A Team of Dedicated
Mental Health Professionals

CCOCC’s professional staff is made up of a culturally and ethnically diverse group of master’s and doctoral-level therapists who are committed to offering high-quality counseling services. While we each operate from a solid Christian perspective, we are also respectful and sensitive to clients’ varying beliefs and worldviews. All therapists have experience and expertise in working with a wide variety of clinical settings, client concerns, and spiritual, cultural, ethnic, and diversity issues.

Each therapist also has training and expertise in dealing with depression, anxiety, loneliness, singleness, life transitions, relationship concerns, and traditionally underserved populations. As a whole, the therapists at the Center provide individual, couples, and family therapy, consulting, seminars, and assessments.

All interested parties are directed to our main phone number (312) 573-8860, and the intake coordinators match the appropriate therapist with the client’s needs and desires. The following list provides an idea of the therapist you may be working with.

Our Clinical Team

Grace A

Dr. Grace is the Executive Director of Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago. Dr. Grace is a licensed clinical psychologist and received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College. She has experience providing therapeutic services across professional settings such as in community mental health, hospital, clinic, and private practice. Dr. Grace also has held various leadership roles in ministry settings including mentoring, discipleship, financial management, and conference planning.

As a therapist, Dr. Grace strives to create a safe and supportive environment in which a collaborative and goal-oriented relationship can develop. Through this safe and supportive relationship, Dr. Grace assists people in increasing awareness of themselves and begins the journey of healing, growth, and change. Dr. Grace works with individuals from diverse backgrounds and across all life stages. She seeks to build collaborative relationships and safe environments for her clients.

Dr. Grace utilizes evidence-based practices including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing. Dr. Grace also considers each client's unique context and cultural (e.g., race, gender, SES, community, spirituality) background and integrates these constructs in her treatment.

Dr. Grace Ahn-Im, Psy.D.

Executive Director / Clinical Supervisor / Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Primary Areas of Care: Children, Adults, Couples, Life transition, Depression, Anxiety, and Identity Concerns

Christine C

Chris specializes in anxiety and depression concerns, mood disorders, and life transitions. Her experience ranges from working in outpatient hospital settings, community mental health centers, and private practice. She has a depth of knowledge in addressing our current national crisis of opioid addiction.

Her approach is collaborative and focuses on a client’s strengths to find solutions to their problems. She addresses clients' emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal issues using evidenced-based cognitive-behavioral therapy. Chris integrates spirituality and Christian perspectives when requested.

Chris received her master’s degree in clinical psychology with a concentration in addictions. Her passion for helping others led to her vocation of becoming a clinical therapist. Her belief is that each of us has unique gifts and our life journey is to discover them, this leads to true happiness.

Christine Collins, M.A., LCPC, NCC, CADC

Clinical Director / Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Addiction, Mood Disorders, and Life Transitions

Peonita H

Dr. Harris has practiced in the field for 18 years. Dr. Harris has been an ordained minister for over 20 years and has served in leadership throughout her professional career. She has experience in leading women’s ministries and pastoral counseling ministries. She has also trained women for leadership in ministry and spearheaded training for lay-ministers in pastoral care.

Dr. Harris’s goal is to embrace the uniqueness of all individuals as she assists them to discover and live out their divine purpose. She is committed to the movement of de-stigmatizing mental illness and the integration of faith and practice. She has many years of experience in working with distressed couples, couples recovering from infidelity and betrayal, and survivors of sexual trauma and working with couples and partners recovering from the impact of sexual addiction.

Dr. Harris has a bachelor’s degree from Moody Bible Institute. She has a Master’s in marriage and family therapy and is a certified sex addiction therapist. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Adler University. Dr. Harris is also a clinical fellow of AAMFT and a certified Daring Way™ facilitator.

Additionally, Dr. Harris is an alumna of the Chicago Area Christian Training Consortium where she received specialized clinical training in the integration of faith-based practice and psychology.

