Staff & Board Bios
Staff
Celia Brickman, Ph.D., L.C.P.C
ext. 9075
Celia Brickman is a clinical, faculty and research member of CRPC, where she has been on staff since 1994. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School, is a research associate of the American Psychoanalytic Association, and is a member of the American Counseling Association, the American Academy of Religion, and the American Psychotherapy Association. She works with adult individuals confronting concerns such as anxiety and depression, issues stemming from life transitions, and questions of meaning and identity having to do with gender, race/ethnicity, vocation, and spirituality. In addition to her clinical work, she is the author of Aboriginal Populations in the Mind: Race and Primitivity in Psychoanalysis (Columbia University Press, 2003), as well as several sarticles and reviews, and has given numerous talks nationally on the topics of psychoanlaysis, religion and race. She has office hours in our loop office and in Hyde Park.
Catherine Burris-Schnur, D.Min., L.C.P.C.
ext. 9179
Catherine Burris-Schnur graduated from the Chicago Theological Seminary and has a diploma from CRPC’s Education Program in Self Psychology and Religion. She is an ordained minister of the American Baptist Churches, U.S.A. She is the Director of CRPC’s Education Program, where she teaches the integrative case conference and the course on integrating professional identity, and is a mentor in CRPC’s Apprentice Program. She is also an adjunct faculty member of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She works with adult individuals and couples, and has particular interests in feminist issues, the integration of self psychology and religion, and depth psychology. She has office hours in our loop office and in Evanston.
Anne Cowick Hampson, D.Min., L.C.P.C.
National Certified Counselor
ext. 9181
Anne joined the Center in July 2006. She has worked for over twenty years in the field of pastoral counseling providing therapy, teaching doctoral students training in the field, giving supervision, providing consultation to clergy and congregations. Anne has presented workshops on clergy issues, depression, anxiety, grief, loss, care giving, and domestic abuse, preparation for marriage, marriage enrichment, faith development, and parenting adolescents. She works with individuals, couples and families. Her expertise includes assisting with depression, grief, loss, faith concerns, and anxiety, clergy challenges, preparing for marriage, relationship issues, and families experiencing a transition. Anne graduated from the Chicago Theological Seminary in a joint degree program with the Pastoral Psychotherapy Institute, Park Ridge, Illinois and received a Doctor of Ministry degree specializing in pastoral counseling. She holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and a Post Masters Specialization in Couple and Family Therapy from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. She is an Ordained Deacon and Endorsed Pastoral Counselor in the United Methodist Church. She is a fellow level member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and a member of the American Counseling Association. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the state of Illinois and is a National Certified Counselor. Anne sees clients in the Loop and Evanston locations with day and evening hours.
Cynthia Lindner, D. Min.
ext. 9077
Cynthia Lindner has worked as a parish pastor, hospice chaplain, and pastoral psychotherapist for over 20 years. She received her D. Min from the University of Chicago’s Divinity School, and her M.A. in marriage and family therapy from Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon. She is currently Director of Ministry Studies at the Divinity School and teaches classes in preaching and pastoral care. She has worked with individuals, couples, and families; enjoys engaging youth and young adults around issues of identity, relationship and vocation; has worked extensively with ministers around issues of religious leadership and the intersection of professional and personal life; and with women around issues of identity, empowerment, depression and loss. She is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Margaret Mason, M.A., A.D.T.R.*, L.C.P.C.
ext. 9222
Margaret L. Mason has a broad background in the arts, education and psychotherapy. Bringing to her clinical work with adults, individuals and couples a specialized knowledge of body and movement expression, she is skilled in helping with depression, anxiety, relationships and self-esteem issues, identity, grief, loss and other life transitions. Margaret is a registered dance/movement therapist and a certified Imago Relationship Therapist. She offers workshops for couples, including the Harville Hendrix “Getting the Love You Want” workshop. Her formal education includes Master’s Degrees from Northwestern University and Columbia College Chicago. Margaret completed the Center’s training program. Margaret is also currently a faculty member in the graduate Dance/Movement Therapy program at Columbia College Chicago. Formerly, she was on the faculty in the University of Illinois at Chicago as well as adjunct faculty at the Chicago Professional School of Psychology.
Marcia Pavlou, Ph.D.
ext. 9074
Marcia Pavlou is a clinical psychologist with a doctoral degree from Loyola University, a residency in clinical psychology from Rush University, and more recently a certificate in Self Psychology and Religion from the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy. A clinician with over twenty-five years of experience, Dr. Pavlou maintains a general practice with adults experiencing relationship difficulties, with people whose personal or career lives are not on a path they would wish, with people experiencing significant life change, with individuals with anxiety and depression or with feelings of distress they do not entirely understand. She has a current interest in working with religious seekers and with those whose spiritual lives have unfolded in unique and non-traditional ways. Previously on the faculty and staff of Rush Medical College, she developed particular expertise with people and families experiencing long-term medical problems. Dr. Pavlou conducted research in this area, worked nationally as a consultant, and wrote articles and books for professionals and patients. This work created a broader framework for working with extended and unusual stress. She helps people to understand their particular personal styles for navigating their lives, and assists them in using this as a guide for creating desired change. Dr. Pavlou has studied depth psychology intensively, works with people in both short and long term formats, and has a style that is active and practical.
