State of Wisconsin Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Education

Master's in Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Bachelor's in Human Development, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Bio

Cindy Bartel is the Director of Outpatient Services Department. Cindy has worked at AFCS since 1990 as a therapist and at the Crisis Center as a crisis counselor before that. Cindy specializes in working with people who have experienced incidents of trauma. This includes physical, sexual or emotional abuse, accidents, injuries or any life threatening event. She has completed Level 2 training of EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). Cindy is a cancer survivor and works with clients and their family members dealing with cancer. She also works with people who have anxiety or depression.

Cindy's beliefs are consistent with AFCS value of healing the mind, body and spirit. She likes to create an atmosphere of warmth and comfort to encourage healing to happen.

Specialty Areas:

• Abuse
• Faith Issues
• Cancer
• Grief and Loss
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Trauma

State of Wisconsin Licensed Professional Counselor
State of Wisconsin Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor

Education

Masters in Community Counseling

Bio

Shawn Blakley specializes in addictions and is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and has taken extra course work in gambling addictions. He has been in practice for 20 years, and is a strong believer that healing and good mental health involves the balance of mind, body and spirit. Much of his work besides addictions involves depression, anger management, anxieties, working with adolescents and marital/couples counseling.

Specialty Areas:

• Addictions (including gambling, drug and alcohol)
• Marriage and Couples
• Anger Management

Education

Master’s Degree in Community Counseling, Lakeland College

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, St. Norbert College

Bio

Bridget serves as the Mental-health Outreach Resource Expansion Program (MORE) therapist and provides mental health services to the homeless, victims of domestic violence, and disenfranchised individuals. Bridget is also available for outpatient appointments.

Bridget had previously worked at the Crisis Center and with the community’s homeless population. Through these experiences, she worked with individuals and families from all walks of life. Bridget especially enjoys working with teens, young adults, and parents assisting them with depression/anxiety, relationship issues, and parenting. She believes that a therapeutic relationship is key to client success and emphasizes the importance of meeting clients where they are at and building upon their strengths. She utilizes cognitive behavioral and solution focused techniques to assist clients and help them successfully navigate life’s challenges.

Specialty Areas:

• Adolescents
• Parenting
• Trauma
• Stress management

State of Wisconsin Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Education

Masters in Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Bio

Marilyn has more than 30 years of experience working in the counseling field. She enjoys working with parents and their children, specializing in issues related to ADHD, anxiety and depression. She also has training in helping children and young adults with autism spectrum disorders. Marilyn facilitates a social skills/self-esteem group for children, as well as facilitates a problem solving group with young adults who have Asperger's disorder. She is married with 3 children, and 4 grandchildren.

Specialty Areas:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Parent/child relationships, family therapy
• Children of all ages
• Social Skills/Self-Esteem Group

State of Wisconsin Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Education

Master of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Bachelor of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Bio

Heather has worked as a clinical social worker on two inpatient psychiatric units, as an Employee Assistance Counselor and as a co-occurring disorder Case Manager, as well as serves as a consultant to several community Mental Health, AODA and Developmental Disability programs. Heather has provided professionals with trainings in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and in working with people that have a diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder.

Heather provides individual and group therapy to adults that are struggling from a pattern of behavioral, emotional and cognitive dysregulation. Heather has seen first hand the misery these challenges have caused people. She believes in each person's desire to change and in people's inherent ability to reach their goals. She accepts people just as they are within the context of trying to teach them to change and to build the life they want to live. Through the use of a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) approach she has been successful in working as a team with consumers to develop a "Life worth Living." This strength-based approach applies Cognitive Behavior Therapy skills within a mindfulness and dialectical framework. Heather is married and has two school-aged children. She enjoys spending time with her family, art and the outdoors.

Specialty Areas:

• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) Group and Individual Therapy

State of Wisconsin Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Certified Clergy Coach
Certified in Divorce Mediation

Bio

Whether helping a couple renew the commitment and intimacy in their marriage, individuals wrestle control of their lives away from the grips of depression and anxiety, assist adolescent and adult men deal with issues of attention deficit disorder, or alcohol and drug abuse, or enable a Pastor to develop strategies to reduce conflicts in his congregation, Bob believes that change and growth are possible, and at the same time make us fell clumsy and uncomfortable, and demands persistence. He also believes that for change and growth to occur you have to focus on your whole life, integrating your mental, physical and spiritual health.

Bob has significant training and experience in clergy, congregational and denominational consultation. Bob has worked in the Behavioral Health and Consultation field for over nearly 30 years. He is married and has five children.

Specialty Areas:

• ADHD
• Marriage
• Clergy
• Substance Abuse

State of Wisconsin Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Education

Master's Degree, University of Minnesota School of Psychology at Argosy University

Bachelor's Degree, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Psychology

Bio

Jill has experience working with individuals, couples and families using a systemic approach in helping with parenting, marital, and relationship issues. Her experience consists of working with depression, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma, grief and loss, and GLBTQ issues. She is an approved Prepare/Enrich counselor assisting pre-marital and marital couples to enhance their commitment to marriage. Jill utilizes a multi-modal approach including collaborative, solution-focused, relational approach to the process of change.

