Adventure Camp Team 2025

Cathleen (Cate) O’Leary, MA, LCPC, NCC has had a long history with Adventure Camp intensive treatment for selective mutism. In 2013, she first heard about selective mutism in her role as a Job Coach for high school and adult transition students with developmental and emotional disabilities. While working with a student with selective mutism in this capacity, Cate realized the many challenges the student with selective mutism faced on a daily basis, and especially as an emerging adult transitioning from high school. The explanation (and acceptance) from others that the student didn’t talk did not sit right with Cate. She had the intuition to recognize that when given the opportunity to verbalize, the student was able to respond verbally. This led Cate down the path of discovering more about selective mutism, and she found Adventure Camp Counselor Training. Since 2013, Cate has served as an Adventure Camp counselor for 2013-2015, then joined Advanced Therapeutic Solutions for Anxiety (ATSA) in 2015 to provide outpatient services for children and families. Cate has been our Adventure Camp Classroom 2 facilitator for the past 8 years, and continues to provide outpatient services at ATSA. She also continues in her role as a Job Coach where she provides vocational training and counseling for students with disabilities who may also have co-existing issues such as obsessive compulsive disorder, selective mutism, and other mental health conditions. Cate earned her Master of Arts in Counseling from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois, and completed her practicum and internship as a school counselor at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois. We are ecstatic to have Cate as our Classroom 2 Facilitator once again!

Bridget’s journey to becoming our Classroom 1 Facilitator began with a powerful question that many educators silently carry: What more can I do to help the student who won’t speak? As a special education inclusion teacher, Bridget had already been tailoring interventions to meet a wide range of student needs. But when she encountered students with selective mutism, she wanted more than just accommodations—she wanted effective tools. That curiosity led her to Adventure Camp Counselor Training. After serving as an Adventure Camp Counselor in 2023 and returning as a Winter Adventure Counselor in 2024, Bridget has now stepped into the role of Classroom 1 Facilitator. She brings not only a dual master’s degree in Special Education and Clinical Mental Health Counseling, but also a deep commitment to bridging the gap between schools and clinical care. In her school, she collaborates with social workers, speech pathologists, and outside clinical teams to design responsive programs for students with anxiety, including those with selective mutism. Bridget’s career began in a hospital setting, where she coordinated education services for youth in treatment—collecting schoolwork, facilitating parent trainings, and helping school teams understand the emotional needs of their students. That experience deepened her understanding of how anxiety, trauma, and educational progress intersect. Today, in her classroom and through her work at Adventure Camp, Bridget continues to serve as a connector—linking evidence-based clinical practices with practical strategies that empower students, families, and educators. We are thrilled to welcome Bridget back to the Adventure Camp team, now as a Classroom Facilitator. Her insight, compassion, and dedication to learning from our brave campers make her a perfect fit for this role.

Ana Bogdanovich is a rising third-year Clinical Psychology PhD student at Northern Illinois University. She is originally from Seattle, WA, and received her B.S. in Psychology from Hillsdale College in MI. Ana then worked for two years as a Research Assistant through Butler Hospital and Brown University in Providence, RI, on studies investigating non-invasive neuromodulation for OCD and PTSD. Over the past year, Ana has worked as a student clinician at NIU's Psychological Services Center providing evidence-based therapy and psychodiagnostic assessments. She is a member of the OCD and Anxiety Lab at NIU, and her research focuses primarily on OCD-related phenomena. However, Ana's clinical interests are broader, spanning OCD and anxiety disorders. Because of her passion for anxiety treatment, she is thrilled by the opportunity to work with the campers at Adventure Camp this summer! She finds exposure to be an empowering and life-changing intervention for clients, and looks forward to helping campers face their fears this summer.

Brandon Davis, M.A., is a Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Psychology with a focus on trauma psychology at Northern Illinois University (NIU). Before beginning his doctorate, Brandon was a research coordinator studying stereotypes, social cognition, and parent-child interactions at Northwestern University. Brandon's overarching research and clinical interests are interpersonal violence, trauma, and alterations in cognitions and identity. Specifically, he's interested in how people's sense of identity can shift as a result of trauma. Though selective mutism is not caused by trauma (which is a common misconception), being known in school as the kid who doesn't talk can certainly impact identity development. Brandon has experience administering psychological assessments to adults and children as well as providing individual and group therapy for those age groups. Over the past year, he has completed assessments for local probation services, working with adult and juvenile populations. In addition to these assessments, he has frequently conducted the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) assessment for community members at NIU's Psychological Services Clinic. He enjoyed working with campers to use their bravery in Adventure Camp 2023 and Winter Adventure 2024. Brandon is very excited to be a part of Adventure Camp 2025 and meet all the campers!