Elena Vassallo, M. Div., L.C.P.C.
ext. 9078
Elena Vassallo has been a member of the CRPC staff since 1991. She works with individuals and couples, and has also led groups for women. She received her M. Div. from The Divinity School of The University of Chicago where she served as associate dean for ten years working with ministry students and teaching Pastoral Care and Counseling. She helps clients with an array of difficulties including depression, anxiety, marital/relational issues, parental challenges and phase-of-life transitions. She is particularly experienced working with clients to understand family-of-origin based patterns of thought and behavior and the way in which those restrict and affect adult experience. In recent years her practice has come to include many new mothers and fathers, as well as individuals experiencing pregnancy loss and infertility. She is also available for pre-marital counseling. Elena is a fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She practices in the Loop office and in Oak Park.
Mark Virshbo, J.D., L.C.S.W.
ext. 9173
Mark H. Virshbo is a graduate of the University of Chicago with a degree in anthropology; Northwestern University School of Law, Smith College School for Social Work and the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program (CAPT) of the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. He has also been a student-at-large in the Ph.D. program at the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago. Prior to embarking on his career as a psychotherapist, he had a degree at law. He works with adult individuals, couples, families, and children and adolescents. He is available by appointment in our loop office and in the north suburbs.
Board
Michael J. Bland, Psy.D., D. Min., is a clinical professional counselor at the Center for Psychological Services, Oak Lawn, Ill., and works part-time for the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Office of Assistance Ministry as the clinical and pastoral coordinator. Bland has worked for over ten years directly with victims-survivors of sexual abuse by church personnel, including clergy. He holds a doctorate in psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a doctorate in ministry from the Chicago Theological Seminary which was done in conjunction with the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy. Bland has extensive clinical experience, including a psychology internship at the Department of Public Health, Division of Behavioral Health, City of Chicago and a two-year psychology externship at Chicago-Read Mental Health Center, an inpatient facility for the state of Illinois. Bland also serves on Boards at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, the Intuitional Review Board at Chicago Read Mental Health Center, and founding member of the National Review Board of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Born in New Jersey and a graduate of St. Louis University, he is a nationally known consultant providing clinical and pastoral consultations to profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Constance Goldberg, L.C.S.W., is a graduate of Oberlin College and the Columbia University School of Social Work. She was a social worker at the Institute for Juvenile Research from 1964-1968 and at the clinic of the Institute for Psychoanalysis of Chicago from 1968-1978. She has been on the Board of the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy since 1978 where she has also served on the faculty and as a clinical consultant. She was a Founding Board member of the Institute for Clinical Social Work of Chicago in 1980 and continues on its faculty. She has published several articles on the application of Self Psychology to psychotherapy and has written and presented on the interface between therapy and spirituality. She has been in full time private practice since 1983.
Gretchen Henninger is a business and executive coach. She was Vice President of Institutional Sales at ABN AMRO/La Salle Capital Markets where she was the top producer of tax exempt municipal bonds for several years. Her sales career has spanned more than twenty years with experience in taxable, tax exempt and derivative products. Gretchen has an Associates Degree in Interior Design from Harrington Institute, has studied music, philosophy, and psychology, and has received extensive training in leadership and coaching from Landmark Education and the Coaches Training Institute. A lot of her time is taken up in volunteering. Heading up a peace and justice group, Logan Square neighbors for Justice and Peace and working in many capacities at Grace United Methodist Church. She currently serves on three Not-For-Profit boards: The Center for Religion & Psychotherapy, Intimate Opera, Inc. where she is the CEO and The Board of Ordained Ministries. Living in Chicago and being single, Gretchen enjoys art, music, dance, skiing and hiking. Gretchen is committed to a world that upholds and respects the differences of all people.
Timothy O’Connell, Ph.D., chief board officer, is a tenured full professor at Loyola University Chicago, where he currently serves at Assistant Provost for Faculty Affairs. The author of twelve books and over fifty articles, he is a nationally known expert in professional ethics and the role of values in organizational life.
Ann Fisher Raney, M.S.W., is the Chief Executive Officer of Turning Point Behavioral Health Center in Skokie, Illinois. Programs at Turning Point feature a comprehensive, recovery-model approach to mental health for children, adults, and families. During Ann’s ten years at Turning Point, the agency has received the highest awards from the accrediting body, the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Since 1994, Ann has also taught courses in psychotherapy and spirituality at The School for Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. Special academic interests include psychodynamic practice, clinicians’ professional and personal development, mindfulness and meditational practices, and understanding space in therapeutic relationships. Ann is a graduate of St. Olaf College, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and has earned three master’s degrees from The Divinity School at The University of Chicago, McCormick Theological Seminary, and The School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. She received the Solomon O. Lichter Memorial Prize for Scholarship and Professional Leadership, and a Doctoral Fellowship in Mental Health Services Research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. In 2008, Ann received the Certificate in Leadership Arts from the University of Chicago Graham School. Ann believes that mental health is an individual right and she is committed to bringing leadership and passion to the achievement of this goal.
Lallene Rector, Ph.D.
Bio forthcoming.
Gordon Zerkel, M.A.T.S.
Bio forthcoming.
*LCPC - Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
*ADTR—American Dance Therapist Registry