Bridges To A New Day

Executive Director:

Carolyn Khan holds a master degree from Governor’s State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a Certified Domestic Violence Professional, past president of the Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional Board, president of the Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association. She has over 18 years of experience in the counseling field with a special focus on young children and their families. She is the former clinical director of a domestic violence shelter program where she oversaw all aspect of agency program as well as the development of new programs. She attended Erickson Institute Train the Trainer training that focused on teaching other professionals how to intervene with young children dealing with trauma. She has presented throughout the state on a variety of topics but has a special focus on trauma and young children. She is an experience family counselor with special focus on families with children birth to 5. She has developed and implemented:

• School crisis responces team for grade schools
• Hispanic counseling and parenting program
• After school teen parent program
• Parenting program that reached out to 12 local schools,
• Parenting and counseling program for domestic violence victims who were involved in DCFS
• Survivors of sexual abuse and their families group
• ADHD self-esteem group for 7 year old boys.

Our Counselors:

Karen Olalde, MS Ed is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a Certified Domestic Violence Professional. She earned her Masters degree from Western Illinois University. She has over ten years of clinical experience in assisting children and families who have suffered severe trauma and abuse. She has worked with diverse populations including at risk youth, women and children coping with domestic violence, juveniles on probation, physically and sexually abused children, and families involved with the child welfare system. She conducted numerous child and teen groups in a school setting focusing on grief, loss, social skills, anxiety and life transitions. She has presented throughout the state on a variety of topics such as parenting skills, domestic violence; grief, and compassion fatigue.

Valerie Thomas is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Elmhurst College and a Master of Science Degree from National-Louis University. She has been providing individual, family, couples and group therapy in a variety of settings, such as inpatient psychiatric and emergency shelter services. She has worked at an Illinois junior high school with identified high-risk children. She also completed a 40 hour training in domestic violence.

Lisa Brown, MA, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Lewis University where she majored in Psychology and minored in Womens’ Studies. She continued her education with a focus on issues of child and adolescent counseling. She received her Master of Arts degree from Lewis University. In addition, she has completed a 40 hour domestic violence training. She has previously worked with children diagnosed with Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD. In the past, she led a domestic violence educational group for teenage girls, empowerment groups for children, and parenting support groups. She is currently employed by Bridges to a New Day where she is a counselor for children, adults, families, couples and groups.

Our Case Managers:

Kathy Weinstock graduated with a BA degree from the University of Saint Francis and is a Certified Domestic Violence Professional. She is a 60 hour trained domestic violence and sexual assault advocate. She is a former grade school teacher. She has worked in a domestic violence shelter where she answered the hotline, provided advocacy services to victims and children, develop and conducted a children’s group as well as parenting group. She specializes in working with young children with a special focus on children dealing with trauma issues.