Our St. Charles Therapists
Specialties
Education & Certification
Katie’s approach to therapy is client-centered collaboration. By working together to establish goals and create an individualized treatment plan, Katie provides a safe place to share one’s concerns. Katie develops a trusting and supportive environment and treats each client as an individual. With a background in residential treatment for addiction, Katie understands the many levels of recovery. Katie sees clients ages six and above. With the use of humor, CBT, and DBT Katie provides a place for each client to grow.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Specialties
Education & Certification
Ingo enjoys assisting individuals in developing a greater understanding of themselves in order to engage in a life that is congruent, powerful, and meaningful. He considers it a privilege to walk alongside clients struggling with life transitions, especially teenagers and adult males, while helping them to find their voice and to establish healthy boundaries. Ingo welcomes the opportunity to engage with couples in therapy by encouraging them to cultivate an awareness of each other and their relationship. With an extensive background in various group therapies, Ingo believes that the dynamic of here and now interactions enables clients to set in motion positive changes in the moment while inspiring each other to grow. Prior to joining Centennial Counseling, Ingo was involved in technical sales and project consulting.
Specialties
Education & Certification
John believes that a customized plan must be invented for every client; but listening and understanding are always the first steps. He believes that the best outcomes are found when combining modern psychological research with a personalized approach for each individual. John entered the psychology field to combine his passions for listening and helping others. He aims to make these passions evident in every session.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Psychotherapy is a personal experience that combines both art and science. Through the process of exploration, Tim works diligently to understand the experiences in life that contribute to a person’s current desire to enter therapy. Whether addressing difficulties that occurred long ago or a painful event that happened recently, Tim is highly interested in assisting others to develop a path in life that is more satisfying for them. In addition to administrative and supervision responsibilities at Centennial, Dr. Buhrt is an adjunct professor at Wheaton College Graduate School in the Marriage & Family Therapy program.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Victor takes a practical, down to earth approach to working with people. Having worked as a guidance counselor in a school he has a lot of experience and enjoys working with kids and adolescents using play and experiential activities to build trust with them. He enjoys working with family systems as well and is creative about meeting families where they are at and supporting as well as challenging conversations about how families can be the best they can be. Victor also enjoys working with couples as they sort through whatever flavor of life’s “stuff” they are dealing with. He is empathetic and works to help couples see things from different perspectives.
On a personal note Victor enjoys time outdoors building things and art with his family. He enjoys woodworking, fishing and making fishing equipment.
Areas of Speciality: couples issues, masculine development, ADHD, spiritual concerns, and recovering from shame.
Populations Serving include Children 5+, Adolescents, Families, and Co-Parenting
Specialties
Education & Certification
Jennifer Geltz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker working in the Sandwich office of Centennial Counseling Center. Jennie’s positive focus on people’s strengths and helping people grow new areas of coping for life’s challenges is part of her passion for working with people.
Jennie obtained in bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Illinois State University in Normal, IL, and a Master’s in Social Work from Aurora University in Aurora, Il with a focus on working with school systems and adolescents and families in their community.
Jennie has experience working with individuals, groups, and families providing therapy in a community mental health and addiction treatment agency as well as working with school districts. She has led youth groups and large events for youth around drug and alcohol prevention as well as recovery-oriented community events. Jennie specializes in working with women, men, adolescents, and families around co-occurring mental health problems and drug and alcohol problems. Helping to motivate clients to change in these often difficult areas in one’s life as well as focusing on the person’s goals and desires for help are areas of focus in starting a therapeutic relationship. Jennie works with families to educate them on what their loved one is experiencing and then takes problem-solving to the next level by helping families through conflict management towards positive growth.
Area’s of specialty are: Anxiety, Bi-Polar, Depression, Drug and Alcohol Problems, Trauma and impact on both women and men, LGBTQ population, adolescents and transition of life phases and wholistic life wellness.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Bernadette understands that in order to help facilitate growth in an individual, couple or family they need to be in a safe place. Each person’s goal is distinct and important. She works with each client where they are at and helps them identify coping mechanisms and other skills that will allow them to have a healthier future.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Laurie is passionate about creating a therapeutic relationship based on genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive regard while utilizing traditional, alternative, and holistic therapeutic approaches to healing.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Jessica Novak is passionate about empowering children, adolescents, and adults as they navigate life’s trials, tribulations, and transitions. She is innovative, down-to-earth, and aims to create a safe, nurturing environment as she engages clients with empathy, humor, and a direct and non-judgmental approach. Jessica works alongside her clients, encouraging and helping them find hope on their individual journey to peace and restoration. She offers a non-denominational Christian counseling approach for individuals seeking this.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Christina is passionate about helping others gain new skills, be empowered, and feel understood. This is done through a client-centered, positive focused approach using CBT, Solution-focused, mindfulness, DBT, and expressive arts. She works with the mind and body while integrating spirituality if it serves the client. She has experience working with disabilities and sensory issues and specializes in working with children as young as five through young adulthood. She is honored to walk this journey with you to heal and grow.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Lindsey is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who prioritizes using a warm, authentic, and evidence-based approach. Her crisis work with patients in hospital settings and therapy settings has allowed her to be well rounded in seeing the big picture for clients in their whole wellness. Lindsey meets clients where they are at and is creative with approaches to helping including using play therapy, mindfulness and DBT skills. She is passionate about decreasing the stigma around mental health and creating a space where clients feel comfortable working towards lasting change.