Dana Lowe, B.S., brings over 25 years of experience in early childhood education and family support to Adventure Camp. Dana’s education and career has centered around understanding how children grow, learn, and thrive—both developmentally and emotionally. She earned her degree in Child Development and Family Relations, with a minor in Psychology from Eastern Illinois University (EIU), where she also served as Graduate Assistant in the Child Development Lab, mentoring undergraduate students and co-taught child development courses. Dana has always been committed to supporting diverse family systems and early learning. She served as a Director of a birth-to-five childcare and preschool programs for more than two decades, supporting families and educators through a rapidly changing world, including the challenges of technology and post-pandemic development. In April, Dana joined Advanced Therapeutic Solutions for Anxiety (ATSA) as their new Intake Coordinator to provide support to families in a new way. In June, she participated in ATSA’s Adventure Camp Counselor Training and is excited to apply her skills in Adventure Camp, to expand her knowledge and awareness of selective mutism so she can continue helping children and families reach their full potential. She views ATSA’s integrated, exposure-based Adventure Camp model for children with selective mutism as a powerful opportunity to build on her lifelong work with families while gaining new skills on how best to communicate with children with anxiety. As a parent to children with anxiety, she brings a compassionate, dual perspective to camp: one grounded in both personal experience and professional expertise. She believes that every child has the ability to grow when they feel supported, and she loves helping kids find courage in small, everyday victories—whether that’s saying “hi” to a new friend, joining a game, or just feeling a little braver than yesterday.

Emily Olson is pursuing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Northern Illinois University (NIU), with a focus on anxiety and child populations. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Mississippi. Before starting her doctorate, Emily worked as a research coordinator at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, assisting with studies on the sleep apnea, insomnia, and chronic pain in veterans with PTSD. Over the past year, she has served as a clinician at NIU’s Psychological Services Center, providing psychodiagnostic assessments and evidenced-based therapy to individuals in the DeKalb community. Her current research explores the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of body dysmorphic disorder. Emily is also interested in selective mutism and hopes to deepen her understanding of its various presentations. She has always loved working with children, previously serving as a dance instructor and teaching English to young learners at a summer camp in 2024. Emily is thrilled to be part of the Adventure Camp team and looks forward to supporting each camper’s courageous journey this summer!

With 28 years of experience in education, Joan Petrakos is a dedicated multi-sensory special education teacher passionate about supporting diverse learners. Throughout her career, Joan has served in various teaching roles and spent 7 years as an administrator, bringing a broad perspective to student support and instructional leadership. Joan holds a Master’s degree in Education and a second in Educational Leadership, and she is committed to creating inclusive, engaging learning environments where all students can thrive. She wanted to be a counselor at Adventure Camp because she is passionate about helping children find their voices—both literally and figuratively. With her background in special education, she understands how important it is to create safe, supportive environments where children feel seen, heard, and empowered. Selective mutism can be incredibly isolating, and she was drawn to the opportunity to be part of a team that uses empathy, patience, and research-based strategies to make meaningful breakthroughs. Supporting these children as they build confidence and communication skills is deeply rewarding and aligns closely with her commitment to inclusive, individualized care. Joan looks forward to learning from the campers and growing both personally and professionally through this unique and powerful experience.

Jon is pursuing his clinical psychology Ph.D. at Northern Illinois University (NIU). He is from Long Island, New York, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in psychology from the University of Richmond. Jon’s research focuses on factors and mechanisms that influence the onset and maintenance of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, with particular interest in enhancing cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP) outcomes. During his time at NIU’s Psychological Services Center, Jon has gained valuable experience providing exposure therapy to children, which has deepened his commitment to evidence-based interventions. He is passionate about increasing access to mental health care, deconstructing stigma around mental health, and advocating. Jon’s experience with exposure work makes him particularly well-suited to support children at Adventure Camp as they continue to develop their communication skills in a supportive environment. Outside of his professional pursuits, Jon enjoys playing soccer, pickleball, tennis, traveling to different cities, and exploring new restaurants.

