DEANNA MARINCIC, MSW, LCSW - FOUNDER/CLINIC DIRECTOR
Clinical Supervisor, Speaker
Clinical Supervisor, Speaker
Deanna is a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist who has been working in the mental health field treating individuals, families, and adolescents for over 25 years with all levels of care. She has worked extensively with teenagers, their families and adult clients with addictions, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, family and couples work, co-parenting, and behavioral management skill building. Deanna's experience also includes working with individuals experiencing grief, loss, and terminal illness. Her greatest calling lies in helping individuals heal from their past trauma and forge a path of strength and emotional growth. In work with her clients, Deanna utilizes her humanistic approach along with formal training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a specialized treatment modality used to resolve trauma, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy and Family Systems Approach.
Founder of Gals Institute LLC. in 2015 and with a growing team of skilled providers; Deanna launched mental health in schools. Partnered with 9 school districts, access to much needed services for families in the school setting is provided. Deanna and her team provide staff development, district support, school wide initiatives related to resilience building and help schools destigmatize mental health and bridge services to families in the district. As a personal passion project to help families and kids six years and up develop confidence, self-esteem and much needed resiliency, Deanna has created several trademarked prevention and resiliency building workshops, using research based modalities in an engaging interactive multifaceted way to help support the whole family system. In 2017 after the demand for the workshops expanded, she founded Gals On The Go Project foundation that offers these positive impact programs to the community and school settings for no charge with the support of generous donors, fundraising and grants.
Deanna promotes prevention and healing in her work with clients and trains new clinicians in the same way. She was an Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF) board member 2013-2014 and President 2014-2016, and proudly awarded the 2017 Woman in Business of the Year by the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce. Deanna continues as an active member of the Oconomowoc and Delafield Chamber of commerce where she collaborates with other like minded business leaders committed to the emotional health of our community. As a sought after presenter, Deanna brings her down to earth personality to educate the community on issues such as socio-emotional adolescent development, anxiety, resiliency building, parenting, and treatment of addictions.
Founder of Gals Institute LLC. in 2015 and with a growing team of skilled providers; Deanna launched mental health in schools. Partnered with 9 school districts, access to much needed services for families in the school setting is provided. Deanna and her team provide staff development, district support, school wide initiatives related to resilience building and help schools destigmatize mental health and bridge services to families in the district. As a personal passion project to help families and kids six years and up develop confidence, self-esteem and much needed resiliency, Deanna has created several trademarked prevention and resiliency building workshops, using research based modalities in an engaging interactive multifaceted way to help support the whole family system. In 2017 after the demand for the workshops expanded, she founded Gals On The Go Project foundation that offers these positive impact programs to the community and school settings for no charge with the support of generous donors, fundraising and grants.
Deanna promotes prevention and healing in her work with clients and trains new clinicians in the same way. She was an Oconomowoc Public Education Foundation (OPEF) board member 2013-2014 and President 2014-2016, and proudly awarded the 2017 Woman in Business of the Year by the Oconomowoc Area Chamber of Commerce. Deanna continues as an active member of the Oconomowoc and Delafield Chamber of commerce where she collaborates with other like minded business leaders committed to the emotional health of our community. As a sought after presenter, Deanna brings her down to earth personality to educate the community on issues such as socio-emotional adolescent development, anxiety, resiliency building, parenting, and treatment of addictions.
TERRI ALM, RN, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Terri is a board certified psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner. She has been a nurse for over 20 years, earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Alverno College, and her master’s degree from the University of St. Francis. Her role at Gals Institute LLC is to provide psychiatric evaluations, diagnosis, and treatment (medication and/or non-pharmacological interventions). We are excited to have her as part of the Gals Institute Clinical team, working together to help our clients on their journey of wellness. Terri’s approach is holistic, and based on the understanding that there is a critical connection between physical and mental health. She believes medication can be beneficial, yet understands medication is not the only tool to be utilized. By providing education and guidance on things such as proper nutrition, sleep habits, physical activity, as well as medication, Terri believes patients can be empowered to make informed choices regarding their health. She looks forward to partnering with patients on their journey to health and well-being. Terri is a speaker and advocate in the area of addiction, anxiety and mental health issues. As a client of Gals Institute your family will have access to Terri and her services.
KATHLEEN AYALA, MSW, LCSW
Kathleen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in children ages 6-17. Kathleen received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University, and her Master's in Social Work from the University of Hawaii.
