Mark Myers, LCSW,CADC (Gurnee and Crystal Lake)
Mark Myers received his Master of Social Work Degree from Loyola University in 1987. He has been practicing in the helping
profession since 1981. He is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker since
1990. Also, since 1988, he is a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor.
Mr. Myers provides counseling to individuals, couples, and adolescents for
a variety of areas including: drug and alcohol abuse, parenting issues,
marital issues, depression, anxiety, and anger issues. He presents workshops
and consultations to mental health professionals and the community from the mental health and addictions fields.
Professional
Orientation
His professional approach focuses on behavior and thought. Mr. Myers uses
strategies to enhance problem solving skills, communication, and coping
skills. According to research findings, there is a strong relationship
between our thoughts and our emotions. By understanding and becoming more
aware of this relationship, individuals will be able to redirect unproductive
thought and behavioral patterns. Mr. Myers also encourages tapping into our
own resources using handouts, readings, and therapeutic exercises. He works
in partnership with individuals to change behaviors and thoughts. This
approach allows individuals to continue to grow even after therapy ends.
Mr. Myers
has provided numerous presentations to schools, business professionals, and
community members. He has offered lectures in the following areas: substance
abuse, anger management, communication skills, stress management, general
wellness, and steroid abuse. He has also consulted to school districts,
hospitals, corporations and agencies in various capacities.
Education
- BA: Northeastern Illinois University (1983)
- MSW: Loyola University (1987)
- CADC: 1988
- LCSW: 1990
Publications
- Exercise Addiction and Steroid Abuse. January 1990
(Hazelden Publications).
Affiliations
- National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists
- National Association of Social Workers
Janet
Nelson Myers, LCSW (Crystal Lake)
Janet Myers earned her Master
of Social Work Degree from Loyola University in 1992. She is also a type 73 certified School
Social Worker. Mrs. Myers offers counseling to individuals, families, couples,
and groups as well as school advocacy. Mrs. Myers works with children,
adolescents, adults, and parents on a variety of different issues including:
behavioral concerns, parenting issues, depression, bi-polar disorder,
anxiety, anger management, chronic pain and illness, marital issues, sexual
abuse, and domestic violence. She provides supervision to individuals,
agencies, and groups to help facilitate licensure and professional growth.
Mrs. Myers is available to present workshops and consult with mental health
professionals, parent groups, schools, and the community.
Professional
Orientation
She works with individuals, families, groups, and couples to address thoughts
and behaviors that become problematic. Mrs. Myers utilizes interactive
strategies that help people develop their own resources to encourage more
adaptive problem solving, coping skills, and patterns of relating to others.
Identification and intervention with unproductive behaviors and thoughts
impact emotions enabling clients to improve their quality of life. She
believes in the capacity of individuals to change and overcome the unique
challenges they must face.
Mrs. Myers
works with children, teens, and adults who experience depression, anxiety,
bi-polar disorder, chronic pain and illness patients using a holistic
cognitive-behavioral approach in an effort to alter perceptions of physical
and emotional pain. She encourages clients in using religious/spiritual,
creative, social, community resources and the like to facilitate lasting
psychological changes.
Mrs. Myers
consults to school districts and is adept at assisting parents in navigating
the somewhat complex special education system. She has provided presentations
to school groups, parent groups, and professionals on anger management, the
role of the school social worker in the school setting, behavior management
techniques, identifying depressed and suicidal teenagers, stress management,
developing internal resources, and how to find help for children in trouble.
Education
- 1994 Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 1992 Type 73 Certificate
- 1992 Masters of Social Work Loyola University
- 1986 Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Lake Forest College
Affiliations
- Illinois Association of School Social Workers
- National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapist
Janine
Kasner, LCSW (Gurnee)
Janine Kasner holds a Master of Arts degree from the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration. She is a Licensed Clinical
Social Worker in the State of Illinois. Ms. Kasner is experienced and trained
to work with adults, adolescents, and children. She has expertise with a
variety of mental health concerns including depression, stress, anxiety,
grief and loss, addictions, physical and sexual abuse, self-esteem,
relationship issues, and life transitions. Prior to entering the therapeutic
profession, Ms. Kasner worked in several professional settings including a
law firm and a public relations agency. She offers a unique perspective and
understanding to the issues facing individuals in the workplace. Ms. Kasner
also brings enthusiasm, creativity, and a sense of humor to her work.
Professional
Orientation
Ms. Kasner firmly believes that the cornerstone of therapeutic success is the
ability to build a trusting and collaborative therapeutic relationship with
clients and to apply this relationship toward the client's goals in
treatment. She believes in creating and maintaining a safe and supportive
environment, in which clients have the opportunity to explore their
experience, develop self-awareness and insight, recognize and develop strengths,
and use these strengths toward improving their lives. Her treatment style is
creative and flexible as she tailors her approach to each client's unique
needs.
