Meet Our Team

Nick Alder, Postdoctoral Fellow (she/her/hers)

Dr. Nick Alder is a Postdoctoral fellow at IntraSpectrum. Nick believes change happens in relationships and community. She uses a strength-based approach to build collaborative and growth-fostering therapeutic relationships and assists her clients in creating meaningful connections within their communities. As a clinician, Nick works to cultivate a brave and empowering space for her clients to explore the unique intersection of their cultural identities. In this process, clients are supported in integrating generating new pathways to their mental health and wellness. She engages her life’s work grounded in her identity as a Black queer femme. As a community organizer and social spacemaker, Nick creates spaces that not only center, but also privilege, the queer spectrum, women of color, and other marginalized voices.

Nick’s approach is agile, responsive, and attuned to each client’s individual experience and needs. Her style is holistic, and informed by an integrative approach to therapy, applying Systems, Feminist, Narrative, and, Interpersonal/Relational theories. Areas of specialization include body image, social media, sexuality, gender identity, relationships, and trauma. Creativity, mindfulness, expressive arts, and storytelling are all techniques she incorporates in her work with clients. Prior to IntraSpectrum, Nick trained in forensic, integrative, and community mental health outpatient settings. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago after completing her pre-doctoral internship at The Chicago School Forensic Center. As a doctoral candidate, she trained at the NorthShore University Health System, Mount Sinai Hospital Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health, and, the Cook County Sheriff’s Women’s Justice Program. Nick earned her Ed.M. and M.A. in community mental health from Columbia University, Teacher’s College. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Africana Studies from Binghamton University.

Missi Alston (she/her/hers)

Officer Manager

Missi is the Office Manager for IntraSpectrum and keeps IntraSpectrum running smoothly. Bringing over 10 years of administrative experience in Office and Program Management, Human Resources and Operations, she assists in the on-boarding process of new hires, maintains the conservation of both office sites, as well as manage and create content for our social media and marketing.

Missi is a Chicago native and professionally trained ballet dancer, and Level I certified Reiki practitioner. She is a mom to 3 great fur babies, and is in pursuit of her Bachelors of Science in Integrated Health Sciences.

Mario Alvarez Serrano, JD, LCPC (he/him/his)

Mario Alvarez Serrano is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor at IntraSpectrum Counseling. Mario is amazed by what therapy can bring to someone’s life and has experienced this personally and as a practitioner. His goal is to provide each client with an emotionally safe environment where they feel comfortable exploring even the biggest challenges, whether it is how to manage overwhelming emotions such as anxiety or depression,

learning to recognize and fight unhealthy or toxic patterns in life and relationships, or confronting past trauma or abuse. He strives to create a warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental atmosphere in therapy while utilizing a collaborative and strengths-based approach to identify goals and facilitate growth, change, recovery, and healing.

Mario has extensive clinical experience working with children, adolescents and adults. He has worked in community mental health centers, schools, and substance abuse treatment facilities. He is passionate about multicultural counseling and working with adults and adolescents with diverse expressions of gender, sexuality, and relationships. He has experience treating mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance abuse and severe mental illness. Other areas of clinical interest include life transitions and relationship issues, as well as cultural issues, LGBTQI+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, and immigration and assimilation/acculturation considerations. Mario believes that the client is the expert in their own life and works to be an agent of change for those seeking comfort, healing, and purpose. He uses Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, and Existentialism to assist clients in discovering the barriers to their authentic happiness.

Before joining IntraSpectrum, Mario worked for a non-profit integrative behavioral health community agency in Chicago. He was a program administrator for a methadone clinic, a chronic homelessness men’s transitional housing program, and a men’s residential program. He also has several years of clinical supervision experience across several behavioral health programs. Mario graduated with a Master of Arts in Community Counseling from Argosy University in Chicago and obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Temple University School of Law, in Philadelphia.

