ASPEN COUNS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
- TMS Technician
Amber is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from Walden University. She has several years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults who have experienced various forms trauma, including domestic violence, neglect and abuse. Amber's style of counseling revolves around you as the client; she feels that building a strong therapeutic alliance allows for a collaborative approach to appropriately challenge and address the "norm" that isn't working as well as building resiliency and supports. Amber challenges the client to celebrate not only who they've become but who they could've become and didn't.
Amber has worked in the medical and mental health field for the last 20 years. She has cared for people with developmental disabilities, worked as a CNA, and most recently, Amber was a medical assistant clerk at the Rosecrance Ware Center. She even was a veterinary assistant for many years! Amber enjoys spending time with her family and animals, and adventuring in the great outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Clare Best is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Clare earned her master's degree in clinical counseling from Webster University in St. Louis. She has been with Aspen and Rosecrance since 2011 as a therapist who has treated adults with mental health issues, children, adolescents, and families. Prior to Aspen, Clare spent several years in the field of domestic abuse. She works with many issues, including mood disorders, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, self-esteem, grief/loss, trauma and PTSD. She is skilled in DBT therapy, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Clare enjoys partnering with her clients as they journey toward wellness.
Colin is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who joined Aspen after 20 years working in community mental health and public social service with a focus on child and adolescent therapy. Colin has experience working with a range of clientele including childhood and adolescence, family issues, depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, conduct and defiance, child abuse and neglect, attachment, and couples. In the therapeutic setting, he utilizes evidence-based approaches from a systemic and Gestalt perspective, which focuses on the issues present in the here and now. Colin has a passion for art, writing, gardening, and an unyielding desire to remain constantly outdoors. Always priding himself on good humor, he considers providing therapy an opportunity to connect with others, and providing them with a challenging and comfortable environment for personal growth.
Dr. Garcia runs his private mental health practice out of Aspen and is also the primary practitioner for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Dr. Garcia has been board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology since 1999, and he completed his undergraduate studies at Columbia University, graduate studies at the University of Illinois, and his psychiatric residency at Rush University in Chicago. He has also been board certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine since 2012. Dr. Garcia is licensed in Illinois and is a member of the Illinois Psychiatric Society, American Psychiatric Association, and American Society of Addiction Medicine. Dr. Garcia is the former Medical Director of the H. Douglas Singer Mental Health Center. He is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Illinois, where he has received the Golden Apple, Mentor of the Year, and Faculty Distinguished Teaching awards.
Dr. Jafry is a caring and supportive board-certified psychiatrist in Rockford. She became interested in women's mental health due to her background in Ob/Gyn. She is dedicated to helping women of all ages overcome mental and emotional issues that cause them unhappiness. Dr. Jafry is experienced in treating premenstrual dysphoric disorders and mental disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period. She also provides psychiatric evaluations and medication management, as well as behavioral health care and counseling to adolescents, adults and the geriatric group for ADHD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders, dementia with behavioral disturbances and other mental disorders. Dr. Jafry offers a safe and comfortable environment where clients will be inspired to reach their full potential. Her excellent interpersonal communication skills, along with her belief in family support systems, helps patients heal from their trauma and resolve unsettled issues holding them back in life.
Job Titles:
- TMS Consulting Psychiatrist
Dr. Wright provides consultation and support for the TMS services delivered at Aspen Counseling. Dr. Wright oversees all medical operations for Rosecrance Health Network and the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson adolescent program. He specializes in working with adolescents who have a co-existing or secondary diagnosis in addition to an addiction disorder. Dr. Wright has more than 18 years' experience in the field and is certified as a child and adolescent psychiatrist by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and in addiction medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine. He served on the faculty at Northwestern Medical College in Chicago and at The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago and Rockford. Dr. Wright is a regular conference presenter and has been recognized as a medical educator and leader in the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Jim Viggiano is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist. He graduated from Rutgers University-Camden and earned a master's degree from Connecticut College and a Ph.D. from Catholic University of America. He has been a licensed psychologist since 1980 and has worked in a variety of clinical settings including community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers for children and correctional facilities. For nearly 17, years he was the director of clinical services at Janet Wattles Center, which is now the Rosecrance Ware Center.
Over the course of his career, he has worked with children, adolescents, adults and families. He is skilled in a number of therapies including cognitive-behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) which includes training in mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotional regulation and distress tolerance. He is trained in EMDR, which is helpful for relieving the effects of trauma, and he uses the principles of the Course in Miracles to help with forgiveness and spirituality. He is also skilled in assessment for diagnosis of ADHD and other disorders to assist clients in getting the best treatment for their condition.
Over the past decade he has assessed candidates for surgical procedures that assist in weight loss. He has also helped individuals in achieving weight loss goals.
Jennifer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who is trained in EMDR. Jennifer earned her master's degree in applied family and child studies with a specialization in marriage and family therapy from Northern Illinois University. She joined Aspen in early 2016 as a therapist. Before starting with Aspen, Jennifer had experience working with children, adolescents, families, couples and adults in crisis and with less acute symptoms. Jennifer works with clients from a strength-based and systemic perspective. She acknowledges the power of the mind-body connection and incorporates this into her work. Jennifer works with a wide range of issues, including, depression, anxiety, mood disorders and other mental health diagnoses, self-esteem/self-empowerment, grief and loss and relationship/family concerns. Jennifer's creativity, compassion, and sense of humor help her connect with the people she works with and she partners with them on their journey of healing, change, and self-expression.