Areas of Speciality include: Anxiety, Depression, BiPolar Disorder, ADHD and trauma.
Populations she enjoys working with include Men, Women with trauma backgrounds, children 7+ and adolescents and family systems.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Tiffany has experience working with individuals, groups, and families providing therapy in an addiction treatment agency and community mental health agency.
Tiffany specializes in working with co-occurring mental health concerns. Tiffany works with families to educate them on what their loved one is experiencing and bridging conflicts with open communication. Tiffany strives to develop a safe environment for clients utilizing a mindful holistic approach. She assists clients with self-empowerment, understanding the family system impact, and growing through the transitions of life.
Personally, Tiffany enjoys yoga, reading, and doing crafts in her spare time. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
Areas of specialty are: Anxiety, substance use disorders, trauma, stress management, and relational issues
Populations Tiffany enjoys working with include Men and Women with trauma in childhood, Adolescents and family members.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Scott enjoys working with clients of diverse struggles and backgrounds, from adults of all ages to adolescents and children. Through both a psychodynamic perspective and cognitive behavioral approach, his goal is to foster a safe environment of acceptance and depth through empathic dialogue.
Scott has experience working in a variety of mental health settings, where he developed a focus on trauma and relational dynamics. He has an extensive background in group therapies and is a Gottman-certified couples’ therapist. At Centennial, Scott collaborates with clients to develop strategies that create hope and healing in the short term and generate meaningful, lasting change in the long term.
Scott also works as a clinical supervisor to counselors-in-training at Northwestern University, his alma-mater. Prior to entering the mental health field, he enjoyed a decade-long career in journalism where he won multiple writing awards by The Associated Press and NLGJA. He currently writes feature stories for Counseling Today to bridge his past and present careers
Specialties
Education & Certification
My professional experience has varied from working in community mental health, private practice, substance abuse clinics for mandated clients to being the clinical director of a school for teens with mental health issues. I have also engaged in therapy with survivors of trauma (physical, sexual, emotional and interpersonal) as well as individuals who struggle with chronic mental health issues. My trauma informed care perspective of therapy includes a pragmatic approach to continual improvement of my client’s mental health.
The majority of my clients are first time clients to therapy and have or are experiencing a mental health urgency or emergency. I strive to help my clients navigate the difficult times and move on to thriving in their lives as they begin to learn strategies to living a better life.
Understanding that everyone that comes to therapy is looking for change is the approach that I take when initiating services with clients. I look for strengths that are innate in my clients and work to build with them in order to formulate a cohesive approach to care.
My “big picture” approach is that “best care and best practice starts with the relationships that are built in therapy”.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Angela is passionate about helping others. Her professional background in various fields and environments has allowed her to appreciate different perspectives while providing guidance and support. Angela’s hope is to provide personal growth and find lasting healing and restoration.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Daniel believes in looking at life through the lens of relationships. He strives to provide a place to look at how relationships affect our world views and inform our decisions. His goal is to support and empower clients and offer relational tools to approach problems proactively.
Specialties
Education & Certification
It can be difficult and frustrating to engage in behaviors that do not elicit the outcome that we intended. Many times we are unaware of these behavior patterns that we engage in let alone why we do so. I love working alongside clients to explore these patterns and dynamics to gain an understanding of why we do what we do and what needs we are trying to get met. We can then identify more effective ways of getting our needs met that bring us closer to the meaningful life that we all long to live. I utilize therapeutic skills and interventions from DBT, ACT, and CBT. I have spent a number of years working with multi-symptomatic clients in higher levels of care. I consider it an honor to be invited into someone’s world to explore their suffering and create meaningful change.
Specialties
Education & Certification
When life is complicated and chaotic, Sarah enjoys entering into the eye of the storm with individuals and providing a safe place where they can reconnect with their inner wisdom and bravery. Sarah integrates the research of psychology and trauma with the messy nature of human life to create a unique, holistic, soulful therapy endeavor for each child, adolescent, and adult with whom she works. When children are struggling, Sarah provides both the child and their parents with skills and support while they navigate toward growth and healing. Sarah has a gentle and honest approach and is committed to walking alongside her clients through the pain, frustration, or anxiety into a fuller, more meaning-filled life.