Rev. Dr. Peonita Harris, Psy.D., LMFT, CSAT, CDWF

Post-Graduate Fellowship Program Director / Diversity Inclusion Specialist / Clinical Supervisor

Primary Areas of Care: Couples, Sex Addiction, and Spiritual Integration
Location(s): Vernon Hills

Sierah A

Sierrah Avant is a doctoral intern who has received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in the same field. Her clinical interests involve helping youth receive the treatment and assistance they need to improve their functioning through education, community support, and mental health services. She collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to promote and support marginalized youth and their systems well-being through targeting and overcoming their presenting barriers in the classroom, community, and mental health.  

Sierrah is a part of the American Psychological Association and specifically the Child and Adolescent Division. She uses various techniques in her treatment, such as Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Play Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Motivation Interviewing, Art Therapy, Mindfulness, and Meditation. Her specialties include children and adolescents, especially marginalized youth having difficulties with Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Trauma, Learning Difficulties, Emotional Dysregulation, and Family Difficulties.

Sierrah loves to travel, dance and is a foodie.

Sierrah Avant, M.A.

Doctoral Intern

Primary Areas of Care: Children, Adolescents, Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Trauma, Learning Difficulties, Emotional Dysregulation, and Family Difficulties.

Kendall B

Kendall specializes in working with children and adolescents who struggle with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges throughout daily life. Some areas she focuses on are issues related to trauma, mood disorders, ADHD, school stressors, anger management, and family and peer relationships.

Kendall has experience working with children in different settings, including school and group settings. In addition to working with children and adolescents, Kendall has experience working with adults who are challenged by daily life stressors, such as relationship issues, work/life balance, and various mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Kendall obtained a master’s degree from the University of Toledo in clinical mental health counseling. Through her schooling and experience, Kendall has established techniques to help provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for individuals to feel comfortable and safe. She believes developing a positive therapeutic relationship is key to the success of counseling for individuals.

Kendall utilizes a number of evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, motivational interviewing, play therapy, and art therapy to help individuals accomplish their goals.

Kendall has a passion for traveling and enjoys painting and drawing, taking long walks with her dog, and spending time with friends and family.

Kendall Brickman, M.A., LPC

Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Children, Adolescents, and Emerging Adults

Monica C

Monica is guided by a strong desire to help people work through things that are getting in the way to live a more balanced, fulfilled, and authentic life. She assists those individuals who feel stuck, trapped, broken, or lost by their own thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.

She is passionate about working with people who are curious about themselves and those who want to explore and understand what’s behind their depression, anxiety, body image issues, low self-worth/esteem, relationship issues, hopelessness, trauma, or shame.

From the initial session to all subsequent visits, clients can anticipate that Monica’s central goal will be to assist them toward living and sustaining intentional, meaningful, vibrant, and wholesome lives with hope, education, healing, direction, and growth. Monica empathically engages her clients while supporting them in their endeavors as they define and refine their true selves.

She considers therapy a gift; the opportunity to journey alongside clients as they disclose their innermost anguish and pain; being able to bear witness to those things and then helping to guide them toward hope, healing, and transformation is truly an honor. Aside from helping clients accomplish their goals, she also assists each client in uncovering their unique cargo; this cargo encompasses a client’s unique strengths, talents, and abilities, which they each uniquely contribute to the world.

For those comfortable integrating Christian themes and perspectives, she is pleased and privileged to help drive therapy forward where clients can discover the grace, belongingness, compassion, and freedom that God unequivocally extends to all people.

Monica graduated from Western Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in psychology along with a specialization in neuroscience and graduated from Concordia University Chicago with a Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling. She is a national certified counselor (NCC) and an active member of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA).

In her free time, she enjoys reading, attending live music events and spoken word, baking, and catching up with family and friends.

Monica Caldwell, M.A.

Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Adolescents, Couples, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Life Transitions

Rachael E

Rachel is passionate about working alongside adolescents and adults who are struggling to cope with life challenges and transitions. Rachel strives to create a welcoming environment where clients can openly express their perspectives and experiences.

She has obtained her master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from North Park University. Her approach to counseling is person-centered therapy emphasizing human experiences while integrating cognitive behavioral therapy when appropriate. She enjoys being a resource for clients in their journey toward growing and accomplishing their goals.

Clients can expect Rachel to be attentive and provide empathy while collaborating to establish where they are at and where they want to be.

She loves to spend quality time with her family and friends, enjoy nature, try new things, and compete in sports.

