Meet the Team: Experienced DBT Clinicians Committed to Your Growth
Introduction & My Unique Path:
Welcome to DBT Center Chicago! I’m Brittany, your dedicated Intake Coordinator. I’m often the first person you’ll connect with, and my goal is to make getting started feel clear, supportive, and human. My background in medical sociology and holistic health has shaped my appreciation for both evidence-based care and the lived experience of healing.
My Connection to DBT:
My introduction to DBT was deeply personal and shaped by my own health challenges. Through that process, I saw how structured, skills-based approaches can support resilience and meaningful change. This perspective guides how I support clients as they explore whether DBT is the right fit for them.
Life Beyond the Calls:
Outside of work, I value practices that support balance and curiosity, including meditation, learning, and wellness-focused routines. I bring that same grounded, thoughtful energy into my role at DBT Center Chicago.
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A Quick Introduction:
Hello, I’m Hannah, the Clinical Director at DBT Center Chicago and a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification–certified clinician. In my role, I oversee clinical quality, supervision, and training, ensuring that our team delivers adherent, high-quality DBT care. My background spans crisis intervention, substance use treatment, and comprehensive DBT, with a strong focus on serving both clients and clinicians with clarity and integrity.
DBT and Me:
My connection to DBT is both personal and professional. Having long navigated intense emotions myself, I experienced DBT as a structured, compassionate approach that fosters balance, resilience, and meaningful change. This perspective informs how I lead, supervise, and practice DBT — with an emphasis on skills-based care, collaboration, and sustainability.
Life Beyond the Therapy Room:
Outside of work, I’m an advocate within the LGBTQ community and value spaces that support authenticity and connection. I enjoy memoirs, history documentaries, Broadway soundtracks, and time with my cat. These interests reflect my belief in the importance of humor, curiosity, and meaningful relationships, both in and out of the therapy room.
Introducing Kevin:
Hi, I’m Kevin, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor at DBT Center Chicago. I work with both adults and adolescents across diverse identities and am especially committed to supporting LGBTQIA+ clients. My approach to therapy is collaborative and client-centered, with a focus on helping clients build practical skills and confidence.
My Approach to DBT:
I believe clients are the experts of their own lives. Using the DBT framework, I work alongside clients to build skills, insight, and strategies that support emotion regulation and meaningful change. I have completed a Deep Dive into DBT through the Portland DBT Institute and am trained in DBT-PE, grounding my work in evidence-based DBT while remaining flexible and responsive to each client’s needs.
Beyond the Therapy Room:
Outside of work, I enjoy biking around the city, spending time with dogs, and playing board games with friends. I value connection, curiosity, and balance — both in my personal life and in the therapy space.
Introducing Lena:
Hi, I’m Lena, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at DBT Center Chicago. I’m deeply committed to expanding access to high-quality mental health care and work with clients across a range of clinical needs, with particular focus on supporting QTBI POC individuals. My experience includes intake, crisis management, and ongoing therapeutic work, and I strive to create a space that is affirming, collaborative, and grounded.
My Approach to DBT:
My path to DBT grew out of my work with queer and bicultural communities in settings where validation and understanding were often limited. DBT’s emphasis on acceptance, change, and skills-based support resonated deeply with both my clinical values and lived experience. I approach therapy with a balance of structure and warmth, blending evidence-based DBT with empathy, humor, and curiosity.
Beyond the Therapy Room:
Outside of work, I value community, creativity, and rest. I enjoy video games, quiet, reflective time alone, and staying connected with others in ways that support balance and sustainability. These interests inform how I think about care — as something that honors both connection and individual needs.
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About Me:
Hi, I’m Iyanla, an Associate Counselor at DBT Center Chicago. I’m especially committed to supporting individuals who have felt unseen or unheard, including members of racial and ethnic minority communities and the LGBTQ+ community. My goal is to create a therapeutic space that feels safe, respectful, and collaborative.
My Approach to DBT:
I was drawn to DBT during my graduate training at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where I earned my master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Trauma. DBT’s emphasis on both acceptance and change resonates deeply with my values and informs how I support clients in building resilience, emotional awareness, and practical coping skills. My work is grounded in empathy, cultural humility, and collaboration, with an emphasis on helping clients feel more grounded and connected.
Beyond the Therapy Room:
Outside of work, I enjoy painting, practicing yoga, and staying active. These activities support my own sense of balance and creativity, which I bring into my work as a therapist with intention and care.
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Introducing Kate:
Hi, I’m Kate, a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of DBT Center Chicago. I specialize in comprehensive, adherent DBT and am committed to care that is both evidence-based and deeply human.
DBT Philosophy & Leadership:
As a DBT-Linehan Board of Certification–certified clinician, my work is grounded in the highest standards of DBT practice. For me, DBT is more than a treatment model — it is a philosophy that resonates deeply with my lived experience of intense emotions and informs how I approach therapy, supervision, and leadership.
As Executive Director, my role is to ensure that our team delivers care that is adherent, effective, and responsive to the real lives of the people we serve. My training includes comprehensive DBT through Behavioral Tech, founded by Dr. Marsha Linehan, and advanced mentorship in DBT-PE under Dr. Melanie Harned. These experiences continue to shape my work as a clinician, supervisor, and leader.
Life Beyond the Therapy Room:
Outside of work, much of my life revolves around reading, movies, and caring for my two high-energy rescue dogs. They keep me active, grounded, and challenged, and caring for them has become a meaningful part of my daily life. I love films of all kinds — especially horror — and humor and comedy have long been important to me and influence how I show up in my work. These interests help me stay curious, connected, and balanced in the midst of a full and demanding life.
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