Meet Our Team

 

Jessica Gentry received her master’s degree in Counseling and Psychology from North Park University and received her bachelor’s degree in Education from Moody Bible Institute. Jessica has worked with diverse populations in community mental health services, higher education, and non profit organizations. She specializes in supporting clients struggling with anxiety, depression, the effects of trauma and/or grief, and adjusting to life circumstances. Jessica strives to create a safe and nurturing atmosphere in which individuals can be supported in their efforts to change and grow.

David Hoover, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and the executive director of Chicago Clinical Associates. Dr. Hoover completed his graduate psychology training at Wheaton College, during which time he worked at local community clinics, university counseling centers, hospitals, and outpatient group practices delivering individual, couples, and group psychotherapy services to diverse populations. He graduated as an Arthur P. Rech Scholar based upon his academic achievements, contributions to research and teaching, and commitment to the integration of spiritual and clinical development. His dissertation research explored relationships between experiences of isolation, spirituality, and patterns of interpersonal attachment. After completing a doctoral internship at Boston University’s Danielsen Institute and a fellowship with the Boston Psychoanalytic Society & Institute, Dr. Hoover returned to the Chicagoland area and eventually established a private practice focusing upon the provision of a highly informed and responsive psychosocial care to adults in the Chicagoland area.

Marya Jan, PsyD, completed her doctoral training at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has worked with diverse populations across a multitude of settings such as large hospitals, private wellness centers, assisted living, neuropsychological services and college/university counseling centers. Her experience and interests include a range of concerns such as navigating identity and multicultural issues, family-of-origin or relationship problems, existential events, interpersonal trauma, boundary setting and emotion regulation, as well as religion and spirituality. In addition to providing one-on-one therapy, she is experienced in leading a variety of therapy groups, and is passionate about the development and implementation of outreach and community programming. Marya has lived in different parts of the U.S. and abroad. Having worked and interacted with individuals from all over the globe, she embodies an accepting and open worldview which is applied in her relationships with her clients.

Ann Kurtz is a clinical psychologist with twenty-five years combined experience as a social
worker and clinical psychologist. Ann received a BA from Colgate University, and an MS from
Columbia School of Social Work. She completed her doctoral training at the Illinois School of
Professional Psychology. Ann also received training at the Chicago Association for
Psychoanalytic Psychology and the Chicago Institute of Psychoanalysis. Ann has treated a
diverse range of clients in both inpatient and outpatient settings providing individual, group and
couples therapy.

Tanya Leibman is a fourth-year clinical psychology doctoral candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She graduated from Bard College with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Tanya has received training and work experience in a variety of settings including behavioral hospitals, partial hospitalization programs and a community mental health center, and further has experience working with clients from diverse racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations. She enjoys working with clients presenting with a variety of experiences including anxiety-related concerns, the negotiation of transitions and stressors, as well as those wrestling with more severe and chronic mental health concerns.

Michael Palumbo, PhD, completed his doctoral training at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. He has worked with a diverse range of individuals across a variety of settings, from private practices to hospital psychiatric units. He specializes in treating a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, mood instability, relationship difficulties, and work challenges. He also has specialized training in working with substance-use problems through his work at Jacobi Medical Center in New York. In addition to providing one-on-one therapy, he leads therapy groups, which seek to improve group members’ relationships with others. Before embarking on a career as a therapist, he worked in the publishing industry for almost a decade, and he brings to his work a familiarity with professional settings as well as life transitions.

Dr. Robert Puls is a licensed clinical psychologist who received his doctorate from The Illinois School of Professional Psychology. He has worked as a psychologist in a variety of settings including elementary schools, psychiatric hospitals, forensic settings, and private practice. Dr. Puls specializes in treating anxiety and depressive disorders, trauma and abuse victims, couples therapy, and in the psychological assessment of clinical and forensic issues. He is a member of The American Psychological Association. The Illinois Psychological Association, and The National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology.

Tameer is a licensed psychologist and completed her doctoral training in clinical psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Her doctoral dissertation explored the relationship between employee burnout, inpatient psychiatry, and trauma-informed care. Tameer has worked in a variety of mental health settings including outpatient clinics, hospitals, VAs, residential, corrections, community mental health, and private practice with diverse populations such as ethnic and racial minorities, sexual minorities [LGBT+], and marginalized communities with significant health disparities. Her clinical focus consists of working with adult individuals or couples experiencing post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, work burnout, grief and loss, anger mis-management, major life transitions with adjustment problems, and identity development issues.

Aslihan Tuzun-Meier, MA, PsyD, earned her M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Okan University in Istanbul, Turkey, where she trained in psychoanalytic and cognitive-behavioral clinical paradigms. She has since incorporated dialectical-behavioral and eye-movement desensitization (EMDR) treatment modalities into her therapeutic work and has gone on to earn her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Adler University. Aslihan has a breadth of experience working in a range of psychology and therapy environments, both domestic and international. She has experience working with clients with differing minority status in inpatient, outpatient, social services, and school settings. Aslihan specializes in working with adults who are experiencing difficulties making meaning of various life struggles including trauma, depression, anxiety, and relationship or interpersonal issues.

Morgan Waggoner is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Art Therapist. She completed a dual M.A. degree program in Counseling Psychology and Art Therapy at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in 2013. Prior to joining Chicago Clinical Associates, Morgan worked in outpatient and inpatient treatment settings, community mental health, and as an on-call crisis clinician in Chicago.