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L to R:  Jim Natter, Emma Wood, Jan Torrance, Kristi Wright, John Curphey,  Pat Francis, O.P.,   Jack Berkemeyer, Abi Shields, Nancy Cochran, Susan Voigt, Charlie Alcorn, Carol Burge

Not Pictured:   Beverly Adams, Tina Giesen, Jenny Gresko, Janeil Ruiz 

CHARLES E. ALCORN, Ph.D., is the founder of the Central DuPage Pastoral Counseling Center and was its  Executive Director for 30 years. He serves the Center now as President of the Endowment. Dr. Alcorn received his bachelor of arts degree from Wheaton College, his master of divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and did post-graduate work at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He earned his doctorate degree in pastoral psychology from Northwestern University. Dr. Alcorn is an ordained Presbyterian minister and formerly, Associate Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Glen Ellyn. He is a fellow member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and specializes in marital and life management issues. Over the years, he has been on the Professional Advisory Committee for the Family Shelter and other mental health associations in DuPage County. Dr. Alcorn has been a practicing therapist for 32 years.

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JACK BERKEMEYER, M.Div., M.Ed., M.A., L.C.P.C., holds a master of divinity degree from Athenaeum of Ohio, St. Mary's Seminary, a master of education degree from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, a master of arts degree in theology from the University of San Francisco, and a master of arts degree in professional counseling from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Jack's professional background fuses together his broad experience in counseling and business. He has worked in positions that range from serving as a campus minister with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to senior sales management positions with Swift and Company, Sara Lee, and Western Union Financial Services. Most recently, he served as a career management consultant and executive coach at Right Management Consultants. Jack is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who brings experience in pre-marital counseling and marital therapy, career and life-balance issues, emotional intelligence assessment, couple communication/conflict resolution skills, and the relationship of spirituality and mental health. He also is the Director of Marriage Ministry at Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago, and serves on the board of directors of The Workforce Board of Northern Cook County, The Career Transition Center of Chicago and is a member of the American Counseling Association. Jack is available for individual and couple counseling.

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CAROL BURGE, M.A., L.C.P.C.,  is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who received a master's degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton College and a master's degree in special education from Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago. She is a former special education resource teacher and inclusion facilitator who worked in public and private schools for 15 years. Carol brings experience in the areas of individual and family therapy, child and adolescent therapy, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to the Center.  She is skilled in the assessment and treatment of ADHD in children, adolescents, and adults. Her therapeutic interests include self esteem, perfectionism, working with adult children of alcoholics, anxiety and depression, time management and organizational skills, integrating inner healing prayer and forgiveness,  working with families who have children with special needs, parenting styles, behavioral issues, and working with families of adopted children. She is also interested in how people's different temperaments affect their relationships and lifestyles. Carol is available for individual and family counseling.

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NANCY E. COCHRAN, Psy.D.,  received her doctorate degree in clinical psychology in 2008 and a master's degree in counseling psychology in 1996 from The Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago.  Dr. Cochran joined the Center as a staff therapist in 2005 and her practice includes working with adult individuals, couples, families, adolescents, and children.  Before moving into the field of psychology professionally she taught children and adolescents with learning, behavior and emotional disorders for many years.  Her clinical training and experience included a therapeutic practicum with the Center in 2003, a testing and assessment practicum with Alexian Brother’s Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and work with at-risk adolescent males at the Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles.  Dr. Cochran enjoys helping women with relationship issues, balancing work and family, and using cognitive behavioral therapy to improve depression and anxiety.  She is passionate about working with parents of children and adolescents with challenging behavioral issues. She is also available for assessment and diagnostic testing, and neurofeedback for individuals managing ADHD.

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JOHN R. CURPHEY, M.Div., M.A., has been engaged in pastoral ministry and pastoral counseling for thirty years. In addition to his work at the Center, he serves as a pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Ellyn.  John is committed to helping people recover a more gracious and healthful view of themselves in the face of difficulties.  He has extensive experience in pre-marriage and marriage therapy.  He is committed to helping couples and families deal with differences. John has an empathetic style which is rooted in pastoral care.   He has been engaged in grief work, helping others to regain their sense of buoyancy after the death of a spouse or a family member.  He has a particular interest in helping men recover a strong self during times of transition and loss. He is available to meet with youth, couples, families, or with individuals. His style of encouragement enables others to recover inner strength and learn to negotiate the changes of life with new courage and spiritual awareness.   John holds a Master of Arts Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago.



