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.

Meghan Riordan holds a master’s education specialist degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) from Loyola University Chicago. Meghan works with children and adolescents, young adults, and parents coping with anxiety. She provides evidence-based treatments including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), parent-child interaction therapy adapted for selective mutism (PCIT-SM), exposure therapy, parent coaching, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In 2021, Meghan completed selective mutism intervention training through ATSA’s Adventure Camp Counselor Training program, served as a co-facilitator for our Courage Club group therapies for children with selective mutism and social anxiety in 2022, completed her clinical internship at ATSA providing outpatient and intensive services in both individual and group therapies in 2023, and is currently a CMHC Fellow at ATSA completing her clinical hours requirement towards her LCPC licensure, supervised by Carmen Tumialan Lynas, Ph.D. Meghan’s 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 acceptance-based and cognitive-behavioral therapies to children, adolescents, and adults coping with anxiety and related conditions.

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.

Jack is an ASTA intern and Adventure Camp assistant. He is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology at Rice University. He is particularly interested in adolescent development, motivation, and social psychology and hopes to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist. His work in psychology includes research at the Adult Skills and Knowledge Lab (ASK) Lab where he helped to run a project to measure proficiency and progression of employee learning. For the past year, he has been mentoring 30+ refugee students to better adapt to life in the United States and help them navigate academic, social-emotional, and civil issues. On campus, he is both a member of the neuroscience club and an orientation week advisor. Jack is looking forward to following the adventure camp’s mission and to help these children grow stronger every day!

Kayla Tracey is a rising senior at Michigan State University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Cognitive Science. At Michigan State, Kayla is a student volunteer with the Center for Survivors where she provides crisis intervention services over hotline, crisis chat, and in person crisis advocacy. Additionally, this fall, Kayla will be stepping into the role of President for the Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention student organization. Kayla has been involved in research since her freshman year. She is currently an Undergraduate Research Assistant and working in the ARISE lab and in the Health and Risk Communication Center. In the ARISE lab she is an active participant on projects analyzing the sociocultural influences on body image, weight bias, and intuitive eating and attempting to increase equity in eating disorder research and treatment. In the HRCC Kayla works on projects that attempt to reduce institutional carbon output by means of reducing water consumption. Kayla is also a student member of the Social Science Scholars program and the Women’s Leadership Institute student cohort. Kayla’s involvement in research and volunteering has led to her interest in improving the research-practice gap that she has learned about in her psychology studies. She hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in order to continue performing research to inform evidence-based interventions for children and adolescent populations. Kayla is grateful for the opportunity to intern at ATSA because of the first-hand experience in a clinical setting and to learn more about working with pediatric populations dealing with anxiety. She is excited to see the children at Adventure Camp use their Brave and work toward their goal!

Raquel Baptiste is a rising junior at Berea College and is pursing a major in psychology with a minor in Biology. At Berea College she has worked as a lab assistant for going on three years now where she has assisted in a research study focused on learning scientific approaches to nutritional and reproductive management. Additionally in her Lab assistant position she also has past experience observing, learning and understanding the non-verbal communications of animals used in lab courses and research studies as well as the non-verbal communications of students in lab courses she assisted in. Last summer she served as an academic mentor as well as a teaching assistant in a camp aimed at acquainting incoming freshmen to college life. She takes great interest in understanding the emotional and neurological aspects that affect individual behavior and plans to put that interest to use in the field of clinical or neuropsychology someday. She is most excited for learning how selective mutism affects the brain and individual functioning and helping the kids use their brave at adventure camp!

Azka is a rising senior at University of Southern California, majoring in Psychology. She is an ATSA intern and an Adventure camp assistant this summer. She has been particularly interested in child development and disorders, such as ADHD, dyslexia, and autism and how that impacts the trajectory of their future. She is also interested in the taboo around mental health and improving the accessibility of it, especially in countries where it is not as common, such as Pakistan. For the past year Azka has been working as a Research Assistant at the Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI). She has worked on projects that investigate music and its relation to memory and nostalgia. She hopes to pursue a career in clinical psychology and master in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is very excited to be able to watch children get control over their fears.

Brooke Theis is a rising senior at Tulane University majoring in psychology and minoring in social work. Working toward her Bachelor of Science, Brooke manages the impressive role of being a Division I athlete on the Tulane Women’s Tennis team along with serving as an active member in the International Honor Society in Psychology. As a lifelong player, she has found joy in using her 15+ years of skills to teach tennis and mentor children in her local community along with kids in underprivileged neighborhoods throughout Chicago. These experiences inspired her enthusiasm in psychology, particularly in learning science based interventions to encourage emotional well-being. In 2023, Brooke earned the opportunity to serve as a kindergarten assistant teacher in New Orleans. She loved working with the kids and forming meaningful relationships with children across all backgrounds. Through this unique position, Brooke performed academic assessments, helped students develop phonemic awareness, and taught letter recognition skills. In addition, Brooke is an active volunteer in Feed my Starving Children, St. Michael's Special School, and her church. She also loves to feed and take care of street cats and volunteers in TNR to help local animal organizations. In the future, Brooke hopes to earn her Masters or PhD in school or clinical psychology. She is extremely excited and grateful to be an intern at ATSA, and cannot wait to help children this summer use their brave!