Health and Wellness Staff

Mary earned her Ph.D. (2001) in Counseling Psychology from Indiana State University and her M.S. (1995) in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed her doctoral internship at the Illinois State University Student Counseling Services and her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan Counseling and Psychological Services. Prior to her graduate work, Mary received a B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she majored in Psychology and Anthropology. Her clinical experiences include primarily university and college counseling center work where she has had the opportunity to fulfill a variety roles such as counselor, supervisor/trainer, mentor, advocate, consultant, and administrator. Mary approaches her clinical work with a focus on understanding a client’s social, cultural, and biological factors to allow for a supportive, validating, and empowering space for clients to examine who they are and who they want to become. In her supervisory relationships, Mary places a high value on the supervisory relationship in order to provide an authentic space for growth and development through establishing trust and safety in the journey of becoming a positive change agent in our ever changing world.

Ed earned his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (2012) from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.  He completed his pre-doctoral internship at Butler University and his postdoctoral fellowship at Northeastern Illinois University.  Prior to his graduate studies, Ed received a BA from Illinois Wesleyan University.  Ed has trained and worked in a variety of different clinical settings in his career, including a private practice, a community mental health center, and several college counseling centers.  He also spent several years working on a psychiatric hospital unit for children, adolescents, and young adults.  In these settings, he worked with a diverse range of people with an equally diverse range of reasons for seeking counseling.  Ed approaches counseling primarily from a humanistic, person-centered perspective, but also integrates components of existential and psychodynamic theories into his work with clients.  As a part of this approach, Ed is sensitive to each person’s unique blend of multiple social identities, including race, ethnic background, gender, sexual identity, ability, SES, and religious background, and how these various identities contribute to an individual’s overall sense of self.  Ed’s areas of interest and specialty are depression, loss and mourning, identity development, trauma, crisis, and interpersonal relationships.  In addition to his clinical work, Ed is also highly committed to supervision and training of future members of the helping fields.  His approach to training is developmental and informed by his humanistic perspective.  Accordingly, Ed believes that the training relationship is paramount and must be characterized by trust and collaboration, which allows trainees to feel both supported and challenged to pursue the goals they set for themselves.

Kasey earned her M.S. (2011) and Ph.D. (2013) in Counseling Psychology from Colorado State University. She completed her doctoral internship at the Colorado State University Health Network and her postdoctoral fellowship at Roosevelt University’s Counseling Center. Prior to her graduate work, Kasey received a B.A. from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where she majored in Psychology and received minors in Spanish and Mathematics.  Beyond her work in multiple college counseling centers, Kasey also has previous clinical experience in private practice and outpatient mental health clinic settings. She enjoys engaging in the wide variety of responsibilities and relationships that come with working in the college setting, including providing counseling services, supervision/training, outreach, and consultation to the campus community. In addition to enjoying working with individuals, Kasey has a passion for both group and couples counseling. Some of her other clinical interests include life transition and adjustment, relational struggles, identity development, self-esteem, gender concerns, autism spectrum disorders, stress management, and alcohol and other drug use concerns. Her approach to counseling stems from client-centered and interpersonal process theories. She believes that clients can begin to make the changes they want in their lives through building a supportive relationship with a therapist who is genuine, authentic, and empathic. When a therapist creates a space in which clients feel safe enough to sit with uncomfortable emotions, clients are able to begin to be more authentic and congruent themselves. Kasey takes a developmental approach to supervision and training, which is influenced by her client-centered and interpersonal style. She believes that the foundation of the supervisory relationship creates the opportunity for growth and further development as a psychologist in training. Most importantly, she strives to be her authentic self and create a space in which trainees can be their authentic selves, developing their own voices and identifying who they are and want to be as a psychologist.

Ashley earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (2016) from Roosevelt University. She completed her doctoral internship at Towson University’s Counseling Center in Towson, MD and her postdoctoral fellowship at Eating Recovery Center, Insight, in Chicago, IL. Prior to her graduate studies, Ashley received a B.A. in Psychology and Educational Studies from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and an M.A. in Psychology from American University in Washington, D.C. Ashley has trained and worked in a variety of settings, including college counseling, community mental health, private practice, and partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient settings. Through these varied experiences working with diverse populations and presenting concerns, Ashley areas of interest, passion, and specialization include working with issues concerning life transitions and adjustment, identity exploration and development, emerging adulthood, academic and career concerns, relationships, body image and eating, stress management and mindfulness, and self-confidence/self-esteem/self-compassion. Ashley approaches counseling from a psychodynamic and relational perspective, and believes that relationships are formative and also healing, and strives to create a safe, supportive, caring, compassionate, and non-judgmental space where clients feel seen, heard, and understood. In addition, Ashley also utilizes skills-based interventions to help expand and enhance clients’ coping, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation abilities. Through these approaches Ashley aims to empower each client to gain a deeper understanding and awareness of themselves, their emotions, thoughts, wants, and needs, and their values, so that they can find their own unique voice and live more authentically and congruently. In addition to her clinical work, Ashley is passionate about training, teaching, and supervision, and she utilizes an individualized, developmental, and relational approach to this area of her work. Ashley has taught as an adjunct instructor at Roosevelt University and also as a Master Trainer with The Body Project, an evidence-based, cognitive dissonance body-acceptance program. In her free time, Ashley likes to spend time with friends and host gatherings, arrange flowers and charcuterie boards, travel, read, explore different restaurants, and take mindful walks.

Kassy is in her pre-doctoral internship year, working towards her doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from The Chicago School. She earned her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Roosevelt University in 2018 and her M.A. from The Chicago School in 2022.