Rachel Eberling, M.A.

Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Adults, Life Transitions, Children, Adolescents, Anxiety, and Depression

LaToya F

Couple and family relationships can be hard work – the source of great joy and great pain. LaToya specializes in couple and family counseling. She primarily works with clients regarding issues such as communication, infidelity, parenting, child and adolescent behavior, depression, anxiety, and daily life stressors. She sees individuals, couples, and families.

LaToya concentrates on strengthening couple and familial bonds, repairing relationship wounds, and breaking destructive generational patterns of interaction. She does so by using a positive, brief therapeutic approach to provide a long-lasting change in as short a time as possible. She strives to create a safe, nurturing environment for her clients by expressing genuine warmth, care, and concern. She wholeheartedly believes her clients can and will accomplish their therapeutic goals.

LaToya received her B. S. in psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. She received an M.A. in counseling with a specialization in marriage and families from Governors State University in University Park, IL. And she is currently working on her doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision from Governors State University.

She also teaches graduate-level courses in counseling, is in the process of co-authoring several chapters in a book on EFT with couples, and frequently presents at professional mental health conferences. In her free time, she likes redecorating her home and watching movies with her husband and two sons.

"Each morning, we are born again. What we do today is what matters most."

Dr. LaToya Flowers-Roe, Ph.D., LPC

Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Couples, Parenting, Child and Adolescent Behavior, and Life Transitions

Nicholas G

Nicholas is a master-level clinician. Attending Catholic schools his entire life, he finished his educational career at the Loyola University of Chicago where he obtained his master’s in social work. Nicholas’ approach is person-centered and solution-focused, utilizing empathic understanding, cognitive-behavioral techniques, and spiritual understanding. Importantly, Nicholas utilizes a unique combination of these treatment modalities that revolve around “meeting you where you are at”.

Nicholas has strived to have these values and practices shine through while treating the community over the past years. A key tenant of Nicholas’s practice is to “utilize empathy through grace and humility in order to build on a client’s own potential”.

In his free time, Nicholas enjoys teaching himself how to play the ukulele and the harmonica. He also enjoys taking classes in martial arts and self-defense.

Nicholas Guerrero, M.S.W., LCSW, CADC, C-DBT

Clinical Supervisor / Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Addiction, Emerging Adults, Anxiety, and Depression

Kevin G

Kevin has served as a Pastor and in nonprofit leadership for 18 years. He has experience with relationships, loss, trauma, and crisis situations. He has a particular interest in emerging adults.

Kevin offers a space of grace and acceptance as he works with his clients to pursue a place of wellness. He helps clients discover their worth and purpose so that they can find meaningful and hope-filled lives. For those who desire the integration of spirituality, Kevin blends his pastoral background into his therapeutic care.

Kevin earned his bachelor’s in Bible from Cedarville University and his master’s in Christian formation from Wheaton College and his master’s in Counseling Psychology from North Park University.

In his free time, he enjoys reading, travel, golf, and spending time with his family.

Kevin Gwin, M.A.

Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Couples, Emerging Adults, and Life Transitions

Shannon K

Shannon specializes in providing therapy individually with adults and emerging adults. She has over eight years of experience working with grief and loss, specifically, and is also trained in domestic violence and gender issues.

Shannon obtained a Master’s degree in Social Work from Dominican University. As a therapist, she is dedicated to creating a safe and calming space for people to explore their needs on a journey to healing and wellness. She has a relational style of therapy that looks to client’s goals, experiences and strengths in order to meet the unique needs of each individual. She works collaboratively out of strengths-based, trauma informed, solutions-focused approach, utilizing evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.

Clients can expect Shannon to meet them where they are with empathy and intuition. She has experience working with clients across gender, ethnic, generational or religious differences. Her practice is informed by her faith and she believes spirituality can be a vital piece of the therapeutic process when a client is open to the concept.

Shannon loves spending time outside, reading and exploring Chicago with her family.

Shannon Krabill, M.S.W., LCSW

Clincial Supervisor / Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Grief/Loss, Couples, Domestic Violence, Gender Issues, Depression, and Anxiety

Brain P.

