Mental Health & Family Support
Questions? Contact mentalhealth@eastersealsdfvr.org.
For more information and/or scheduling, please contact Intake Coordinator, Michele Tabachka at mtabachka@eastersealsdfvr.org or 630.282.2023.
Do you know a child or family who is struggling? Perhaps she demonstrates low self-esteem or lacks confidence? Maybe he has difficulty managing change or daily stressors? She may be experiencing anxiety or panic attacks. They may be acting out behaviorally by testing limits.
Children with disabilities are a highly diverse group representing many conditions and identities — from learning disabilities and emotional and behavioral diagnoses to special health care needs. Research shares that more than half (56%) of children with a diagnosis have a current mental health or behavioral diagnosis, such as ADHD, depression or anxiety. Their caregivers can also experience stress related to balancing care, careers and finances. Parenting is a stressful and challenging job. Parenting a child with a disability can be even harder.
No one has to do it alone. We’re here to help.
Our staff completes comprehensive assessments to pinpoint what a child and family need to be able to succeed. Working with the entire family, our staff can identify each child's unique strengths and challenges and then tailor a treatment plan to meet those needs. Social Work and Counseling Services can help these children and their families learn to grow together.
Common Issues Addressed by Social Work and Counseling Services with Families with Children with Developmental Delays: acting out behaviors - adjustment issues - ADHD (inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity) – autism – anxiety - depression – death & loss – developmental delays - parental separation & divorce - low self-esteem - social skills - problem solving skills – self advocacy - sibling conflict & rivalry- panic attacks - daycare/ school challenges - stress management - temperament management - transition planning
Social Work and Counseling Services at Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley Includes:
- Individual Therapy Sessions (play therapy techniques, cognitive behavioral strategies)
- Family Therapy Sessions (family dynamics, communication, problem solving, coping with disability, in-home supports)
- Parent Education, Training, & Coaching (what is typical & what is not, motivational strategies, developmentally appropriate limits, natural and logical consequences, parenting style differences, marriage issues related to parenting)
- Consultation with Other Providers (pediatricians, day care staff, educational personnel)
- Parent Support Groups & Connecting to Other Community Resources
Comprehensive Support for Siblings, Family Members and Through Medical Procedures
Our social workers are also involved in all of our specialized clinics to provide resources and support through a diagnosis or complex medical needs.
Additionally, if a child has a medical procedure scheduled that is creating worry, distress or discomfort, our team offers a four-session program to help ease this discomfort through exploration, play, art and self-expression.
We also support children who have a sibling with developmental delays or neurodivergence. We offer a sibling support group for opportunities to connect with other siblings through their shared experiences in addition to gaining understanding and tools to navigate through their journey. Our goal is to provide your child with a warm environment where they feel safe to explore their emotions and build their own community.
*Families may benefit from a variety of service frequency and duration based on what they need.
Insurance Coverage:
Although mental health benefits vary, most medical insurance plans provide behavioral health coverage. Benefits will be verified prior to the start of services. Services also are available via private pay.
For more information and/or scheduling, please contact Intake Coordinator, Michele Tabachka at mtabachka@eastersealsdfvr.org or 630.282.2023.
ABOUT OUR TEAM:
Brittany Wilkie, Director of Mental Health and Family Support P 630.261.6272 bwilkie@eastersealsdfvr.org
Brittany is a clinical social worker and serves as our Director of Mental Health and Family Support, specializing in supporting children and families. Practicing through a developmentally-based and trauma informed lens, Brittany utilizes play therapy, relationships and movement to help children and their caregivers connect and learn about their bodies and emotions. Brittany believes that every child is managing their feelings in the very best way they know how and strives to help understand the why beyond their behavior. Brittany is dedicated to providing a safe space where children and their caregivers feel accepted and validated. Brittany's passion for working with children and families led her to recieving her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work from the University of Iowa and Loyola University Chicago. She is certified through the Trauma Research Foundation's Certification Program in Traumatic Stress Studies led by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk and through Erikson Institute's Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) training program. Brittany's work is also informed by her years of experience working at a DIR therapeutic day school serving children with autism in addition to working privately with children and their families who are experiencing concerns related to attachment, emotional regulation, adjustment, autism, sensory procressing disorder and anxiety.
Susan Diver, MSW, LSW P 630.282.2035 sdiver@eastersealsdfvr.org
Sue works out of our Villa Park location and has been working in the field of Social Work with children and families for over thirty years. She has been with Easterseals since 2000. Previously, Sue worked for DSCC, DCFS, DuPage County Health Department, and Provena Mercy's Behavioral Health. Her expertise includes behavior issues, anxiety, panic attacks, low self-esteem, sibling issues, and social skills. Sue has recieved significant training and ongoing continuing education courses focused on behavior issues with children. She utilizes many different techniques that address the child's behavior and how to train staff and support families working with children with behavior concerns. Sue has completed course work on the specific technique of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). She has recently completed her certification from Ericksons Institute to become a FAN (Facilitating Attuned Interactions) Instructor.
