DEDICATED TO FOSTERING GROWTH
At Birchwood Wellness Group, we're more than just counselors – we're individuals drawn to healing based on our own unique experiences. We believe that change is not only possible but inevitable, and it takes courage to grow. Our commitment to personal and professional growth allows us to provide the best care to our clients.
Kari Fitzgerald, PhD, LCPC, ERYT, Clinical Director
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with experience in IOP/PHP programs and private practice. I have a doctorate in Counselor Education & Supervision and am a clinical lecturer for the master’s program in counseling at Northwestern University where I also obtained my master's degree. I am also an experienced yoga instructor with a research focus on the benefits of yoga in clinical work. My counseling philosophy is that trust in the relationship between client and counselor is the cornerstone to successful treatment. It's important that I get to know, your history & needs as we begin the healing process.
With empathy and non-judgement, we will explore the “whys” that influence your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. If you are an adult who is struggling, we will partner together to find the best course of treatment on your terms. I use an integrative approach rooted in psychodynamic theory with a variety of interventions such as somatic experiencing, polyvagal exercises, CBT, DBT, ACT and I am CPT certified for trauma treatment. I introduce mindfulness concepts early on to provide relief from even the most troubling symptoms. You shouldn't have to wait any longer to feel better. I believe suffering is optional. Let’s get you back in the driver’s seat of your life.
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Amy Stump, MA, LPC
I have considerable experience in working with depression, anxiety, and adjusting to new life stages and relationships. As a nonbinary neuro spicy person, I am passionate about working with queer (LBGTGEQIAP+) neurodiverse people. I provide a safe (and at times brave) affirming space to folx from late adolescence to older adults. I support individuals from a fat-positive, sex-positive, and kink aware lens.
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As a therapist, I believe that the source of suffering stems from outside of us as individuals – that your response to being disempowered and oppressed is real and valid. Having to survive in our environment over time can make us feel like we are doing this alone, that no one else could possibly feel the same. You are not alone.
You deserve to be met with empathy and curiosity for your lived experience; for someone to not just see, but highlight your strengths which is essential for therapy to have an impact. I can’t do the work for you, but I can show up and be real with you.
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My therapeutic style is to work collaboratively with my clients using a variety of therapeutic tools to discover and customize what thriving can look like for you. From engaging in special interests to incorporating music, writing, art, poetry or play, I welcome you to express yourself! As your therapist, I wish to meet you where you are at with warmth, tenderness, and curiosity. You deserve to feel heard, held and understood.
Ashley Lamm, LCPC
I believe in creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all my clients. With the utilization of humor and empathetic understanding, I want to make sure you can freely express your true self. I work with diverse populations ranging from adolescents to older adults. I specialize working with anxiety, panic, depression, bi-polar, trauma, stress, family therapy, life transitions, grief and
loss, fertility issues, and disabilities. I am here to support you wholeheartedly in an environment free of judgement.
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I think trust is the most important aspect to therapy. It is essential you feel heard, respected, and supported throughout our journey together. I utilize an eclectic approach including, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness techniques, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to help you navigate life and its many stressors. You are not alone; I am here to help you unravel your thoughts. I look forward to working with you!
Colleen Pipia, LCPC
I have been a therapist for over a decade and have my Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology with a specialization in substance abuse. Throughout my career, I have worked with adolescents and adults in residential programs, outpatient programs, and private practice. I specialize in and am passionate about working with adolescents and adults with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, and eating disorders.
As a therapist, I take a direct and collaborative approach. I am authentic and provide open and honest feedback. I work with clients to identify what obstacles are getting in the way of their goals, help keep them connected to what is motivating them for change, and encourage them to make those changes despite fear or ambivalence. In my sessions, I often incorporate exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP). I focus heavily on response prevention to encourage behavioral changes and create new experiences. I utilize acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) techniques to work on flexibility, mindfulness, and create a life consistent with our values. In my experience, I have found that there is often trauma co-occurring with other symptoms, and will use cognitive processing therapy (CPT) with clients who may have experienced a traumatic event.
One of the things I appreciate most about being a therapist is being on this journey with my clients. I understand that an individual might want changes to occur, and recognize that fear can often get in the way of making those changes.
Carly Saitelbach, Clinical Intern
There is a certain kind of pain in our world today that comes from feeling unseen, misunderstood, or dismissed. It takes many forms - grief, sadness, trauma, anxiety, loneliness, or relationships that have pulled you away from yourself.
I offer a safe, nonjudgmental space where your thoughts and emotions are what matter - wounds and all. I focus on deep empathetic validation, cultural inclusivity, slowing down, and shedding the pressures to be "enough" in a demanding climate day to day. We will collaborate to find clarity in your goals and inner experience while gently reconnecting with your inherent worth and natural-born value.
I am completing my clinical training here at Birchwood Wellness Group and earning my Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northwestern University. Using a psychodynamic, trauma-informed approach, I aim to ease distress and provide symptom relief. Together, we’ll explore root causes and protective mechanisms that are now longing to be cared for.
There is no normal, abnormal, right, wrong, good, or bad. Therapy isn't about fixing what's "wrong" - it's about connection, self-expression, unconditional acceptance, and softening into your true self for lasting healing.
You don't need to have it all figured out - just a place to start. I will walk beside you, at your pace, as you come home to yourself.
Evan Graber, Clinical Intern
Any rewarding relationship begins and ends with respect. Life experiences of the individual shape their experienced reality, and to treat others with respect is to honor that experience.
In my personal healing journey from pain and injury, I have a collective, holistic view of personal health where not one aspect is more important than another. I am passionate about the integration of mental health with physical health, exercise, nutrition, stress management, improvement of interpersonal relationships, and assisting others in finding their life’s purpose. While my previous therapeutic experience was Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focused, I am most drawn to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Psychodynamic work.
It will be my privilege to spend time understanding and conceptualizing your story, so together we can focus on your path forward.
I am a graduate student intern obtaining my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University.
Lisa Joly - Practice Manager
I have over 20 years experience in the medical field working directly with patients and insurance companies. In 2018, I began working in mental health administration and have assisted in the development of Birchwood Wellness Group. I understand the complexities of the billing and insurance systems and how important it is for people to receive quality care. I am your first point of contact at BWG and will work with you to find the right clinician at an affordable cost. Getting started can be stressful but I am here to help make it easier for you