Specialties
Education & Certification
It is my hope that therapy will be a place that my clients experience true healing and growth, regardless of the journey they find themselves on. I believe that sharing with clients in both of lifes joys and suffering is one of the greatest privileges and an honor I do not take lightly. I believe that as people, we are relational by nature, and thus I like to approach therapy from a systemic perspective that takes into account an individual’s context in order to tell the whole story of who they are. I am interested in walking alongside men and women who are experiencing the weight of anxiety and depression and are looking for someone who will understand the hidden part of the heaviness they carry. I also have compassion for understanding adolescents who are struggling to navigate all of the unique changes and struggles that are often present during these pivotal and formational years. Finally, I love working with families and couples, working collectively to assist them in restoring predictability and order in their lives and relationships.
Specialties
Education & Certification
My approach to therapy is informed by my diverse educational, cultural and spiritual background along with curiosity that helps me to stay immersed in the stories of people I work with. I want my clients to experience me as being genuinely interested in them and passionate about all the ways they can build up motivation, skills, and resources for change, recovery, healing, and growth.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Kesha believes that each client possesses the strengths needed to resolve life challenges, and her role is to help clients navigate their experiences to arrive at their own best solutions.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Vivian believes that therapy is a safe place for exploring beliefs, behaviors, feelings, and relationship issues to move toward being a healthier version of yourself while resolving painful emotions.
Specialties
Education & Certifications
Specialties
Education & Certification
“I believe that our fundamental role as therapists is to create with our clients a safe & trusting relationship within which they can begin to construct, or re-construct, life narratives that honestly make sense to them.”
Specialties
Education & Certification
Taryn uses a client-centered approach to provide a safe space for individuals and couples seeking help. She uses a multitude of therapeutic interventions catered to fit individual needs. She aims to help clients discover their values, strengths, and add meaning to their lives. She believes that active listening, validating, and forming a good therapeutic relationship is key to helping individuals on their journey toward healing.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Life can be tough, confusing, even painful. At times, all of us need someone to help share the burden, a safe place to let down and figure it out. I have dedicated my life and training to helping others do that through church ministry, 12 Step groups, teaching and now, professional counseling. Among my particular passions are helping couples find their way back to strong, safe, loving connection and adults heal and grow. If I can help, I would consider it a privilege to be invited to walk a stretch of your journey with you.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Eileen Sullivan is a client centered therapist whose aim is to create a safe, trusting supportive environment where clients can bring their pain and feel less alone in this process. She explores healing through strength based / solution focused approach that will help clients navigate their life by achieving their goals and potential. Eileen’s focuses on building a compassionate and safe environment where clients can develop a collaborative relationship. She uses a an eclectic approach that integrates a variety of evidence-based techniques, including Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy(DBT) and Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Specialties
Education & Certification
Amy feels honored to be part of helping people heal and grow over the past two decades and values the therapeutic relationship. Relationships shape us, challenge us, and fulfill us. Amy’s background and training in family systems provide a framework for working with individuals, couples and families. Amy believes in the power of positive psychology, changing narratives, utilizing strengths, focusing on solutions, and aligning our actions with our values as tools to gain a better of ourselves and our relationships, to leverage change, and to promote healing and personal growth.
Specialties
Education & Certification
About
Mary Kay Clarke earned her master’s degree in counseling from DePaul University in 1991 and is board certified in addiction treatment. Mary Kay brings a compelling foundation of experience to her practice and her motivating approach to therapy is fueled by enthusiasm, empathy, and a sincere compassion for her clients. Whether you are seeking freedom from stress, personal healing, or need a change in perspective, Mary Kay’s approach brings to light your unique life situation. Ready to challenge you, Mary Kay wants to help you build upon your strengths and fine-tune the areas of your life that need a better response.
Mary Kay’s goal for each client is not only based on encouragement and tailoring an action plan, it is based on a genuine respect for your life. With a mindset of looking at life as an ever-evolving process, Mary Kay believes that small changes will bring big results in the vitality of your life. Your goal should not be perfection, rather exploring ways to make positive and assertive choices to reach your own personal contentment.
Mary Kay has experience working with a variety of chemical dependency, mental health, dual diagnosis, marital/family, military, educational, and court-ordered programs. Mary Kay has worked in the judicial system, private practice, and several hospital systems on every level of care. She was also a consultant for the military specializing in trauma, deployment, and re-integration.
