EMAGES MAGAZINE
The Face Behind the Dream Dr. Hattie Wash
Does EMAGES, INC. Do? Progress T he #1 G oal Participants: of A Connection SPANNING 30 YEARS What
TECH- SAVVY HYBRID Counseling IN A COVID WORLD
table of Table of C CONTENTS E M A G E S
DR. HATTIE WASH
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The Face Behind the Dream: Dr. Hattie Wash (CEO of EMAGES)
Tech-Savvy Hybrid Counseling in a COVID World: Sheila Chew
SHEILA CHEW
Biofeedback Therapy: A Mind Body Technique 34 Progress of Participants: The #1 Goal 48 A Connection Spanning 30 Years 54
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DR. EDWARD BUTLER
Working the World at its Worst Moment at EMAGES
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contents Contents E-EMAGES.ORG
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MITZI SCOTT
EMAGES
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D r. Wash is the brainchild of EMAGES. So, how did EMAGES begin? “A group of five of us decided we wanted to do something different when we retired from our primary jobs.” In 1992, Dr. Wash incorporated EMAGES as a not-for-profit. “We wanted to work for ourselves and give back to the community. That’s how the organization got started.” EMAGES started off with workshops and seminars in substance abuse and mental health, as well as training substance abuse and mental health counselors. In the late nineties, EMAGES added group therapy. “I opened my first brick-and-mortar location. There were several counselors, but this was our second job, and we were still working our primary jobs. We would come in the evening after five p.m. with our groups. We’d work all day and then work at least three more hours at EMAGES.” Through grants, EMAGES was funded for substance abuse outpatient level one and level two treatment services. “I got a couple of contracts from the Cook County Department of Probation to provide some sex offender counseling. I also became certified and licensed to provide those services for sex offenders.” She adds, “We treat all clients with dignity and respect, the way that we want to be treated. I think if they see they can move on with their lives that they can become productive citizens, and they understand what was going on with them at the time that they committed their offense if they committed it, what they need to do, what skills and techniques they need to develop The Face Behind the Dream Dr. Hattie Wash: CEO of EMAGES
so they would not victimize another person. It's not easy for them. One of our goals is to try to help them understand that they can live effective lives and that they can become productive citizens in spite of the fact that they have a stigma against them and a felony. That’s not determining what they can and can’t do in terms of developing themselves.” But what about recidivism? Dr. Wash did a study from their initial program in 1998 through 2013-14. “We only had a 1% recidivism rate, and right now, we still have a very low recidivism rate. Society has put restrictions on them in terms of movement and work.” But, she tells her clients, “‘You must be able to work around that and still see yourself as valuable, productive, and able to move forward.’ So we try to encourage them. We try to empower them with the belief that this is not an end for them but that they do have to work to turn it around.” Dr. Wash shares that her first love was teaching. With a master's in cultural studies with an emphasis on African American studies, she was planning on teaching at a university. “I'm happy where I am now. I did teach; I fulfilled my goal; I taught substance abuse courses at Kennedy-King College, Harold Washington College, and Chicago State University. I had my Doctorate then, so I taught psychology courses. So, I was able to do what I wanted to do—teach.” She also became a director for two of their mental health centers, and I worked with them for 17 ½ years while working with EMAGES. “Sometimes you end up where you're supposed to be as opposed to where you thought you would be.” She adds, “These are needed services, and the people that come to us for service, we are in most cases their last resort, and because of the stigma that’s associated with
the population that we treat, it's very difficult for us to get support and funding. . . Because one thing we have to do is empower the clients when they come to us. And then have the wider society understand that. These are people who are in need of services, and we are here to provide those services, but we need their support.”
What Is
EMAGES, Inc. is a not-for-profit psychological and social service agency. Our mission is to provide comprehensive, multi-cultural and culturally specific treatment services to residents of the Chicago Area. We believe in and practice a Holistic approach to treatment. We believe that a true continuum of care includes treatment services, intervention services, as well as prevention and education. Since our inception in 1992, we have provided EMAGES, INC.?
services in the following areas: psychological assessments and testing, individual therapy, substance abuse training, family therapy, group therapy, sex offender training, sex offender treatment, DUI substance abuse treatment, DUI risk education, Stress/Anger-management, parenting training, and Clinical prevention training services.
