Meet the ATSA Team

Iris is the caring voice you hear when you call ATSA. Unlike many clinics that have moved to automated answering services, Iris is a real live person. She is available to answer your questions about seeking treatment at ATSA, ranging from whether ATSA is the right place for your needs to what to expect for the first intake session, as well as supporting you with insurance reimbursement questions and in-network exceptions. Iris, who is also fluent in Spanish, conducts phone intakes and manages the flow of new referrals, guiding new patients through the evaluation process. Before joining ATSA, Iris was a Service Coordinator for an affordable housing community, serving as an advocate for the needs of the residents. Iris gained confidence in her coordination skills as she connected residents with resources within the community, such as partnering with a summer community garden that held a weekly farmers market on the property facilitating access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Iris graduated with her Bachelors degree in Psychology with a concentration in Community Psychology and a minor in Spanish from DePaul University in Chicago. During her time there, she was an active participant in a variety of community engagements, including the Cities Project, a mentorship program dedicated to supporting students from Chicago Public Schools. She also spent a summer at the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, as a research intern working on a project investigating which skills are acquired by children during spatial play, and potential associations with learning in the STEM fields. Iris enjoys applying her coordination skills at ATSA, and particularly serving as a compassionate listener to support those seeking help.

As case manager, Tiondra serves as the liaison between patients and clinicians to monitor patient progress, specifically ensuring treatment plan recommendations are met. At ATSA, we know how overwhelming it can be to manage one’s care or one’s child’s care, especially when juggling other life responsibilities. Tiondra serves as an additional support to you and your family in this regard, monitoring your/your child’s progress on the treatment plan, scheduling the recommended appointments, sending you reminders, and other logistical duties to help make your life easier. Tiondra also ensures that necessary resources, documents, and additional materials are distributed to specified parties, including but not limited to schools, parents, and adjunct practitioners. Tiondra holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minor emphases in African American Studies, Children’s Studies, and Sociology from Illinois State University. She has experience holding leadership roles in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Black Student Psychology Association, and as a Lead Mentor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Honors Program while at ISU. She plans to begin her Ph.D. in school psychology in the fall of 2023.

Cathleen (Cate) O'Leary is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor licensed in both Illinois and Iowa. She treats anxiety disorders using exposure therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and parent-child interaction therapy for selective mutism (PCIT-SM). Cate provides services in the clinic, home, and community settings, as well as telehealth options. She also continues to serve as a Classroom Group Facilitator for Adventure Camp Intensive Group Treatment for Selective Mutism every summer at ATSA. In addition to her role at ATSA, Cate continues her role as a job coach at a nearby school district for both high school and adult transition students with developmental and emotional disabilities. She provides on-site vocational training and counseling for students who may also have co-existing issues such as obsessive compulsive disorder or anxiety. Cate earned her Master’s degree in counseling from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois. She completed her practicum and internship at Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois where she served as a school counselor working with students who struggled academically due to social and emotional issues. Cate feels passionate about providing a safe and nurturing environment for children, adolescents, and transitioning adults, and is committed to see them develop to their full potential.

Alina Asif holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology and completed selective mutism intervention training through ATSA’s Adventure Camp Counselor Training program in the summer of 2022. Alina’s previous clinical work focused on conducting psychological testing batteries of cognitive, intellectual, emotional, and personality functioning at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health. In addition, she co-facilitated group therapies on inpatient units and partial hospitalization settings at Linden Oaks, with a focus on dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). A module of DBT is emotion regulation, where patients learn how to manage overwhelming emotions while increasing their positive experiences. Anxiety can be an overwhelming emotion for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders, and as a result, they may avoid people, places, and activities, even if it means missing out on fun things they want to do. Alina enjoys helping children, adolescents, and their families learn how to manage anxiety, get out of the anxious-avoidance coping cycle, and enjoy life. Alina is currently pursuing her doctorate in clinical psychology from Midwestern University and is serving as a Practicum Clinician at ATSA, supervised by Carmen Tumialan Lynas, Ph.D., as part of her doctorate requirement. Prior to beginning her doctorate, Alina worked at a psychology private practice where she assisted with generating and summarizing psychological testing reports of patients seeking evaluations for autism, ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and PTSD. Being fluent in Spanish and Urdu, Alina is also interested in cross-cultural psychology and is uniquely equipped to provide services to these populations. As a Practicum Clinician at ATSA, Alina provides individual and group therapy for children and adolescents coping with anxiety using evidence-based treatments such as PCIT-SM, CBT, DBT, ACT, MI.

