Supervision & Consultation

Urban Balance offers clinical supervision for psychotherapists with licenses requiring supervision, such as LPCs, LSWs, and AMFTs. In addition, we have a multitude of staff that are available for consultation on a case-by-case or ongoing basis. All services are provided in-person at an Urban Balance office, with an experienced, independently licensed clinician. All of our clinical supervisors have broad experience in mental health they use to assist supervisees in their professional development.

Our clinical supervisors are highlighted below. If you are interested in learning more about supervision at Urban Balance, please contact our intake coordinator.

Aaron Karmin, LCPC

Aaron is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has provided psychotherapy and supervision to a diverse array of clients and students for over 15 years. Aaron is certified in Stress Management and has completed the Gottman Seven Principles Facilitator Program. Aaron has worked at all levels of mental health care from inpatient to outpatient treatment, private to community settings, and not for profit to Fortune 500 companies. He is the author of ‘The Anger Management Workbook for Men’ as well as the 'Being Curious Not Furious' blog on PsychCentral.

Aaron believes that the supervisory process is one in which both parties are actively involved. Supervision will function as a form of learning through feedback, allowing practitioners to learn from mistakes and consolidate progress. Rather than imposing his own style used with clients, he will encourage the therapist to discover their own voice. He believes that supervision and consultation can play an especially important role in moments of being "stuck” and will assist you in reframing the problem to affirm the therapeutic alliance.

Alicia Hoffman, LCPC

Alicia Hoffman is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, who earned a Master’s degree in Art Therapy and has been in the mental health field for over 13 years. Prior to joining Urban Balance, Alicia’s works experiences included serving as a director of social services in a medical facility, as well as working in an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and managed behavioral healthcare setting. Her expertise and experience cover a wide range of clinical issues and culturally diverse populations.

Alicia has a psycho-spiritual and creative approach that is clinically astute and supportive to the therapist. Her approach is always to help the therapist deepen their awareness of themselves, clients, and the dynamics that keep clients stuck in their past or recreating undesired outcomes. Alicia will support the development and expression of the therapist’s individual style and authenticity in their own practice. She provides a safe space to explore and transform the challenges unique to working in mental health, and she will assist the therapist in finding what works best for them.

Alison Thayer, LCPC, CEAP

Alison Thayer is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, as well as a Certified Employee Assistance Professional. She has been providing supervision and clinical consultation to students, new graduates, and licensed professionals since receiving her LCPC in 2001. Before entering into private practice, Alison worked in a corporate managed behavioral healthcare and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) setting, overseeing a large, multi-location intake department and a number of specialized teams providing direct clinical services across the US and globally. Additional work experiences include a non-for-profit child welfare agency, teaching psychology coursework at the university level, and providing corporate trainings and management consultation. Alison’s wide range of experiences allows her to adjust her supervision to the needs and setting of the therapist.

Alison’s supervisory style mirrors her approach to therapy, in that the therapist is charge of directing the topics and determining what to accomplish in sessions. Alison ensures that the therapist feels safe, understood and supported throughout the process, while also gently challenging and encouraging growth. As with her clients, emphasis is placed on the relationship and humor and self care will be integrated into sessions.

Barbara Noonan, LCPC

Barbara Noonan is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has been in practice as a psychotherapist at Urban Balance since its inception in 2004. Prior to joining Urban Balance, Barbara was in private practice on her own and previously worked as an art therapist in a hospital setting. Barbara has a direct approach in relating to others. She draws upon her own past supervisory experiences while combining her personal expertise gained through her years in the mental health field.

In supervision, Barbara will ensure that the therapist feels comfortable and a conversational style will be maintained, accompanied by kindness and compassion. In each session, she encourages the therapist to direct the issues they wish to discuss. She believes that a sense of humor is paramount to her work as a psychotherapist and supervisor.

Jessica Koester, LCSW

Jessica Koester is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has over 10 years of experience directly supervising both graduate students and therapists in social work and counseling. Jessica specializes in the treatment of individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, relationship problems, cultural issues, substance use and the long-term impact of trauma and abuse. She works primarily from a relational, client-centered approach utilizing components of psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapy. She has experience with a wide range of clinical interventions and populations, including those with serious mental illness and both current and past trauma.