Education
- BA: University of Chicago (1990)
- MA: University of Chicago School of Social Service
Administration (1999)
- LCSW: State of Illinois (2002)
Patricia
Richter, LCPC (Gurnee)
Patti Richter received her Masters of Science in Mental
Health Counseling in 1998. She has been a state Licensed Clinical
Professional Counselor since 2000, and has been counseling adolescents and
adults for the past 7 years. She received a graduate certificate in eating
disorders in 1999 and has been active in working with clients and the mental
health community on eating disorders issues. She serves on the Chicago Board
of ANAD (Anorexia Nervosa and Associate Disorders), has led eating disorder
support groups, has presented workshops and given talks to student groups on
eating disorders. Ms. Richter has helped people with a wide variety of issues
including depression, anxiety and panic, anger, mood disorders, and
physical/sexual abuse. She works with individual clients, couples and
families.
Professional
Orientation
Ms. Richter believes that everyone has the capacity to heal past wounds and
to discover within themselves strengths and resources to change and improve
their quality of life. She imparts a strong sense of hope and belief in the
person and provides a safe and supportive environment to allow people to heal
and grow. She uses an interactive approach to identify causes of negative
beliefs and unwanted behaviors, and to develop strategies to better manage
their lives. Ms. Richter believes people are the best judges of their own
needs and therefore should take an active role in the therapeutic process. She
encourages regular evaluation of the process, asking for feedback on
strategies that are helpful and those that do no work for them.
Ms. Richter employs a variety of techniques, designed to meet the unique
personalities and needs of individuals. She places special emphasis on how
people relate to others, and how negative beliefs about themselves affect
such interactions. She is trained in hypnotherapy, EMDR and Neuro Emotional
Technique (NET).
Education
- BA - Lake Forest College
- Masters in Counseling - National Louis University
- Graduate Certificate in Eating Disorders - National Louis University
- Illinois Teaching Certificate
Affiliations
- ANAD
- Heart Centered Hypnotherapy
Jean
Kinney Vargas, LCSW (Gurnee)
Jean Vargas is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker and
received her Master's degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago in
1997. Ms. Vargas provides treatment to adults, children, adolescents,
families, couples and groups.
Professional
Orientation
Ms. Vargas' background is in community mental health with extensive
experience with children, families and parenting issues. She provides
counseling to individuals with a variety of concerns including: Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder, Eating Disorder, Depression, Anxiety, Grief and
Loss, BiPolar Disorder, Relationship issues, Terminal Illness, and Adjustment
Disorders. Ms. Vargas has also provided supervision to individuals seeking
state licensure and professional growth. She is eclectic in her approach to
therapy, drawing on different theoretical models according to each client's
individual needs. Ms. Vargas works in partnership with each client and
considers the therapeutic relationship one of the most important tools to
bring about change. She believes in a strength-based approach and often
assists clients in recognizing their unique strengths in an effort to create
increased self-awareness.
Education
- LCSW, State of Illinois (1999)
- MSW Loyola University Chicago (1997)
- BS Psychology, Florida State University (1995)
Affiliations
- National Association of Social Workers
- Illinois Society for Clinical Social Work
Ellie
Gross LCPC, CADC (Gurnee)
Ellie
Gross received her bachelors degree in Elementary Education from
the University of Illinois and taught elementary school for five years.
She went on to earn her masters degree in Community and Family Counseling
at Northeastern Illinois University. After receiving her degree, she
became a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor. She is a state
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, and for the past sixteen
years, has been counseling youth and adults with mental health and/or
addiction issues. During her extensive career, she helped people with
a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, anger, mood
disorders, trauma, physical/sexual abuse, grief, and drug abuse/addiction.
Ms. Gross is comfortable working with individual clients as well as
marital or family units. She believes that therapy can assist people
in overcoming the barriers that prevent their dreams and goals from
becoming a reality. Ellie provides that assistance with warmth and
compassion.
Professional
Orientation
Ms. Gross believes in the strength of the human spirit! Her therapeutic
style creates an atmosphere which promotes healing and growth to
those parts of us that have been wounded or impeded in some way.
Ms. Gross draws from her experience in different therapeutic models
tailoring her approach and interventions to meet the unique needs
of each client. She has found that including art therapy, experiential
activities, or the mind/body connection often accelerates the pace
at which clients achieve their goals.
People become more aware of themselves by understanding their thoughts,
their feelings, or their behaviors. Awareness creates choice, and
choice creates possibility. Ms. Gross helps each client discover
their possibilities as a step toward enhancing their life.