Natalia Zielinski is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Northern Illinois University (NIU) with a specialization in developmental psychopathology. Her research interests center around acculturation and ethnic identity, particularly among immigrant families. Natalia earned her Bachelor Science degrees in Molecular-Cellular Neuroscience and Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. During her undergraduate career, Natalia conducted research on the intersection of language and hand gestures, particularly focusing on how bilingual children and young adults interpret and use co-speech gestures. She additionally volunteered as a Polish Interpreter at Community Health Clinic in Chicago. Following her time at Loyola, Natalia worked as the research coordinator for Chicago Center for Evidence Based Treatment’s (CCEBT) Multi-Family Therapy for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa. Over the past year, Natalia has also served as a clinician in NIU’s Psychological Services Center (PSC) conducting psychodiagnostics assessments and providing treatments rooted in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Based Therapy (ACT). Natalia’s experiences have shaped her passion for working with families and children, and she is eager to meet all the brave campers this summer!

Coming soon!

Alicia Lloveras is entering her senior year at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where she is pursuing a degree in Exercise and Sport Science with concentrations in Physical Education and Secondary Education. She is certified in Adapted Physical Education and is also minoring in Spanish and Health. Her clinical teaching experience ranges from elementary to middle school, working with diverse student populations, including individuals with a wide range of disabilities. Through these experiences, she has observed students dealing with anxiety and developed a strong interest in learning how to better support them. Sports require concentration, focus, and can help improve self-confidence. Alicia is interested in diving deeper into how sports can reduce anxiety, specifically with selectively mute children. Alicia’s goal is to create an inclusive environment where all students, regardless of disability or mental health challenges, can fully participate in physical education. Her passion for sports and commitment to student well-being drive her aspiration to become a physical education teacher who empowers students, builds their confidence, and supports their personal growth. She strives to be the kind of teacher who listens, fosters strong relationships, and ensures every student feels seen, heard, and included.

John Naret currently works as a school social worker at the elementary level in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. His experience within the school setting has shown him the importance of the parent-child relationship and how that affects peer relationships, in-school behavior and the processing of emotions. After much reflection in his role as a school social worker, John is starting to fully understand the importance of team collaboration amongst every relevant party, and how unique the position is when dealing with various stages of crisis and different levels of trauma. With this realization, he has become a fierce advocate for school social workers to be present in every school district nationwide - from the wealthiest district to the poorest. He is passionate about growing his knowledge pertaining to the neurobiological underpinnings of emotions, emotional/behavior disorders, decision making, social-emotional development, and finding effective interventions for students with persistent behavior issues. These interests have led John to seek out training that addresses selective mutism in order to properly serve students that show symptoms of this rare disorder. He hopes to bring back knowledge that will assist his co-workers in becoming familiar with selective mutism and other forms of anxiety, so they too can help any student that they come across that may struggle to find their brave. John completed his master’s degree in social work at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned his bachelor’s in sociology while minoring in philosophy at Eastern Illinois University where he was a Truman Scholar nominee. While pursuing his master’s, John completed a year-long internship at Chicago Public Schools, dividing his time between Kenwood Academy, Ray Elementary and Pershing Magnet Elementary. He also completed a summer internship that focused on the effects of generational poverty in Mobile, Alabama. During his undergraduate studies, he researched the differences of socioeconomic status between families and how that affected their children’s language acquisition, language use and social adaptation. This quote by Albert Einstein has been his muse as of late, in his mission to adopt a growth mindset - “Any fool can know. The point is to understand.”

Laura Ong is pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Northern Illinois University (NIU) with a specialization in trauma psychology. Her research interests center around the consequences of childhood trauma exposure among adults with respect to personal identity, social functioning, and emotion regulation. Before beginning her doctoral studies, Laura worked as a research assistant at the National Center for PTSD. In this role, she supported a randomized controlled trial of a brief web-based program for PTSD and depression and an observational sleep measurement study of Veterans at risk for suicide. Since joining the Consequences of Trauma Exposure Lab at NIU, Laura has become particularly interested in the impact of childhood trauma on social functioning in adulthood. Her master’s thesis explores differences in causal attributions of social acceptance and rejection among emerging adults with respect to self-reported childhood emotional abuse. While trauma is not a cause of selective mutism (a common misconception), Laura’s research in this area has piqued her interest in the broader role of social communication in shaping our lives and relationships. Over the past year, Laura has also served as a clinician providing cognitive-behavioral therapy and assessment services in the NIU Psychological Services Center (PSC). This experience has fostered her interest in working with children and families and in providing exposure-based treatment for anxiety disorders. Laura is excited to be an Adventure Camp Counselor this summer and looks forward to supporting campers as they learn and grow!