Ian Bonner, PsyD (he/him/his)

Executive Director

Dr. Ian Bonner is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Executive Director at IntraSpectrum Counseling, offering counseling for individuals, couples, and groups. Ian approaches therapy collaboratively and compassionately, drawing from cognitive-behavioral, insight-oriented, and relationship-focused methods to assist clients in reaching their wellness goals. He enjoys working in a way that is both supportive and challenging, and his style lends itself well to brief and longer-term treatment models with clients, depending on individual needs.

Ian’s experience and areas of focus include mood concerns, gender and sexual identity development, addiction, self-awareness, body image, trauma, men’s issues, and relationship functioning. He is experienced in working with highly diverse clients coming to counseling with a wide variety of concerns.

Prior to joining the staff at IntraSpectrum, Ian provided psychotherapy at Lakeshore Hospital’s Valeo program, focused on addiction and recovery for LGBT clients. Ian also has experience working with undergraduate and graduate students at both the University of Illinois, Chicago and Emory University in Atlanta. Ian also served as the Young Men’s Program Coordinator at the Center on Halsted for nearly 3 years. He earned his BA in psychology at Fairfield University, and both his MA and doctorate in clinical psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology.

Caleb Chadwick, Postdoctoral Fellow (he/him/his)

Caleb Chadwick (he/him) is a psychology Postdoctoral Fellow at IntraSpectrum. Caleb takes an interpersonal approach to therapy and his practice is informed by theories of human development and multiculturalism. Caleb’s background training in psychology has a strong social justice orientation and he holds a deep appreciation for the negative consequences of marginalization, discrimination, and bias. As such, he values the diverse intersections of identities that his clients bring into the therapeutic relationship and is mindful of how those identities (and his own) inform the experience of therapy.

Caleb has a particular passion for helping individuals navigate life transitions and strives to cultivate a trusting therapeutic relationship where individuals feel safe exploring their emotions and thoughts without fear of judgment. Caleb has experience working with highly diverse client populations and an array of presenting concerns (i.e. mood related concerns such as depression and anxiety). Overall, Caleb aims to create a safe, collaborative, and dynamic therapeutic experience for his clients.

Prior to joining IntraSpectrum, Caleb completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia and worked in HIV clinical trials at the University of Washington. He went on to complete his counseling M.Ed. at Vanderbilt University and Ph.D. in counseling psychology at Georgia State University. He is trained as a generalist and has completed clinical training experiences at a number of university counseling centers, including Georgia Institute of Technology, Kennesaw State University, and the University of Maryland. Caleb also completed clinical training at Emory University’s Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, as well as two HIV service centers (Positive Impact Health Centers; Nashville Cares) and a cancer support center (Gilda’s Club Nashville).

Leesa Contorino, Psy.D. (she/her/hers)

Dr. Leesa Contorino is a staff therapist at IntraSpectrum Counseling. She believes change and healing occur within the context of authentic, mutually empowering relationships. Leesa views herself as a co-pilot in the therapy room with clients and she strives to create an environment where clients feel safe to bring in all aspects of their identity. She takes a relational-cultural approach to therapy and feels passionately about working from a feminist, anti-racist, sex-positive, and body inclusive framework. Her approach is collaborative, warm, and shame-reducing while attending to experiences of marginalization and oppression that can often lead to isolation and disconnection from others.

Leesa is dedicated to serving the LGBTQIA community of Chicago where she has personally and professionally grown into herself. As a therapist, she has a particular passion for working alongside queer women, queer POC, Latinx individuals, the kink and poly community, and folks from working class backgrounds. Leesa has experience working with young adult populations, individuals managing substance abuse, survivors of trauma, people managing relationship stress, grief and loss, anxiety, mood disorders, body image concerns, family of origin issues, and navigating major life transition. While the stress of life can be serious and overwhelming at times, Leesa enjoys incorporating humor where appropriate and slowing down to express gratitude.

Originally from upstate New York, Leesa earned her BA in psychology from Marist College. She went on to attain her Psy.D in clinical psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she sought out opportunities to work in LGBTQIA-affirmative settings. Her background includes working with individuals managing substance abuse concerns at various levels of severity and working within college counseling settings where she focused on LGBTQIA-affirmative programming.

