HEAD/HEART THERAPY TEAM
Sarah Buino, LCSW, CADC, CDWF is a therapist, teacher, speaker and the founder of Head/Heart Therapy, Inc. She is a licensed clinical social worker, certified addictions counselor, and Certified Daring WayTM facilitator. She holds a masters degree from Loyola University in Chicago and specializes in shame, substance use disorders, and trauma. She has trained in a variety of therapy modalities including: NARM (neuro-affective relational model), sensorimotor psychotherapy, comprehensive energy psychology, psychodrama/experiential therapy, and shame-resilience. She uses each of these modalities as a framework to support resilience within her clients and create a space for self-knowledge and growth.
Over the last decade, Sarah has gained experience in the social work field by supporting adolescents, adults, and families struggling with the difficulties of addiction. In 2014, Head/Heart Therapy was born and it quickly grew to be a successful well-respected group practice in Chicago.
Sarah became part of Loyola University’s School of Social Work adjunct faculty in 2015 and Fordham University’s adjunct faculty in 2019. She is committed to supporting the newest generation of social workers to become passionate about and competent in working with substance use disorders.
Sarah is also the host of a podcast called Conversations with a Wounded Healer, which examines the parallel path of healing self, while supporting our clients. She’s interviewed prominent guests such as Lissa Rankin, Chris Grosso, Hillary McBride, and Sera Beak.
In 2017, Sarah was honored by NASW’s Illinois Chapter by being recognized as an Emerging Leader. The Emerging Leader is an “early” career social worker who has demonstrated exemplary leadership, expertise, and dedication to the profession in the state of Illinois, whose contributions enhance practice knowledge and/or the capacity of the profession and the human service to obtain resources and influence. Other awards include the Humility Award (2014) from Sierra Tucson’s Gratitude for Giving event as well as the Rising Star Award (2018) from the Illinois Association of Addiction Professionals.
Sarah has always valued authenticity as a critical component of whole-hearted living. Since hearing Dr. Brené Brown speak in the winter of 2009, she has been sharing the concepts of shame-resilience, authenticity, and vulnerability with her clients. She completed training with Brené Brown’s team in 2013 and is a Certified Daring WayTM facilitator (CDWF).
Sarah is also knowledgeable about the benefits of various adjunct techniques for wellbeing, and is a certified Reiki Master. Reiki is a form of energy healing that encourages the release of oxytocin to reduce pain and increase the body’s ability to repair itself mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
In her spare time, Sarah is a musician and sings in musical groups around the Chicagoland area. She’s passionate about being the best version of herself and commits to a daily meditation and spiritual practice. She also loves tattoos and changing her hair cut and color often.
Fredelyn Calla, LCPC, ATR-BC
Fredelyn Calla is an LCPC, a licensed clinical professional counselor and an ATR-BC, a board-certified art therapist. She holds a masters in counseling psychology: art therapy degree from Adler University in Chicago. Fred specializes in health and aging issues, such as living with cancer; caregiver support and burnout; matters surrounding those who identify as female; cultural identity and social justice issues; domestic and sexual violence; grief/loss, anxiety and mood disorders, relationship concerns and life transitions.
Fred is also interested in helping those heal from trauma and knows that such issues, along with the concerns mentioned above may be made overwhelming by substance abuse and addiction.
She enjoys working with teenagers to older adults. Fred likes to work from a holistic, intersectional and self-empowerment approach. She encourages her clients to see they are capable of more than they think and promotes the “courage to be imperfect.” As an art therapist, she collaborates with clients to see what path is best, utilizing creative expression for awareness, self-growth and development. Fred’s goal is help people discover strengths and weaknesses and ways to integrate both for acceptance in many areas of life.
In addition to Head/Heart, Fred is currently the art therapist and program/volunteer coordinator at the North Shore Senior Center House of Welcome Adult Day Services in Northfield. There, she works with creative arts therapists, social workers and nurses who provide structured therapeutic activities to older adults living with dementia. Fred is also a support group facilitator at Gilda’s Club Chicago, a cancer support center.
Before that, Fred has worked and volunteered for a domestic violence agency, in inpatient psychiatric units, and community organizations. She has also worked as a graphic designer.
In her spare time, Fred loves going out to eat in Chicago and while traveling. She also loves yoga, art and repurposed materials, crime shows, chocolate peanut butter cups, anything created by Shonda Rhimes, The Daily Show, the Trolls movie, being with her friends and being Auntie Fred. Fredelyn can be reached at fredelyn@headhearttherapy.com
John Codd, LCSW, CADC is a licensed clinical social worker and a certified addictions counselor. He holds a masters degree from Loyola University in Chicago and specializes in shame, substance abuse, mood and anxiety disorders, plus family and identity issues.