Madeleine Piper is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Northern Illinois University (NIU), with specializations in trauma psychology and developmental psychopathology. Her research is currently focused on parenting and maternal factors as they relate to child outcomes. Madeleine earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a minor in neuroscience from Texas A&M University. During her undergraduate career, Madeleine spent a summer working at Florida International University’s summer treatment program, delivering behavior modification interventions to children with ADHD and related social, emotional, and behavioral concerns. She also worked in a developmental psychopathology lab at Texas A&M, where she gained experience collecting and analyzing EEG, behavioral, cortisol, and survey data from mothers and their infants and toddlers. In addition, Madeleine was in a health equity lab where she was part of a qualitative coding team and participated in research investigating risk and resilience factors related to women and children’s physical and mental health. This year, she has been working as a clinician at NIU’s Psychological Services Center, where she has conducted full psychodiagnostic assessments with adults and children and delivered interventions to adult clients rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Behavioral Activation, and Exposure Therapy. Throughout her life, Madeleine has learned how much she loves working with children, and her time in clinical and research settings has only served to increase her passion for this work. She is eager to learn more about selective mutism and related interventions and cannot wait to meet all the brave campers and their families!

Anna White (she/her/hers) is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Northern Illinois University (NIU). She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from NIU and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Anthrozoology from Carroll College. At NIU, Anna spent two years as a clinician at the Psychological Services Center, providing therapy and assessment services to children, adolescents, and adults. She has also facilitated therapy groups at both Susan Myket, PhD & Associates and The OCD and Anxiety Center. Currently, Anna serves as an Advanced Therapy and Diagnostic Extern at Piece by Piece: Neurobehavioral Services, where she conducts neuropsychological assessments and provides psychotherapy to individuals across developmental stages using evidence-based treatments. Anna’s research interests focus on cognitive factors, such as insight and fear of self, that influence moral and religious presentations of obsessive-compulsive disorder (i.e., scrupulosity). She is especially passionate about utilizing exposure therapy to treat anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders and is excited to provide exposure-based treatment to the children participating in Adventure Camp.

Mahlet Azezew is an aspiring Clinical Child Psychologist pursuing a double major in Psychology and Child & Family Studies at Berea College in Berea, KY. She is building a strong foundation in child development through hands-on experience at the Child Development Lab and community engagement with Berea Buddies and CELTS tutoring programs. Passionate about creating supportive environments where children can thrive, Mahlet is thrilled to be interning at ATSA and assisting with Adventure Camp for kids with Selective Mutism. She hopes to expand her understanding of communication difficulties and develop her clinical skills in a private practice setting. She is excited to be a support system for children with Selective Mutism using their brave, learn from experienced clinicians, and contribute to a supportive and therapeutic environment.

Celine Phan is a rising junior majoring in Psychology and Quantitative Economics at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. She thrives on meaningful connections, whether it is through thoughtful conversations or quiet moments of shared understanding. In the past two years, she has worked as a Research Assistant across different labs and served as a Teaching Assistant in the INBM department. Through these experiences, she discovered her passion for understanding human behavior, supporting personal growth, and creating spaces of empathy and reflection. While still on the path of self-discovery, Celine is drawn to a future in academia or clinical practice, where she hopes to become a professor, a clinical psychologist, or even both! She dreams of building a career rooted in care, curiosity, and community. Now, eager to gain hands-on, human-centered experience in a clinical setting, Celine is thrilled to apply her knowledge and passion for child development in a real-world environment. She looks forward to not only learning and growing alongside her campers, but also to helping them #UseYourBrave as they face new challenges. With her dedication to understanding each child’s unique needs, Celine is excited to support the campers in building their confidence, fostering resilience, and making meaningful progress during their time at Adventure Camp.