Specialty Areas:

• Couples
• Marriage
• GLBTQ Issues
• Parent/Child Relationships
• Grief and Loss
• Trauma

State of Wisconsin Licensed Professional Counselor

Education

Master's in Community Counseling, Lakeland College
Bachelor's in Psychology and Human Development, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

Bio

Kim has experience with children, adolescents and families supporting positive change related to depression, self-esteem, behavior problems, anger management, anxiety, trauma, stress, grief and loss, improved communication, and parent-child conflict. She has training in DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and helps adolescents and adults learn new skills to build a life worth living. Kim especially enjoys working with adolescents to help with their life challenges. She uses both person centered and cognitive behavioral approaches to balance validation of feelings with improved ways of thinking. Kim is married and has one daughter. She enjoys spending time with her family and doing a variety of crafty things.

Specialty Areas:

• Adolescents
• Family, positive parenting
• Communication, assertiveness training
• Mindfulness
• Couples
• Mood Disorders
• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) adults & adolescents
• Self-esteem

State of Wisconsin Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Education

Master's in Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master's in Theological Studies

Bio

A counselor since 1986, Bill is a problem solver, educator and personal consultant using experience derived from a variety of work settings including medical, corporate, higher education and clinical. Most recently, Bill has been trained to assist clergy and congregations in matters of leadership, development and conflict resolution. When not in the office he enjoys the outdoors, volunteering and time with his spouse.

Specialty Areas:

• Adolescent Boys and Adult Men
• Solution focused brief therapy
• Clergy Coaching
• Spirituality and Spiritual Struggles
• Church Consultations
• Stress Management
• Marital Relationships
• Work Situations
• Positive Psychology and Appreciative Inquiry

State of Wisconsin Licensed Professional Counselor

Education

Master's of Science in Education, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Bachelor's of Science in Education, University of North Dakota

Bio

Kathy has 15 years experience working with families, children, adolescents and adults in a variety of settings, including: in-home, crisis center, group home and outpatient. Kathy specializes in the areas of abuse, grief/loss issues, relationship issues, self-esteem and personal growth, anxiety and stress, depression, parent/child issues and divorce/blended family issues. Kathy is trained in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing). Kathy strives to provide an atmosphere for cultivating a trusting and supportive relationship with individuals and to promote healing and well-being, along with enhancing personal growth and development through mind, body and spirit.

Specialty Areas:

• Grief and Loss
• Anxiety
• Mindfulness based stress reduction
• Blended/divorced Family
• Parent/child Relationship
• Couples Issues
• PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Depression
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• GLBTQ Issues

State of Wisconsin Licensed Psychologist

Education

Ph.D. M.S. Ohio University

Bio

Chris has been working as a psychologist for 17 years. Chris provides psychological testing and counseling services. Psychological testing services are available for children, adolescents and adults. Testing is provided to evaluate mood disorders, anxiety disorders, ADHD, learning disorders, behavior problems and personality functioning. Chris also provides counseling services and has a particular interest in helping people with relationship issues, depression (including post partum depression), and anxiety (including worry, panic attacks and social phobia). Chris has been married since 1992 and has 3 school aged children.

Specialty Areas:

• Psychological Testing

State of Wisconsin Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Education

Bachelor's in Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Steven's Point
Master's in Social Work, University of Illinois-Chicago

Bio

Elaine is an outpatient therapist working at AFCS since January, 2010. Elaine had previously worked in the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) field prior to joining AFCS. Additional counseling background includes inpatient treatment for children and adolescents and crisis counseling at the Crisis Center. Through these settings, she has worked with a wide variety of issues but mostly works with couples and individuals with depression, anxiety, stress, loss and change, work issues, and relationship concerns. She has facilitated a group on anxiety management and will continue to offer that group in the future. Elaine utilizes a problem-solving approach and cognitive behavior methods. She believes in utilizing the strengths inherent in everyone to help people move forward in their lives.

Specialty Areas:

• Anxiety
• Anxiety Management Group
• Depression
• Individuals and couples
• Loss and changes in life
• Relationship
• Stress management
• Work Situations

State of Wisconsin Licensed Professional Counselor

Education

Master's of Science in Counseling, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Bio

Dawn has experience working with children, adolescents and their families in an intensive therapeutic setting. She enjoys working with individuals of all ages and believes strongly that everyone's story matters. Dawn combined both person-centered and cognitive behavioral approaches to therapy in order to provide her clients with unconditional acceptance and tools for improved functioning. She also has training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and offers DBT individual and group therapy to adolescents and adults. In her free time, Dawn enjoys spending time with her husband and children and having fun outdoors.

Specialty Areas:

• Blended/Divorced Family Issues
• Mood Instability
• Children and Adolescents
• Parenting
• Couples
• PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) adults & adolescents
• Relationship Issues
• Depression
• Self-esteem

State of Wisconsin Licensed Professional Counselor

Nationally Certified Counselor

Education

Master's in Counseling, Marquette University

Bio

Steve's counseling expertise includes the populations of children, adolescents, and young adults, with specialties in non-traditional families and college counseling. He has experience and education working with depression, anxiety, ADHD, behavior disorders, relationship issues, self-esteem, social skills, anger and stress management. Steve has been developing a comprehensive counseling program for parents and children in adoptive families and looking to adapt his practice into concentrating on a wellness perspective.

Steve prefers a cognitive-behavioral, solution-based therapy method that utilizes an individual's strengths. He believes that there are multiple pathways to mental health that include physical well being, education and spirituality. Currently an outpatient therapist, he has previously worked as an in-home counselor and a high school teacher. He also spent five years coaching cross country and track and field at the high school and university level. Steve is married and has two young sons. In his spare time, he enjoys film, indie music, baseball and exercise.

Specialty Areas:

• ADHD
• Depression
• Adolescent
• Eating Disorders
• Anxiety
• Mood Disorders
• Self-esteem
• Blended, divorced and adoptive families
• Social Skills
• College Student