Kathleen is certified in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, a developmentally informed, biologically respectful approach to working with children. She has provided clinical services for children and teenagers in many settings, such as anger management, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and trauma, for the past 15 years. Kathleen uses a holistic strengths-based, neurodevelopmental approach to support the exploration of emotions, self-regulation, and healing within the therapeutic environment. She integrates various modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, Strength-Based Therapy, and Mindfulness, into her practice.
Her goal is to meet the child and family where they are and help them develop strategies combined with their natural strengths to overcome challenges and promote growth.
Kathleen is certified in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, a developmentally informed, biologically respectful approach to working with children. She has provided clinical services for children and teenagers in many settings, such as anger management, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and trauma, for the past 15 years. Kathleen uses a holistic strengths-based, neurodevelopmental approach to support the exploration of emotions, self-regulation, and healing within the therapeutic environment. She integrates various modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, Strength-Based Therapy, and Mindfulness, into her practice.
Her goal is to meet the child and family where they are and help them develop strategies combined with their natural strengths to overcome challenges and promote growth.
JESSICA BENDER, MS, LPC, SAC
Jessica is a dual licensed therapist (LPC, SAC) specializing in working with children, adolescents and their families. She has experience in helping individuals struggling with issues related to anxiety, ADHD, depression, substance use and trauma. Jessica utilizes aspects of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior therapy (DBT) and Positive Psychology through her strengths-based and collaborative approach. Having worked with individuals in various settings including hospitals, day treatment programs, foster care and higher education, Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge and skill. She enjoys working with clients to help them meet their goals and improve their overall well-being.
TAYLOR CROUSE, MS, NCC, LPC-IT
Taylor is a 2021 graduate of Mount Mary University with her Master of Science Degree in Professional Counseling, with school counseling and clinical mental health counseling concentrations. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor-In-Training (LPC-IT) working towards her full licensure. Taylor completed two school counseling internships over the 2019-2020 school year, one at a K-8 charter school in Milwaukee and the other at a public high school in Franklin. Through these internships, she gained experience working with students of various ages, working in social-emotional and academic areas, both individually and in groups. Taylor completed her practicum and internship from 2020-2021. She worked in an outpatient mental health clinic with individuals and groups ages 6-60 on anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), work/life balance, and trauma.
Taylor works with individuals six and older, ranging from childhood to adulthood. Taylor uses a person-centered approach to counseling and believes that every individual’s life experience is valuable and deserves to be heard. She treats her clients the way she would like to be treated and emphasizes the therapeutic relationship. Her philosophy is built upon the notion that trust and safety foster vulnerability and change. Taylor believes that each individual is the expert in their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, making her a guide on your recovery journey. Taylor utilizes a strengths-based approach incorporating aspects of Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Bibliotherapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Traditional Talk Therapy when adapting treatment to the individual client. She looks forward to helping you see yourself in a new light and grow to reach your desired outcomes. Taylor enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being creative, and bargain shopping in her free time.
Taylor works with individuals six and older, ranging from childhood to adulthood. Taylor uses a person-centered approach to counseling and believes that every individual’s life experience is valuable and deserves to be heard. She treats her clients the way she would like to be treated and emphasizes the therapeutic relationship. Her philosophy is built upon the notion that trust and safety foster vulnerability and change. Taylor believes that each individual is the expert in their thoughts, feelings, and emotions, making her a guide on your recovery journey. Taylor utilizes a strengths-based approach incorporating aspects of Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Bibliotherapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Traditional Talk Therapy when adapting treatment to the individual client. She looks forward to helping you see yourself in a new light and grow to reach your desired outcomes. Taylor enjoys spending time with her family and friends, being creative, and bargain shopping in her free time.
ALISSA DARIN, MA, LPC, NBCT
Alissa Darin is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Education and Kinesiology. She received her Master's in Counseling from Marquette University. Alissa has spent the past 20 years serving in the field of education as a teacher, school counselor, and administrator. She holds her National Boards for Professional Teaching in the area of School Counseling and completed her 3,000 hours at Gals Institute as a Licensed Professional Counselor - In Training. Alissa’s focus is in helping adolescents, young adults, adults, couples and families mental health needs by using Solution-focused Therapy, Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing and a family systems approach. She works with individuals ages 10 and up, couples and families that struggle with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, substance use and addiction, marital struggles, blending of families, failure to launch and sports injuries. Additionally, she is a Love and Logic facilitator and promotes prevention as a speaker for parent groups, conferences and agencies focusing on mental health topics, parenting and drug/alcohol use issues.