Yvonne D. Anderson, LCSW, CADC, CODP II P 847.742.3264 yanderson@eastersealsdfvr.org
Yvonne works primarily out of our Elgin location. She has thirty years of clinical experience working with children and their families. After completing graduate school at the University of Chicago, she worked in a variety of community mental health centers, psychiatric hospitals, private practice, and both public and private therapeutic school settings. Yvonne is a fully credentialed early intervention evaluator and provider. She is bilingual in Spanish as well as knowledgeable about working with individuals who use AAC. Her expertise includes anxiety, depression, ADHD, parenting skills, autism, medically complex children, teen parenting, and parental mental health and/or substance abuse. As the parent of three children with exceptional needs, Yvonne understands the joys and challenges of parenting firsthand. Yvonne utilizes a strengths-based, relational model to partner with families and achieve their goals for their children.
Alia Joseph, MPH, MSW, LSW P 630.620.4433 ajoseph@eastersealsdfvr.org
Alia is a licensed social worker, she received a MSW second graduate degree from Walden University, and her first graduate degree in public health from Saint Xavior University. Alia has more than 14 years of experience in early childhood education, family support, domestic violence, foster care and parent education. She has certifications in child development, parent/child education, family support, trauma-informed care and facilitating attuned interactions. Alia uses a strength-based, family oriented and hands-on approach to treatment, utilizing play therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to help children develop healthy coping strategies, improve their self-esteem and support emotional regulation and mindfulness.
Citlaly Gonzalez, Psy. D. P 630.282.2036 cgonzalez@eastersealsdfvr.org
Dr. Citlaly Gonzalez works out of our Villa Park location. She is a bilingual clinical psychologist interested in developmental disabilities, particularly autism, family, and adolescent identity work. She has prior experience working in clinics, hospital settings, schools, and private practice working with children ages 3 through 18. She has extensive training in parent education, including certifications in Positive Discipline, the RUBI Parent Training Program, and experience with Behavior Parent Training. As a clinical psychologist managing our Autism Diagnostic Clinic, she uses a strengths-based approach to empower individuals and families to achieve their goals.
Natalie Spencer, LCSW P 630.620.4433 ndonald@eastersealsdfvr.org
Natalie is a clinical social worker who works with children and families experiencing a wide range of challenges. Natalie takes a child-led, play-based, trauma-informed and collaborative approach with families. She believes that each child and family bring their own set of strengths and capacities to work through the challenges they are faced with. Through helping families feel seen, heard, and understood, she seeks to help them face those challenges with someone alongside of them. Natalie has her Level 1 DIR (Developmental Individual Relationship) Floortime certification and is infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH-C) certified. Natalie specializes in working with children with neurodivergence, sensory processing needs, attachment needs, and medical trauma.
Katelyn Bentel, MSW, LSW P 630.620.4433 kbentel@eastersealsdfvr.org
Katelyn is a licensed social worker who received her MSW graduate degree from Aurora University. She also obtained her DIR Floortime CL1 certification through Profectum. She has prior work experience in the hospital setting. Her treatment approach is child-led and play-based through a trauma-informed care lens. She is in the process of getting her Early Intervention (EI) credential. Katelyn also serves as one of the mental health providers on Easterseals' Medical Diagnostic Clinic and Feeding Clinic. She is happy to be a part of our mental health team and is honored to have the privilege to support children and their families where they are at in their journey. Seeking out therapy is the first big step to achieving desired goals—be proud of yourself for taking the leap!
Annemarie LeCompte, Care Coordinator P 630.261.6193 alecompte@eastersealsdfvr.org
Annemarie is the Care Coordinator at our Villa Park, Naperville, and Elgin locations. As Care Coordinator, Annemarie provides support to families during transitional periods of development from admission to discharge, helps families understand their priorities, identify needs, and believes in empowering families to obtain resources that best meet the needs of their child. She received her bachelor's degree in Psychology, focusing on child development. Her prior work experience includes working as a Registered Behavior Technician at an ABA clinic and as a Mental Health Counselor at a community-based, non-profit organization. Annemarie has earned professional certificates in Industrial & Organizational Leadership and Behavioral Economics at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Annemarie is FAN trained, a Certified Crisis Prevention Institute instructor, and a Be Strong Families Parent Cafe Leader. As Care Coordinator, she has developed a network of referrals, resources, and connections to early childhood collaborations, local school districts, advocacy groups, local providers, and legislators. Annemarie looks forward to using her behavioral science background and experience to educate, advocate and empower the families and communities in and around Easterseals DuPage & Fox Valley.
Stephanie Goldina, MSW P 630.261.6215 sgoldina@eastersealsdfvr.org
Stephanie obtained her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Loyola University Chicago. Her experience includes working with people living with cancer and families experiencing divorce. She is particularly interested in the power of relationships, neuroscience, and movement to heal trauma. She expects to obtain her certification this year in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), an approach that uses childhood development and biology to guide treatment of childhoos trauma. Prior to becoming a social worker, Stephanie was a public relations manager for medical nonprofit organizations.