John has worked as a therapist in many areas of practice (inpatient, outpatient and schools) for more than 20 years and has experience working with individuals, adolescents, couples and families – helping clients find solutions to a wide range of challenges – and helping them change patterns that no longer work for them. John recognizes that each course of treatment is personal and unique. He is committed to establishing open and collaborative therapeutic relationships, offering a safe, nonjudgmental, supportive environment for growth and change.
John works with each client to determine unique treatment goals that respect their rights to self-determination. He believes enhanced self esteem, improved coping skills and a more informed decision making process are the foundation for a less conflicted, more joyful and more authentic life. John offers an integrative approach beyond traditional therapy — including mindfulness-based interventions and clinical hypnosis — to build and support an individual’s self awareness and regulatory skills. John’s unique skills can help clients better recognize and use a range of responses to life’s challenges.
In his spare time, John practices tai-chi and meditation. And when not doing these things, there’s a good chance he’s enjoying science or mystery fiction.
You can reach John by email at john@headhearttherapy.com.
My name is Julie Tierney and I am a Marriage and Family Therapist. I moved to Chicago about a decade ago from San Francisco and brought my west coast roots and ideals with me. I work with clients who see therapy as an opportunity to go on a deep spiritual journey. I value self reflection and invite personal transformation for my clients. I specialize in working with sensitive people, intuitive people, and people who feel like they don’t belong. I believe that these types of people are the most gifted, talented and powerful forces we have on earth and it is my mission to empower these individuals to use their uniqueness to flourish in their lives.
I help my clients drop acquired societal expectations so that they can experience ease and joy in their life as their true and most authentic selves. I am optimistic, I am playful, and I am deeply spiritual. I have spent much of my life exploring consciousness and meditative practices and feel confident holding space for intentional exploration and growth while expecting accountability and inward reflection from my clients. I believe we are in a powerful time of energetic change and I am here to help those who would like to raise their vibration and evoke positivity on this planet. I live a conscious and sober life and in my free time you can find me listening to podcasts on spirituality, creating abstract art, exercising, or spending time with my chosen family and partner.
Lesley Seliger, LPC, NCC, holding a masters degree in counseling specializing in clinical mental health from Adler University. Prior to graduate school Lesley completed her CADC internship at Presence Behavioral Health Professionals Program. Lesley specializes in addiction, mood disorders, trauma, professionals, couples and family, sex and love and mindfulness based practices. Lesley utilizes many therapeutic practices including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral therapy, psychodynamic as well as solution focused. Lesley is dedicated to having authentic, vulnerable and compassionate relationships with her clients leading to self exploration and self discovery.
Lesley’s clinical experience started at Presence Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Therapy downtown location where she ran daily groups and individual sessions. Lesley is currently a part time therapist at Foundations Chicago Intensive Outpatient Therapy. Lesley believes that values based practices alongside mindfulness allow for each individual to learn how to make significant changes in their lives. Lesley cares deeply about evolution and care of her clients.
When not at work Lesley enjoys cooking, spending time with loved ones, traveling the world, spin class and enjoying the sunshine in the outdoors.
You can reach Lesley by email at Lesley@headhearttherapy.com
Leslie Frondorf, LCPC, is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and holds her Masters of Education from DePaul University in community counseling. Leslie specializes in substance abuse, process addictions, mood disorders, codependence, women’s issues, and life transitions.
In addition to working for Head/Heart, Leslie is currently a primary therapist at Positive Sobriety Institute, a substance abuse program for professionals in downtown Chicago. Leslie has also previously worked in private practice specializing in process addictions.
Leslie has always held a passion for the therapeutic process and believes in the power of therapy. She understands the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist is essential for progress to be made. There is no one size fits all therapist! She takes a person centered approach as well as recognizing the need for coping skills and mindfulness. She strives to create a safe environment through authenticity, trust, directness, and of course a little humor. Through this, Leslie believes that one can achieve a state of contentedness and peace that we are all constantly searching for.
In her off time, Leslie enjoys spending time with her two dogs, spinning for physical and emotional well being, watching bad reality TV, and being social with friends.
Leslie can be reached at leslie@headhearttherapy.com
Matt Diedrich, MSW, holds a master’s degree from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Social Work and specializes in the treatment of substance use disorders.
In addition to his work at Head/Heart, Matt is the Director of Residence Life at Providence Farm, an extended care community-based and community-supported recovery home for young men located in Northbrook, Illinois. When working with clients, Matt uses a combination of psychodynamic, acceptance and commitment, and solution-focused theories, as well as motivational interviewing. Matt’s work is also grounded in 12-step principles, which he believes to be vital in the treatment of addiction. Matt places a heavy emphasis on authenticity, vulnerability, and connection when it comes to mental health. He believes that if addiction is a disease of isolation, then the solution to that is connection, with oneself, others, and the universe. In his work with clients, Matt believes in helping them to cultivate self-acceptance, which leads to an improved sense of self-worth and greater love for oneself. Additionally, he encourages clients to have compassion for themselves all while having an appreciation for the process. He considers it his job to help others discover and become their true self, so that what’s on the inside matches the outside.
