Collaborators Inc.

EDUCATION

1996     Master of Social Work  (M.S.W.)

             Loyola University of Chicago, School of Social Work

1989     Bachelor of Science (B.S.)  Psychology Major
             DePaul University, Chicago Illinois.

POST GRADUATE TRAINING

2010     Basic Interdisciplinary Collaborative Training-2 days
International Academy of Collaborative Professionals Approved Training
Cathy Heenan, Ed.D & Rita Pollak, JD

2010     Non Violent Communication in Collaborative Practice -- 6 hours
Institute for Powerful Non Defensive Communication, Sharon Strand Ellison, Ph.D.

2010     The Roles of Coach and Child Specialist in Collaborative Practice-- 6 hours
Collaborative Divorce Associates, Peggy Thompson, Ph.D.

2001     Post-Certificate Mediation Internship -- 30 hours
Chicago Center for Family Health, Univ. Of Chicago Affiliate.
Brigitte Bell,JD & Lynn Carp Jacob, LCSW

2000     Divorce Mediation Certification  --40 Hours
Academy of Family Mediators Approved Training--Zena Zumeta,JD
Mediation Training & Consultation institute, Ann Arbor, MI

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE                                                        

2012- PRESENT     COLLABORATIVE DIVORCE PROFESSIONAL, OWNER, Collaborators, Inc.

Private Collaborative Divorce Coaching, Child Specialist, and Mediation practice in Northfield, Illinois.  

• Facilitating interest-based negotiations with clients who want to resolve their divorce with a sense of cooperation and mutual resolve to create durable agreements.

• Creating Parenting Agreements with clinical insight into the needs and experiences of children and parents from a developmental framework to reduce the negative effects of divorce on children.

• Faculty for Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois (CLII) Basic Training in Collaborative Practice for Mental Health, Financial, and Legal professionals- 2012, 2013,

• Speaker for Illinois Institute for Continued Legal Education (IICLE) - 2013

2000-PRESENT  DIVORCE MEDIATOR, PRIVATE PRACTICE, Northfield, Illinois

     Alternative Dispute Resolution of

• child custody issues

• maintenance

• property settlements

• parenting agreements

• post-decree mediation.

• educational services to the professionals and families in the community about the psychological, social and interpersonal impacts that the divorce process has on children and families.

 

1999-PRESENT     PSYCHOTHERAPIST, PRIVATE PRACTICE, Northfield, Illinois

Child, adolescent, and adult psychotherapy, family and couples therapy, parent guidance and education, consultation, training, and supervision.

2003-2011    NORTHSHORE UNIVERSITY HEALTHSYSTEM ADOLESCENT DAY SCHOOL

Intake Coordinator and Clinical Case Manager of therapeutic day school serving seriously emotionally compromised
adolescents with serious social and emotional difficulties that disrupted their learning process.

2002- 2011 Field Placement Supervisor

Supervision and mentorship of graduate school level social work interns from University of Chicago School of
Social Service Administration and Loyola University of Chicago School of Social Work

1996-2003   JOSSELYN CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Program Coordinator, (2001-2003)
State of Illinois Bridges Initiative
Video Production Coordinator, (2001)
In Our Own Words: Teens with Bipolar Disorder
Facilitator, (1997-2003)
Psycho-educational groups for parents who are divorced or in the process of separation
Supervisor (2002-2003)
Field Placement Supervisor for graduate social work student interns
Clinician (1996-2003)
Child, adolescent, adult, and family therapist

1995-1996   LUTHERAN GENERAL HOSPITAL, Child and Adolescent Day Hospital, Park Ridge, IL
Social Work Intern

1994-1995   WILPOWER/THRESHOLDS, Northfield, Illinois
Social Work Intern

1994-1999   FOREST HOSPITAL, Child and Adolescent Unit, Des Plaines, Illinois
Psychiatric Technician providing direct patient care using individual and group therapeutic interventions with
patients and their families in consultation and supervision by professional nursing, psychology, and
medical staff
  
1989              CHILDREN’S MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, Child Life Center, Chicago, Illinois,
Engaging physically debilitated children throughout the entire hospital doing therapeutic play with children with
a large variety of physical illnesses and diseases.

CREDENTIALS, LICENSE, and AFFILIATIONS
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (IL# 149-008505)

Member of National Association of Social Workers- NASW
Member of International Academy of Collaborative Professionals -IACP
Fellow of Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois- CLII

Member of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts- AFCC