Individual & Family CHOICES Program
2016/2017 Serving Children, Families & Adults in PA & Beyond
What we do:
We are a group of highly trained mental health professionals who specialize in the holistic, trauma informed care of children, adolescents, adults and families.
We also conduct consultations, provide clinical supervision and present trainings in order to assist professionals outside of our program in working with individuals and families that are touched by trauma.
LOOK FOR EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES BELOW!!
Meet Our Talented and Dedicated Professionals
Evelyn Wald, MS, MDiv, LPC
Evelyn has more than 20 years of counseling experience in journeying with individuals, couples, and families. She specializes in the areas of grief, loss, and life transitions. She also facilitates a variety of grief support groups and is a clinical consultant for TIDES- a program for grieving children and their families. Evelyn is formally trained as well in Internal Family Systems and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR). She is also ordained in a ministry of Word and sacrament. Evelyn believes in a holistic approach, addressing the emotional, spiritual and physical aspects of our human experiences. For her the client and counselor seek to develop a sacred relationship and travel together as companions along life's journey.
Evelyn is also a gifted trainer and consultant on traumatic bereavement issues as well as the process of grieving and loss. She is often sought after to present on these issues by the loss and grieving specialist community as well as other agencies and college and university departments. Her wit and presentation style are known to keep participants engaged and often holding on to their seats while laughing through the tears.
Karen Hansel MSW, LCSW, ACS
Karen is the Clinical Director at CHOICES and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has 20 years of experience in the mental health field and has worked with children, adults, and families in multiple levels of care. She obtained her Masters in Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh. She is a trauma focused therapist who works collaboratively with her clients to promote strengths and healing. She is trained in Structural Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy , EMDR Trauma Focused CBT, and Internal Family Systems. Karen recently attained certification as an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS/NBCC-CEE). Karen is well known in the Central PA area as a steadfast and consistent psychotherapist who is compassionate with her clients and passionate about their birthright for healing and wholeness. Her clarity and perceptual intuitiveness have also made her a colleague who other professionals seek for clinical supervision and consultation. CHOICES is blessed to have Karen on the team.
Michaela Herr MA, LPC, ATR
Michaela is a Board Certified Art Therapist. She believes in the process of art-making and utilizes art materials as tools, guiding clients to self-expression, communication, self-discovery, and healing. Michaela believes in integrating mindfulness, yoga, music therapy, play therapy techniques, and guided imagery into her work. With experience in childhood and adolescent trauma, she strives to meet individuals where they are and empower them in positive and productive ways. Her unique blend of approaches promotes healthy well-being.
Michaela has announced that she will be leaving CHOICES to travel in Ireland, Europe and other as yet unnamed countries to get the experience of art therapy and creative expressions for healing outside of the USA. The CHOICES staff look forward to assisting Michaela's clients in transferring to our other therapists and also look forward to keeping in touch with Michaela as she enters the next phase of her life journey!
Lois Pessolano Ehrmann PhD, LPC, NCC
Jessie Westrick Starks, MA, LPC, NCC
Jessie has experience working with families, children, adolescents and survivors of domestic and sexual violence. She has a Masters degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Appalachian State University, where she also studied body-centered therapies and obtained a certification in Expressive Arts Therapy. In working with clients, Jessie supplements traditional talk therapy with expressive arts through imagery, storytelling, movement, therapeutic writing and visual arts to foster growth and healing.
Jessie has recently completed formal Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) training and is enjoying using this set of strategies for helping individuals who struggle with Trauma. She is in the certification process at this point. Jessie is known for her gifted ability to connect with her clients resulting in the development of safety within her session room. We at CHOICES appreciate Jessie and her gifts in all ways.
Daryle Gracey MS, LPC, NCC
Daryle is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and National Certified Counselor (NCC). She received her Master of Science degree in Professional Counseling at Carlow University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Daryle has been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Motivational Interviewing. She also uses Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT).
Daryle specializes in treating individuals with a wide range of behavioral and mental health issues, with a strong background in trauma related issues. She is experienced in working with both adolescents and adults who have experienced sexual and domestic violence, struggle with serious and persistent mental illnesses, forensic mental health issues, and those struggling with both substance and behavioral addictions. Daryle is described as empathetic, accepting, compassionate, validating, and direct. She is passionate about empowering clients to learn how to cope and work through their traumatic experience.
Her approach includes providing a safe therapeutic environment and utilizing a variety of counseling approaches so clients may begin the healing journey from the past events and negative beliefs that adversely affect daily living and healthy relationships."
Vicki Giulian MSW, LSW
Vicki is a Licensed Social Worker who began her career in social services in 1999, working with women and children transitioning from abusive environments. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Pennsylvania State University, Vicki counseled adults and adolescents with substance abuse problems and co-occurring disorders for over five years. While working toward her Master’s of Social Work Degree from Temple University, Vicki focused on clinical therapeutic practice, gaining experience in both Clinical Supervision and Trauma-Informed interventions for children and adults.
Vicki's therapeutic work is influenced by psychodynamic approaches, like Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, as well as by mindfulness and cognitive behavioral techniques.
Vicki's education and work experiences have provided her with many tools that inform her practice, but it is the client who ultimately determines the course his or her therapy will take. As a therapist, Vicki seeks to help individuals to develop their own unique abilities to cope in transitions and to find personal meaning in whatever challenges they experience.
Ellen Black MSW, LCSW
Jerah Griggs, M.Ed, Counselor Extern
Jerah comes to CHOICES with over 16 years of experience in the human services field. She obtained her Masters degree in Community Counseling from Georgia Southern University.
Jerah began her work with at-risk youth and went on to help both adolescents and adult survivors of sexual and domestic abuse. Jerah has experience working with those struggling to manage anxiety along with other chronic mental health issues. She has experience with a wide variety of populations including children, adolescents, adults, veterans and spouses of veterans in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.
At CHOICES Jerah is actively learning about trauma informed treatment across the life span and has just been hired as out neurofeedback technician under the supervision of Dr. Lois Ehrmann.
Jerah is currently working toward obtaining her National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification as well as becoming a Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.
Meet out Administrative Support Staff too!
Jacqui Greenland
Jennifer Jones
We're Looking for a few more GREAT Therapists to join our CHOICES Team
If you are interested email Dr. Lois Ehrmann at loisehrmann@gmail.com
Are you looking for a unique opportunity to join a team of professionals who are committed to the provision of holistic and comprehensive trauma informed treatment to individuals of all ages? CHOICES has openings for licensed professional counselors, social workers and marriage and family therapists. We offer the following to our full time clinicians:
- Health Insurance
- 12 vacation days per year
- 10 personal days per year
- Flexible autonomous scheduling
- 8 paid holidays
- Professional Liability Insurance and License and Certification Fees Reimbursement
- At least four in house professional trainings per year (In the last 12 months our staff have gotten trainings and continuing education clock hours toward licensure in Sand Tray Therapy, Grief Matters, Assessment of Trauma and Attachment Issues, The Effects of Pornography on Children)
- Additional training possibilities in EMDR; Internal Family Systems;
- Ongoing true clinical supervision/consultation every other week for two hours
- Individual consultation for specialty certification such as EMDR, Internal Family Systems Therapy
Our team is committed not only to our clients and their families but to our own professional community and the wholesome climate at CHOICES as well. We support each other on our professional journeys and treat each other with utmost integrity and honor.
If you are interested in finding out more about the opportunities that exist at CHOICES please call or email our executive director and founder, Dr. Lois Ehrmann at 814-237-0567 Ext. 106 or loisehrmann@gmail.com.