During his training to become a social worker, Matt worked as a case manager with refugees and in Advocate Illinois Masonic’s Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic. Prior to becoming a therapist and social worker, Matt worked in the finance industry for nearly eight years. Wanting more out of his career and driven by a passion to help others and give back, he decided to return to school and make the change to the helping profession. Matt comes equipped with an extensive knowledge of the demands of working a corporate job.
In his free time, Matt enjoys cooking, spending time with friends, enjoying a cup of Dark Matter coffee, and watching awful horror films. He practices meditation and enjoys going for walks, listening to music, and being outdoors to help him stay grounded and centered.
Matt can be reached at matt@headhearttherapy.com
Rebecca Snyder, LSW, CADC is a licensed social worker and certified addictions counselor. She holds a masters degree from Loyola University in Chicago and specializes in substance abuse, mood and anxiety disorders, depression, trauma, and identity issues. Rebecca has worked as a therapist in several areas of practice, including outpatient adolescent social services, outpatient adult substance abuse treatment and adult inpatient behavioral health. She has an eclectic and holistic approach to therapy, utilizing client-centered modalities, a client’s self-determination and identifying the strengths the client already has to aid in a collaborative approach to developing a treatment plan that best suits her clients unique and individual needs.
Rebecca believes the client is the expert on their life and with the thoughtful assistance to healing and exploration, her client’s will be able to access and utilize the tools and insights they need to facilitate recovery, growth and change. Helping clients identify and acknowledge patterns that are damaging or blocking growth and change, looking at and enhancing self-esteem (the way we speak to and treat ourselves), and shifting the perception of our experiences from the lens of fear to the lens of love, belonging and worthiness. Rebecca believes her clients are resilient and have the capacity to make the changes they want to see in their lives. Rebecca is an advocate for those who feel the traumatic effects of judgement and stigma in their relationships, families, workplace, and society at large. By helping her clients gain insights and ultimately increase their decision making skills her clients can establish and maintain healthy boundaries and coping skills.
Rebecca wants to guide and empower people to explore and find their authentic selves, live their truths wholeheartedly and break away from the damaging and dangerous idea of perfection. She believes the most beautiful thing is to watch vulnerability, see someone feel truly connected to others, to their loved ones, to take healthy and rewarding emotional risks and to learn and grow in the process of it all. Life is messy and she is here to sit with you in it, explore it, understand it and provide you with the tools to clean it up when you are ready all in the comfort of a safe, non-judgemental, and encouraging place to do so.
In her spare time she loves to be outside as much as she can, riding her bike exploring different neighborhoods, or going for walks in the many city parks, snowboarding in the winter and dining outside whenever possible. Seeing live music and staying active is a must for her. She loves to cook and has a minor obsession with candles, scents, blankets and anything that resembles the idea of coziness also known as the Danish way of living aka “Hygge.” To contact Rebecca, she can be reached at rebecca@headhearttherapy.com
Vanessa Gamino, LCPC, NCC, is a professional counselor. Vanessa earned her Master’s degree in Counseling from Argosy University, Washington D.C and her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona in Psychology, Family Studies and Human Development. In both Virginia and Chicago, Vanessa provided crisis intervention as well as recovery-focused individual and group therapy to adults, adolescents and families suffering from a wide array of mental illness and complex trauma. Vanessa is trained in Dialectic Behavior Therapy.
Vanessa specializes in depression, anxiety, complex-trauma, and unresolved family-of-origin issues and has over six years of experience working with individuals from all walks of life. Her approach is holistic, emphasizing the mind, body, and spirit connection. Vanessa believes that everyone, at some point in life, becomes stuck and with the right amount of support and gusto, can learn how to create and foster a healthy meaningful life. Therapy work is strength-based, collaborative, and uniquely tailored as no two people are alike. Vanessa works to create insight and connect the relationship between beliefs and the subsequent behavior patterns and emotional responses in an effort to deepen your understanding of your capabilities and choices in life.
For over ten years, Vanessa has incorporated running to assist with her own mood management. In addition to traditional psychotherapy, Vanessa offers the unique opportunity to incorporate movement into the treatment paradigm in the form of walking/jogging/running. For those struggling with depression and anxiety, a regular running routine has been shown to be just as effective as antidepressants. There is an established and growing body of research that describes changes in the brain structure and chemistry that create a lasting mood boost accompanied by an energized outlook on life. From personal experience, Vanessa found that clients seem to enjoy being outside in nature, client and therapist, side-by-side. If you are interested, let’s talk about how a regular running routine can enhance the mental health benefits of talk therapy. “Runner” is defined as a person who runs/jogs at any pace. Our pace will be conversational.
Vanessa is originally from Arizona, so if the sun is out, you can find her outside! You can reach Vanessa by email at: vanessa@headhearttherapy.com