Meet The Outpatient Team

Audrey Grunst has been a provider in the mental health field since 2007, most known for her therapy skills in outpatient and intensive therapeutic programs. She opened Simply Bee in 2018 after spending 10 years in residential, group homes, intensive outpatient and partial hospital programs. Audrey has been able to connect treatment centers to community organizations and schools in order to provide the best continuation of care possible for her clients. Currently, Audrey spends a lot of her time presenting her Growth & Resiliency Model© to school districts and corporations across the country.

Audrey graduated from Loyola University Masters of Social Work Program in 2011 and developed programs for centers such as Lawrence Hall Youth Services, Eating Recovery Centers and Center for Contextual Change. Most recently, Audrey was awarded The Illinois Senate Award for her leadership in the Highland Park Fourth of July Shooting in 2022 for organizing over 600 therapists in a 5 day volunteer operation. Audrey combines her clinical knowledge and leadership skills to consult on several boards for mental health and safety in the Lake County, IL area and was recognized on Top 50 Women Leaders of Illinois for 2023.

Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Supervisor, and earned her Masters in Clinical Professional Psychology from Roosevelt University. Throughout her almost 15 years in the field, Jennifer has had a passion for working with adolescents and adults. Furthermore, she works closely with parents around coaching and supporting their loved ones during times of transition and struggle.

She has expertise as a clinician and director leading teams in the residential, partial hospital, intensive outpatient, and outpatient settings. In addition, she has presented around the country on topics including: Eating Disorders, Adolescent Mood and Anxiety, Parent Coaching, and Clinician & Caregiver Burnout. Jennifer was a clinician on a study with University of Chicago measuring outcomes of Eating Disorders utilizing Family Based Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques.

Jennifer approaches each client holistically, working with them closely on identifying values, goals, and guiding them towards living a valued life. She believes it’s vital to meet a client where they are at and then challenge them gently yet directly. She also is known for her humor, love of music, and spoiling her dogs and cat.

Treatment modalities include: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), and Family Based Therapy (FBT).

Margaux is a compassionate, kind and insightful licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience. She provides individual and family therapy to children, adolescents, young adults and adults. Before joining Simply Bee, Margaux gained valuable experience working in private practice and on the inpatient units and the emergency rooms of local hospitals. Margaux has helped and supported many clients and their families adjust to a new diagnosis, illness or life event, deal with grief or loss, and worked with the interdisciplinary team to determine the proper and ideal level of care for her clients.

Margaux starts where is the client is at and provides client-centered care to assist them to get to the place they want to be. She works with her clients to create manageable and obtainable goals with the ultimate hope of providing her clients with a sense of calm and control.

Treatment Modalities Include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Mindfulness, Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Trauma-Informed Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Art Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Play Assisted Therapy

Kate Kelley earned her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2011. She previously worked at a non-profit community center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin serving LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-24 as well as in an elementary school in Madison, Wisconsin as she trained to become a school social worker.

Prior to joining Simply Bee in 2019, Kate worked in the promotional product sales field as a Director of Strategic Accounts. In that position, she focused on leadership, relationship building and gained a lot of insight into the operational side of running a business. Those lessons combined with her foundational understanding of the importance in networking and mental health advocacy are what led her to join the Simply Bee team as the Manager of Community Education. Kate is excited to help expand the footprint of Simply Bee while working to serve the community. It is her goal to partner with businesses, healthcare professionals and schools to work together in mental health awareness and education.

Feel free to reach out to Kate anytime at [email protected] if you would like to discuss our referral network program or schedule an upcoming workshop, speaking engagement or partnership opportunity with the Simply Bee team.

Cindy is a senior business development, strategy and operations leader specializing in higher levels of care for behavioral health. With direct experience launching and overseeing intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs, Cindy has also served as a senior leader for providers in residential and inpatient levels of care in Illinois, Washington and Colorado.

Bringing 13 years of management experience serving patients with eating, mood and anxiety disorders specifically, she also provided business development services for a substance abuse recovery provider in Chicago. Prior to beginning her mental health career as Practice Manager for the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern, Cindy was a consultant to growing ventures in a variety of industries, helping more than 100 companies replicate and grow their businesses throughout the country. Cindy earned her MBA from the JL Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BSB from the University of Minnesota.

Katie is a Licensed Professional Counselor and earned her Master’s in Counseling and Art Therapy at Adler University. Katie enjoys working with children, adolescents, and adults utilizing both talk therapy and art therapy. She specializes in working with mood and anxiety disorders, depression, LGBTQ+, behavioral issues, self-esteem, and ADHD. She is passionate about supporting parents by utilizing Adlerian Parenting approaches.

Katie believes in providing a nonjudgmental and safe space for clients to work on becoming their best selves, tailoring her approach to meet each client’s unique needs. She believes that the therapeutic relationship fosters true growth and understanding of oneself to feel confident and capable to make positive changes in one’s life.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Art Therapy, Humanistic Therapy and Person Centered Therapy.