MICHELE EIMON, MS, NCC, LPC
As a nationally certified counselor, she provides social and emotional nourishment to individuals, couples and families struggling with relationships, life stressors, transitions and health challenges - in other words, all of the joys and challenges of being human. She also focuses on parents (such a tough, humbling gig!), and helping them develop healthy, fulfilling relationships with themselves, their children and each other. She has extensive experience in grief, loss and dealing with chronic illness, and companions people on these journeys to a place of hope and healing. When appropriate, she incorporates EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) into her sessions, which is a crazy sounding but highly effective energy technique that is based on the same principles as acupuncture. She has a solution-focused approach, which means she is committed to working with clients in a collaborative partnership to solve problems and achieve positive change: such as more enjoyable relationships, more ease and joy in daily life, less stress and strife, more energy and an increased sense of well-being. She enjoys living in the Lake Country area with her husband and two teens.
CZARINA ENCARNACION, LPC GRADUATE INTERN
Czarina is a current Graduate student at Alverno College in Milwaukee. She is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Community Psychology and plans to obtain her licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) upon graduation in May of 2023. She is from Illinois and moved to the area after earning her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Carroll University in 2019. Czarina is passionate about working with the adolescent population and serving the community. She has experience utilizing cognitive-behavioral therapy working with adolescents in a residential treatment setting and strives to expand on these skills. Czarina uses a behavioral approach and draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to empower clients. She is excited to learn and grow with the team at Gals Institute.
New Team Member Coming Soon
Erin Kelly MS, LPC - Mental Health In School Services Liason - Mukwonago
Erin earned her Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling from the accredited Mount Mary University. Erin is a National Board-Certified Counselor and completed her further training and 3,000 hours at Gals Institute. Erin’s area of specialty is working with kids ages 6 and up, teens, young adults, and families. Erin has worked with the adoption and foster care system helping children and family work on healthy attachment skills and families navigate today's challenges. Erin utilizes an eclectic person-centered approach of therapeutic modalities utilizing techniques from talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness with her clients. Erin meets the client where they are at and helps them emotionally process feelings, underlying trauma, divorce, relationship issues, abuse, neglect, anxiety, and depression to achieve the client’s unique goals. Erin's passion is to support the family system and help families thrive.
Gwen Olson, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor
Gwendolyn ‘Gwen’ (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist who specializes in working with adolescents and adults in both individual and group settings. Gwen graduated from the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin- Madison with her master’s degree. Prior to this, she received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Mount Mary University. While Gwen has past experiences providing services to individuals and groups across the lifespan in a community-based mental health clinic, she especially enjoys supporting individuals with anxiety, mood, depressive, obsessive-compulsive, trauma, neurocognitive (ASD/Intellectual Disability), and substance use disorders. Gwen’s counseling style is client-centered, and her evidence-based approach combines the use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)/ TEAM Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused CBT, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. Her goal in working with clients is to help equip them with skills to find healing, confidence, and happiness. Gwen believes mindfulness is equally important as brushing your teeth, there are four ways to solve a problem (DBT), and to make positive change, one must learn to ‘fail quickly’ (TEAM CBT).
When Gwen is not at Gals Institute, she is serving as a Behavioral Health Officer in the United States Army for the Wisconsin Army National Guard. She is also an active member of her church and loves traveling with her husband and posh French Bulldog, Lola.
When Gwen is not at Gals Institute, she is serving as a Behavioral Health Officer in the United States Army for the Wisconsin Army National Guard. She is also an active member of her church and loves traveling with her husband and posh French Bulldog, Lola.
Melisa Maroo, Assistant CLinic Director & COmmunity Relations
Melisa has worked with children and families for over 10 + years. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and started her career at the Waukesha Head Start. She then moved on to become the Center Director at a daycare in Brookfield, where she implemented curriculums for ages infant through preschool. She also helped launch an extra curricular program within the childcare division. Eventually Melisa transitioned careers, to work for the Brookfield Chamber, where she was able to learn more about the non-profit community and local small businesses.
Melisa's background in both early childhood and working with small businesses, has served her well in her role with Gals Institute, through her knowledge and experience. Her mission is to continue to grow and foster the partnerships with providers and the local school districts, to help support the children and families in the surrounding communities. Melisa's true passion is to help others by spreading awareness of the importance on mental health prevention, healing and social - emotional well-being, through the services that we provide.