Kassy has gained clinical experience in a variety of settings, including an inpatient behavioral health hospital, a therapeutic day school, and a private practice. In these settings, Kassy has worked with diverse populations and gained experience with a range of mental health concerns. Her approach is rooted in psychodynamic and system theories, enriched by a multicultural and relational perspective. Kassy’s clinical areas of interest include mood and depressive disorders, trauma, relationship and family difficulties, emerging adulthood, identity development and exploration, multicultural issues and intersectional experiences, and life transitions.

Kassy believes in a collaborative, empathic, and authentic therapeutic approach that focuses on understanding each client’s range of emotions, unique lived experiences, and strengths. She aims to guide her clients on the non-linear nature of their healing journey. As trust builds throughout the therapeutic process, she seeks to help her clients strengthen their sense of self and feel empowered, as tailored to their individual and cultural needs. In addition, she works within a framework that considers the mind and body connection. Kassy works with all ages, disabilities, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, and spiritual/religious orientations

Rebecca is a pre-doctoral intern and is expected to earn her doctorate in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) from The Chicago School in 2025. She graduated with her B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from Franklin & Marshall College in 2019 and earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School in 2022.

Rebecca has worked and trained across inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient settings. Rebecca has worked with diverse populations in these settings providing individual, couples, family, and group therapy to adults and adolescents. She has treated individuals who present with trauma, relational challenges, depression, anxiety, suicidality and self-harm, bipolar disorder, psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance use, chronic health conditions, and those who are experiencing life transitions.

Rebecca approaches her clinical work using relational and psychodynamic frameworks, often integrating skills-based interventions, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Rebecca strives to provide a space where clients feel comfortable and validated. She believes that building a trusting therapeutic relationship is an essential foundational part of the therapeutic process. Through this relationship, Rebecca brings an empathetic, collaborative, and nonjudgemental approach in her therapeutic work.

Ellie Milligan M.A. (she/her) is a fourth-year doctoral student at The Chicago School’s Clinical Psychology PsyD program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University in 2020 and her master’s degree in clinical psychology from The Chicago School in 2023. Ellie has experience working in therapeutic day school and private practice settings with people across the lifespan. Ellie’s specific interests include eating disorders, adjustment challenges, and interpersonal trauma. She strives to create a non-judgmental, safe therapeutic environment wherein clients can work toward their goals. Ellie’s primary approach to therapy involves a blend of psychodynamic and ACT interventions, incorporating flexibility to meet the client’s needs.

Lauren Johnson M.A. (she/her) is a fourth-year doctoral student, working towards her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Wheaton College. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Biola University in 2020 and her master's degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton College in 2023. During her psychology training, Lauren has worked with patients across the lifespan as a therapist and psychometrist proving neuropsychological evaluations. She has experience working in private practice and large hospital settings in diverse Chicago communities. Her clinical interests include emerging adult populations, identity formation, stress and anxiety, mood disorders, as well as the promotion of psychosocial flourishing at the individual and systemic level. Lauren is passionate about equitable access to mental health care and culturally informed practice that empowers clients. She approaches therapy as a collaborative process, with a high priority placed on developing a meaningful and safe relationship between the client and counselor. Lauren aims to support her clients by increasing one’s awareness of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as providing practical tools that aid client growth in the direction of their goals and values

Christa is a full practice authority APRN in family practice. She received a BSN degree from University of Alabama in Huntsville and a MSN degree for FNP from Loyola University Chicago. She also obtained a bachelor’s degree in medicine while in China prior to coming to the United States. She has been a nurse practitioner for over 10 years and has worked in the acute care, immediate care and primary care settings. She has been a nurse for almost 20 years and used to work at Lake Forest Hospital as an RN for many years before becoming a nurse practitioner. Christa enjoys patient care, health promotion, disease prevention and patient education. She is experienced in diagnosing and managing a wide range of acute and chronic illnesses and minor injuries. She is devoted to inspiring students to make wise health and lifestyle choices.

Christa lives in the suburbs with family. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, crafting and authentic Chinese cooking.

Services offered in the Health Center include physical examinations, illness evaluation and management, minor injury evaluation and management, sexual health (birth control, STI education/testing/treatment), prescription management, wellness and nutrition counseling, some on-site testing as well as other blood draws and laboratory services. Services that are not performed on-site will be referred and billed to a student’s individual health insurance plan (such as x-rays, laboratory testing, and physician specialist appointments). 

Josie Stams received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Spanish from St. Olaf College. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Elmhurst College. Prior to working at Lake Forest College, she worked both as a pediatric and an adult intensive care unit nurse.

Maja received her Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology at Lake Forest College and is currently a graduate student at University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work receiving her Master of Arts in Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Maja has a passion for Substance Use Prevention and has been working in the prevention field for the past four years. Beyond Maja’s work at Lake Forest College, Maja had worked in the non-for-profit field for three years as a prevention specialist with elementary, middle, and high school students facilitating discussions and creating educational materials for students on mental health and substance use prevention across the Lake County area. Maja also helped with the behind-the-scenes data and advocacy work of a 24/7 mental health text line. Using the text lines data and other national data, Maja has been able to lead conversations with parents and other educators on mental health and substance use prevention in their community. Maja aims to be a resource and provide more resources to students at Lake Forest College on and off campus.   

Hannah received her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology from Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. She has experience in the non-profit world when she worked at the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County in Waukegan, IL. In this setting, Hannah has assisted the younger students in their education and the high school students in their future endeavors through various scholarship and internship opportunities. Hannah also has worked in social services.