Karissa has completed her bachelor's degree in psychology, with a minor in sociology, and a certificate of undergraduate study in criminology at Northern Illinois University. Prior to joining Aspen in 2021, she worked with adolescent mental health and substance abuse clients at the Rosecrance Griffin Williamson Campus as a Behavioral Specialist. Karissa is an avid fiction writer, video gaming enthusiast, and thrifting aficionado.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Therapist
Kathleen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a master's degree in social work. Her education emphasized mental health services and program administration. Kathleen began her career with high risk adolescents who had behavioral and psychiatric issues. She has served as the clinical director in two residential facilities providing services to these adolescents and their families. In the last 15 years, she has been self-employed in private practice working with adolescents and adults. Kathleen has extensive experience and is trained to provide individual, group, family and couples therapy. She is also a Qualified Substance Abuse Provider (SAP) for DOT clients and a Medicare provider. Kathleen enjoys the diversity of her work and the opportunity to help her clients address their specific needs. She considers it an honor to assist others in improving their emotional/mental health, their relationships and their quality of life.
Kathy is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), National Certified Counselor and a fully trained eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapist. She received a master's degree from Roosevelt University. She specializes in trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, addictions, fears, guilt, and a range of life adjustment issues. Kathy works with individuals to help make sense of the past and to understand and neutralize the negative influence it has on present functioning and relationships. By clearing up the "debris" from the past, we can fully focus on being our best in the present and in the future.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Therapist
A graduate of Aurora University with an MSW, Keo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker working with clients as an outpatient therapist at Aspen. She has 20 years of experience working with clients of all ages in many different settings, such as hospitals, clinics, crisis centers, group homes, and classrooms. Keo has extensive experience and training in individual therapy and group therapy using many different modalities such as CBT, DBT, mindfulness, solution-focused, and grief therapy. Currently, she works with adults struggling with various mental health concerns and enjoys educating her clients about their mental health diagnosis. She seeks to assist clients in developing healthy coping strategies to manage their symptoms in day-to-day life settings such as relationships, parenting, and occupational and financial stressors. Keo enjoys teaching DBT skills individually and continues to help clients learn to self-regulate their emotions, set boundaries, and manage their interpersonal relationships effectively. She enjoys spending time with her husband, three children, friends, and three dogs.
Krissy graduated with honors in medical assisting. She started in family practice and has been in the psychiatric field since summer of 2019. She enjoys crafting and time near the ocean.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Therapist
A graduate of Aurora University, Lori is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently splits her time between medical social work in a hospice setting and Aspen as a therapist. Lori has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. She employs such therapeutic interventions as CBT, DBT, grief counseling, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness techniques. Lori is experienced in working with individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, grief, anger, and stress management issues. Her goal is always to empower her clients and focus on their strengths to help them live their best lives.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
Natalie graduated from Liberty University in 2015 with a Master's degree in professional counseling. Natalie started at Rosecrance in June 2015 as an access clinician completing mental health assessments at the Rosecrance Ware Center. She also provided individual therapy as a clinician and case manager. Most recently, she worked at the Rosecrance Mulberry Center, helping with day-to-day operations and providing mental health triage, group and individual therapy to those in crisis. Natalie joined Aspen in December 2021 as Practice Manager, where she supervises day-to-day operations of the clinic and assists with the intake and referral process for transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and employee assistance programs (EAP). Natalie is a foster mom and enjoys spending time with her foster daughter, husband, family and friends. She also enjoys traveling whenever possible.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Nathan is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He earned his B.A. in psychology at Northern Illinois University, and his M.S. in mental health counseling from Walden University. Nathan has been in behavioral health field since 2002, has extensive experience working with adolescents, adults, and their families experiencing substance use and mental health disorders. Nathan approaches each client as an individual, but always leads with compassion and empathy while utilizing an integrated theoretical approach to fit individual needs. Nathan believes in empowering individuals to embrace their ability to change from within, and enjoys using humor and metaphors to bring normalcy and enjoyment to the counseling process. Nathan also serves families the in the Rockford area as a photographer with the Haven Network, an agency that serves families experiencing perinatal loss.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Therapist
A graduate of Aurora University, Teisha is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who currently splits her time between the school setting and Aspen as a therapist. She has experience working with preschool aged children through adolescence, adults, families and couples who deal with anxiety, major depression, trauma, and oppositional defiant disorders, ADHD, Bipolar, and Autism. Teisha utilizes various theoretical modalities in her work, including CBT, REBT, EBT, play therapy, mindfulness, and grief therapy. She helps her clients develop coping skills and mindfulness techniques to self-regulate and find calm in difficult situations. She also has experience as an adjunct professor in Aurora University's graduate social work program.
In her spare time, Teisha loves hanging out with her puppies while training them to become therapy dogs. She enjoys kayaking, spending time with her family and traveling. She plans to return to Africa and dreams of traveling the United States in a tiny van home.
Tom has 15 years of experience working with patients who have co-occurring disorders, with a focus on addictions and trauma. Tom uses multiple channel exposure therapy (M-CET), a research-based therapy developed by Dr. Sherry Falsetti for treating PTSD/panic attack symptoms. He believes in the individual's ability to make positive changes despite serious addiction and mental health challenges. Tom understands the difficulty clients face in making these changes and uses cognitive behavioral and client-centered therapies. He is a member of the American Counseling Association. He completed his undergraduate studies at Northern Illinois University and his graduate studies at National Louis University.