Jordan Kaye provides diagnostic intake assessments, supervised by Carmen Tumialan Lynas, Ph.D., and she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Northern Illinois University, with a specialization in developmental psychopathology. At NIU, Jordan works as a clinician at the Psychological Services Center providing therapeutic and assessment services to children and adults with various diagnoses. Jordan’s current research focuses on parent-child relationships and associated longitudinal child outcomes, parenting behaviors, and emotion- and self-regulation. Before pursuing her doctorate, Jordan was a Research Assistant with Child Mind Institute’s Healthy Brain Network where she assisted in CMI’s big data/open science initiative aiming to identify biological markers for psychopathology from the participation of 10,000 children and adolescents ages 5-21. Before CMI, she was also a Research Assistant for Chronis-Tuscano and Rubin’s Preschool Shyness Study which compares two early intervention programs for children with severe social anxiety/behavioral inhibition. These post-baccalaureate experiences inspired Jordan to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and join the ATSA team as an Intake Clinician.

Meghan Riordan completed selective mutism intervention training through ATSA’s Adventure Camp Counselor Training program in the summer of 2021. Because she stood out in her ability to build rapport with our anxious pediatric population, Meghan was recruited to continue as co-facilitator for our Courage Club group therapies for children with selective mutism and social anxiety. In June 2022, Meghan expanded her role to provide individual outpatient and intensive services to our patients as a part-time therapist, supervised by Carmen Tumialan Lynas, Ph.D. In her role as Practicum Clinician, Meghan is completing her clinical hours requirement towards her Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Loyola University Chicago. Her interest in providing mental health services to children and adolescents stems from a history of working with kids dating back to her college years at Butler University. While there, Meghan volunteered at the Indiana School for the Blind and Vision Impaired, interacting with adolescents through stimulating sensory activities and games to increase their confidence and curiosity. Also, as a long-standing volleyball coach for children and adolescents, and an athlete herself throughout college, Meghan understands the pressures and anxieties that come with sports performance, which also contributed to her interest in mental health. In addition to her role at ATSA, Meghan continues her role as a Girls Volleyball Coach at MOD Volleyball Club where she educates children ages 9-18 on volleyball skills, the importance of teamwork, and ways to set and achieve performance goals. Meghan has participated in previous research covering the effects of a student’s confidence on their performance, based on their perceptions of the task, which also solidified her interest in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). At ATSA, Meghan offers individual therapy and group therapy using PCIT-SM, CBT, ACT, MI and works with children and adolescents, as well as parents, coping with anxiety.

Lea Rose is a licensed speech-language pathologist serving children and adults with communication, cognitive, and/or swallowing disorders. In her work at ATSA, she specializes in treating children with selective mutism who present with primary pragmatic language difficulties, in the setting of their selective mutism, as well as concomitant communication disorders. Services are offered in the clinic and via telehealth. Lea has a master's degree in speech-language pathology from Saint Xavier University. While pursuing her degree, Lea also completed selective mutism training through the Adventure Camp counselor program and served as an Adventure Camp counselor for multiple rotations. She currently works as a staff speech-language pathologist at the University of Chicago Medicine, serving both adult and pediatric populations. Lea’s clinical paradigm relies heavily on evidence based practice as well as a holistic approach to foster success in social and academic settings.

