Our Staff

CCCOC’s professional staff are made up of a culturally and ethnically diverse group of Master’s and Doctoral level therapists who are committed to offering high-quality counseling services. While we each operate from a solid Christian perspective, we are also respectful and sensitive to clients’ varying beliefs and worldviews. All therapists have experience and expertise in working with a wide variety of clinical settings, client concerns and spiritual, cultural, ethnic and diversity issues.

Each therapist also has training and expertise in dealing with depression, anxiety, loneliness, singleness, life transitions, relationship concerns, and traditionally underserved populations. As a whole, the therapists at the Center provide individual, couples and family therapy, consulting, seminars and assessments.

All interested parties are directed to our main phone number 1-312-573-8860, and the intake coordinators match the appropriate therapist with the client’s needs and desires. The following list provides an idea of the therapist you may be working with.

E. Susanne Francis-Thornton, Psy.D. – Executive Director, Psychologist

Dr. Francis-Thornton did her undergraduate studies at Wheaton College (IL) and earned her doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Francis-Thornton is a bi-lingual (Spanish) therapist who has had a broad background in counseling, trainings and workshops, assessments and evaluations, program development, and working with diverse populations as far as language, age, culture, ethnicity, gender and religion in outpatient and inpatient settings. Dr. Francis-Thornton’s goal is to assist each person in experiencing life as meaningfully as Christ would have them to. Dr. Francis-Thornton also seeks to bring healing to the body of Christ through psychotherapy, assessments and professional trainings. Dr. Francis-Thornton is also an adjunct faculty at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and is a Fellow of Leadership Greater Chicago.

Andrew Ballew, MA – Doctoral Practicum Extern

Mr. Ballew has experience in individual and group therapy with children, adolescents, and adults. His primary focus areas include depressive symptoms, obsessions & compulsions, child & adolescent issues, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and male-specific concerns. Other clinical interests include immigrant & refugee issues, psychological testing, and issues of coping & identity.

Amanda Bull, MA – Therapist

Ms. Bull has experience working with children and adolescents, as well as their families, in both an inpatient and outpatient setting. She has also worked with college students providing individual and career counseling. She works with children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups on a broad range of issues. Ms. Bull is especially interested in understanding the client from a holistic perspective, including the psychological, spiritual, physical, and social domains. Other clinical interests include career issues, stress management, romantic relationships, spiritual issues, and underserved populations.

David Cooley, MA – Doctoral Practicum Extern

Mr. Cooley has experience working with children, adolescents and adults. He is interested in working with clients of all ages. His clinical interest include but are not limited to mood and anxiety issues, personality issues, parenting styles and attachment issues, cultural identity development, family systems issues, couple relationships, and the emotional development of males via socialization.

Brianna Edwards Moore, MA – Doctoral Intern

Mrs. Edwards Moore is a candidate for a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Regent University and is completing her internship with CACTC. She holds two Masters of Arts, one in Clinical Psychology and one in Forensic Psychology. Brianna enjoys working with and couples, groups, and individuals. She also enjoys conducting seminars. Brianna has experience working with adults, adolescents and children.

Megan Gingo, MSW, LSW – Therapist

Ms. Gingo has experience working with families, children, adolescents, and individuals. Her areas of clinical work include grief and loss, childhood trauma, psychosocial assessments, family therapy, crisis intervention, and group work. Her special interests include child and adolescent trauma, underserved populations, bereavement, and at-risk children.

Sally Hale, MA – Therapist

Ms. Hale is a bilingual (Spanish) therapist who works with all ages and treats individuals, couples and families. Also an artist, she often uses art in therapy to access emotions, memories, and problems that clients find difficulty accessing through traditional talk-therapy. She also works through Parent-Child-Interactive Therapy for childhood behavioral disorders including ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Other special interests include grief/loss, childhood trauma, and difficulties within couple/family relationships.

Rodney Harris, Psy.D. – Therapist

Dr. Harris provides therapy to children, adolescents, adults, families, and couples. His clinical interests include childhood trauma, sexual identity, behaviorally disordered children and adolescents, marital distress, and family/ parenting skills (i.e. communication, discipline, and addressing tough issues with children).

Andrés Herrera, MA – Therapist

Mr. Herrera received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He then received his Masters in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College. He has worked at inpatient/outpatient hospitals and at residential facilities with children and adolescents with behavioral problems. He also has experience working with individuals who are dealing with grief and loss, depression, and spiritual issues among other things. His interests also include working with under-served populations, and as a fully bilingual therapist (English/Spanish), he enjoys working with Latino individuals and/or families.

Cyndee Langley, MA – Doctoral Practicum Extern

Ms. Langley has experience in individual therapy with children, adolescents, adults, families, and Deaf and hard of hearing, as well as group therapy with children. Her primary focus areas child and adolescent concerns, family issues, immigrant and refugee populations, trauma, and other underserved populations. She is also fluent in American Sign Language.

Ruben Morales – Masters Practicum Extern

Mr. Morales has worked with children and adolescents with behavioral and developmental issues. His primary focus is working with families and couples, sepcifically the Latino population. He also is passionate about working with those in undeserved populations in Chicago.

Eva Ponder, PsyD, LCSW – Therapist

Ms. Ponder has experience working with individuals and couples and families. While she has a broad range of clinical experience, she is especially interested in working with boundary and relationship issues, marital and premarital therapy, and parenting issues.

Brianne Schmidt – Masters Practicum Extern

Ms. Schmidt has experience working with children and adolescents. Her primary focus areas include grief and loss experienced by children and adolescents, child and adolescent behavioral issues, child and adolescent trauma, and family therapy. She has a strong desire to work with the underserved populations.

Andrew Shelton – Masters Practicum Extern

Mr. Shelton is a bilingual (English/Spanish) therapist who has experience working with children, as well as working with individuals with cross-cultural issues, particularly children, adolescents, and young adults. His interests include cross-cultural and multicultural issues, as well as children and childhood trauma. He also has a special interest in working with populations involved in vocational ministry, specifically missionaries and their families. Mr. Shelton has a strong desire to work with underserved populations.

Judith A. Zink, MA, NCC, LCPC – Therapist

Ms. Zink works primarily with individual adult clients. Areas of special interest for therapy and workshops or seminars include women’s issues, life transitions, grief and loss, career issues, vocational ministry, and Myers-Briggs typology.