Viktoria Tekielak is a rising senior at Elmhurst University, where she is majoring in Psychology with triple minors in Social Work, Sociology, and Childhood and Youth Studies. Originally from Roselle, IL, Viktoria is passionate about working with children and adolescents, particularly in helping them build regulation, perseverance, flexibility, and frustration tolerance skills. She brings experience from both Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and youth behavior support settings, where she enjoys fostering growth through evidence-based strategies and compassionate care. Viktoria aspires to become a child clinical psychologist or developmental psychologist, with a research focus on borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits in youth. She is especially interested in developing trauma-informed interventions that promote coping and emotional resilience. This summer, Viktoria is excited to deepen her hands-on experience working with children with selective mutism, applying her skills in a supportive camp environment. With her background as a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT), where she was supervised by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), and the supervision she received from child & adolescent therapists as a youth behavior support specialist, she is equipped to follow Adventure Camp protocol and use evidence-based strategies to help children build emotional resilience and overcome challenges. She looks forward to making a positive impact on the campers’ growth and well-being at Adventure Camp.

Moriah Billingsley is a rising senior at Loyola University Chicago and double majoring in Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience and Psychology. At Loyola Chicago, Moriah has been a part of various mentorship roles, and she has worked with children ages from 18 months to 12 year olds who have anxiety, depression, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Moriah is passionate about child neurodevelopment, learning and memory, brain activity, and attention processing. Additionally, Moriah is thrilled to be working in the Cognitive Development Lab during her senior year at Loyola Chicago, and she will be researching infant processing of faces in contrast to non-social stimuli. After she earns her degrees from Loyola, Moriah hopes to work as a research assistant or intern before applying to earn her PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology. Moriah is excited to deepen her understanding of selective mutism and effective treatment methods. She is committed to creating a safe, encouraging environment where each child feels confident and supported as they work on building their communication skills and emotional resilience during Adventure Camp.

Shaan Raval is a rising senior at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, majoring in psychology on the pre-medicine track. At UIUC, Shaan is an undergraduate research assistant, working for the neurocognitive health behavior laboratory. In the lab, he works under the Plants Optimizing Development Study (PODS) in which he assists in neurocognitive, anthroprometric, and behavioral interventions to investigate the effects that soy isoflavones have on health in childhood. Shaan has a strong background in both volunteer work and crisis counseling, having volunteered at NAMI and currently serving as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. In this role, he uses evidence-based de-escalation techniques to help texters manage intense emotional situations and develop coping strategies. At NAMI, Shaan assisted with scheduling and record management, while also identifying signs of distress to refer individuals to appropriate support services. Additionally, he serves as the Volunteer Director for the Pre-health Psychology Association (PPA), where he connects groups and organizations in need of volunteers with PPA members. Shaan aspires to pursue a career in Psychiatry, focusing on a holistic approach to treating addiction by integrating medicine with behavioral and psychotherapeutic interventions.Shaan is both excited and grateful for the opportunity to gain hands-on, clinical experience at ATSA in Adventure Camp this summer. He is eager to work closely with selectively mute children, helping them navigate and overcome their fears in a supportive, nurturing environment. Shaan looks forward to applying his skills and knowledge to make a meaningful impact on the campers, guiding them as they build confidence and tackle challenges in ways that promote both personal growth and emotional resilience.

Frida Ruiz is a senior at Arizona State University, majoring in Counseling and Applied Psychology, and is set to graduate in December 2025. Her deep passion for helping children and becoming a trusted adult mentor has been a driving force in her career path. Since she was 17, Frida has been working with children of various ages (1-12), gaining invaluable experience in understanding their emotional and developmental needs. Frida’s most recent internship with two school counselors broadened her perspective on school psychology, where she worked directly with children facing a range of emotional and behavioral challenges. This hands-on experience gave her a solid foundation in supporting children with diverse needs, including those who may struggle with social anxiety or selective mutism. Frida has developed an understanding of how to approach sensitive situations with patience, empathy, and evidence-based techniques that create a safe space for children to express themselves at their own pace. Now, as she prepares for Adventure Camp, Frida is excited to bring her skills and experience to help the campers build confidence, face challenges, and develop new coping strategies. She is particularly eager to work with children experiencing selective mutism, ensuring that they feel heard, supported, and comfortable in their own time. Frida is looking forward to meeting the campers and their families, and she is dedicated to providing a positive, encouraging environment where every child can thrive.