Life Counselors

What is a Life Counselor?

Life Counselors are exceptional individuals with extraordinary communication skills. They understand that people who are seeking assistance to improve the condition of their lives are part of family and community systems. Their skills and involvement go beyond the hour in the office. They are like a personal trainer at a Psychological Fitness Center. They develop relationships with integral parts of the community to better serve those to whom they provide care.

Associated Counseling houses only those caregivers with exceptional abilities. These counselors have demonstrated competence and results as behavioral and mental health specialists. Working collaboratively as a team, clients receive the most comprehensive service available to assist them in finding solutions for living well. Each Associated Counseling professional is screened by a Clinical Board, has met exemplary standards, and is recommended by our administrators who support them in private practice. If these standards of care are not met as a typical course of action, those professionals are not continued to be credentialed as an affiliate, and are asked to leave the practice or choose to leave on their own. Therefore, as a client you can trust the quality of care, and be assured that each professional is operating with your best interest as a priority or they will not be sponsored by the Associated Counseling, Life Counseling system of care.

In addition to providing the most exceptionally prepared professionals, all Associated Counseling clients are assigned a Client Representative to assist them in resolving any non clinical issues, such as billing, scheduling and quality of care concerns, should they arise.

Meet Our Counselors

In Midlothian

Constantine Bruns, PhD
Clinical Director

Dr. Bruns specializes in counseling adults, adolescents and geriatric patients with a wide variety of depression, anxiety and life problems. He offers a wide range of programs and services from individual counseling with adolescents and adults to marital and family therapy. He also uses hypnotherapy in his practice to help patients stop smoking and control other habits.

Dr. Bruns has been a Licensed Psychologist since 1980. While in graduate school, he served as the assistant director of the Illinois Institute of Technology Counseling Center. He has seven years of experience as a counselor with the State of Illinois Department of Mental Health and the Division of Rehabilitation Services. He has also worked as a counselor at the Chicago State Stress Center.

He understands the uniqueness of all human beings, including any problems clients bring to psychotherapy. Dr. Bruns maintains that it is the job of the psychotherapist to craft specific solutions which can be implemented by the individual or family patients whom he serves.

Lloyd J. Blakeman, DO

Dr. Blakeman is a Family Medicine physician who has office hours at the Midlothian facility and serves as its Medical Director. He is also certified by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment to prescribe opioid drugs for the maintenance and detoxification of opioid addiction.

A 1992 graduate of the University Of Health Sciences- College Of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Dr. Blakeman completed his internship and residency at the Chicago Osteopathic Medical Centers in Olympia Fields and Chicago. He also has a private practice in Worth.

James Odom, MA, LCPC

James specializes in a wide range of issues such as alcohol/substance abuse, vocational counseling, anger management, stress, relationship/family problems, as well as mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders. He is also experienced in the treatment of childhood and adolescent issues.

James received his Masters degree in Community Counseling from Governors State University. He earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology with a minor in Mental Health and an Associates degree in Mental Health, with a concentration in Substance Abuse, from Prairie State College. He became a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in 2000.

George Drabik, MA, NCC, LPC

George focus is on couples and family counseling but he has done extensive work with individuals of all ages as well as group. He is among the “baby boomers” who decided to pursue a second career of caring for and addressing the psychological, emotional and social needs of others.

He has a masters degree in Counseling and bachelor’s in Psychology from Governors State University.

George brings both a systemic and multigenerational approach to his counseling. This orientation takes into consideration the interactions and relationships with the people in our lives, our prior generations and our environment, including home, community, and the world itself. His goal is to be there with you as you follow the path that helps to mend your life and your relationships.

Amy Henderson, MA, LPC

Amy works with couples, families, and individuals and has experience working with mother-daughter relationships, adolescents, couples, families, parenting challenges, and individuals struggling with personal relationships. She utilizes a positive focus in therapy to help improve relationships and life.

Amy earned her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Governors State University. She has a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation and has worked in mental health for over ten years as a CTRS. She is currently working on becoming certified in Choice Theory/Reality Therapy through the Glasser Institute.

Nicole Olofsson, MA, NCC, LPC

Nicole's treatment specialties include counseling children with play therapy, counseling adolescents, counseling families, and couples. She also works full-time at Timberline Knolls, a residential home for women experiencing substance abuse, mood disorders, and eating disorders.

