ACP CONSULTANTS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Steering Committee for the American Psychological Association Psychology
As a key coach, therapist, educator, author and lecturer, Alan R. Graham, Ph.D., has over three decades of experience helping thousands of children, adolescents, adults and their families, many with ADHD, navigate life's challenges, and gain the tools they need to effectively manage their lives. Initially trained as a secondary and elementary school teacher, Dr. Graham furthered his education by obtaining his Ph.D. at Northwestern University and completing his clinical training at the University of Illinois at Chicago and Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. On the professional staff at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, he has taught graduate courses in assessment and trained many medical students, psychiatric residents, psychology and social work students. Dr. Graham also led a discussion group about positive psychology as part of Dr. Martin Seligman's Authentic Happiness Coaching Program.
Dr. Graham received his coach training at MentorCoach and currently is the Dean of the ADHD Coach Training Program for MentorCoach. He has been certified by the International coach Federation as a Professional Certified coach (PCC) and as a Master Certified ADHD Coach (MCAC) by the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches.
Dr. Graham's experience has included working with difficult children, adolescents, adults and their families in therapeutic day schools, inpatient and outpatient settings. While creating his group practice, ACP Consultants, he also held the position of adjunct professor at the University of Illinois School of Medicine and at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology.
Dr. Graham's executive coaching and consulting experience has included contributing to the success of many individuals and organizations. His coaching specialties include working with executives with business and organizational challenges; adults; teens; and parents. Since, 2006, Dr. Graham has helped many individuals benefit from Cogmed Working Memory Training.
As a way of giving back to the profession, Dr. Graham has served as the chair of the steering committee for the American Psychological Association Psychology in the Workplace Network (PWN). He served on the Professional Advisory Boards of the Chicago CHADD chapter and the Chicago North chapter of the LDA (Learning Disabilities Association). Dr. Graham was asked to serve on the Editorial Board of The Journal of Attention Disorders and was on the board of the Professional Association of ADHD Coaches (PAAC). It is in this spirit of service that, with Dr. Bill Benninger, Dr. Graham created ADDvisor.com as a means to share practical information to families and individuals who live with ADHD every day. For six years, ADDvisor.com had been chosen by CHADD to be honored as an Innovative Practice at the CHADD national conference.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Thompson is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in brain related disorders. He earned his Psy.D. in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2018. Subsequently, he completed a predoctoral internship training at BaySide NeuroRehab Services in Portland, ME with an emphasis on clinical neuropsychological assessment for brain-injured populations. Afterward, Dr. Thompson completed a postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at the Northwest Biofeedback Center in Des Plaines, IL. Currently, he is on staff at Holy Family Medical Center in Des Plaines, IL and board certified in neurofeedback.
Brain related issues are his specialty. Assessment services include neuropsychological assessment and quantitative EEG (qEEG) brain mapping. Treatment services for brain related concerns include neurofeedback, photobiomodulation, and psychotherapy. Common diagnostic conditions assessed for and treated include ADHD, learning disorders, autism, developmental delay, traumatic brain injury stroke, intellectual disability, dementia, anxiety, and depression among others.
In his leisure time, Dr. Thompson enjoys spending time with family, golf, sports entertainment, oil paintings, and reading about science and philosophy.
Job Titles:
- Children, Adolescents, Parents, Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing, Parent Training and Consultation, School Advocacy and Consultation
Margaret Silberman, PhD has extensive experience working with schools. She started her career as a special education teacher and then moved on to obtain her PhD at Northwestern University in Counseling Psychology. Dr. Silberman served as a pediatric psychologist at the Dreyer Clinic in Aurora for over twenty years, assessing, treating and as a liaison between families and the local school districts. In addition to her work at ACP Consultants, Dr. Silberman currently coordinates a summer special needs program at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin which includes children on the autistic spectrum.
Job Titles:
- Children, Adolescents, Adults. Individual, Marital and Family Therapy, Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Anxiety, Depression, Relationship Development Intervention ( RDI ), Eating Disorders, ADD / ADHD
Michelle Kator, LCSW, has over 20 years of experience assisting children, adolescents, adults, and families facing a multitude of issues. After completing a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Developmental Psychology, Ms. Kator spent many years managing a residential home at the Center of Deafness, a therapeutic school for the hearing-impaired. Upon receiving her Master's Degree in Social Work at University of Illinois she provided counseling services with various community mental health organizations.
Ms. Kator has been associated with ACP Consultants since 1996 treating children, adolescents, adults who are struggling with mental health issues. Ms. Kator also provides emergency services at the Lake Forest Hospital Emergency Department. Previously, she has worked in various settings such as the Winnetka Police Department, Illinois Human Service Department Early Intervention Program, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital In-Patient Psychiatric Unit and Metropolitan Family Services Out-Patient Counseling Center.
It was during her graduate school experience that Ms. Kator started working with children on the autism spectrum. She has completed her Certification as a Relationship Development Intervention Consultant, which is a innovative and promising approach designed to remediate the dynamic deficits facing individuals on the autism spectrum. She is an advocate, speaker, clinical consultant and treatment provider for children on the autism spectrum.
As a mother of two children, Ms. Kator is very active in her community and recognized as a leader around parenting and mental health issues.
Ralph Schwartz, LCSW, has expertise working with adolescents, adults and families. He completed a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education, and his Master's Degree in Social Work from Hunter College in New York City. He earned a certificate in Family Therapy from the Family Therapy Practice Center in Washington D.C., and training as a substance abuse counselor from the University of Maryland.
Mr. Schwartz has extensive experience working on adolescent and adult inpatient psychiatric units dealing with substance abuse, depression and other mental health issues. He has also worked in middle and high schools with all students and their families, including those who are on the autism spectrum. He uses a variety of therapeutic interventions to address ADHD, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts as well as recommendations from IEP or 504 plans.
In addition to his work at ACP Consultants, Mr. Schwartz is a school social worker and is the Director of Special Needs Programs at Camp Ramah in Wisconsin. He has coached students in academic and vocational areas, and taught life and social skills to students in both regular and special education programs. Mr. Schwartz is married and has 4 adult children.