Youth & Family Counseling

Counseling, education and support for all ages

About Youth & Family Counseling

  Staff

YFC’s staff includes well-educated, professional psychotherapists, social workers, and counselors, who adhere to the highest professional standards and ethics outlined by the National Association of Social Workers, the American Counseling Association, The American Psychological Association and the American Psychoanalytic Association. In addition to their knowledge and experience, YFC therapists are deeply compassionate and committed to serving the needs of their clients and the community.

 

 

 

Dina Bravy, MA, Psychotherapist
Dina came to YFC from Northwestern University Counseling Psychology program. She has developed a strong, empathic style with clients. Prior to entering the counseling field, Dina was a computer software programmer. She came to YFC in 2008.

 

 

 

 

John Cecilia, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
John brings rich life experiences to YFC.  He has more than 15 years of experience conducting retreats and facilitating support groups that focus on the emotional and relational development of men.  He continues his interest in relationships and men's work at YFC, working with couples and individual men and women.  John also has an interest in working with post-adolescent young adults on the special issues in that stage of life

John graduated from Loyola University School of Social Work in Chicago, and recently completed the Cathedral Counseling Advance Clinical Training Program.  He currently is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Clinical Social Work, also in Chicago.  He prior education includes an MBA and BSME, both from Cornell University.  John joined YFC in as an intern in 2006, and as a staff member in 2008.

 

 

 

Zack Charmoy, MS, Intern
Zack came to YFC from the Northwestern University Counseling Psychology program. He is known for his warm and friendly style in working with children, adolescents, and adults. He is also interested in working with couples. Zack left the field of information
technology after 14 years in corporate and academic settings. He has his undergraduate degree from Carnegie Mellon and graduate degree in computer science from DePaul University.  Zack joined YFC in 2010.

 

 

 

Sarah has been counseling individuals, couples and adolescents for more than eighteen years. In addition to her work at YFC, she maintains a private practice specializing in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Sarah was the coordinator for "The Family Circle," a parenting education program, for nine years. Her work includes supervising social work interns in their educational quest for licensure. Sarah is a graduate of Loyola University School of Social Work. She also has a background in the fine arts and education, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Art and Education from Hope College in Holland, Mich. Sarah joined YFC in 1992.

 

 

 

Nancy Friedman, MA, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Nancy holds an MA in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University. Prior to her work in the counseling profession, she received a BS in Biology from Boston College and has worked in the field of diagnostic genetics in Boston and Evanston. Nancy brings a warm, relational approach to her work with children, adolescents and adults who are facing a broad range of psychological challenges. Her counseling clients include individuals, couples and groups. In addition to being on the clinical staff at YFC, Nancy also has a private practice in Glenview. Nancy joined YFC in 2007.

 

Gary Friend, DPM, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor
Gary received his degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University and completed his clinical training at Youth and Family Counseling. He is especially interested in working with married and unmarried couples experiencing relational difficulties. Gary is a senior partner in a medical group. For that reason, he is especially qualified to work with professional partnerships and family businesses whose members are experiencing conflict. He believes that communicative and empathic skills are essential to relating successfully and resolving conflict. These ideas are as applicable to groups of doctors or lawyers as they are to married couples. He joined YFC in 1999.

 

 

 

Stephanie Gockley, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor

Stephanie holds an MA in Counseling Psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. In addition to being licensed as professional counselor, Stephanie has a Type-73 School Counseling Certification. Prior to coming to YFC, she worked as a family therapist in an agency similar to YFC, as a school therapist at a therapeutic day school, and as a mental health counselor in a residential treatment center. Stephanie specializes in working with children, adolescents, and families.  She utilizes a warm and empathetic approach while believing strongly in the importance of strengthening the family system and achieving growth and change through the use of a client-centered, strength-based approach. Stephanie joined YFC in 2012.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Katie Kosmach, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Katie is a graduate of Loyola University School of Social Work in Chicago. She interned at YFC in 2004 and later joined the staff. Katie specializes in working with children, adolescents and their families. Her working knowledge of Spanish aids her in working with Latino children and their families. For many years she coordinated the Aprendiendo Jugando Program, an after school learning enrichment program for at-risk elementary school age Latino children. Katie joined YFC in 2005.

 

Lynn Moosman, M.A., Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Lynn has practiced psychotherapy for more than 10 years with adults, adolescents, groups and members of the LBGT community. She specialized in treating depression and anxiety, complicated grief and loss issues, eating disorders and psychological symptoms from history of trauma. Lynn employs both psychodynamic and cognitive behavioral therapies to help understand the unconscious, and to develop coping skills to relieve painful emotional symptoms. Her background experience includes more than 15 years in both education and business administration. Lynn joined YFC in 1999.

 

Carol Saldinger, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Carol Saldinger practices psychotherapy with individual adults, adolescents, children and couples. She graduated in 1981 with honors from Loyola University’s School of Social Work. After her internship at YFC, Carol was asked to join the staff and has been an integral part of YFC since. She has been a Training Supervisor to graduate school interns and is the Coordinator of YFC’s Employee Assistance Program. Her treatment includes work with clients who experience anxiety, depression, sexual abuse, issues of loss, post traumatic stress and life transition issues, including gender identity questions. She maintains a private practice and is the Employee Assistant Coordinator for an international distribution company. Carol joined YFC in 1983.

Jim has more than 35 years of counseling and clinical administrative experience. In addition to being licensed as a Clinical Psychologist, Jim is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and certified as an Alcohol and Other Drug Addiction Counselor (CADC). He completed his graduate studies at the University of Chicago (M.Th., M.A., Ph.D.). He also completed post graduate training at the Family Institute of Northwestern University and the Texas Research Institute of Mental Sciences in Houston. Jim has a special interest in people who have cooccurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. Jim joined Youth & Family Counseling in 2010.

Karen Welsh, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Karen has experience working with individuals of all ages as well as couples and families. She has worked in a variety of settings: inpatient, day hospital, therapeutic day school, community agency and private practice. In addition to working with depression, anxiety and relationship issues, her expertise includes working with trauma, abuse, emotional neglect, parenting, attachment issues along with the challenges of the emotional sensitivities of the gifted/talented personality. Karen uses various techniques designed for each individual's needs including EMDR, a technique that addresses trauma recovery and obstacles that can hinder a more fulfilling life. She obtained her master's degree from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology and Miami University. She maintains a private practice in Lake Bluff and Libertyville and has been at YFC since 2000.