In supervision and consultation, Jessica strives to provide a nurturing environment in which therapists can explore both client specific and evidence based methods of enhancing clinical treatment and self care. Jessica has provided staff training to other clinicians on the implementation of DBT and trauma-informed treatment.

Judy E. Bourn, PhD, LCPC

Judy Bourn is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has offered supervision and consultation to therapists since being licensed in 2001. She has supervised staff serving adult and geriatric populations as well as couples in a variety of settings. She has over 15 years of experience working with mood disorders, psychosis, personality disorders, chronic pain, self-harm, suicidal ideation, child and elder abuse, and addictions in both a mental health center and in private practice. She is trained in DBT, ACT, WRAP, and EMDR, among other modalities.

Judy can help you improve your assessment of risk, determine when to refer to other resources, and increase your confidence in your clinical judgment. She can teach you about assessments and treatment planning, and maintaining appropriate clinical records. An avid reader and training participant, she keeps abreast of new research and new treatment modalities. In each session, she will attend to your changing emotional and intellectual needs and collaborate with you to do your best clinical work.

Kevin Newhall, LCSW

Kevin Newhall is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who has over 10 years of experience in the field of mental health. Before joining Urban Balance, Kevin worked at community mental health agencies, residential sites, and under a grant from the Illinois Department of Aging. In his practice, Kevin primarily utilizes psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral theories. He specializes in the use of expressive arts, DBT, and diverse expressions of gender, sexuality and relationships. Kevin has received training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and primarily uses this approach in couples counseling, along with the Gottman method. Kevin also has a background in art and music and will integrate the use of expressive arts with his clients.

Kevin believes that the therapist’s supervisory needs are diverse, and thus topics are based on the individual needs of the therapist. Common areas of focus will be new ways of looking at challenging cases, identifying transference and countertransference issues, dealing with ethical dilemmas, work/life balance and the importance of self-care.

Kim McManus, LCSW

Kim McManus is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been providing supervision and consultation to students, clinicians pursuing licensure, and licensed professionals since obtaining her license in 1996. Prior to working in private practice, Kim worked in direct service as well as supervisory roles in child welfare, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and school settings. Kim further strengthened her leadership skills while working as a director in several social service agencies. Additionally, Kim has extensive training in both the Gottman Couple Therapy Method and Emotionally Focused (EFT) Couple Therapy and is currently pursuing certification as an EFT therapist. Kim is a Certified Personal Trainer who believes that integration of holistic wellness is an important component to mental health treatment.

As a supervisor, Kim utilizes an approach that fully assesses the needs and learning goals of the therapist. She strives to create a supportive and safe supervisory atmosphere that encourages the therapist to increase awareness of their strengths, while challenging them to deepen their knowledge and confidence with evidenced based interventions.

Kiya Immergluck, PhD, LCPC, LMFT, CADC

Kiya holds several professional licenses and certifications, and she has worked in the field of mental health for over 40 years. She has extensive experience working with individuals, groups, couples and families dealing with a wide range of emotional and addiction related issues. She has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as her own private practice prior to joining Urban Balance. Kiya has strong interest in couples work, having provided therapy to countless numbers of lesbian, gay and heterosexual couples. She is also a Master Practitioner of a type of Energy Psychology, Emotional Freedom Techniques. Kiya is skilled in treating clients that may not typically respond to traditional talk therapy.

Kiya’s consultation style is centered around providing support to continuously improve the therapist’s ability to successfully counsel their clients. Cases will be discussed, and exploration and brainstorming tactics will address complicated issues. Kiya believes in honoring and encouraging the therapist by sharing their triumphs as well as their difficulties.

Laura Brownstone, LCSW

Laura​ ​Brownstone​ ​has​ ​been​ ​providing​ ​supervision​ ​and consultation to ​graduate​ ​students​ ​and​ ​recent​ ​graduates for over 12 years.​ ​Laura utilizes​ ​a​ ​wide variety​ ​of​ ​therapy​ ​techniques​, ​including​ ​CBT,​ ​DBT,​ ​EMDR,​ ​trauma-informed,​ ​relational,​ ​Gestalt and​ ​mindful/present-​​focused​ ​​ ​practices.​ Prior to joining Urban Balance in 2010, Laura​ ​worked at​ ​two​ ​major​ ​mental​ ​health​ ​agencies​ ​in​ ​the Chicagoland area​.​ ​​Laura has ​worked​ ​with​ ​children,​ ​adolescents, adults​ ​and​ ​families​ ​in a multitude of settings, allowing her to understand the nuances of various settings in mental health. Her approach with clients is grounded in relational concepts, and and she tailors her interventions to the individual’s needs.