Cindy Doodeman, PsyD (she/her/hers)

Throughout her career as a Clinical Psychologist, Cindy has supported individuals, couples, and families in community mental health centers, schools, hospitals, and private practice settings. Most recently, she developed a thriving practice on the South Side of Chicago with LGBTQIA+ folks, including queer people of color (QPOC), and folks engaged in kink, BDSM, and non-traditional relationship structures. She is also experienced in treating people with chronic physical pain and illness, and prioritizes collaboration with healthcare providers to bring about best possible outcomes.

Cindy’s therapy style can be described as person-centered and humanist. She has a gentle, non-shaming, non-judging approach to helping clients make changes to relieve symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, and trauma. She allows clients to explore their histories in way that is healing and life-affirming. Cindy’s clients experience her as warm, gentle, and genuine. She sees the therapeutic relationship as built upon a foundation of trust and safety, which allows exploration and experimentation with changes in thoughts, feelings, and behavior to achieve desired goals.

Cindy began her training at the Oasis Center for Human Potential where she ultimately served as Co-Director of the Encounter Group Facilitator Training Program in 1989. She attended DePaul for her undergraduate education and went on to Forest Institute of Professional Psychology to earn a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 2001. Cindy later practiced at the Ada S. McKinley Community Mental Health Center in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. Before joining the team at IntraSpectrum, she served as Clinical Director at a therapeutic day program.

Toni Eldemire, LCPC (she/her/hers)

Toni Eldemire is Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with a Master’s in Art Therapy. In her therapy sessions, Toni provides a safe environment where she will tailor your sessions to meet your unique needs, facilitating personal growth based upon your goals. Toni focuses on creating a supportive, collaborative relationship built on trust.

Toni’s work as a psychotherapist is informed by a relational – cultural, feminist, narrative theories, with a trauma – informed approach to care, and a social justice lens. She believes art-making is a way to externalize oppression, call out injustice, and promote the healing process. Art Therapy can assist people to express themselves in ways that sometimes talking cannot. This nonverbal modality in mental health treatment provides a way to creatively express yourself. One does not have to identify as an ‘artist’ to find art therapy useful, so Toni may incorporate art therapy work into the therapeutic process where appropriate and desired by clients.

Toni has seven years of experience providing psychotherapy and is equally versed in talk therapy and art therapy. She has a Master’s in Community Counseling from Argosy University and a Master’s in Art Therapy and Counseling from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has experience working in middle/high schools, Lurie Children’s Hospital, and Jesse Brown Veteran Medical Center. She works with individuals, couples, and families and regularly addresses a wide range of concerns in her work, including but not limited to: stress management, relationships, self – esteem, anxiety, LGBTQ concerns/identities, trauma, grief/loss, depression, chronic medical issues, developmental disabilities, severe and chronic mental illness and substance use disorders. Toni strongly believes that as individuals, we never stop growing and evolving, and learning from each other.

Michelle Emerick, PsyD (she/her/hers)

Dr. Michelle Emerick is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Clinical Director at IntraSpectrum Counseling, offering individual, couples and group counseling. Michelle prefers therapy to be approachable, collaborative and supportive. She provides a warm and supportive space, is grounded, but has a sense of humor. She sees her clients as having untapped potential that is worthy of support. She will attend to your strengths, while also considering creative, accessible, and sometimes challenging ways to move towards your goals. Michelle uses an integrative approach, which means she blends Humanist, Interpersonal, Psychodynamic, Feminist, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy perspectives to tailor your unique needs and identity. Her professional interests include gender and sexual identity development, kink, and polyamory; supporting multicultural and international individuals; exploring intersectionality of identities; family of origin issues; trauma; navigating unfair relationships with healthy communication, assertiveness, and boundaries; stress and anxiety management; couples counseling; and helping others benefit from the unique opportunity for connection, normalization and relief found in group counseling. Her personal interests include exploring the world, being in nature, spending time with family and friends, movies, reading for fun, finding joy in small things, petting puppies, and laughing.Prior to joining the staff at IntraSpectrum, Michelle was the Co-coordinator of Clinical Training and the Coordinator of Group Counseling at the University of Chicago’s Student Counseling Center. While there, she focused on supporting LGBTQ young adults who were working to meet academic milestones while also navigating coming out in personal and professional spaces. Prior to that, for a decade, Michelle served as the Director of Clinical Training and Staff Psychologist at Howard Brown Health Center. Although she worked with clients of all ages, she specialized in working with TGNC young adults as well as individuals newly diagnosed with HIV. While she earned a BA in Broadcast Journalism from Columbia College Chicago, Michelle pivoted careers so she could offer more support to those in her stories. This led to her earning her MA and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 2006.

