STRESS CENTER - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Licensed Professional Clinical Counsel

Ann Hogan is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counsel (LCPC) who entered into clinical therapy as a result of unique cultural exposure and a varied background in both professional experiences and personal relationships. She followed her appreciation and interest of the uniqueness of individuals with their complex life stories and her desire to enrich the lives of others by pursuing a Master's of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from Benedictine University in Lisle, Illinois. Ann's educational background combined with experience in differing cultural environments has provided a foundation for continued growth and appreciation of others' values and life experiences.

Job Titles:

• LCPC
• Member of the Illinois Psychological Association

Bill Knor appreciates the value of knowledge and education. His career is founded on the education provided by well-established institutions for higher learning. He has achieved success based on the framework of academic excellence and graduated with summa cum laude and cum laude respectively. He believes that learning is never ending, and continues to strengthen himself to ensure success in his career as a professional counselor. Bill has an MA in Clinical Counseling, from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL and a BA in Liberal Studies, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL. In addition to his private practice, Mr. Knor works with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and abuse. He has completed substantial therapeutic work with children and their families, and often utilizes both Behavioral and Family Therapy methods to ensure that client's show improvement in all facets of their lives. Mr. Knor assists clients in working through emotional trauma and coping with the stress of academic and social pressures in the community by working with them in their homes, schools and social centers. Working with the child's caregivers, family members, and teachers is especially important to Mr. Knor. Support from family members and significant others ensure that behavioral and emotional improvements can be sustained over time. Mr. Knor is a Member of the Illinois Psychological Association. He is uniquely experienced clinician and teacher Mr. Knor values the use of knowledge and evidence in his practice. He regularly attends clinical workshops and lectures in an effort to ensure that he is utilizing the most updated theories and practices in the field of Psychology.

Job Titles:

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Lauren Koby is an experienced Licensed Clinical Psychologist practicing in Homewood, IL. Lauren treats a wide array of problems, including, but not limited to depression, anxiety disorders, survivors of childhood abuse, abuse/trauma, grief and loss, and adjustment issues. She works with individuals across the lifespan from diverse backgrounds. Lauren also specializes in treating children and adolescents. She has received specialized training with child and adolescent populations in hospitals, therapeutic day schools, and community mental health centers. Lauren's therapeutic style encompasses a relational approach. Lauren understands that asking for help is not always easy and without a safe, trusting, and empathic environment, a person will not be motivated to explore their symptoms and work towards change. Lauren believes that everyone has a unique identity and experiences the world through their own way. By focusing on an individual's past and current experiences, she believes this can help foster a new understanding of their symptoms, relationships, and behaviors. In addition, Lauren incorporates cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT), and a variety of acceptance based and mindfulness based approaches into her work with children, adolescents, and adults. Lauren also utilizes child parent psychotherapy (CPP) when working with young children with attachment disorders Lauren developed an interest in psychology as a young child after visiting a hospital and becoming curious about emotional experiences of patients and their families. Lauren studied psychology at The University of Central Florida and graduated with a B.S. in psychology. Lauren then pursued an M.A. in clinical psychology with a focus on forensic psychology and graduated from The University of Denver. During her time at The University of Denver, Lauren worked with incarcerated adolescents and as a result, developed a passion for child and adolescent clinical work. Lauren obtained a doctoral degree in clinical psychology with a focus on child and adolescent clinical psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. Lauren is enthusiastic about the evolving field of clinical psychology and believes that in order to provide quality care, it is essential to stay up to date on research and incorporate evidence based approaches in her work. Lauren maintains a professional membership with the American Psychological Association (APA).

Job Titles:

