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Bruce Frens, MS
- Executive Director |
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Bruce has served as Executive Director
of the Center since 1998. It has continued to grow and broaden
its services under his leadership. Prior to joining the Center,
Bruce was director of Christian Family Outreach Center, N.J.. He
earned a BA in Biology at Grand Valley State University in Allendale,
MI and an MS in Counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University in
Richmond, VA. |
| Janet Lundgren,
PsyD - Clinical Director |
|
Orland Park office |
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Dr. Lundgren was formerly a special
education teacher and now works with a variety of child, family, and
adult issues. Janet specializes in parenting issues, children with
developmental delays and behavioral disorders. She also specializes in
depression and anxiety in both children and adults. Dr. Lundgren
earned a BA in Speech and Hearing at the State University of New York
at New Paltz, NY, an MS in Special Education at the University of
Wisconsin in Whitewater, WI and her PsyD in Clinical Psychology from
Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. |
| Steve Augustus, MA, LCPC |
|
Hazel Crest, Orland
Park, and Schererville offices |
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Steve has
extensive life experiences including jobs from steel worker to chemist
and overcoming personal and family losses. He has volunteered at the
National Runaway Switchboard, was a big brother for a child for 8
years through the Big Brother/Big Sisters of Lake County and was the
founding chairman of the BIGS volunteer network there. He has been a
lay minister through his church since 1992. He works with a wide range of issues and
ages and specializes in anxiety and depression, and couples
counseling. Steve received his Masters in Professional Counseling from
the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University in
Schaumburg, IL. |
| Melanie Benes, MA, LCPC, LMHC |
|
Schererville office |
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Melanie
works with a variety of problem areas but specializes in marital and
parental concerns, issues surrounding divorce and separation, and
problems faced by adults of childhood trauma. She earned her BA in
Psychology at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL and an MA
in Marriage and Family Counseling from Governors State University in
University Park, IL. |
| Dick Cole, PhD, LCPC |
|
Orland Park office |
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Dick is also
a professor of psychology at Trinity Christian College. Besides
teaching, Dr. Cole has done individual and marriage therapy for more
than thirty years. Dick received his MA in Counseling from Covenant
theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO and his PhD in Counseling
Psychology from St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO. |
|
Priscilla DuBois,
PsyD |
|
Orland Park office |
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Dr. DuBois provides
consultation, diagnostic assessment, and individual and group
therapies for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.
She has extensive experience in providing teaching, consultation,
and counseling services within educational, forensic and community
mental health settings. Dr. DuBois specializes in providing services
to children and adolescents with severe behavioral problems, anger
problems, and substance abuse disorders. Other areas of expertise
include Autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, depression, anxiety, grief,
domestic violence, parenting concerns, sexual offenders, and crisis
intervention. Dr. DuBois also specializes in providing interventions
for populations with acute learning disabilities, neurological
deficits, social problems, and developmental delays. Dr. DuBois
earned her B.A. in Psychology and certificates in Family Studies and
Liberal Arts at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C. Canada. She
completed her M.A. in Counseling Psychology at the Adler School of
Professional Psychology in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She completed her
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, and Certificates in Substance Abuse
Counseling and Group Psychotherapy at the Adler School of
Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. In addition to her clinical
work, Dr. DuBois served as adjunct faculty at Trinity Christian
College. |
| Elizabeth Elgersma, MSW, LCSW, ACSW,
QCSW |
|
South Holland office |
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Elizabeth has worked in
a number of counseling centers in Michigan, Western Illinois and the
Chicago area. She works with a variety of ages and problem
areas, but she specializes in Marital and Parenting concerns,
Bereavement and Divorce recovery. She received a BA in
Psychology from Hope College in Holland, MI and an MSW in Clinical
Social Work from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI. |
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Melissa Muchowicz,
MS, LPC |
|
Orland Park and
South Holland offices |
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Melissa enjoys
working with children, adolescents and adults on a variety of issues.