Kaera Enoch, LCPC, CADC (she/her/hers)

Keara Enoch is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC). Keara believes that all individuals have the potential and capacity to live a life they find satisfying and fulfilling. She also believes in working collaboratively with clients to navigate and overcome the challenges they experience in their daily lives in order to achieve their dreams. Keara’s clinical work is guided by her passion to empower those with whom she works, to treat others with dignity and to provide a nonjudgmental, interpersonally engaging, and therapeutically challenging environment. She utilizes a holistic approach that incorporates cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused and motivational enhancement approaches. Keara earned a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has nearly eight years of clinical experience in Chicago, providing therapy and supportive services to adolescents, adults and elderly individuals across a wide spectrum of ethnic and cultural groups. Keara has worked with the LGBTQI community through organizations such as PFLAG and Chicago Lakeshore Hospital’s outpatient programs. Additionally, she has worked with individuals with chronic medical issues, developmental disabilities, severe and chronic mental illness and substance use disorders.

Jamie Gayle, PhD (she/her/hers)

Founder

At the heart of IntraSpectrum Counseling is Dr. Jamie Gayle. Dr. Gayle founded IntraSpectrum in 2009 in support of her vision of offering integrative, strength-based approaches to help clients develop their own authentic voices and pursue their unique paths to individual fulfillment. She is deeply devoted, professionally and personally, to the empowerment of disenfranchised groups. As such, Dr. Gayle is highly attuned to the issues facing minorities and other victims of discrimination in our culture as well as the immense pressures to minimize diversity and difference to which they are subject.

Dr. Gayle’s approach is warm, collaborative, insight-oriented and attuned to each client’s specific needs. Her work is highly informed by psychodynamic, feminist, relational, humanist, attachment, and existential theories. Areas of specialization include LGBTQI-affirmative therapy, disordered eating and body image, gender identity, sexuality, relationships and intimacy, mood and anxiety disorders, and trauma.

Prior to founding IntraSpectrum Counseling, Dr. Gayle served from 2007-2009 as Intake and North Shore Eating Disorders Program Coordinator at Insight Psychological Centers. She spent her post-doc year as Staff Therapist and Coordinator of Eating Disorders services at YellowbricK, Inc. Dr. Gayle received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (2006) from Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, following completion of her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Illinois at Chicago Counseling Center. As a doctoral candidate, Dr. Gayle trained for three years at Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Stone Institute of Psychiatry, in the Outpatient Treatment Center. She received her B.A. in Psychology (2000) from Duke University.

Jamie is honored to be recognized as an innovator and catalyst by Northwestern University’s Office of Global Marketing and Communications to mark the 150th year of coeducation at Northwestern.

Tegan Hullinger, MAEd, LCPC (she/her/hers)

Tegan Hullinger is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor offering individual and group therapy services at IntraSpectrum Counseling. Tegan is passionate about providing trauma-informed services to her clients to promote healing and holistic wellness. Her integrated therapy approach is influenced by existential and relational models that are strengths-based and person-centered. She believes that building an authentic and collaborative relationship in therapy results in a supportive environment that empowers clients to navigate through life’s challenges and attain personal goals.

Tegan is experienced and excited about working with diverse populations coming to therapy with a wide variety of concerns. She is dedicated to working with survivors of trauma and being a witness for those needing a healing space. She also works well with folks navigating mood/anxiety concerns, overcoming experiences of stigma, processing grief and loss, managing distressing emotions, and seeking increased support within and around relationships. Tegan also has an interest in mindfulness techniques, theories influenced by Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, the impact of trauma and stress on the brain, and other psychoeducational practices that promote wellness.