• Director

Holly O. Houston, Ph.D. founded the Anxiety & Stress Center, P.C. in 1991 to meet the mental health needs of the growing diversity in the south suburban area. Dr. Houston works with people across the lifespan from diverse cultural, racial/ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, religious/spiritual, and economic backgrounds. She adopts a collaborative, problem-solving approach to therapy. Dr. Houston treats a wide variety of problems including, but not limited to, anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, stress-related illnesses, relationship issues, work stress abuse/trauma, and issues of sexuality and gender. Her therapeutic style encompasses creating a warm, down-to-earth, compassionate environment. In this way, thoughts and feelings can be expressed in a shared effort to overcome problems. Dr. Houston has expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy and routinely integrates insight-oriented techniques, relaxation therapies, meditation/mindfulness techniques, trauma reduction techniques and dialectical behavioral therapy techniques into her clinical work. In addition, Dr. Houston emphasizes the role of brain functioning (neuroscience) in the development and maintenance of both adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. She provides techniques that help shape brain functioning to strengthen targeted behaviors and mental states. In addition to providing direct service, Dr. Houston has taught and trained other mental health professionals by providing supervision, consultation and didactic presentations. She has held faculty appointments in the Department of Psychology, Behavioral Medicine Division at the University of Chicago, Department of Psychology at the University of Illinois, Department of Applied Psychology at Loyola University of Chicago, and the Department of Medicine and Psychology at Cook County Hospital. Dr. Houston has been instrumental in the training of psychology interns, medical residents and social work students. Dr. Houston is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago where she earned a B.S. in applied psychology, an M.A. in clinical psychology and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology. Dr. Houston recognizes the importance of staying abreast of the latest research and findings in order to provide high quality care. Therefore, she regularly takes advanced training seminars and incorporates this knowledge into her work. Dr. Houston holds leadership positions in the Illinois Psychological Association on the Social Responsibility Section and the Legislative Committee. In addition, she maintains professional memberships with the American Psychological Association and the Anxiety and Depression Disorders Association of America. Dr. Houston is passionate about humanitarian concerns including social justice issues and promoting equity. In her free time, she enjoys learning new things, traveling, cooking, and spending time with family.

Job Titles:

• Staff Member

Job Titles:

• Staff Member

Job Titles:

• Clinical Professional Counselor

Lauren White-Johnson is a skilled and compassionate licensed clinical professional counselor with a presence in the Orland Park, IL community. She specializes in providing mental health services to adults facing a wide spectrum of challenges, including anxiety disorders, communication difficulties, work-life balance issues, depression, grief, and various stressors that hinder daily functioning. Lauren's approach to therapy is deeply rooted in working collaboratively with clients in the development of treatment plans to meet their unique needs. She draws upon well-established clinical protocols that incorporate the latest therapeutic techniques and evidence-based practices, ensuring that her clients receive the most effective and up-to-date care. Her therapeutic environment is characterized by warmth and support, empowering individuals to confront and conquer the obstacles and imbalances that affect their daily lives. With a commitment to ongoing professional development, Lauren has completed specialized training in contextual behavioral approaches to therapy, including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and cognitive-behavioral techniques. She strongly emphasizes equipping her clients with practical skills that facilitate meaningful behavior change. In addition to her career as a mental health counselor, Lauren held executive senior management roles and served as an educator at esteemed institutions of higher learning across Illinois, including Moraine Valley Community College, Northeastern IL University, and Chicago State University's Department of Psychology. She has also been a valued Professional Advisor to students at DePaul University. Lauren is pursuing a doctoral degree in Traumatology in Community Counseling, adding to her extensive educational background. She obtained her undergraduate degree from DePaul University and her Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Argosy University's Chicago campus. Her dedication to ongoing learning and diverse professional experiences strongly influence her comprehensive approach to mental health counseling. Lauren White-Johnson remains a trusted and valuable resource for individuals seeking personal growth and positive transformation in the Orland Park area.

Job Titles:

• Developmental / Infant Mental Health Specialist
• Trauma Informed Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Timara Betts is a Trauma Informed Licensed Clinical Social Worker whose aim is to support others to build upon their strengths, to gain satisfaction within their authentic selves, nurture positive relationships and achieve personal goals. Timara is a dedicated therapist who appreciates collaborating with clients to provide a safe space while making continuous strides to break the stigma around mental health. Through collaboration, she assists clients in developing positive coping skills through identification of their individual strengths to help increase awareness of their true sense of self. As a therapist, she leans on a strengths-based, trauma-focused approach to embody alignment with every unique therapeutic alliance. She specializes in Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Theraplay to help address concerns that include but are not limited to depression, stress management, grief and loss, anxiety, complex trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and self-esteem. In addition to private practice, Timara is also a Developmental/Infant Mental Health Specialist where she advocates for positive parent-child relationships and the well-being of children who have experienced trauma and are participants within the child welfare system. Prior to private practice, she developed and facilitated a program for students to receive on site counseling through the Sustainable Community Schools grant at a local Chicago Public School grade school while partnering with other community agencies. Additionally, she has trained other professionals through presentations, learning circles and supervision. Timara is a recent published author of a gratitude journal. Her several years of professional experience with youth, families, and professionals has strengthened her passion to empower seekers who are on a path to increased self-discovery as each stage in human development can lead us to closer to self-actualization. Timara completed her bachelor's degree at Illinois State University in Family & Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Family Relationships and master's degree at Governor's State University in Social Work while obtaining a certification in Mindfulness in the Helping Professions. She loves to try new things, participating in crafts, and spending time with her family (including husband, children, and extended family) and friends.