Meet Our Therapists

Our Staff

Get to know more about our therapists at Illinois Valley Counseling Services (IVCS). We service clients in Ottawa, Mendota and surrounding areas.

Laura is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience providing outpatient therapy.

She has experience working with clients of all ages and provides mainly individual therapy. She is experienced in working with issues of anxiety, depression, mood disorders, managing stress, self esteem issues, post traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.

Laura has training and uses different methods in therapy: DBT, CBT, and psychodynamic.

Laura has also worked as an inpatient medical case management social worker and nursing home social worker. She attended Dominican University in River Forest Illinois with a BA in Pastoral Ministry and a MSW in Social Work from their Graduate School of Social Work.

Laura Kula, LCSW

Kara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families in multiple settings. Previously, Kara was employed as a hospice social worker and has extensive experience with grief and loss. She incorporates a variety of evidenced based approaches to best fit the individual including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Play Therapy.

Kara earned a Bachelor of Social Work from Illinois State University and a Master of Social Work from Aurora University. Kara is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Kara Redshaw, LCSW

Teresa MacDavitt, LCPC

Teresa MacDavitt is a licensed clinical professional counselor. (LCPC) She has worked as a school counselor in the public school system for 15 years. She is experienced in serving youths and their families challenged with conflict, depression, anxiety, panic, mood, grief, bipolar, ADHD, self harm, behavioral and emotional disorders. She is also skilled in helping with stress management, relationship and boundary issues, societal LGTBQ challenges, peer pressure, and child abuse and neglect. She acted as trained district social/emotional leader introducing and adopting LGTBQ support education, suicide prevention, mindfulness work, and emotional intelligence and regulation programs. Teresa will work with clients to determine an individualized approach designed to best help them function and thrive in today's society.

Teresa received her master's degree from Northern Illinois University.

Wendy Navarro, LCSW

Wendy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has many years of experience in the Behavioral Health field. Recently, Wendy served as the Administrative Director of Choices Behavioral Health at OSF Saint Elizabeth Medical Center. Prior to that role, Wendy was employed as an addictions therapist at the local community mental health center. Wendy is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Illinois Guardianship and Advocacy Commission-Human Rights Authority.

Wendy specializes in individual therapy for mood disorders, anxiety disorders, insomnia and life-role transitions.

Wendy has training in the following evidence-based treatment modalities:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Insomnia
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Wendy holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois.

Dawn McCollom, LCSW

Dawn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She has over a decade of experience providing counseling services. Dawn has been in private practice setting for the past 6 years. Prior to that, she worked in a community agency providing counseling and case management services. Dawn has experience in working with clients of all ages. She provides individual, family and couples treatments. Dawn is experienced in working with issues of Trauma, Anxiety, Depression, Mood Disorders, Stress Management, Anger Management, Relationship Issues, School Issues, Peer Pressure, Self-Esteem Building, Sexual Abuse, Child Abuse and Neglect, Partner Abuse, and Family Discourse. Dawn will work with the client(s) to determine an individualized approach designed to best meet their needs.

Dawn has extensive training in and utilizes these evidenced based approaches:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Family Systems Theory
Solution-Focused Therapy

Dawn received her Bachelor's Degree from Illinois State University in Social Work and her Master's in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis.

Josie Klass, LCSW

Josie has many years of experience in mental health care. Recently she worked as a counselor to nursing home residents where she provided bereavement services, depression counseling, and aided people with dementia and their families as they navigated the difficult road of their disease process. She is a veteran, and she has counseled many veterans as well. She provides individual and couples counseling and serves a variety of individuals.

Josie is trained in the following treatment modalities:

CBT

DBT

Interpersonal

Psychodynamic

Josie received her Bachelor's Degree from Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA and her Master of Social Work from Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, IA.

Vaughn Klaassen, LCPC

Vaughn has been a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) for over 25 years. He has treated both inpatient and outpatient clients, and he is experienced in treating Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive- Compulsive Disorder, Bipolar, and Thought disorders. Vaughn works with adolescents and adults, and he uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and Family Systems Therapy in his work.

Vaughn received his Masters in Counseling Psychology from Trinity International Divinity School.

Amanda Rockey

Amanda has been a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) for over 18 years. She has treated both inpatient and outpatient clients, and she is experienced in treating Depression, Anxiety, Panic, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Bipolar. Amanda works with children, adolescents and adults, and she is an eclectic therapist who uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-centered therapy. Amanda likes to work with clients to develop a cohesive relationship and treatment goals. Amanda also has experience working in the school system with children and adolescents.

Shawn Slagle, LCSW, ACSW, QCSW

Shawn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He has many years of experience working with adolescents, adults, couples, and families. In conjunction with being the Owner of IVCS, Shawn is employed by the Department of Veteran Affairs, working with the men and women who have courageously served our country.

Shawn has extensive training in the following evidenced based treatment modalities:

Prolonged Exposure Therapy for the treatment of PTSD
Cognitive Processing Therapy for the treatment of PTSD
Interpersonal Psychotherapy for the treatment of Depression.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Depression
and Anxiety

Shawn holds a Bachelor of Social Work from University of St Francis and Master of Social Work from Aurora University.

Cindy Slagle –

Operations Manager

Cindy has worked as a mental health professional at a community mental health agency for many years. She joins IVCS to manage daily functions, marketing, human resources, community relations and much more.

To contact her for any issues or complaints, please use the "Home/Contact" page above.

Each individual therapeutic experience is tailored to these unique strengths, needs, and goals. Therapeutic treatment modalities include the following, based upon age, as well as client needs, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavioral Therapy Mindfulness, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Play Therapy Integrated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Play Therapy Integrated with Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Insurance Fees