Jennifer Welbel, MA, LCPC (She/her)
Founder
Ms. Welbel received her BA in psychology from the University of Michigan and her MA in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University. She has extensive training and clinical experience in using cognitive behavior therapy and exposure therapies to treat individuals with a range of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. She received advanced training in exposure therapy at the Center for Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital and completed a postgraduate clinical fellowship with the Cognitive Behavior Therapy program at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. Prior to starting the North Suburban Center for Anxiety, Ms. Welbel was a staff therapist in the Cognitive Behavior Therapy program at The Family Institute. Most recently, she created and supervised the OCD and Complex Anxiety Disorders treatment track at Compass Health Center.
In addition to her clinical work, Ms. Welbel served on the Scientific Advisory Board for Beyond OCD, a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness and providing resources for all people affected by OCD, anxiety, and related disorders. She's also a frequent presenter on anxiety treatment at leading educational institutions, has been featured as an OCD expert on public radio, and contributes to various publications.
Locations: Northbrook and Virtual
Jessica Sampson, MS, LPC (She/her)
Staff Therapist
Ms. Sampson is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Illinois with a diverse clinical training background. She received her BA in Psychology from Pace University and her MS in Clinical Counseling from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. She has extensive training and experience using cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy to treat a range of anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders. Ms. Sampson has a special interest in providing trauma-informed CBT and exposure therapy for individuals with chronic illness, pain, and those experiencing stress and anxiety related to trauma. She honed these skills at New York Medical College where she worked with children and teens with cancer, sickle cell disease, traumatic brain injuries, and other chronic illnesses. She also completed an internship at The Jewish Child Care Association's Center for Healing where she treated victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
In addition to Ms. Sampson’s clinical expertise, she works hard to engage with the most up-to-date research practices in counseling, enjoys speaking at conferences, collaborates on research papers, and serves on training committees.
Locations: Northbrook and Virtual
Kathleen Nugent, PhD (She/her)
Staff Therapist
Dr. Nugent received her BA from the University of Notre Dame and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University. She also completed clinical training at the University of Chicago. Relevant clinical experiences include cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and diagnostic assessment. Dr. Nugent engages with individuals across the lifespan who experience difficulties with anxiety and mood regulation, as well as attentional and organizational challenges. Dr. Nugent strives to include the most up to date therapeutic approaches into treatment, including the incorporation of mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, and compassion techniques. In addition, Dr. Nugent seeks to recognize and address the role of executive processes including attention and self-regulation in one’s emotional responding. She also focuses on how the interaction between cognitive and emotional systems impact an individual’s daily functioning across home, work and school settings.
Given her appointment at Northwestern University Memorial Hospital, Dr. Nugent serves as a mentor to clinical psychology graduate students. Additionally, she is a member of APA and AABT.
Locations: Virtual Only
Molly Centlivre, AM, LCSW (She/her)
Staff Therapist
Mrs. Centlivre, AM LCSW, received her BA in psychology from the University of Michigan and proceeded to earn her MA in clinical social work at the University of Chicago. Prior to starting at the North Suburban Center for Anxiety, Mrs. Centlivre worked at Compass Health Center, a Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Program, as a Primary Clinical Therapist in the Child Program. Mrs. Centlivre was the Complex Anxiety Disorder Lead Therapist, where she provided both individualized and group exposure work for children and adolescents meeting criteria for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and other complex anxiety disorders. Most recently, Mrs. Centlivre worked as a clinical therapist at the Chicago Cognitive Behavioral Treatment Center, where she worked with clients individually and facilitated a weekly "Maintain Your Gains" group for adolescents.
Mrs. Centlivre utilizes evidence-based therapeutic approaches and believes therapy with both clients and their families is an individualized and collaborative process. She believes in an empirically-driven treatment approach that is fostered by a relationship of trust, vulnerability, and honesty to facilitate meaningful change in a therapeutic setting. She strives to utilize warmth, compassion, and humor to support clients in challenging their responses to emotions and thoughts in order to live a more meaningful, value-driven life.
Locations: Northbrook and Virtual