MEET THE STAFF
ANGEL IANAKIEV, LCSW, CADC, PMH-C
Angel Hernandez Ianakiev is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified in Perinatal Mental Health and Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor. With 15 years of experience in social services, her passion for helping others led her to found Anchor Counseling Inc.
Conveniently located in the Western suburbs of Chicago, Anchor Counseling provides hope and guidance to individuals and families through expert therapy services.
Angel specializes in Women's Mental Health with training in Domestic Violence, Infertility and Perinatal Mood Disorders. She works with children, adolescents and adults, personally and compassionately addressing their unique needs. She provides an eclectic approach to therapy depending on the clients need and can incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy. Her therapy techniques and services treat many concerns including:
Depression
Anxiety
Mood disorders
Anger
Family conflicts
Infertility
Postpartum mood disorders
Stress
Behavior disorders
Family members of substance users
Life transitions
Angel is now accepting new appointments in Geneva, IL. She is able to accept clients with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, ComPsych, Aetna, United Health Care, Cigna, Medicare, Meridian, Ambetter, Wellcare and self-pay. Please call 630-765-3214 to schedule an appointment.
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DANA PAULEY, LCPC, CFRC, CCTP
Dana has experience working with adolescents and adults. As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), she has a strong passion for helping clients who are working through grief and trauma, as well as depression, anxiety, self-harm, behavioral modification, anger management, suicidal ideation, LGBTQIA+, transgender, and self-esteem issues. Having a Master of Science in Criminal/Social Justice, also from Lewis University, and being a Certified First Responder Counselor (CFRC), Dana has a passion for working with first responders.
She provides an eclectic approach to therapy depending on the clients need and can incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solutions Focused, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
Dana works with people with many concerns including:
Depression
Anxiety
Personality Disorders
Self-Esteem
Anger
Trauma
First Responders
Grief
LGBTQ
Call 630-765-3214 to schedule an appointment.
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CHERI BENNETT, LPC, CAMSII
Cheri has experience assisting adolescents, young adults and adults with issues related to depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, divorce and relationships. She is passionate in helping women who are in the process of divorce or relational changes. Cheri is particularly passionate about helping women who have experienced a partner with sexual addiction, affairs, or narcissistic traits.
She provides an eclectic approach to therapy depending on the clients need and can incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solutions Focused, Psychoanalytic, Rational Emotive Therapy and Christian Counseling.
Cheri works with people with many concerns including:
Depression
Anxiety
Personality Disorders
Self-Esteem
Anger
Family conflicts
Sexual Abuse
Divorce
Grief
Trauma
Issues with spirituality
Family members of substance users
Chronic Illness
Call 630-765-3214 to schedule an appointment.
OLIVIA ESPINOSA, LCSW
Olivia is a licensed clinical social worker who values each client and their unique story and goals. She is humbled to be a part of her clients’ work towards change, healing, and growth. Olivia creates a safe and validating space for her clients to process, plan, and be encouraged each step along the way. She connects well with both adolescents and adults. Some areas of specialization for Olivia include:
Postpartum Disorders (training from Postpartum Support International)
Pregnancy
Grief and Loss
Trauma
Depression
Anxiety
Self-Esteem
Life transitions
Relational Issues
Utilizing techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Strengths Based, Attachment Based, Mindfulness, and Interpersonal Model, Olivia empowers each client as they work towards their goal of growth, healing, etc.
Clients have described Olivia as kind, genuine, funny, and helpful. Olivia is grateful for past field experience such as adoption, trauma, child development, and family support which inform her work today. Outside of providing therapy, Olivia also enjoys karaoke, discovering new restaurants, grocery shopping while listening to music, and walks with her husband and daughter.
Call 630-765-3214 to schedule an appointment.
ALEXIS CZARNECKI, LCPC, CCTP
Alexis "Lexie" Czarnecki is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), who has 7 years of experience in the clinical field. She has worked with adolescents who were committed to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, offering individual, group, and family therapy, along with crisis intervention. She earned her master's degree in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School or Professional Psychology in 2015 and has a passion for working with those impacted by the legal and criminal justice system. She also has a strong desire to work with those seeking life transitions, personal or career-related, and those who have been impacted by traumatic experiences in their life.
Lexie has worked with individuals who battle anxiety, depression, trauma, anger, conduct and oppositional issues, grief and loss, community violence, perpetrators and survivors of abuse, incarceration, family conflict, self-harming behaviors, pervasive personality symptoms, and substance abuse. She believes in fostering a safe place through building rapport with clients and allowing them to feel comfortable to be themselves within the relationship.
Lexie provides an eclectic approach and incorporates techniques pulled from Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy-Trauma Focused, Motivational Interviewing and Multisystemic Therapy.
In her spare time, Lexie maintains self-care by playing with her therapy dog, Maeve, engaging in aerial fitness, recreational softball, and volleyball, watching movies, reading books, traveling, and visiting family members.
Call 630-765-3214 to schedule an appointment.
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RACHEL KOWALSKI
Rachel is a current graduate student at Capella University and is studying to become a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. While working on her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Rachel is the Administrative Assistant and is the person clients go to regarding insurance, copays, etc. In addition to obtaining her Master’s degree, Rachel also graduated from Aurora University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Helping people has always been her passion and she knew when she was 11 years old that she wanted to become a professional counselor. This is her first time working in a counseling office and she is so ecstatic to be a part of such an amazing and inspiring team of professionals.
GARY KEMPIAK
Gary is the owner of Promise Equestrian Center where Anchor Counseling staff are doing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. Gary has been around horses most of his life. He has experience teaching riding lessons, breeding and training horses, caring for horses, and riding rodeos. Gary has trained wild mustangs including one of our therapy horses, Storm. Gary is certified by OK Corral in Equine Assisted Learning and is able to work with clients who are struggling with behaviors or stressors and could benefit from an alternative coping strategy.