Before coming to IntraSpectrum, Tegan had the privilege to work in non-profit community mental health settings, both in Washington D.C. and Chicago. She began her career working with U.S. military veterans facing chronic homelessness, and became passionate about supporting those with complex trauma histories. Subsequently, she worked with survivors of sexual assault, childhood trauma, and chronic mental illness. An advocate for LGBTQ communities, she is interested in better understanding the complexities of gender, sexuality, language, and identity in today’s culture. Tegan is currently a fellow with the Chicago Center for Psychoanalysis. She graduated with a Master’s of Arts and Education degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the George Washington University.

Kat Johnson, MSW, LCSW (she/her/hers)

Kat Johnson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker offering individual and couples therapy services at IntraSpectrum Counseling. Kat is passionate about utilizing mindfulness-based therapies to promote holistic healing and her approach is heavily influenced by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). She believes that more deeply understanding the ever interconnected mind and body can help clients connect to what is important in their lives. Kat creates a warm and empathic space in which to explore, identify self and interpersonal goals, and take steps toward greater authenticity.

Kat is experienced in working with adults, young adults, and adolescents. She enjoys working with diverse populations with a wide variety of needs. Clinical interests tend to center on mood/depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, LGBTQ+ issues, and adjustment issues/life transitions.

Kat graduated from Loyola University, Chicago in 2014. During that time she worked with veterans and survivors of domestic violence. Kat lived in Los Angeles working with the homeless population for three years before returning to Chicago.  She recently worked at a private practice in Evanston with undergraduate, graduate, and PhD students as well as high school students. Kat is currently completing the Contextual Behavioral Fellowship with University of Chicago.

Shanti Kennedy, MA (she/her/hers)

Billing Specialist

Shanti Kennedy is a billing specialist at IntraSpectrum Counseling, directing client financial services. Shanti manages client accounts, tracks balances, verifies insurance benefits, and diligently resolves billing issues when they arise. Shanti is responsible for working closely with insurance companies to ensure that claims are processed correctly and promptly, according to member contracts. She has worked for over ten years in medical billing, insurance claims and invoice management, with a consistent concentration in the mental and behavioral health field.

Devon Migues, LCPC (he/him/his)

Devon Migues is a staff therapist at IntraSpectrum Counseling, offering individual, relationship, and group therapy. He approaches therapy using a strength-based focus and integrative lens to create and foster a supportive environment. Devon believes that through creating a collaborative and warm space, clients can come to explore the challenges they face and express themselves in a therapeutic way. He is a kink-aware therapist, with experience in varied expressions of relationships and sexualities. Employing Existential, Feminist, and Behavioral interventions, Devon seeks to form an open and accepting environment where the client can explore their goals in a safe space.

Devon has experience with clients of many diverse backgrounds, facing a wide variety of concerns. His areas of concentration include LGBTQ-affirmative therapy, substance use, gender identity, sexuality, depression, anxiety, trauma, and relationships. Through his work at Thresholds, Devon is experienced in providing counseling to adults recovering from moderate to severe mental health issues and substance use disorders. He also worked with individuals and groups receiving treatment at Chicago Lakeshore Hospital. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and received his MA in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Gil Minor, LPC (he/him/his)

Gil Minor is a Postmasters fellow at IntraSpectrum Counseling. He aims to develop trust and safety in the therapeutic relationship, and to meet people wherever they presently sit on the continuum of identity development and self-acceptance. He firmly believes each person is the expert on their own experience, and cultivates a non-judgmental and welcoming space in the therapy room. Gil encourages and empowers his clients to nurture and develop the resources they already possess, and use those to cope with difficulties and struggles.

Gil is passionate about working within the LGBTQI+ communities, and helping folks explore authenticity, leading them to create meaning and find value in their daily lives. He works collaboratively with clients, incorporating body awareness, mindfulness, and a bit of humor, among other things. He guides his clients through the processes of integrating their held identities and navigating their connections to other people and the world around them in order to promote psychological well-being.