She is skilled in working with individuals and families coping with
traumatic experiences and is particularly passionate about familial
and relational concerns. She has also served as school counselor at
the K-8 Oak Lawn & Tinley Park, IL campuses of Southwest Chicago
Christian Schools. Melissa received her BSW from Calvin College
in Grand Rapids, MI and earned her MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
from Fuller Seminary School of Psychology in Pasadena, CA. |
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Vivienne Oskvarek,
MA, LCPC, CADC,
MISA II |
|
New Lenox office |
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Vivienne
enjoys providing counseling to adolescents, families, and couples.
She likes both individual therapy and small group therapy. She enjoys
working with youth and adults to overcome anxiety, depression, marital
problems, and addictions. She is also interested in wellness
coaching, working with menopausal women, and those with chronic
illness. Vivienne earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from
Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL and is a
Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor.
|
Roger L. Parks, PsyD,
Director of
Coaching & Leadership Development |
|
Oak Brook, Schererville and
South Holland offices |
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Dr. Parks has a
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of
Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL, a Certificate in Organization
Development from Benedictine University, Lisle, IL, and a Certificate
in Personal Life Coaching from the Institute for Life Coach Training
(Christian track). In addition to over 19 years of clinical and
consulting experience, he has taught at Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL,
Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and is currently an Adjunct
Faculty member at Argosy University, Schaumburg. Dr. Parks'
current interests are personal and organizational coaching, servant
leadership development, and spiritual formation. |
| Nicholas Placido, PsyD, LCSW |
|
Oak Brook and Orland
Park offices |
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Nicholas works with
individuals and couples in many areas including anger management and
issues of communication. He counsels in the area of professional
and pastoral burnout. He received his MSW in Social Work from
Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. He later received
both his MA in Psychology and his PsyD in Psychology from Wheaton
College in Wheaton, IL. |
|
Eva Ponder, MSW, LCSW |
|
Schererville office |
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Eva enjoys working with
couples and individuals on a wide range of issues. She especially
enjoys working with couples as well as helping with parenting and
other relationship issues. Her experiences include working with
diverse populations in both non profit and private practices. Eva
earned her Masters in Social Work from Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
She is currently working on a PsyD degree at Wheaton College,
Wheaton, IL. |
| Lynne Scherschel, MS,
LMFT |
|
Schererville office |
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For twenty years Lynne has
been working as a marriage and family therapist to facilitate God's
healing of individuals, families, and marriages. She has
considerable experience working with people who have experienced
childhood trauma and those who are encountering issues of death and
loss, parenting, divorce, and step-families. Lynne is also certified
in Prepare/Enrich and is available for pre-marital as well as marital
counseling. Lynne earned her BA in
Psychology and French from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN and
her MS in counseling from Purdue University Calumet, Hammond, IN.
Additionally, she completed a two-year postgraduate training program
in marriage and family therapy and is also trained in Eye Movement
Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). |
| Scott Smith,
MA, LCPC |
|
New Lenox office |
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Scott enjoys working with
adolescents and adults on a variety of issues. Scott’s passion is
working with pre-marital and married couples using the Life
Innovations Prepare-Enrich program. He also partners with churches to
develop marital programming which includes pre-marital, marriage
enrichment, and developing marriage mentors from within the church
body. As a
seminar director for the Life Innovations Prepare/Enrich program,
Scott trains clinicians, clergy, lay people and students for
Prepare/Enrich provider certification.
Scott was recently named director of a 3-year federal Suicide
Prevention grant through Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL.
Scott received his BA in Psychology from Southwestern University in
Georgetown, TX and earned his MA in Professional Counseling from
Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, IL. |
|
Terry Smith, MA, LMHC |
|
Schererville office |
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Terry provides
counseling/insight to adolescents, adults, couples and families. He
enjoys working with couples with martial, parenting and
communication problems. Additionally he enjoys helping individuals
and couples with grief and loss issues, anger problems, depression,
self esteem and pre-marital situations. He has been employed as a
home-school facilitator for special education students and worked as
a clinical therapist at an inpatient psychiatric hospital with the
children and adolescent unit as well as an adult unit. He was also
in administration at a sheltered workshop for developmentally
disabled adults. Terry earned his BA at Ball State University in
Muncie Indiana and his MS in counseling at Purdue University -
Calumet in Hammond Indiana. |
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Amy Stuart,
MA,
LCPC |
|
Oak Brook and Orland
Park offices |
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Amy likes to work with
individuals and couples as well as children and adolescents dealing
with a variety of issues. Some areas that she particularly
enjoys working with include anxiety, anger management and
depression. She is also PREPARE-ENRICH certified to provide
pre-marital and couples counseling. Amy received her BS
in Communicative Disorders from Northern Illinois University in
De Kalb, IL and her MA in Counseling Psychology from Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield,
IL. |
| Karen Suppes, MA, LPC |
|
Schererville office |
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Before joining the staff, Karen served for
four years on staff with Youth for Christ working with high school
and junior high kids. Now Karen works with children and teens as
well as adults in a variety of areas including anger management,
depression, and development issues. She also co-facilitates CONNECT,
a group program to help preteens develop healthy social skills.