Mary Kay has been a member of the Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association since 1991 and is certified in critical incident stress management.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Colin is passionate about helping couples, families, and individuals communicate more effectively, experience different ways of relating to one another and see new perspectives. Colin is interested in making changes that not only impact the individual, but also impact those they find themselves in relationship with.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Kimberly desires to journey alongside individuals, children, and families to feel heard and understood, and utilize their strengths to experience empowerment, positive changes, and connection. Using play therapy, Theraplay informed practice, and expressive activities Kimberly helps a person process experiences that can be overwhelming at times and provides parent support to find helpful and meaningful ways to approach difficulties and life. Kimberly also assists others in exploring their faith and the manner in which spirituality affects their daily life. By examining all areas of life, Kimberly strives to contribute to personal growth and increased satisfaction in relationships.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Tina’s approach to therapy is strength based, empowering, and interactive. Tina believes in the importance of meeting the individual where they are in life, and that successful change is possible. Tina assists her clients in gaining new skills, and connect with resources to support positive progress towards their goals. Tina is eclectic utilizing multiple approaches that often include cognitive-behavioral, narrative, systems, step work, client-centered, psychoeducation, solution, and motivational interviewing.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Katie has worked with adolescents and adults in a variety of mental health settings over the past 15 years. Her passion lies in helping others become more self-aware and grow in areas of their life where they feel stuck or frustrated Katie uses a down to earth approach to therapy; relying on humor, stories and a genuine curiosity about others to create a comfortable environment for her clients to be supported and challenged. Katie uses a variety of tools including ACT, DBT and the Enneagram Personality Typing System.
Specialties
Education & Certification
It takes courage to begin therapy. And hope, even when you feel the most hopeless. Trude invites you into private conversations on how to cope with the roadblocks that hinders joy and participation in life, in relationships and with ourselves. She’ll collaborate with the part of each person that desires change and wants new directions. If you and your partner struggle to connect, Trude offers you both a safe place to practice new steps to take.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Nicole is passionate about assisting individuals and families through difficult times, emotional crisis, or painful life transitions. She strives to provide each client/family with a warm, secure, and nurturing environment to promote healing in their lives. Using an integrative approach, Nicole provides clients/families with the necessary tools and strategies to facilitate change in their life in a compassionate, non-judgmental, and collaborative way.
Specialties
Education & Certification
All of us, from time to time, experience issues in our lives that can feel overwhelming. Steve’s primary goal, as a therapist, is to assist clients to address their unique issues. By establishing a safe, and welcoming therapeutic environment, clients will feel confident enough to face their unique challenges. No one treatment modality is suited for every client, or situation. Steve will work with clients to find what best suits their particular situation. Steve always works from a strength-based perspective, in order to establish a solid foundation for the client to work from personally.
Specialties
Education & Certification
David founded Centennial Counseling Center in 1985. He retired from ownership in 2019 and still sees his long-term clients at Centennial. After 20 years of teaching, David also retired from his responsibilities as Guest Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Wheaton College Graduate School. Professionally now, David spends his time consulting with other mental health practice owners, doing occasional professional workshops and writing.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Patrick works with individual adults, couples & older adults. He utilizes an eclectic approach that is specifically tailored to fit each client’s needs. Patrick’s forte is brief, solution-focused treatment. He also serves clients who access their company-sponsored Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).
Specialties
Education & Certification
Tina’s approach to therapy is strength based, empowering, and interactive. Tina believes in the importance of meeting the individual where they are in life, and that successful change is possible. Tina assists her clients in gaining new skills, and connect with resources to support positive progress towards their goals. Tina is eclectic utilizing multiple approaches that often include cognitive-behavioral, narrative, systems, step work, client-centered, psychoeducation, solution, and motivational interviewing.
Specialties
Education & Certification
In her practice, Jennifer McKay approaches each client as unique and seeks to understand their goals for therapy. She works with individuals, families and couples throughout the lifespan to address their concerns, difficulties and the transitions that come with life. She seeks to help clients address the emotional distress of past & present hurts, develop tools to successfully navigate their current contexts & experience new avenues toward wholeness. Jennifer also directs our PsyD practicum program, which helps to train the next generation of psychologists to provide quality compassionate care for clients.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Ariel is passionate about creating a safe space for clients to gain self awareness as they begin to find and understand their true selves. She cares about helping her clients find their voice and explore the brokenness and difficulties they might be experiencing by way of life transitions, grief or distress in relationships.
Specialties
Education & Certification
The exploration of experience, conflict, and relationship in finding meaning, hope, and growth are key in the practice of therapy for Kyle. He works to create a safe space for adolescents, young adults, families, and individual adults as they work to grow and overcome obstacles, changes, and loss in the development of their own unique narrative.
Specialties
Education & Certification
Specialties
Education & Certification
Hollyn believes therapy is a collaborative process. She aims to to walk alongside clients to help figure out what is and is not effective for them in order to help clients get unstuck and moving toward their values again. She uses a relational approach to work with clients and believes that the relationship built with clients is central to helping create change. Hollyn also frequently uses Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), both of which are empirically validated treatment modalities for a wide range of psychological problems, including anxiety disorders, depression, self-injury, and eating disorders.