Gil earned his bachelor’s degree at the Virginia Military Institute and recently completed his Masters degree in counseling (MACP) at The Chicago School for Professional Psychology and a one year internship at Provena St. Joseph’s Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program. He has enjoyed living in Chicago for the past 20 years has been an active member in The Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association. He also enjoys music, theatre and art, and is an avid lover of dogs.

Alex Ngo, AM, LSW (they/them/theirs)

Alex Ngo is a licensed clinical social worker and staff therapist. In their work, Alex collaborates with clients to harness their inner potential and strengths to facilitate healing and growth. Alex uses the therapeutic relationship they nurture with clients as the vehicle for change, understanding, and transformation. Alex is trained in psychodynamic therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, motivational interviewing, and trauma recovery. Their approach to therapy is also rooted in harm reduction, trauma-informed care, queer (of color) theory, mindfulness, and sexual, racial, and gender identity development. Along with their formal training, their authenticity, transparency, and vulnerability are their greatest clinical tools.

Alex’s passion for social work and the health and well-being of the LGBTQ communities is rooted in their experiences as a (gender)queer femme of color who grew up with cash-poor, Asian American immigrant parents. They are keenly attuned to the ways our holistic well-being is inextricably tied to the effects of power, privilege, and oppression in our daily lives and mental health. They are especially passionate about working with queer and trans people, people of color, victims and survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence, young adults and adolescents, and their intersections. Alex is also a kink and poly-aware therapist. Ultimately, Alex is dedicated to working with others as they heal, unlearn shame and internalized oppression, create new meanings, and begin the journey towards radical self-love.

Prior to joining IntraSpectrum, Alex completed internships with the Broadway Youth Center and Center on Halsted. They studied Clinical Social Work at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, and Communication Studies with minors in Community Action and Social Change and LGBTQ and Sexuality Studies at the University of Michigan. When they’re not at IntraSpectrum, Alex works as a community educator to provide workshops on a variety of topics, including: trauma-informed care, positive youth development, racial justice, intersectionality, trans and gender nonconforming affirmative practice, and sexual violence prevention and advocacy. Most recently, they facilitated workshops for parents of trans and gender nonconforming youth at Lurie Children’s Hospital. They also write poetry and love exploring healing through movement and the creative arts.

Ryan Rollison, AM, LCSW (he/him/his)

Ryan Rollinson is a staff therapist at IntraSpectrum Counseling, offering individual, relationship, and group therapy. He approaches therapy through an integrative lens, incorporating elements of both psychodynamic and behavioral theories, tailored to each client’s individual needs. His aim in therapy is to help clients discover and build upon their strengths as they work towards their goals. Ryan specializes in working within LGBTQI communities, and is a kink-aware therapist, comfortable with diverse expressions of sexuality and relationships. His clinical areas of focus include sex therapy, mood disorders, recovery from trauma, identity, interpersonal relationships, body image, substance use, and the intersection of HIV and mental health.

Ryan received his Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, and is a Licensed Social Clinical Worker (LCSW). Before joining IntraSpectrum Counseling, he provided individual, relationship, and group therapy at Center on Halsted. He has also worked with students at Northwestern University to help them address problematic substance use. In addition, he led an HIV prevention program at the Minnesota AIDS Project, using Motivational Interviewing to help young gay and bisexual men make safer choices regarding substance use and sex.

Noopur Shah, Postmasters Fellow (they/them/theirs)

Noopur Shah (they/them) is a Postmasters Fellow at IntraSpectrum. Their goal is to provide a safe environment where the client feels comfortable to be unapologetically themselves and explore any challenges they are enduring. Noopur believes that the client knows their story best. Noopur’s work is informed by a relational-cultural lens with a trauma informed approach and they believe we hurt but can also heal through relationships. Because of this, Noopur believes in building a therapeutic relationship with clients to explore their previous and current connections with others, and themselves.