Education
- Licensed Clinical
Professional Counselor - State of Illinois
- Substance Abuse
Certification - National-Louis University
- Gestalt Therapy
Training - Gestalt Institute, Chicago
- MA Community &
Family Counseling - Northeastern Illinois University
- BS Elementary
Education - University of Illinois
Affiliations
- Illinois Mental
Health Counselors Association
- N.E.T. (Neuro-Emotional
Technique)
Warren
Purkel, Ph.D. (Gurnee)
Warren
Purkel is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been practicing
in the Chicago area for over ten years. He has provided psychotherapy
for adults, children, adolescents, and families in a variety of clinical
settings. He also has expertise in the area of psychological evaluation.
Warren received his B.A. from Princeton University, and his Ph.D.
from the Derner Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies, in New
York.
Professional
Orientation
Warren’s clinical orientation draws upon psychodynamic theory
and the family systems model. He focuses with clients on appreciating
their abilities and mobilizing their strengths, which may otherwise
be overlooked in times of stress or crisis. His practice has included
the treatment of anxiety and depression, family conflict, career
issues, major life transitions, and matters of faith. He views therapy
as an active collaboration between the therapist and client, to
promote healing and growth. This is done with an awareness that
small changes in a person’s behavior can lead to significant
shifts in the larger situation. Warren also has an interest in helping
clients tap into their own creativity, for problem-solving as well
as personal enrichment.
Education
- B.A.: Princeton
University (1979)
- Ego Development
research group: Washington University (1982-84)
- Ph.D.: Derner
Institute for Advanced Psychological Studies (1990)
Affiliations
- The American Psychological
Association
Susan
Jacobs, LCSW, MBA (Crystal Lake)
Susan
Jacobs earned her Masters of Social Work degree at Loyola University
and her Masters of Business Administration from Northern Illinois
University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State
of Illinois. Ms. Jacobs has a vast array of experience and is trained
to work with adults, adolescents, couples and children. She has worked
with folks who have had a variety of concerns including but not limited
to depression, anxiety, loss, life transitions and relationship communication
issues. Susan has extensive experience in the helping field including
Inpatient hospitalization, Outpatient, Insurance, and Employee Assistance.
Professional
Orientation
Susan is a strong believer that change is a result of self empowerment,
education and support. Susan believes that each person is unique
and requires a holistic approach to create change. She feels the
therapeutic relationship is one where the client can explore and
confront their challenges in a safe environment working with their
therapist as a coach.
Education
- L.C.S.W.: State
of Illinois (1998)
- M.S.W.: Loyola
University (1996)
- M.B.A.: Northern
Illinois University (2005)
- B.S. Family Social
Services (Minor in Art and Criminology): Northern Illinois University
Affiliations
- National Association
of Social Workers
- National Organization
of Women
Ann
Sumpter, LCSW (Crystal Lake)
Ann Sumpter
earned her Master of Social Work degree at Arizona State University.
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Illinois.
She has a vast array of experience working with adults and children
in rural and urban settings. Ann has enjoyed working with diverse
populations with a variety of concerns. She has training and experience
with individuals, couples, family and play therapy. Ann has worked
in mental health settings with crisis management, trauma treatment,
play therapy, serious mental illness and school-based groups. She
has practiced in several culturally rich areas of the United States,
as well as, abroad.
Professional
Orientation
Ann believes that all people have the wisdom within themselves to
overcome most obstacles in their lives. She believes that a partnership
between the client and therapist that includes education, support,
and safety can create an environment rich for client change. Ann
believes that children also have these growth capabilities through
supportive play therapy and child/family education. She feels that
working as a team with other involved support systems is a must
to ensure continuity of care.
Education
- 2002 Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- 1999 Master of Social Work, Arizona State University
- 1996 Bachelor of Psychology, Southern Illinois University
Affiliations
- National Association of Social Workers
- The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA)
Susan R. Magee LCPC, CADC (Gurnee and Crystal Lake)
Sue Magee is both a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Her Master’s degree in counseling, specialty certification, and years of clinical experience allow a broad range of expertise and practical abilities to meet patient needs. Ms. Magee has expertise working with numerous mental health issues including addiction, eating disorders and other self-harm behaviors, PTSD, depression, stress, anxiety, bipolar disorder, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, anger management, and relationship issues.
Professional Orientation
Ms. Magee demonstrates clear understanding of the stress and emotional challenges of everyday life, as well as, the extraordinary events of crisis, trauma and distress. She develops techniques tailored to the individual and emphasizes developing self-awareness. Ms. Magee encourages mechanisms for empowerment and behavioral balances to support sustained healing. She guides individuals, families, and couples in developing life strategies for enhanced coping skills, relaxation abilities, and personal strength. Her personal professional philosophy is premised on the belief that mind, body and spirit are interrelated aspects of one’s self-awareness.
Education
- B.A. in Psychology, Columbia College of Missouri, (1997)
- M.S. in Counseling, National Louis University (2000)
- Graduate Certificate, Addictions (CADC), National Louis University (2000)
- LPC (2001)
- LCPC (2003)