Tara is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who received an undergraduate degree from Northern Illinois University and a Master's in Social Work from University of Illinois at Chicago. Tara enjoys helping children, adolescents, and adults with various challenges such as anxiety, depression, parenting issues, anger management, and behavioral issues. By providing a genuine atmosphere of warmth and acceptance, Tara helps individuals feel empowered to tackle the challenges in their lives. She has experience helping individuals in residential and outpatient settings. Tara uses an integrative approach based on client needs.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered, Play Therapy, Insight Therapy, and Gestalt Therapy

Annie is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned her Master's in Counseling with a focus in Art Therapy from Adler University in Chicago. Annie utilizes both talk and art therapy and enjoys working with children, adolescents and adults.

Annie specializes in working with clients experiencing anxiety, mood issues, depression, behavioral issues, eating disorders and self-esteem. She strongly believes in helping her clients become their best selves and offers a safe space that ensures each client can reach their fullest potential.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Adlerian Therapy, Art Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Brittany is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and earned her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.

Brittany enjoys working with clients from a variety of ages and backgrounds. She has been working in the mental health field with children, adolescents and families since 2014. Brittany works with clients who need support managing anxiety, depression, body-image concerns, eating disorders, parenting concerns and life transitions. She collaborates with clients to create a compassionate and hopeful space for learning and personal growth. Brittany strives to balance the use of clinical interventions with relationship building to help clients reach their goals.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Positive Psychology and Trauma-Informed practices.

Brooke is a compassionate and dedicated counselor who received her Master of Arts in Counseling through West Texas A&M University. Brooke has a passion for women’s interests, perinatal mental health, and holistic wellbeing. While Brooke enjoys treating a variety of circumstances across a range of ages, she has a strong background with children and adolescents at the inpatient and partial-hospitalization level of care where she addressed a range of concerns related to depression, anxiety, disruptive mood dysregulation, ADHD, PTSD, anger, and other behavioral issues.

Brooke believes that the therapeutic relationship is the foundation of effective, meaningful treatment. She uses her warmth, wit, and laid-back demeanor to foster an environment where each client can feel comfortable and safe, above all. We are social beings who thrive in a community only after we feel seen, heard, validated, and accepted which is what Brooke strives to do for each and every client. She believes that we all have a natural inclination to become our optimal selves while navigating a unique combination of privileges and disadvantages. Finally, Brooke takes a holistic approach to wellness and believes that mental health and behavioral concerns cannot be addressed without tending to the entire mind, body and spirit as one.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Positive Psychology, and Mindfulness.

Damari is a compassionate and dedicated clinician with a Master’s Degree in Counseling from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. She has experience in a variety of treatment settings, including therapeutic day schools, higher levels of care working with individuals with eating disorders, and outpatient care supporting adults as they navigate the messiness of life.

From the sunny beaches of Puerto Rico to the unpredictable weather of the Midwest, Damari has remained passionate about working with adolescents and adults who struggle with anxiety, depression, mental health trauma, school refusal, school anxiety, and eating disorders. She utilizes DBT, CBT, play therapy, and ACT approaches to individualize each client’s treatment needs. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and welcomes working with individuals and families who are Spanish speaking.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Play Therapy

Emily is a Licensed Professional Counselor who graduated from Roosevelt University in 2021 with a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health. Emily enjoys working with children and adolescents. She has five years of experience working with clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), anxiety, ADHD, work/school refusal, and depression. Prior to Simply Bee, Emily did her clinical internship as a therapist at New Connections Academy. She also has experience as an Applied Behavioral Analysis therapist working with ASD.

Emily believes it is important to build a trusting relationship between the therapist and client by taking the time to listen and understand in a non-judgmental space. Emily has a collaborative approach when working with her clients while incorporating mindfulness.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eclectic Therapy and Mindfulness

Eric is a licensed professional counselor who earned his Master’s in Counseling with a Specialization in Sport and Health Psychology from Adler University in Chicago. Eric is also a certified mental performance coach with the Association for Applied Sports Psychology (AASP). Eric works with both athletes and nonathletes focusing on topics such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem, perfectionism, sports performance, men’s Issues, and life transitions. Eric’s strengths include working with reluctant clients and guarded teens. By creating a warm and welcoming environment and utilizing humor, connection, and empathy, Eric is able to establish a relationship with the client allowing them to feel comfortable and to open themselves up to the therapeutic process.

Eric uses a collaborative approach, seeing himself as a guide for his client’s work rather than doing the work for them. Eric’s goal is to empower clients to become their authentic selves, increase their emotional intelligence, and live happier and healthier lives.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), and Mindfulness.

