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

Megan believes that when people are offered grace and compassion, they’re more inclined to confront challenging issues in their lives. When given support, such confrontation can lead to true inner freedom and healing. She considers it courageous to face life and look inside oneself with honesty. No matter the reason for seeking therapy, Megan believes that people’s concerns and struggles make sense within the context of their lived experiences.  

Megan works with people struggling with a wide variety of issues, including codependency, spiritual struggles, grief, depression, anger, anxiety, communication skills, relationship issues, and sexual abuse recovery. In addition, Megan has experience treating eating disorders, primarily binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa. 

For clients comfortable incorporating faith into treatment, Megan is honored to walk alongside them in their faith journey. She is passionate about liberating  individuals who are stuck in shame and guilt and helping them to experience grace, forgiveness, and healing. 

Megan earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Sciences and Disorders at the University of North Dakota. She received her Master’s of Arts in Psychology at Wheaton College, and she is currently finishing the final year of her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College. In working with clients, Megan draws from Psychodynamic Theory, Narrative Therapy, Attachment Theory, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). 

Megan enjoys roller coasters, visiting her family back in North Dakota, attending concerts, and trying new restaurants with her husband.

Megan Gowan, M.A.

Doctoral Intern

Primary Areas of Care: Spiritual Issues, Relationship Issues, Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders

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

Cristian G.

Cristian is currently in the master’s level social work program Loyola University. Cristian was drawn to CCCOC due to its mission of providing care and services that are accessible to the community. He also notes that the Christian aspect of the organization was also a contributing factor to his final decision. He explains that his faith is very important; therefore, I was thrilled to be part of this agency.

Christian is involved in his community and assists with community outreach and education. ’s clinical interests include working with adolescents and trauma.

Cristian enjoys going on long hikes and camping during the fall weather.

Cristian Garcia

Academic Coach / Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Adolescents and Emerging Adults

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

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., ALMFT

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

Ilse V.

Ilse believes that true change and healing comes from a strong therapeutic alliance built on trust, empowerment, and agency. As such, clients can expect a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to examine their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and ultimately arrive at their own solutions.

As a first-generation American, Ilse has special interest in working with immigrant populations. Other clinical interests include anxiety and mood disorders, intergenerational trauma, mindfulness, and mental health accessibility. As a former teacher, she also has experience working with children and adolescents.

Ilse draws from a variety of theoretical approaches, including existential therapy, person-centered therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. She is bilingual and enjoys working with Spanish-speaking clients.

Ilse earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Baylor University and is completing her Master’s degree in community counseling at Loyola University Chicago. She is also a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA).

In her free time, Ilse enjoys reading, trying new foods, and playing with her cat, Fifi.

Ilse Vielma

Therapist
Primary Areas of Care: Anxiety, Mood Disorders, and Trauma

Our Interns

Emily believes that personal change and growth is best achieved through strong therapeutic relationships and trust. As such she works to build healthy and respectful relationships with clients. She incorporates perspectives from feminist theory, psychodynamic theory, and cognitive behavioral therapy to support her clients. She is passionate about women’s issues as well as working with individuals with anxiety, depression and the effects of trauma. Emily believes that spirituality and connectedness are essential to healing. Clients can expect Emily to meet then where they are at and to think critically and holistically about their concerns.

Emily earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University and is completing her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Loyola University.

In her free time Emily loves to swim, bike and sketch.

Emily Gumm

M.S.W.  Intern

Primary Areas of Care: Women's Issues, Children and Adolescents, Anxiety, Depression, Trauma

 

Our Support Team

Kristin W

Kristin Weed earned a BA in Music and Hispanic Studies from Vassar College. She is honored to support an organization committed to integrating faith and practice, helping people spiritually, emotionally and mentally with an equity focus.

Kristin has served in various administrative roles in the non-profit sector including event planning for large conferences and organizing outreach efforts in the community. Additionally, she is very active in college ministry, the PTA, special education advocacy work, and writing, directing, and acting in various community theatre projects.

Kristin Weed

Medical Biller

Chu Jane Yang1

Chu Jane Yang is assistant medical biller in Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago. Chu finished her nursing degree at Seoul Women's college of nursing in Korean in 2003. After graduation she worked as a RN at Song-Do hospital ICU and chemotherapy unit for 5 years. In 2008 she moved to the United States of America and built up her career not only as a RN but also as a medical coder in home health care. Chu has been attending University Bible Fellowship church for 13 years in Chicago engaging in college student ministry, which lead her to interest in Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago. She is quite and loves knitting, still loves to interact with people from different cultures, that is why she loves living in Chicago.

Chu Jane Yang

Assistant Medical Biller

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