 

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PATRICIA R. FRANCIS, O.P., Psy.D., is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Director of Counseling Services at the Center. A member of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois, Dr. Francis has been a practicing psychotherapist and a spiritual director/companion since 1987. She holds a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (Chicago Campus), a master of arts degree in Christian spirituality from Creighton University and a master of arts degree in counseling, with an emphasis on marriage and family from Sangamon State University.

Dr. Francis is interested in the integration of spirituality, physical health and psychology in achieving healing, maintaining wellness and promoting personal growth. In addition to working with individuals and couples, she enjoys several therapeutic interests. She facilitates group therapy on women's issues, provides play therapy for children, works with people who suffer from trauma, depression and anxiety, and chronic pain, conducts psychological assessments, and leads workshops on a variety of topics, including marriage, communication, spirituality, wellness, and the mind, body, spirit connection.

Fluent in American Sign Language, she directed the office that provided pastoral services with the Deaf Community for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois for 10 years. During that time, Dr. Francis co-authored the book, EYE-CENTERED: A study of the spirituality of deaf people with implications for pastoral ministry.  She is also trained in Imago Relationship Therapy, EMDR, hypnosis, Internal Family Systems Therapy, and is certified to use computer software from Braintrain and Play Attention with children and adults who have ADD/ADHD or minimal brain damage. She has achieved clinical membership in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), fellow membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), and holds membership in the American Psychological Association (APA),   Spiritual Directors International (SDI), and the National Catholic Office for the Deaf (NCOD). Formerly, the chair of AAPC's Central Region's Formation Committee, Dr. Francis currently serves as a member of that Committee and on the faculty and advisory boards of the Ministry Formation Program (MFP) in Chicago and the Pastoral Studies Department of St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida for programs that serve deaf students.

 

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JENNY GRESKO, M.Div., M.A., L.C.P.C., is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who received a master of divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston and a master of arts degree in counseling psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. While in San Francisco, she trained at Haight-Ashbury Psychological Services specializing in domestic violence and trauma recovery and worked with the Red Cross to provide critical incident/trauma debriefing for Haight-Ashbury residents. Jenny is an Internal Family Systems therapist who teaches and supervises other therapists in this modality.   She is also trained to practice EMDR (Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing). In 1980, Jenny co-founded a Christian community in inner city Chicago; this group continues to address spiritual, mental health and social justice issues after more than twenty-five years of community involvement. Her therapeutic focus is to help clients access the strength, authenticity and resiliency that resides in the soul, in order to facilitate emotional healing and practical problem solving. Her work with children, adolescents, individuals, couples and groups uses this perspective to address trauma, depression, anxiety, conflict and spiritual crisis. Specialties include trauma recovery, families in which one partner travels regularly for work, and complimenting therapy with alternative medicine and spiritual practice for complete healing.

 

JAMES A. NATTER, Psy.D., is the Executive Director of the Center.  He is a  a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and  enjoys working with individuals, couples, and families.  Dr. Natter regularly works with individuals managing depression, and anxiety, relational, developmental, and spiritual issues.  He is trained in the evaluation of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, as well as testing for other psychiatric disorders.  He often uses EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for individuals with traumatic backgrounds. He is skilled in clinical hypnosis which is helpful in treating anxiety, alcoholism, smoking, obesity, and chronic pain.  Dr. Natter frequently leads workshops in the areas of couple communication and parenting. His master’s work included a certificate in the integration of theology and psychology, along with his degree in community counseling. His doctorate degree in clinical psychology is from the Adler School of Professional Psychology.  Dr. Natter previously served with a disciple-making organization called the Navigators and is a retired Navy Captain.

JANEIL RUIZ, Psy.D., L.P.C., received her doctorate in clinical psychology from Wheaton College in 2009.  She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor.  She specializes in trauma recovery (survivors of sexual abuse), grief and loss issues, substances and addiction recovery, sexual dysfunctions, eating disorders, and pain management.  Janeil uses a therapeutic focus called Internal Family Systems which helps the client access self energy and resiliency in order to facilitate emotional healing and unleash creative problem solving. In addition, she frequently leads workshops on the  topics of optimal stress, emotionally healthy spirituality, sexuality in marriage, pre-marital workshops, finding your voice, overcoming depression, and helping families heal from divorce.  Janeil is fluent in Spanish and experienced in immigration and acculturation issues. She is available to work with children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups.