Abe and Ida Cooper Center

Linnet is an art therapist who provides psychotherapy for families, adults, couples and children with a focus on parent guidance, relationship and promotion of personal creativity. She specializes in play therapy to treat childhood anxiety, parental anxiety and depression, attachment and relationship problems, and issues related to the experience of trauma and loss. She facilitates groups for children and provides mental health consultation to preschool programs. Linnet co-authored the book “Connections: A Relationship-Based Phase Model” which is a hands-on resource manual for early childhood educators promoting social and emotional health in young children.

Josh uses a therapeutic-developmental framework to treat preschool-aged children. Josh also provides therapy to adults, school-aged children and their families.  He helps people make sense of their experiences, strengthen self-appreciation, and clarify and work toward their goals.  He approaches therapy as a deeply meaningful, personal experience.

Dena is trained in marriage and family therapy and has experience providing therapy to children, adolescents, adults and families. She utilizes a client-centered, strength-based, relational approach focusing on providing a safe, therapeutic environment for her clients to help them feel understood and achieve their goals. Dena always considers how the influences of culture and environment affect an individual, couple, or family system. Prior to Virginia Frank Child Development Center, Dena’s work was focused in community settings with children and youth impacted by trauma and abuse, providing in-home and school-based therapeutic services. Dena works with a variety of clinical issues including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, family conflict and attachment difficulties, trauma-informed counseling, body-image/low self-esteem, and life transitions. She frequently utilizes modalities from play-based therapy, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy to support the client in treatment.

Mollie has been with the agency for many years, has served as an Educational Therapist in the Virginia Frank Therapeutic Nursery, and has facilitated child-parent groups such as the Get-Together, the Single Parent Dinner Divorce Group, and Getting Ready for Nursery School. Currently she specializes in providing Mental Health Consultation to early childhood programs, leads trainings for early childhood educators and presents on developmental topics at state and local conferences. Her strong area of interest is supporting the social and emotional well-being of children and their families. She currently co-leads a Socialization Group for children ages 3-6.

Alice is a social worker who provides therapy for children, adults, and families. She approaches clinical work from a relational, trauma-informed lens and considers the systemic factors impacting families and as they navigate healing and growth. Alice has a background in early childhood education and has served clients from a wide variety of backgrounds, from preschool aged children to older adults. She incorporates creativity, play, and mind-body connection in her therapeutic work. 

Rachel Bennett, LCSW is clinical social worker who uses trauma-informed psychodynamic and play therapy to support children and families with a focus on relationship and attachment-based work. A Boston native, she got her Master of Social Work degree from Hunter College in NYC and worked with families and children in several different settings in New York and Michigan before moving to Chicago in August of 2021. Rachel also works with families on advocating for social-emotional needs in the classroom and provides mental health consultation to support teachers and school administration.

Kate is a social worker who graduated from the Erikson Institute with a focus in early childhood development.  Kate practices from a trauma-informed lens to provide psychodynamic therapy for children and families.  She approaches the work from a strengths-based and wholistic view of the child and family, and utilizes play, mindfulness, and the therapeutic relationship to promote healing and growth.

Ben Goldberger, LCSW is the Assistant Director of the Virginia Frank Child Development Center, recently returning to JCFS in a leadership capacity after 8 years serving as a Clinical Social Worker and Substance Use Disorder Specialist in the Homeless and Mental Health Programs at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. Ben began his Social Work career at JCFS as a DCFS group home and family therapist in 2010 after receiving his Master’s from the School of Social Service Administration at University of Chicago. He enjoys blending roles that involve both program development and direct clinical care.