Executive Director
Trauma and Grief Clinician
West Loop Chicago and virtual, IL

Leana Lopez is a licensed clinical psychotherapist specializing in grief, complicated grief therapies, depression and anxiety. She earned her Master’s degree in Social Service Administration and Social Work from the University of Chicago and holds certification in holistic healthcare, bringing an integrative approach to her clinical practice that combines traditional therapeutic methods with whole-person wellness strategies.

Leana’s relational practice is grounded in a strength-based approach, utilizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness techniques, and Motivational Interviewing to support clients through their healing journey. She creates a non-judgmental, safe therapeutic environment where clients can openly process their identified struggles and work toward meaningful change. Her work focuses on helping individuals navigate complex grief while building on their inherent resilience and personal resources.

Payment: Accepts BCBS IL, Aetna, United Healthcare insurance and self-pay and sliding scale based on ability to pay.

Current Availability: Wednesdays West Loop Chicago. Virtual Mondays & Tuesdays

Program Manager
Grief Clinician
Deerfield, IL and virtual

Vicki Vepari is a licensed mental health professional with a Master of Social Work degree from Dominican University. Her therapeutic approach integrates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal relationship techniques, and play-based interventions to meet each client’s unique needs.

Beyond therapy, Vicki specializes in group facilitation, leading both family support groups and suicide loss survivor groups. Through these roles, she creates compassionate spaces where participants can share experiences, build connections, and develop coping strategies within a supportive community. Her work focuses on helping individuals and families navigate complex grief while fostering resilience and healing through both individual and collective support.

Current Availability: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Payment: Accepts BCBS IL & Aetna Insurance and self-pay and sliding scale based on ability to pay.

Grief Clinician
Downtown Evanston, IL and virtual

Brent Stutzman is a licensed social worker specializing in grief and loss counseling for children and adolescents. He earned his Master of Social Work degree from University of Illinois and has completed specialized training in childhood bereavement and trauma informed care.

With extensive field experience supporting young people through loss, Brent provides compassionate, developmentally appropriate counseling services to help children process grief and build healthy coping strategies. His practice focuses on creating a safe, supportive environment where young clients can express their emotions and navigate the complexities of loss at their own pace.

Payment: Accepts BCBS IL, Aetna, United Healthcare insurance and self-pay and sliding scale based on ability to pay.

Current availability: Mornings and early afternoons Monday-Friday

Grief Clinician
Deerfield, IL, West Loop and Virtual

Leigh is a Licensed Social Worker, earning her Masters in Social work in 2015 from the University of Loyola Chicago. Before that Leigh worked in Accounting and Project Management. Due to her own personal experience in becoming a caretaker for her mother, she decided to go back to school earning her Masters in Social Work. She has worked part time in palliative care and hospice since then, as well as was a foster parent for a few years. She has spent extensive time learning about grief and trauma and how they can often coexist together. Over the past several years Leigh has specialized in grief care and volunteers at Willow House helping with their support groups.

While so many attribute grief to human death, Leigh appreciates that grief also comes from the end or change of a part of life, whether that be loss of purpose, financial instability, health decline, or any other turning point. She feels therapy can be so helpful as it is a non-judgemental place for someone to find compassion and trust to work though their inner thoughts and feelings. Her approach is from utilizing mindfulness, and strength based on people’s own unique experiences and abilities.

Current Availability: Mondays 9-2 and Thursdays from 11-2PM, with other possible flexibility

Payment: Accepts BCBS IL & Aetna insurance and self-pay and sliding scale based on ability to pay.

Trauma and Grief Clinician
Evanston, Deerfield, IL and Virtual

Vicki Ginn is a licensed clinical psychotherapist with extensive experience in providing multi-level grief and trauma counseling to individuals and families through various stages across the lifespan. Vicki believes the most effective and authentic way to begin the healing process is by creating a therapeutic relationship built on trust, compassion and safety in non-judgmental space. Vicki recognizes that emotional, psychological and physical factors influence each person’s journey to hope and healing.

Payment: Accepts BCBS IL, Aetna, United Healthcare insurance and self-pay and sliding scale based on ability to pay.

Current Availability: Booked up but possible flexibility based on client need.

Trauma and Grief Clinician
Evanston, IL and virtual

Ruth Richman is a licensed Clinical Social worker, graduated in 1982 with a BA in history, and holds a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University (1990) and an MSW from University of Chicago, (2017).

Ruth works with clients through a trauma-informed lens and has provided counseling to children and families experiencing loss through death, divorce, and incarceration. She also worked with clients on end-of-life challenges as a medical social worker with a hospice agency. Ruth focuses on listening with compassion, and working with clients to achieve the goals they identify. She often uses Motivational Interviewing as a tool to help clients understand those goals and empower them to achieve them, as desired. As a trained improvisor, she sometimes uses improv and drama with clients.

Current Availability: Tuesdays mornings and based on need.

Payment: Accepts BCBS IL & Aetna Insurance and self-pay and sliding scale based on ability to pay.

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