Lindsay graduated from Adler University in 2018 with a Masters in Counseling with a specialization in Forensic Psychology. She specializes in depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and different variations of traumatic stressors. Previously, Lindsay has worked as a substance use counselor, as well as a trauma counselor. She believes that therapy should be personalized and centered on the individual's needs and requirements. As such Lindsay attempts to incorporate techniques she believes will best suit the client in their journey towards their desired lifestyle. She enjoys using her creativity and passion to work with reluctant clients of various ages in therapy to allow for more open communication in sessions.

Treatment modalities include: Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Informed Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Positive Psychotherapy.

Matthew is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who earned his Master’s degree in social work from Northeastern Illinois University. He enjoys working with clients of various ages and backgrounds. Specifically, he has experience working with clients from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Matthew has experience providing therapy to children, early adolescents, and teens within the Chicago Public School System. Additionally, he has experience in higher levels of care and criminal justice settings with client populations from adolescents through older adults providing social work services.

Throughout his clinical career, he has experience providing group therapy to adults who struggle with mood disorders and has facilitated men's support groups. He has worked with clients who identify as struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, anger issues, low motivation, behavioral issues, and cultural struggles. Matthew is focused on developing a positive and effective relationship with all clients and empowering them to develop personal resiliency.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Positive Psychology, and Mindfulness.

Meghan graduated with an M.A. in Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health from Adler University in Chicago. Meghan has a passion for athlete mental health and well-being and works with both athletes and non-athletes. Over the past 4 years, she has experience working with eating disorders at higher levels of care and specializes in a variety of topics including perfectionism, self-esteem and self-compassion, anxiety, depression, life transitions, and sports performance.

She uses a client-centered approach to therapy and believes in holding a welcoming, collaborative, and open space for clients. Meghan values individualizing her approach to therapy with clients in their journey to find hope, balance, and stability. Meghan is trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and uses a variety of techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, and Person-Centered Therapy.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialetical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Mindfulness, Person-Centered Therapy

Megan graduated from Mount Mary University in Wisconsin, receiving a master's degree in art therapy. She has a passion for working alongside adolescents and adults. Since 2019 she has experience working with individuals with disabilities, autism, veterans, trauma, depression, anxiety, and self-esteem. Her approach is person-centered and collaborative through creative problem-solving, mindfulness, and a variety of expressive outlets. She values developing relationships with individuals by creating a safe space that is both empathetic and evolving.

Treatment modalities include: Art Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness.

Michael is an extern therapist that completed his dual-masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Sport and Human Performance. Michael is currently working on his mental performance certification through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Michael has worked the past few years in mental performance with athletes and teams focusing on issues such as stress-management, confidence, perfectionism, and team dynamics. Michael's strengths include building a clinical relationship with his clients and fostering a safe and comfortable environment for his clients to open up and discover new perspectives about themselves.

Michael believes that each individual has a meaning and purpose for how they think, feel, and behave. By taking a holistic approach and meeting the client where they're at, he believes that the client can find their purpose and be able to make necessary changes to live a better, healthier life.

Treatment Modalities Include: CBT, ACT, Mindfulness, Reality Based and Solution Focused Therapy

Olivia is a Licensed Professional Counselor who earned her Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Iowa. Olivia enjoys working with children, adolescents, and young adults utilizing talk therapy and pieces of play therapy.

Olivia specializes in working with mood and anxiety disorders, eating and related disorders, depression, behavioral issues, and self-esteem. She has prior clinical experience working with children and teens at the inpatient hospitalization level of care and a school-based setting, as well as eating disorders in the inpatient and partial hospitalization level of care.Olivia emphasizes the importance of allowing space for clients to be their authentic selves while working from a collaborative approach to reach their full potential.

Treatment Modalities Include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and Mindfulness.

Stella is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and earned her Masters in Social Work at Loyola University of Chicago. Stella enjoys working with adolescents and young adults and their families as they navigate life transitions. Stella also works with difficult behavioral challenges including those created by Covid. She recognizes that anxiety can be an obstacle to clients of all ages feeling successful and wants to help clients learn how to manage life in a way that feels right to them.

Stella has a wealth of experience working with many treatment modalities and many different clinical presentations and is considered an expert in crisis management. She has spent her entire career working in and around the Chicago area.

Treatment Modalities Include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Crisis Management and Mindfulness.

Christian is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP-C) with a strong commitment to providing comprehensive and compassionate care to his patients. He holds a Master's degree in Nursing Education from Chamberlain University (2014) and a Certificate of Advanced Studies as an Adult Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (2022) and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (2024), both from Lewis University. With 13 years of experience as a Registered Nurse, including 8 years at Northwestern Medicine, Christian has cultivated a deep passion for mental health care and a dedication to improving the well-being of his patients. In 2024, Christian was nominated for both the Northwestern Medicine Clinical Excellence Award and the Dr. Michael Shafer Award.