Nicole has a Masters in School Counseling from Governors State University and a Bachelor's in Psychology from Eastern Illinois University.

She believes that the family as a whole and a person's past experiences can affect their current life problems/issues and uses Adlerian-based therapy. Nicole is committed to helping her clients reach their personal goals. She strives to help everyone reach their maximum potential in their relationships, work, and personal lives.

In Bradley

Barbara Mann, PsyD

Dr. Mann works with adults in all stages of their life including those who suffer from depression, anxiety and life problems. She was a nurse at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park and then continued her education, obtaining a PsyD from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Mann is currently the Coordinator of Psychological Services for Riverside Medical Center where she has been employed for the past twenty-three years. She is also a consultant to Riverside Resolve Center and previously has been a consultant at Provena Hospital.

Kim Alberts, LCPC, CADC, CARN, RDDP
Clinical Director

Kim is a registered nurse and counselor with over 25 years of experience in chemical dependency, mental health and trauma. She worked for over 16 years on the Mental Health unit at Riverside Medical Center, working with pediatric, adolescent and adult clients. Kim began counseling dually diagnosing clients that experienced both mental illness and substance dependence problems. She also spent nine years working with adults in the Chemical Dependency outpatient program.

Kim received her Masters in Health Science in Addictions from Governors State University. She is a Certified Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a Registered Dual Diagnosis Professional, a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, and a Certified Addition Registered Nurse.

She believes that everyone may need some assistance at some point, but may have some difficulty in reaching out. Kim feels that counseling should be a warm, comfortable and client-focused experience and that feedback should be direct, honest, and assistive.

Kim helps her clients talk through issues that are troubling them, and helps them find solutions or implement any necessary changes.

Felicia Sanford, PsyD

Dr. Sanford specializes in a wide range of issues that face children, adolescents and adults with mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders. She also conducts and reports psychological testing and assessments. In addition to her work with Associate Counseling, she works part-time at the Children Learning Center at Prairie State College.

Her clinical training includes providing therapy to emotionally disturbed, physically and sexually abuse children and adolescents, individual therapy to teenagers, and family group therapy with young males in a juvenile sex offenders program.

Dr. Sanford received a Doctor of Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, her Masters degree from Roosevelt University and Bachelors degree from Loyola University of Chicago.

Kim Knott, MA, LPC

Kim’s goals are to help her clients trust and be honest with themselves, promote awareness of self, optimism, responsibility, congruence and autonomy. She believes people build an internal control and make better use of their potential. Her goal is to pair specific techniques with a client's needs, empowering them to find hope, meaning, and purpose in life.

She enjoys working with children, adolescents, families, and the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community. Kim is currently an early childhood teacher and also enjoys working with youth in churches, camps, and Young Life programs.

Kim received a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling and School Counseling from Olivet Nazarene University, and a Master’s Degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Governors State University. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor. Her professional accomplishments include Prepare/Enrich certified (premarital and marital counseling), and cofounder of the Kankakee Chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), and helped to develop the youth program at her church.

Justin P. Gunderson, MSW

Mr. Gunderson specializes in crisis management, anger management, therapeutic processing of traumas, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety and depression related issues. He has experience working with children and adolescents, as well as adult clients.

Justin received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University. He has worked in special education settings, and currently practices as the senior therapist in a therapeutic day school. He provides training to schools in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, a system of strategies and techniques in dealing with immediate crises.

His preferred clinical approaches draw on the strengths-based perspective, client-centered therapy, self psychology and other psychodynamic theories, play therapy techniques, crisis intervention, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Kathy Hassan, MA

Kathy works with adolescents and adults in both individual and group sessions who are struggling with addictions and anger management. She also provides couples counseling and DUI education.

Kathy received her Masters in Health Sciences in Addiction Studies from Governors State University.

As a therapist, she is committed to working with clients to help them achieve their goals so they can enjoy healthy relationships and lifestyles.

William Lacy, Jr. – Intern/Life Coach

William’s focus is using Cognitive-Behavior Therapy and applying Family and System Theory with families who are having relationship problems and family conflict.

He received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is completing the Master’s in Marriage and Family Counseling from Governors State University.

William uses his personal experiences of being raised by his father and growing up in a family with 13 siblings. His goal is to help people learn how to better handle their marriages, relationships, and families.