​In supervision, Laura’s ​approach​ ​is​ ​to​ ​help​ ​the therapist​ ​take​ ​a​ ​wider​ ​perspective​ ​​to better​ ​understand​ ​how​ ​their​ ​own​ ​experiences​ ​affect​ ​treatment. She will assist ​them​ in ​thoughtfully​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​transference​ ​and​ ​countertransference​, ​not​ ​as​ ​something wrong,​ ​but​ ​to​ ​better​ ​understand​ ​the​ ​dynamics​ ​between​ ​the therapist​ ​and​ ​their​ ​clients.​ ​Laura has participated in an​ ​advanced​ ​trauma​ ​consultation​ ​group​ for​ ​10​ ​years, expanding her own insight and applying this experience in her supervision of others.​ ​She often utilizes a​ ​trauma-informed​ ​approach​ ​with​ ​clients, and she is also skilled in Gottman theory with couples.​

Mariko Wiseberg Roberts, LCPC

Mariko Wiseberg Roberts is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has been providing supervision and clinical consultation to student interns, unlicensed and licensed professionals since 2005. In addition to the private practice setting, Mariko has overseen graduate level student training programs and clinical supervision as Clinical Director at a community mental health agency.

Using a strength based framework, Mariko utilizes a variety of approaches in her work with clients, tailoring techniques based on individual needs. Similarly, her supervisory style draws from the Developmental Model, which adjusts for and to the expertise of the therapist. While Mariko aims for a collaborative process, the therapist will guide the focus of the supervision sessions. A safe and supportive environment is provided to foster growth and enable the therapist to meet their identified goals.

Molly Reynolds, LCSW

Molly Reynolds is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been providing supervision and clinical consultation to students, new graduates, and licensed professionals since 2014. Before joining Urban Balance, Molly was a lead social worker in an adolescent PHP and IOP program, where she supervised interns and newly licensed clinicians as well as oversaw program development. Additional work experiences include a community wellness center, an inpatient psychiatric unit, a domestic violence and sexual assault agency, grant writing, and providing trainings on therapeutic interventions, trauma informed care and compassion fatigue.

Molly understands the importance of supervision and consultation, and her experiences in providing direct care and supervisory work allow her to meet the therapist’s needs whatever they are. Her relational and trauma informed approach to therapy is seen in her supervision style. Molly ensures a safe, accepting and supportive environment that allows her to build a trusting, collaborative relationship where growth and learning can thrive. She will promote space for the therapist to take charge of their own learning while challenging them and expanding both skills and perspective.

Sari Ticker, PsyD

Sari is a licensed clinical psychologist who provides therapy to adults with a variety of presenting concerns, including depression, anxiety, life transitions, and medical/chronic illness. Her clinical experience has included working in settings such as an outpatient clinic, school, hospital, and community mental health. Her area of expertise and interest involves helping clients understand the mind-body connection, especially for those experiencing medical and mental health concerns. She has experience providing supervision and clinical consultation to graduate students, as well as early career and licensed professionals.

Her supervision and consultation style mirrors her therapy approach. She understands the importance of maintaining a safe and supportive space for the therapist to explore reactions and take a variety of perspectives to best understand and aid the client(s). Sari works collaboratively with the therapist to assess needs and goals, while also highlighting the therapist’s strengths.

Veronica Heitz, LCPC, CADC

Veronica received her LCPC in 2008 and since that time has provided supervisory guidance/clinical consultation to mental health professionals, with a focus on students and interns pursuing their LPC, LCPC and CADC licensure/certifications. Veronica has worked in a variety of settings, including substance abuse (both inpatient and outpatient), non-profit foster care and a community agency. She has extensive exposure to working with clients from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds and all modalities of treatment (individual, couples, family, and groups).

Veronica's wide range of experiences allows her to accommodate the supervisee's clinical needs based on current coursework or setting in which the clinician is practicing. Her supervisory style mirrors her clinical approach, in that the supervisee is in charge of directing the topics and determining what to accomplish in sessions. Veronica ensures that the supervisee feels heard, supported and empowered throughout the process, while also gently challenging and encouraging growth.

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