Ashley Ehrhardt, Ed.D. focuses on the psychodiagnostic assessments of students from early childhood through college. She is a board certified School Psychologist & American Board School Neuropsychologist Diplomate. She earned her master's degree in Social Science Research from the University of Chicago, her doctorate in Educational Psychology from National-Louis University, and a specialty in School Neuropsychology from Texas Woman's University. She has specialized training in trans-disciplinary play based assessments as well as the assessment and diagnosis of early childhood disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Selective Mutism. Dr. Ehrhardt was one of the original counselors trained for Adventure Camp 2011, and continued working with ATSA as a supervisor and co-facilitator of Adventure Camp in 2012 and 2013. Currently, she offers psychoeducational assessment services for ATSA patients.

Theresa Baker Gabby, LCSW has spent her career helping children and families. During years as a social worker in Chicago Public Schools and at a therapeutic school, Theresa has helped many children facing a wide array of challenges. Having used various research-based interventions to service students with anxiety in schools, Theresa looked to further her learning and expertise by participating in Adventure Camp from 2013 through 2015. Currently, Theresa is a school social worker in Skokie, IL. During her summers off, Theresa provides group therapy treatment at ATS. Theresa has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with emphasis in school social work and children/families. In addition to holding LCSW credentials, Theresa is certified as an alcohol and drug counselor by the State of Illinois and as trauma specialist by the National Institute of Trauma and Loss in Children.

Lana Alvey is a rising junior at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and is double-majoring in Psychology and English. At Kalamazoo College, she is a co-editor in chief of her school’s newspaper, The Index, and was a teaching assistant for the Intermediate Poetry Workshop. Her psychology interest is the intersectionality of gender, race, socioeconomic status, and mental health. Lana’s perceptiveness about behaviors, both self and others, and interest in learning more about social awareness, lend well to her decision to pursue psychology. Lana’s desire to become a therapist motivated her to seek out opportunities for growth, making her a great match for the ATSA internship. She is gaining experience as a confederate working directly with licensed therapists, observing how a private practice functions, and how different therapeutic interventions are implemented in a clinical setting. Lana is interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology to either become a practicing therapist for the adolescent/adult population or become a college professor. The Professional Development Seminar is helping Lana make these decisions. Lana is eager to be a part of Adventure Camp to work with the campers and see them accomplish their treatment goals!

Kaitlin Gelman (she/her), initially from New Orleans, is a rising junior at Vassar College in New York. She is pursuing a major in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Kaitlin has a strong history of leadership at Vassar College, where she is the president of Coalesce Dance Ensemble and is the Advocacy Chair for Challah for Hunger. Kaitlin’s desire to learn about the day-to-day life of a therapist, what population she feels she could serve best, and finding her therapeutic orientation shows her deep-level thinking, making her an ideal match for the ATSA internship. She is gaining knowledge about the different therapy styles and interventions and gaining experience working with the childhood population by being a “confederate” in therapy sessions. Kaitlin particularly appreciates the Professional Development Seminars, which provide the opportunity to learn about what to expect in different graduate paths in psychology. Kaitlin plans to pursue either a Master's, Ph.D., or PsyD to become a licensed therapist, and she is excited to use the therapeutic skills that she has learned thus far as an intern to interact with children at Adventure Camp!

Tiondra Little is a rising senior, graduating in December from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and minors in African American Studies, Children's Studies, and Sociology. She has impressive campus involvement at Illinois State University, where she is the past president of the Theta Delta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and historian of Black Student Psychology Association. She is also an active member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Black Student Union, and she is a Lead Mentor in the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Mentor Program. Clearly, Tiondra has the passion, desire for social justice, and compassion that made her an excellent candidate for the ATSA internship. Tiondra plans to pursue a Ph.D. in school psychology where she hopes to research the effects of traumatic experiences and extenuating life circumstances, especially in children, as they shape and influence socio-emotional development, behavior, and cognition. Even though it may sound like Tiondra has her future all figured out, she is unsure if she wants to work in a school, as a professor, or open a private practice. That’s also what made her a great candidate for ATSA’s internship, where she is learning, through the Professional Development seminars, the different pathways in psychology training to help her make an informed decision about graduate school and her career. Learning about selective mutism will be an added benefit for both Tiondra as a future school psychologist and for the children and families, she will be able to help. She can’t wait to be a part of Adventure Camp this summer!