Christian's specialized training in Internal Medicine and Mental Health equips him with the knowledge and skills to deliver exceptional patient-centered care. His extensive clinical expertise allows him to address a wide range of medical and psychiatric concerns, ensuring that each patient receives personalized treatment tailored to their unique needs.

Outside of work, Christian leads an active lifestyle, enjoying activities such as running, swimming, and biking. As an 8x Ironman finisher and a seasoned athlete, he values the discipline and determination required to achieve his goals. Christian also has a passion for adventure, having swam from Alcatraz Island to San Francisco. In his leisure time, he cherishes moments spent with his wife, children, and adorable cats.

Mike has been practicing as a nurse practitioner since 2012. He is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner as well as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. He earned his Master's in Science in Nursing from Northern Illinois University in 2012 for Family Practice, his doctorate in nursing practice from University of St. Francis in 2015 and his Certificate of Advanced Study as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner from Lewis University in 2022.

Mike enjoys treating patients of all ages and is dedicated to building a positive rapport with his patients and their families. His goal is to develop therapeutic relationships that foster an environment of comfort and trust to allow for the healing process to begin.

Outside of the office, Mike loves spending time with his wife, three adult children, one granddaughter, and his 4 large dogs that fill out the rest of his family.

Shannon is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian who earned her Master’s degree in nutrition and wellness, with an emphasis in counseling, from Bradley University. She has experience working at the PHP/IOP and Outpatient level of care, treating adolescents and adults with eating disorders.

Shannon is Health at Every Size (HAES) informed and takes a weight neutral approach to nutrition therapy, utilizing the Intuitive Eating principles to assist individuals in healing their relationship with food and their body. Whether your goal is to learn how to manage a health condition through nutrition or heal your relationship with food, Shannon brings compassion and understanding to each session.

Dr. Bailey is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who earned her Master's and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago.

She specializes in working with children, adolescents and adults, performing comprehensive evaluations to provide diagnostic clarification for neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral disorders for concerns related to ADHD, Mood Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder evaluations, school risk assessments and school consultations.

Brittany is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and earned her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh.

Brittany enjoys working with clients from a variety of ages and backgrounds. She has been working in the mental health field with children, adolescents and families since 2014. Brittany works with clients who need support managing anxiety, depression, body-image concerns, eating disorders, parenting concerns and life transitions. She collaborates with clients to create a compassionate and hopeful space for learning and personal growth. Brittany strives to balance the use of clinical interventions with relationship building to help clients reach their goals.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Positive Psychology and Trauma-Informed practices.

Steven is a second-year student at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology completing a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In the past few years, Steven has worked in the nonprofit space advocating for access to services for people with Substance Use Disorder.

Steven believes that emphasizing human dignity, personal autonomy, self-acceptance, and meeting people where they're at are essential for helping clients shine as their genuine and unique selves. Steven takes a holistic approach with clients to meet their unique needs and bolster their unique strengths and talents.

Patty received her B.A. in Psychology and Child and Family Studies in 2011 from Roosevelt University. She then received her M.A in Human Services in 2018 from Concordia University of Chicago.

Prior to joining Simply Bee's team in 2023, Patty worked as an Early Intervention Service Coordinator supporting children ages birth to three in receiving therapy through the Early Intervention program for over 10 years. There she focused on referrals, conducting intakes, coordinating evaluations/assessments and completing the child's plan of care. Fusing together her extensive knowledge and skills from working in the field, she is excited to make a difference at Simply Bee.

In Patty's spare time, she enjoys traveling as much as possible, weekend adventures, theater, trying new restaurants and spending time with her loved ones. She is thrilled to continue to grow and help promote Simply Bee's mission.

Twanisha joined Simply Bee with over 8 years of health care and customer service experience. She is passionate about helping clients resolve issues regarding billing and product concerns through a compassionate and open-minded approach. Through her role, she looks forward to supporting staff, clients and families of Simply Bee!

During Twanisha’s free time, she enjoys turning her kitchen into a cooking competition show with family and friends. She also has two children, and together they love to travel, hike, bike, and swim.

Jacqui graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara in 2019 with a degree in Sociology & Applied Psychology. She is passionate about Simply Bee's mission to provide accessible mental health & wellness resources to all communities and people.

Prior to joining Simply Bee in 2020, Jacqui worked as an Office Administrator in the real estate industry and combines this experience with her academic background to support the educational operations at Simply Bee. She strives to use her organizational skills and creativity to keep Simply Bee's media resources relevant and impactful.

Outside of the office Jacqui is an avid reader, runner, dog lover and traveler - she is always looking for new places to explore. She is excited to continue to learn and grow with Simply Bee as a part of a community of people dedicated to spreading the message of holistic wellness.

Dr. Tater Tots is Simply Bee's favorite office companion. She reminds us all to smile!