Melisa's background in both early childhood and working with small businesses, has served her well in her role with Gals Institute, through her knowledge and experience. Her mission is to continue to grow and foster the partnerships with providers and the local school districts, to help support the children and families in the surrounding communities. Melisa's true passion is to help others by spreading awareness of the importance on mental health prevention, healing and social - emotional well-being, through the services that we provide.
Holly Krings, MSW, LCSW
Holly (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist who works with adolescents and adults; she has been working in the helping professions field for the last 10+ years. Holly received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychological Science from Montana State University and her Master's in Social Work from the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare at the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee. Holly uses a strengths-based integration of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Solution Focused approaches to help work on difficulties with anxiety, depression, mood disorders, anger, grief, self-esteem and trauma. Holly specializes in working with individuals and groups to achieve improved communication, regulate emotions, challenge thinking patterns, build resiliency and facilitate alternative coping strategies. Holly also has specific experience working with individuals who have been impacted by interpersonal violence and sexual assault. Holly is a mom to three sweet young kids. Gals Institute is excited that Holly has joined our family and mission to help support families.
ASHLEY LEARNED, MS, LPC
Ashley is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 10 years of experience working in the mental health field. She obtained her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Cardinal Stritch University. In addition to providing individual therapy, Ashley has extensive experience working with eating disorders, anxiety and depression in both Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Program settings. She enjoys working with adolescents, adults and families. Her areas of expertise and focus include depression, anxiety, eating disorders, grief recovery (including pet loss and bereavement), adjustment difficulties, and interpersonal skill building. Ashley believes in creating a safe space for clients to explore their inner world, and gain insight into their emotions through the use of curiosity versus judgment. Within this process, clients discover their strengths, find meaning, and identify areas in which they would like to improve. Her approach is based on the unique needs and interests of each individual, often taking from elements of several therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, and Somatic Breathwork. Ashley recognizes that seeking therapy can take a tremendous amount of courage, and she believes it is a beautiful opportunity to move towards a more whole and connected relationship with yourself and others.
Jerrica Vaughan, MSN, RN, CPNP, PMHS
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Jerrica is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Primary Care
Mental Health Specialist. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Purdue University. Her role at Gals Institute LLC is to provide psychiatric evaluations, diagnosis and treatment (medication and/or non-pharmacological interventions). Jerrica specializes in the treatment of anxiety, depression and ADHD in children and adolescents ages 5-21. She uses innovative diagnostic techniques such as QBcheck, a test used to assist with diagnosis and rule out ADHD with objective data. Jerrica believes that medications (when appropriate) in conjunction with therapy can be a powerful tool to improve mental health and get your child back to functioning. Jerrica’s extensive training, passion for mental health, as well as personal experience as a wife and mother have prepared her to provide trustworthy and compassionate care for your child. |
Carol Sokovich, MA LPC-IT, NCC, RN
Carol believes people are uniquely valuable, inherently strong, and are not defined by their mistakes—these are truths she is passionate about helping clients embrace. From strengthening relationships to processing old wounds, her relatable, nonjudgmental approach helps clients feel safe and connected. Struggles her clients often face include grief and loss, stress, life transitions, depression, anxiety, trauma, abuse, and issues with self-esteem.
Carol is trained in Brainspotting and EMDR and have found including these evidence-based practices in sessions expedites the healing process and helps clients feel calmer with improved clarity. Her experience as a registered nurse has deepened her appreciation of the interconnectedness of the psychological and biological aspects of each individual. Working as a neonatal intensive care nurse gave her a passion for the transition to parenthood with its inherent difficulties, and after raising her four sons, she returned to nursing in the area of mental health because she had experienced first-hand the benefit of working with a therapist. Carol and her husband have lived in beautiful Wisconsin over twenty years.
Carol is trained in Brainspotting and EMDR and have found including these evidence-based practices in sessions expedites the healing process and helps clients feel calmer with improved clarity. Her experience as a registered nurse has deepened her appreciation of the interconnectedness of the psychological and biological aspects of each individual. Working as a neonatal intensive care nurse gave her a passion for the transition to parenthood with its inherent difficulties, and after raising her four sons, she returned to nursing in the area of mental health because she had experienced first-hand the benefit of working with a therapist. Carol and her husband have lived in beautiful Wisconsin over twenty years.
