Karen E. Focht, MA, LMFT, AAMFT Supervisor, Owner

Karen E. Focht is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist who specializes in therapy services for individuals, couples and families. 

Karen received her Bachelors degree in Social Work from the University of Toledo.  She then went on to pursue her Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Syracuse University. While receiving extensive training and clinical supervision from world-renowned professor, clinician and author, Dr. Kenneth V. Hardy, Karen provided therapy services to individuals, couples, families.  During this time, Karen implemented group therapy for children addressing issues of divorce, separation and loss and also facilitated couple enrichment sessions focusing on couple intimacy, communication skills and conflict resolution.

Upon completion of her Masters Degree in 2007, Karen has been dedicated to providing therapy and support to individuals, couples and families. She holds significant experience in addressing communication building, relational conflict, infidelity, grief, anxiety, depression, life transitions and infertility support.  She is committed to building strong and healthy relationships both on an individual and relational level. 

Karen is a trained facilitator of PREPARE/ENRICH, which is an effective assessment tool that is used while working with premarital couples.  She is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and an active member in the Illinois Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (IAMFT) Chicago Chapter.  Karen is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and has provided over 9 years of clinical supervision at Northwestern University as clinical supervising faculty where she provided both individual and group supervision to MFT graduate students.  

With over 18 years of experience in providing relationally driven therapy, Karen works from a systemic and integrative perspective.  Karen believes in collaborating with her clients with the purpose of working towards individual and relationship goals. She specializes in creating a safe environment for her clients in order to empower personal and relational growth, healing, emotional wellness, goal achievement and development.

Anne DeCore, LMFT

Anne is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in therapy services for Couples. 

Anne received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Colgate University. She then received her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Family Institute at Northwestern University.

 Anne’s clinical interests include working with couples on issues of grief and loss, transition to parenthood, adult life transitions, intimacy-building, relational conflict, infidelity, co-parenting, and family blending. A primary clinical focus of Anne’s is providing discernment counseling to couples who are experiencing ambivalence toward their marriage.

 As a relationally trained therapist, Anne brings curiosity to the ways circularity works in couple relationships: how are patterns co-created and maintained? Through a collaborative and creative process, clients will grow individual and relational self-awareness. She supports her clients in naming their emotions, needs, and hurts, so that these may become bids for connection, instead of hidden sources of detachment.

 Anne’s approach is warm, understanding, inquisitive, and analytical. She always seeks to create an emotionally safe environment. She is a strengths-based clinician which means she will always search for and emphasize the strengths and competencies of her clients. She values feedback and aspires for the therapy experience to feel collaborative and balanced for all members.

Anne is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). She is a certified PREPARE/ENRICH Facilitator, which is an effective assessment tool used while working with couples. Anne also runs her own coaching business, Starling Coaching, where she offers one-one-one coaching and enrichment courses tailored to clients in distinct points of the relationship life cycle.

Nicole Marino, AMFT

Nicole is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in therapy services for Couples, Families, and Individuals.

Nicole received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies (concentration in Family Studies) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She then received her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Family Institute at Northwestern University.

Nicole’s clinical interests include anxiety, depression, relationship issues, adult life transitions, couple conflict, emerging adulthood, attachment-based issues, self-esteem issues, sexual concerns, divorcing couples, work and career issues, grief and loss, and child/adolescent work. Nicole has worked with individuals, couples, families, and children/adolescents.

Nicole is trained in various therapy models, works from an integrative framework, and believes in the importance that every client is unique and different. Because of this, she tailors her therapy around each client’s specific needs and goals in a collaborate effort. Nicole also believes in the importance of creating a safe environment for everyone in the room to feel completely comfortable voicing their perspective and feelings. She approaches therapy in a compassionate, understanding, and curious way. Nicole believes therapy is a place to learn more about yourself and grow as a person. Change can only happen if you are willing to put in the work, and Nicole is always eager to help facilitate that journey.

Nicole is a pre-clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

Jessy Weston, AMFT

Jessy is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in therapy services for individuals, couples, families, and youth.

Jessy received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Economics at Northwestern University. She then went on to pursue her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Family Institute at Northwestern University. 

Jessy has experience working with anxiety, depression, life transitions, racial/cultural identity development, family of origin issues, and marriage/relationship issues. Jessy has a particular passion for helping children, teens, and young adults and their families navigate issues related to self-esteem and identity, adjustment challenges, academic difficulties, emotion regulation, and communication. 

Jessy works from an integrative and systemic framework where she utilizes concepts and interventions from a wide range of therapeutic models to best meet the unique needs of her clients. Her approach is centered in warmth and curiosity, and fostering a safe space where clients feel comfortable to fully explore their emotional and relational needs. Jessy recognizes the courage it takes to step into therapy and she seeks to work collaboratively alongside clients to help them better understand themselves and their relationships. She finds that building genuine and meaningful relationships with clients is the most important tool for success in therapy. As a first generation Asian American woman, Jessy understands the complexity of identity and strives to be mindful of every client’s diverse background and context. 

Jessy is a pre-clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

Bree Minger, AMFT

Bree is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in services for individuals, couples, and families. 

Bree graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism: Strategic Communication. She received her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Wheaton College. 

Bree walks alongside clients experiencing anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self esteem issues, identity, parenting issues, anger, and life transitions. She enjoys working with adolescents and children using play therapy techniques. Bree also has experience working with blended families, infidelity, separation, and sexual concerns. 

Bree hopes the therapy experience is different from anything the individual, couple or family has ever tried before. She brings a warm, calming presence to the therapy room, hoping for clients to accept themselves and their pain as they work through it. Bree uses an integrative approach of systemic theories to meet the needs of different clients and their stories. Each client has a unique story, which requires different tools and modalities to achieve their goals.  

Bree’s certifications include: PREPARE/ENRICH facilitator, Spiritual First Aid, Skills for Psychological Recovery, and Trauma-Focused CBT. Bree will receive a Graduate Trauma Certificate from Wheaton College in Spring of 2024. 

Bree is a pre-clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT).

Caroline Neal, AMFT

Caroline is a Pre-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, specializing in therapy services for Couples, Individuals and Families. 

Caroline received her Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing at Marquette University. She later went on to pursue her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Family Institute at Northwestern University. 

After completing her masters, Caroline focused on supporting individuals, couples and families. In particular, she found a passion for providing therapy to couples experiencing high conflict, trust issues, transitioning into parenthood and issues with family dynamics including cut-offs. Caroline also has experience  supporting individuals navigating anxiety, divorce and relational issues. 

Caroline hopes to empower each client who walks into her office by utilizing a systemic, strength based approach. She brings kindness and warmth into therapy while remaining focused on each client's unique need for change. Caroline believes that while change looks different for each individual, couple or family the process requires consistent collaboration and understanding between herself and her clients. 

Caroline's clinical interests include working with couples to resolve problems related to infidelity, estrangement, conflict resolution, and parenting. She is also passionate about supporting women experiencing postnatal depression and / or anxiety as well as processing traumatic experiences related to pregnancy and labor. 

Caroline is a pre-clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy ( AAMFT).