Our Team

A life-long Chicagoan, Sara has developed a deep familiarity with the city’s non-profit landscape and the philanthropic sector.  She holds an AM (MSW) from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, a BS in Education (along with a Certificate in Women’s Studies) from the University of Wisconsin, and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Illinois/Chicago.

Sara has been described as a teacher, a trainer, a mentor, and a coach who has spent her 30-year career developing and managing human services programs with a focus on adolescent well-being. Her expertise is in curriculum design, program development, and managing human services and research interventions. Sara is most proud of her ability to build highly effective teams that are noted for exceeding goals, and being model programs from which others might learn. She has held leadership positions at Planned Parenthood, on a university research project, and for a community-based teen parent program in addition to providing health education to incarcerated men and work with immigrant teens who wanted to go to college.

Carolyn is a licensed clinical social worker and obtained her graduate degree from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 2005. She began working at Response for Teens in 2008 as a clinician and a clinic counselor. She has experience working with both adolescent and adult populations suffering with mental health issues. Carolyn’s areas of focus include adolescent, adult and family counseling—more specifically, with substance abuse, anxiety, depression and family issues.

Julia received both her BS in Human Development and Psychological Services and MA in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University. She came to Response for Teens from Children’s Home + Aid, where she helped to heal children and families within the foster care system. Julia has received advanced training in Child Parent-Psychotherapy (CPP) and is presently completing a postgraduate fellowship in relational trauma. She holds significant experience working with adolescents and adults facing depression, anxiety, intergenerational trauma, and childhood abuse and neglect. Julia brings warmth, humor and compassion to her work with clients, with a focus on identity and on building tools for creating healthy relationships. She provides a safe atmosphere for clients to share their stories, to heal and to develop resilient capacities.

Lili received her AM at University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and a BA in Sociology at Brandeis University. She joined Response for Teens after interning at JCFS Chicago’s community counseling centers. She has previous experience working with adolescents in schools, serving LGBTQ+ youth, and with youth leadership development. Particular areas of interest include issues around identity, self-esteem, trauma, and depression. She utilizes a relational and person-centered approach to empower clients through therapy, and brings authenticity and humor to her work.

Andrew received a Bachelor of Arts degree from New College of Florida with a dual concentration in Psychology and Art and a Master of Social Work degree from Loyola University Chicago with a concentration in Mental Health in Children and Families. Before coming to the Response for Teens, Andrew worked in a therapeutic school for students with behavioral and emotional disorders and in an agency which specialized in treating people with substance use disorders. Andrew believes that developing the ability to express oneself in positive ways is crucial to personal growth and to learning to advocate for oneself. 

Lisa has a BA in both Theatre and History with a focus on gender and race, and a Master’s in Education from the University of Michigan. She has joined the Response for Teens after cultivating her expertise in curriculum development and youth advocacy over 13 years as a high school teacher in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Lisa developed curricula and taught the subjects of history, English, drama, ethnic studies, and gender studies. he principles of identity, inclusion, equity, and social justice guide her work with both youth and adults and she imparts those values throughout her teaching in the areas of anti-bias, gender and sexuality education, and advocacy and activism. She has facilitated workshops for teachers, administrators, students, and parents around sexual health, safe/ inclusive spaces, anti-bias, healthy relationships, media literacy and gender, and consent. Lisa believes in supporting youth as they work to increase their capacity to find agency and make an impact on issues that they care about.   

Claire received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition from Occidental College in Los Angeles. Before beginning her work as an educator at Response for Teens, she spent a year as an assistant to a film and television composer, and also interned at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, where she taught their comprehensive Sex Education curriculum in middle and high school classrooms across the city. Claire is passionate about the importance of education for youth on topics such as healthy relationships, sexual health, body positivity and much more. She brings experience in creating engaging classroom environments, and provides a warm and comfortable atmosphere where students feel safe and able to discuss a wide breadth of topics.