Family Service Center 2010/2011 Professional Staff

The clinical staff at the Family Service Center is licensed, highly experienced and well-trained. In addition to their professional degrees, most staff have completed postgraduate training programs and participate in ongoing professional educational programs each year. 

Robert J. Noone, Ph.D. Executive Director of The Family Service Center since 1984, Dr. Noone has been a practicing family therapist for over 30 years. He received postgraduate training in family therapy at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington D.C. He is the author of many articles on family therapy, and teaches this subject at the postgraduate and graduate school levels. Dr. Noone has been a presenter at numerous national seminars on issues pertaining to natural science and mental health issues. He is currently involved in a research project on families with stress.

Javier Alonso, MA, LPC, CADC is new addition to the Family Service Center. He received his BA in Psychology and MA in Family Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University. Mr. Alonso works with individuals, couples and families with a special interest in addictions and the family system.

Sally Barbour Branch, LCSW is a bi-lingual, bi-cultural psychotherapist who has been practicing since 1990, and has been with Family Service Center since 1993. Ms. Branch received her MSW from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York. Ms. Branch works extensively with Spanish-speaking families in the community with an emphasis in domestic violence, marital issues and individual counseling.

Maren Deaver, LCSW joined our staff in 2005. Mrs. Deaver received her BS at Miami University, MSW at Loyola University Chicago, and MBA at Kellogg, Northwestern University. Maren received her postgraduate certificate in family systems theory from Center for Family Consultation. Mrs. Deaver specializes in family therapy working with individuals, and couples.

Wendy Dolin, LCSW received her BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois at Champaign. Mrs. Dolin also received her MSW from Loyola University School of Social Work, an LSW and LCSW and received a post graduate certificate from the Center for Family consultation in family therapy. Mrs. Dolin works with individuals, couples and families with a special interest in eating issues.

Anita Gerber, LCSW, a psychotherapist since 1975, Ms. Gerber has been on the Family Service Center staff since 1986. Ms. Gerber has been a family therapist working with individuals, couples and families for more than 30 years. She received her M.S.S.W. from University of Wisconsin Madison and received her postgraduate training at Chicago Center for Family Health, an affiliate of University of Chicago.

Stephan Gombis, MSMFT is a Marital and Family psychotherapist. He received his Master's degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently doing post-grad work in Family Therapy at the Center for Family Consultation. He loves working with couples, families, and individuals.

Young Hae Kang, MSW a bi-lingual and bi-cultural therapist who recently joined the Family Service Center in 2009. Mrs. Kang received a BA and MA in English Literature at Ewha Woman's University in Korea, and MBA at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, and her MSW at Loyola University Chicago. Mrs. Kang works with individuals, couples, and family therapy.

Jay Karant, LCSW has worked as a psychotherapist since 1970 and with Family Service Center since 1985. Mr. Karant received his B. A. at Roosevelt University and M.S.S.A. at Case Western Reserve University School of Applied Social Sciences. Postgraduate training was at the Gestalt Institute & Family Institute. Having worked with adolescents in suburban high schools for 30 years, Mr. Karant is a certified school social work specialist and works extensively with adolescent adjustment problems.

Kathryn Lamermayer, LCSW has been a psychotherapist since 1990. Ms. Lamermayer joined the Family Service Center staff in 2000 after working in school settings for 10 years. Mrs. Lamermayer received her MSW from UIC Jane Addams and completed her postgraduate training at the Institute of Juvenile Research. Ms. Lamermayer sees individuals, couples and families specializing in child, adolescent and parenting issues.

Bev Shurman Lavitt, LCSW has been on the professional staff at Family Service Center since 1985. She has been a practicing family therapist, working with individuals, couples and families since 1976. Bev received her MSW from Loyola University of Chicago and received post-graduate training in the field of mediation in 1988. Mrs. Shurman Lavitt works with families on conflict and divorce related issues. She also has extensive training in crisis response and concerns related to domestic violence.

Beth Levine, JD, LCSW is an attorney and social worker and has been with Family Service Center since 2001. Ms. Levine works with couples and families specializing in family, marital, teens, and pre & post divorce. Ms. Levine is a graduate of the postgraduate program at the Chicago Center for Family Health at the University of Chicago, & Loyola University Sexual Dysfunction Clinic. Ms. Levine received her B. A. at University of Michigan, M.S.W. at Loyola University, & J.D. at Northwestern University.

Mona Manning, MSW a bi-lingual and bi-cultural Middle eastern therapist who recently joined the Family Service Center in 2009. She received her B.A. from Mundelein College and MSW from Loyola University Chicago. She is recently enrolled in the postgraduate program at The Center for Family Consultation. Ms. Manning works with individuals, couples and families.

Kelly Matthews-Pluta, LCSW has been a practicing psychotherapist since 1993 and has been on the Family Service Center staff since 2001, working with individuals, families, and couples. Ms. Matthews-Pluta is a graduate of the postgraduate program at The Center for Family Consultation. She received her B.A. in Social Work and Elementary Education at Mundelein College and received her M.S.W. at U.I.C. Jane Addams.

Mary Lynn Meyers, LSW joined the Family Service Center in 2007. Ms. Meyers has a special interest in adolescence, young adult, and parenting issues. She is a graduate of the post-graduate program in family systems at the Center for Family Consultation and works with individuals, families and couples. Ms. Meyers graduated from Loyola University with a Masters in Social Work.

Ewa Nevler, LCSW has been a practicing psychotherapist and been with Family Service Center since 2001. Ms. Nevler, a bi-lingual therapist sees Polish families and individuals. Mrs. Nevler graduated at Yagiellonian University mastering in psychology in Cracow, Poland, as well as Loyola University-Chicago with a master's in Social Work.

Gloria Passalacqua, MA, LCPC is a bi-lingual, bi-cultural psychotherapist who has been practicing since 1977 and has been with Family Service Center since 2006. Ms. Passalacqua specializes in family and group therapy with such topics as depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Sydney Reed, LCSW received her B.A. from Oberlin College and her M.S.W. from U.I.C. in 1975. She has been on the Family Service Center staff since 1977. Ms. Reed received her postgraduate training in family systems theory at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and is on the faculty of the Center for Family Consultation.

Laurie Roston, LCSW has been a psychotherapist since 1975 and at Family Service Center since 1988. Ms. Roston received her B.A. at Ohio University & M.A. at The University of Chicago – School of Social Service Administration. Roston did her postgraduate training on Bowen theory. Ms. Roston sees individuals, families and couples specializing in marital & family therapy.

Susanne Swisher, Ph.D. received her doctorate in psychology from the University of Vienna in Austria. She received her postgraduate training at the Tavistock Clinic in London and at the Family Institute at Northwestern University. She has been with the Family Service Center since 1991 and specializes in marital therapy and life cycle issues, particularly those associated with aging and retirement.

Mary Walther, LCSW, MSW has over 30 years experience working with individuals, couples, and families. Mary has been with Family Service Center since 2000. Ms. Walther received her B.S. in Elementary Education at University of Colorado, and her M.S.W. at Wayne State University in Family Therapy.

Karen Wertymer, LCSW, joined the Family Service Center staff in early 2010, and has 29 years of experience as a clinical social worker in medical, psychiatric, community mental health, and Employee Assistance Program settings. Karen has B.S. from the University of Wisconsin, and both an A.M. in Remedial and Developmental Reading, and an A.M. in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago. Karen works with individuals, couples, and families, and has a special interest in working with grief, loss, and chronic pain issues.