Noopur has experience working with, but is not limited to, relational issues, family conflict, stress management, life adjustments and transitions, trauma, anxiety, depression and developmental disabilities. Additionally, they have a passion for working with queer youth and their families. Noopur has an interest in cultural issues, and assimilation/acculturation considerations. Noopur’s experience as a queer person of color fueled her passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community and the value she has for intersectional identities.

Noopur earned their bachelor’s degree at the Illinois Institute of Technology and completed their Masters degree in Counseling at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. During graduate school, Noopur had the great opportunity to intern at a not for profit in the south suburbs. During her time at Bremen Youth Services, they created and led an LGBTQ+ support group for high school students, led a social skills group for adolescents with learning disabilities, and ran prevention programs in the nearby schools. Additionally, Noopur worked with youth and their families to ensure a healthy therapeutic process and safety for the client.

Vernice L. Thorn, MA, LPC (she/her/hers)

Dr. Torres, PhD (he/him/his)

Dr. Torres is a clinical psychologist and staff therapist with a diverse professional background, including work as a clinician, educator, administrator, and researcher.  He has published research on mentoring and resilience in GBQ male youth, taught a myriad of college courses in psychology, including LGBT Psychology; and provided leadership as DePaul University’s inaugural Coordinator for LGBTQA Student Services.  Clinically, Dr. Torres has treated a spectrum of mental health challenges but is specialized in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.  He has worked with children, adults, families, and couples.  While committed to promoting the mental health of all people, he has purposeful focus on serving the mental health needs of LGBTQIA clients.

Dr. Torres’ therapeutic approach is integrative with cognitive-behavioral theory serving as the therapeutic foundation for the incorporation of ideas and strategies from other therapeutic models, including relational-cultural, interpersonal, and acceptance.  His therapeutic style is warm, accepting, and non-judgmental.  Clients working with him will be invited and challenged to work collaboratively to construct a growth-promoting therapeutic relationship characterized by combinations of gentleness and firmness, criticality and creativity, and dependence and independence.

Born in Mexico City, and fluent in three languages (English, Spanish, and French), Dr. Torres was educated in Mexico, the United States, and France.  He has a PhD and MA in clinical child psychology from DePaul University, a second MA in the social sciences from the University of Chicago, and a BA in Russian Studies from Hamilton College.  He completed his clinical internship in child psychology at the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences of the David Geffen School Medicine, the Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior and the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital; followed by postdoctoral training in adult psychology at the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.

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Deb Zutty, LCPC, CADC (she/her/hers)

Deb Zutty is a Staff Therapist at IntraSpectrum Counseling, offering individual, couples, and group psychotherapy to adults and adolescents.  Her approach is warm, collaborative, and strength-based. She realizes that the process of entering therapy, whether for the first time or after multiple attempts at finding the right therapist or managing issues effectively, is an intimidating and overwhelmingly emotional process; thus, Deb fosters a trusting environment filled with compassion and acceptance to build a supportive relationship. Deb conceptualizes the therapeutic process as a way to integrate the various masks that an individual present to the world into one cohesive whole. Incorporating the pieces of one’s history and personality leads to greater satisfaction with oneself and those around them. Deb utilizes an integrated approach to therapy that is individualized and evolves over the course of therapy. She draws on psychodynamic, relational, narrative, and resiliency techniques and theories in her work.

Deb has had the privilege of working with highly diverse clients from a variety of backgrounds. With specialized training and certification in addiction, Deb understands the effect that substance abuse can have on an individual’s mental health, interpersonal relationships, career, and overall sense of fulfillment. She is passionate about helping clients to assess their own need for change and working collaboratively toward sustained growth. Deb also specializes in supporting those who have experienced trauma, as well as those who are transforming their narratives of gender identity or sexual orientation, navigating grief and loss, and struggling with mood or anxiety issues. She is dedicated to providing affirming services to the LGBTQI community.

Through her work at Haymarket Center and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Deb is experienced in providing counseling to adults struggling with moderate to severe mental health issues and substance use disorders. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). She received her MA in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology and her BS in Communication Studies from Northwestern University.