Mudmee Sereeyothin is an international student from Thailand and a rising junior at the University of Chicago, where she will graduate with a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Neuroscience. At the University of Chicago, she is the Director of the Committee on Educational Development for NEURO club, and the Co-Director of Community Engagement for UChicago United Against Inequities in Disease (UAID). She is fascinated by understanding how the scientific understanding of the mind and brain can help people who are struggling with neurological diseases and/or mental/mood disorders. Mudmee’s involvement in multiple organizations and her desire to expand her professional development made her the perfect candidate for becoming an ATSA intern. After gaining experience working in a professional psychological clinic at ATSA, Mudmee intends to either pursue medical school or a Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology. Overall, Mudmee is extremely excited to work with the campers at AC and see their progress!

Hannah Feng is a rising junior at the University of Michigan and is double-majoring in Psychology and International Studies, and pursuing a minor in Business. At the University of Michigan, she is a research assistant for Polk Computational Neuroscience and Warneken Social Minds research labs, a member of the pre-law fraternity, Kappa Omega Alpha, and will be a writing fellow for Economics 101 this upcoming fall. Hannah’s bubbly personality and interpersonal skills were demonstrated in her role as a mission trip intern last summer, which solidified her interest in Social Psychology and Cultural Psychology. She is intrigued by the interplay between culture and the expression of neurodiversity. After her own experiences with mental health services, she is committed to making therapy more culturally sensitive and financially accessible for underserved communities. Given that ATSA’s mission also includes reducing treatment disparities by providing its free selective mutism training through Adventure Camp, Hannah’s values were a great match for the internship. Through the ATSA internship, Hannah is gaining hands-on clinical experience, establishing her population of interest, and determining if she wants to research anxiety disorders in her future endeavors. Hannah plans to research cross-cultural therapy techniques en route to earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and provide culturally-sensitive therapy as a psychologist. She is excited to be a part of the Adventure Camp team this year and is looking forward to bonding with the campers!

Nina Glawe is a rising senior at Hofstra University, pursuing a dual degree in Neuroscience and Anthropology. She is an active member of the Hofstra University Symphonic Band and vocal jazz group. In addition, her leadership and communication skills have earned her the title of the 2023- 2024 vice president and captain of the Hofstra university club softball team. Nina has gained research experience in neuroethology, where she assisted in understanding a specific species of brood parasite. Nina was selected for the ATSA intern team because of her particular interest in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, bringing a new perspective to the group. After gaining work experience in the clinical setting at ATSA and learning more about selective mutism, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. in clinical neuropsychology or neuroscience. She is extremely excited about working with the kids at Adventure Camp and getting to see their progress firsthand!

Megan Sanchez, who was born and raised in the Dominican Republic, is a rising junior at Pace University in New York City. She is majoring in Psychology and double minoring in Neuroscience and Economics, and is a member of the International Honor Society in Psychology, PsiChi. At Pace University, she demonstrates her caring nature by being an active member of Women’s Leadership Initiative, Latin American Student Organization, and Her Campus (a female empowerment and journalism organization), as well as a resident assistant for first-year students and a tour guide for prospective students. Furthermore, Megan was the social media coordinator of the Residential Life Office at Pace, where she created posts to promote health and wellness for students. While she enjoys her activities in all these programs, Megan’s favorite population has always been children. Her passion lies in developmental psychology and child psychology, and her previous experience as a summer Kindergarten teacher solidified her desire to pursue a career working with children, making her an ideal match for the ATSA internship. Having the opportunity to interact with children on a clinical level at ATSA is incredibly valuable to her professional development. Megan is learning more about therapeutic techniques, gaining a clearer view of what path she would like to take for her future, and absorbing as much information as possible to help her formulate her future plans. Megan is planning to attend graduate school to either pursue a Ph.D. or masters in counseling or clinical psychology. Megan is looking forward to getting to know the Adventure Camp campers and helping them find their Brave!