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR
Katie Augustyn
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Kelly is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and registered expressive arts therapist (REAT). She received her masters degree at California Institute of Integral Studies. Kelly has worked for over ten years gaining clinical experience across the lifespan with children and adults struggling with social/emotional regulation and identity formation, children on the autism spectrum, adults with severe and persistent mental illness, and emerging young adults.
Kelly loves working with children and young people and uses a variety of art mediums to help them find their voice and work out what is troubling them. Taking a person-centered approach Kelly prioritizes the pace of each individual she works with as she constructs a foundation of safety and curiosity.
Kelly specializes in helping children and young people understand their worries and uncover internal resources that allow them to respond more effectively. Kelly prioritizes getting to know the unique perspective of each child so the therapeutic relationship can be a source of learning and skill building. She uses play, art, movement, and words to help children explore their anxieties and as well as their hopes and dreams.
Children who are experiencing overwhelming pressure, loss, questioning self-worth, or struggling with fear and anxiety can work through a process of play and art making lead by Kelly. In using their own hands to engage and create a child can connect to qualities that are essential to coping with stress, fear, and loss. Kelly carefully listens to each client in order to guide the use of talking and creative making to meet the needs that emerge. Common issues that Kelly can address with play and expressive arts therapy are anxiety, low self-esteem, navigating difficult life transitions, loss, overwhelming pressure, impulse control, and low frustration tolerance.
Gabriela is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with 16 years of experience. She has worked in therapeutic and educational settings, addressing a variety of issues.
Gabriela is a bilingual clinician that specializes in working with clients that are experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma. She also provides support for career/life challenges that result in feeling “stuck” in a path.
Gabriela incorporated different techniques into her work. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and mindfulness techniques to explore, understand, and develop a plan of support that best suits the clients needs.
Gabriela aims to provide a safe space for clients to vocalize their struggles, needs, wants, and values. She believes this allows for growth and healing to occur and while gaining clarity to help identify and encourage changes within the client.
Katie Augustyn is a licensed clinical social worker with over twenty years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, families, and adults. Katie is the Clinical Director of Augustyn Family Services, a North Side agency that serves children, adults, and couples.
Katie previously worked at the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital, where she provided therapeutic services to children and families dealing with chronic illness and disability. Katie received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. Katie has experience working with a broad range of mental health issues, including anxiety, trauma, grief, domestic violence, and family conflict.
Katie is also a founding member of a non-profit organization that provides services to disabled children, KT’s Kids.