Karen earned her BA in Communication Studies from Taylor University
in Upland, IN and her Masters in Counseling Psychology from Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield,
IL. |
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Karla Taylor,
MEd, LPC |
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South Holland office |
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Karla is a “glass half full” kind of counselor who believes in the
power of a hearty laugh. She has experience in education, agency and
ministry settings serving diverse populations for over two decades.
When she counsels, Karla examines the total person and their
potential to optimize the therapeutic process. She sees positive
outcomes when working with clients struggling with anxiety, anger
management, blended families, bipolar disorder, depression, divorce,
grief, self injury, separation, stress, or work related issues. Karla
received her BA in Communication Arts and Sciences from Michigan
State University, East Lansing, MI and her M.Ed. in Human Services
and Counseling from DePaul University, Chicago, IL. |
|
Frances Tung, PhD, LPC |
|
Orland Park and South Holland offices |
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Frances works with children, adolescents, and adults on a wide range
of issues. She particularly enjoys working with children with
behavioral and emotional concerns as well as providing psychological
assessments and ADHD evaluations. Frances earned her BS in
Psychology and Biology at Duke University in Durham, NC and a MA and
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Suffolk University in Boston, MA. |
|
Brent Ulrich, MA, LPC |
|
Orland Park and
South Holland offices |
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Brent works
with children, adolescents, and adults. He enjoys working with couples
in marital counseling and in dealing with issues that men struggle
with. Brent’s experience as a pastor in the Church of the Nazarene
helps him deal with spiritual issues. He has extensive experience in
working with troubled adolescents and with the prison population. He
earned his BA and his MA in Professional Counseling from Olivet
Nazarene University, Kankakee, IL. |
|
Michelle VanNoord, MA, LCPC |
|
Orland Park office |
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Michelle enjoys
working with children and adolescents as well as adults. She
specializes in working with self-injurers, children of divorce,
adolescent depression and anxiety, and marital counseling. Michelle
developed and has facilitated a social skills group workshop for
children called CONNECT and has taught classes at Trinity Christian
College in Palos Heights, IL. She currently serves as school counselor for the
K-8th grade Tinley Park, IL and Oak Lawn, IL campuses of Southwest
Chicago Christian Schools. She earned her BA in Psychology from
Trinity Christian College, Palos Heights, IL and her MA in Marriage
and Family Counseling from the Adler School of Professional Psychology
in Chicago, IL. |
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Sharon Wierenga, MA, LCPC |
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Orland Park office |
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Sharon works with children, adolescents,
and adults on an assortment of presenting issues including eating
disorders, women’s issues, anxiety & depression, co-dependency,
and parenting concerns. Sharon has previously worked with children
and teens at Roseland Christian School and Chicago Christian High
School. She is presently an adjunct professor of psychology at
Moraine Valley Community College. Sharon received both her BA in
Psychology and her MA in Community Counseling from Governors State
University, University Park, IL |
| Chris Yadron,
MDiv, MA, LCPC, CADC |
|
Orland Park office |
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Chris specializes in
addictions, specifically sexual compulsivity and substance abuse.
He also works with anxiety, depression, and child or adolescent problems. His
previous work both as a Christian pastor and as a therapist for the
intensive outpatient program of a local hospital provide him with the
experience to work effectively with both spiritual and clinical
issues. Chris received a BA from Trinity Christian College, Palos
Heights, IL, an MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis,
MO, and his MA in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University, Chicago,
IL. |
Last updated:
1/24/08 |
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