Dr. Brian Post received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Wheaton College and is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. He enjoys offering psychological assessments to both celebrate who people are and assist them in areas where they struggle. He can help clarify a person's mental health diagnosis, give in-depth personality descriptions to promote growth, evaluate preparedness for bariatric surgery, fulfill adoption requirements, and determine readiness for missions and seminary training.

Dr. Post’s primary role at Cornerstone Counseling is to assist in the training of future clinicians. He is a supervisor for the Chicago Area Christian Training Consortium, which emphasizes the integration of faith-based practice and psychology.

Dr. Brian Post, Psy.D., LCP

Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Psychological Assessments and Spiritual Integration

Zach S

Zach enjoys working with a diverse population and tailors the therapeutic environment to meet each client where they are to address their specific and unique needs. Clients can expect a holistic model of therapy that aims to acknowledge the relationship between mind, body, and spirit, while also being challenged to discover their full potential individually, relationally, and spiritually.

Zach specializes in working with adults whose day-to-day functioning is being impacted by anxiety, depression, and/or sexual addiction as well as children who are experiencing emotional or behavioral inconsistencies like symptoms of ADHD. He utilizes evidence-based interventions to support the client’s welfare, drive improvement, and relief from symptoms.

Zach has always felt led to assist others in discovering their purpose/meaning, which ultimately guided him into the field of psychology. Zach earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Chicago State University.

Zach enjoys spending meaningful time with his family, listening to music, watching great television, exploring the world, and playing sports/competitions.

Zach Seifert, M.A., LPC

Community Partnership Coordinator / Clinical Supervisor / Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Anxiety, Depression, Children, Family Systems, and Sexual Addiction

Shannon.S

Shannon specializes in working with couples and families. When working with clients, Shannon comes from a place of curiosity and actively listening to their stories. Shannon has a welcoming personality and works to create a safe space, so the client feels comfortable exploring different areas of their lives and emotions that come up. Shannon works in collaboration with her clients to determine their path forward. She views clients from a systemic and holistic perspective.

Shannon received her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy from Adler University. Shannon has completed her level 2 credential in Gottman Training. She is also trained in prepare enrich, a great tool for premarital counseling.

In her free time, Shannon enjoys traveling, reading, rock climbing, and catching up with her family and friends.

 

Shannon Spethman, M.A.

Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Couples and Families
Location(s): Main Office and Vernon Hills

Jermaine T

Dr. Thomas specializes in working with individuals struggling with early relational trauma, depression, and couple issues. His treatment approach is integrative, as he incorporates perspectives from psychodynamic theory, emotion-focused therapy, the Gottman method, Adlerian therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Dr. Thomas believes that our early experiences, particularly our early relational experiences, lay the foundation for how we view others, the world, and ourselves. He strives to help individuals recover from the pain of their past, and he has a passion for working with individuals who seek to learn more about themselves and desire to grow emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Dr. Thomas is especially passionate about helping clients form a better relationship with God and fully experience His grace.

Dr. Thomas obtained his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgetown University and his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Adler University.

His style of therapy is relational, and clients can expect that he will explore their issues with them without judgment. It is his aim to create a safe space in which clients feel comfortable working through difficult private issues, as he provides support along the road to healing.

A fun fact about Dr. Thomas is that he really enjoys playing basketball and participating in obstacle course runs.

Dr. Jermaine Thomas, Psy.D.

Clinical Supervisor / Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Primary Areas of Care: Early Relational Trauma, Depression, and Couples

Stephanie T

As an inner-city Chicago native, Stephanie has had much experience with youth and women who have suffered loss and trauma. She has a deep value for connecting the hurting to healing and sharing hope in moments when hope seems lost.

As such, Stephanie is passionate about working alongside under-resourced adults and adolescents who struggle with regulating emotions, including anger, sadness, uncertainty, anxiety, effects of trauma, women’s issues, and depression. Stephanie is also passionate about addressing issues within relationships as well as spiritual concerns.

Stephanie views connectedness and spirituality as essential aspects of human development and healing. Stephanie also has an interest in working with life and work transitions.

Clients can expect that Stephanie will meet them where they are emotionally and spiritually. They can expect that Stephanie will guide them to think critically and holistically about concerns to increase self and other-awareness and implement strategies for a healthier well-being.

Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from DePaul University and her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Trinity Christian College.

Stephanie loves writing and performing poetry and was the recipient of the Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award of 2012.

Stephanie Rose Torres, M.A., LPC

Bilingual Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Trauma, Women's Issues, and Depression

Kara W

Kara earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and concentrated her graduate studies on integrating faith and psychology. Her dissertation displayed this interest by looking at healthy and unhealthy motives for spiritual fasting. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in pastoral care from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK.

Her approach to counseling involves exploring and understanding one’s difficulty and, with that understanding, finding appropriate changes that will help improve one’s lived experience or situation. Kara strives to develop an empathic and encouraging partnership and embodies a patient, direct, and transparent stance in the relationship. She also utilizes creativity to assist with mental and emotional processing or as a tool for self-care. She is trained to include one’s faith perspective uniquely to each person's preference.

She is passionate to work with issues related to grief, life changes, identity and self-esteem, spiritual development, self-awareness, assertiveness, relational conflict, communication, anxiety, depression, vulnerability, shame/guilt, and other everyday life difficulties. She works with adults and provides premarital counseling that utilizes the Prepare/Enrich assessment. She has conducted educational seminars related to stress, social pressures to succeed, and developing healthy relationships.

She loves to spend time with her family, practice creativity, read nonfiction, enjoy nature, and bond with animals.

Dr. Kara White, Psy.D. - Not Accepting Clients

Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Life Transitions, Grief, Depression, and Anxiety
Location(s): Main Office and River Forest

Our Interns

Dominique W

Dominique is dedicated to her life-purpose of helping people heal fromadverse childhood experiences, and grief, anxiety, PTSD, depression and/or related mental health challenges. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, she places an emphasis on healthy communication between couples and family members and assists individuals with navigating emotional suppression through various means of Expression.

With a systemic lens, Dominique integrates Experiential Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy, with holistic practices and expressive arts therapy. She incorporates concepts from Internal Family Systems (IFS), by empowering the SELF.

Dominique has worked with children and adolescents for over ten years, as well as created and facilitated group therapy sessions for community members of all ages. Dominique aims to collaborate with clients, creating Balance, Self-Love, and healthy Expression, fostering human growth and development. Dominique is a California Native, new to the Chicago area. She is completing her Master’s program in Marriage and Family Therapy with the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University.

Fun Fact: Dominique is an identical twin.

Dominique L. Walker

M.A. Intern
Primary Areas of Care: Children & Adolescents, Emerging Adults, Intimate Partner Violence, Couples, and Families

Our Support Team

Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago

Veronica has over 20 years of extensive operations management experience in nonprofit organizations and charter schools. She is excited to contribute and support Cornerstone’s organizational growth, philosophy, goals, and objectives.

In her spare time, she enjoys teaching young girls and women the importance of self-care through dance fitness classes in her community along with volunteering her time to various donation drives, events, and fundraisers throughout the year to help children from low-income families.

Veronica Perez

Office Coordinator / Academic Liaison

Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago

Spreading awareness, sharing information, and connecting with others through technology and social media are some of Jessica’s passions, and these are also reasons why she wholeheartedly supports the mission and vision of Cornerstone. Having the opportunity to utilize her skills in marketing and communications allows her to help further Cornerstone’s vision by using social media networks to share and connect people to Cornerstone.

Jessica earned her B.A. in communications with an emphasis on contemporary media studies from Trinity International University and her M.A. in relational communication from DePaul University. She enjoys working with others through team-building challenges and experiences while also spending quality time with her husband and family.

For fun, Jessica likes going on short road trips, playing pool, and journaling from time to time.

Jessica Wheeler, M.A.

Marketing & Events Director 

Lauren M.

Lauren earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minors in Spanish and Legal Studies from Northwestern University. She upholds Cornerstone's mission of social justice through her passion for helping others and desire to make mental health resources more accessible for all members of the community. In her position as Intake Coordinator, she aims to make every new client feel welcomed and supported when pursuing services at Cornerstone. For fun, Lauren enjoys taking her dog Moose to the beach, roller-skating and reading.

Lauren Miller

Intake Coordinator