E M A G E S
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Interning at EMAGES I s W orkIng for A ll of U s Because when we know better, we can do better
I t’s been said that “knowledge is power”. In many of our own lives we understand that this is much more than just a cliched catchphrase because we know that when we learn, we grow and we’ve lived the experience over time. For every intern everywhere, knowledge is also and most often their only reward for their extraordinary professional efforts. In the case of Mrs. Tracie Woods, her hunger for knowledge has led directly to many of her most professionally satisfying rewards as an EMAGES intern. Achieving her Associates degree in 2014 and then her Bachelors, Mrs. Woods began her internship in 2018 working directly with clients and facilitating group therapy sessions. Initially her group sessions were a particularly daunting challenge. As she recently shared in regard to one of her most valuable internship lessons- “I definitely had an initial fear of doing group but now I feel much more confident and genuine. This experience has helped me continue to move from a social work oriented framework into a
more mental health-oriented plan which I feel is easier for many of my clients to connect with.” Working closely with Dr, Wash and Mitzi Scott, Mrs. Woods has advanced her education through going back to capture her Masters at Chicago State and is currently looking forward to her third run as an intern serving disenfranchised African-American communities, helping her clients overcome problems and then helping them get back on
track. Among her many rewards is a much deeper appreciation for the complexity and fragility of the lives of her clients and a more profound sense of empathy for our human journeys. “ One of my most important intern lessons is that we are all of us still under construction…” And her professional priority moving forward? As she put it so gratefully and graciously-
“There are a lot of barriers in this world. And I want to be there for someone so I can help them along the way.” Learning ever more, helping others and dedicating her time and talents to interning is certain to go a long way to breaking down many of the current barriers we all face form time to time and we’re much more confident about our future with Mrs. Woods there to help us through the rough spots. Because when we know better, we do better.
“One of my most important intern lessons is that we are all of us still under construction…”
“THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LOST CAUSE”
7601 S. Kostner Ave, #500 Chicago, IL 60652 E-EMAGES.ORG
OUR INTEGRITY, COMMITMENT we are proud of AND PROFESSIONALISM. WE ARE PROUD OF AND PROFESSIONALISM. E.M.A.G.E.S, Inc. provides anger management classes utilizing the Anderson & Anderson model of intervention, curriculum and workbook. The program consists of 10-12 classes that meet one hour per week with a focus in four major areas:
• Anger • Stress • Emotional Intelligence • Communication.
SEX OFFENDERS & STIGMA: A FRANK DISCUSSION
Dr. Eleanor Harris: CONSULTANT EMAGES
D r. Eleanor Harris has been with EMAGES since they opened, nearly 23 years. “Dr. Wash and I worked together at the City of Chicago Department of Mental Health, and I was a clinical therapist. She told me she had an agency that worked with sex offenders and asked me if I was interested, and I said, ‘Yes, that sounds very interesting.’” She started by working with one of
Having great compassion for her clients, she works to break the stigma. “People think of sex offenders as someone who would snatch someone off the street. . . it's not true.” She explains that most were young and “had they been more knowledgeable or had better upbringing they probably would have never found themselves in the situation in the first place. . . I love adolescence, but it’s a period of life, a phase
the very first groups offered by EMAGES for sex offenders, and “I have been there ever since because the work is
of life that children have got to really walk carefully through and try to get to adulthood without damaging themselves.
challenging to me and enables me to bring all of my different skills and learning and apply them.”
Young people are headstrong, and they make mistakes. If they had kept closer to home or been less hard- headed or less needy for peer attention and recognition, if they had known better or had learned better, if they had life situations that had steered them in a different direction, they
When asked if she uses different methods for different clients, she answers, “ Absolutely. Each client has different personalities and life experiences, so yes, you have to go back and forth and pull out different tools you have learned.”
never would have gone down that road. But now they have that label that will be with them for life.” When asked if she’s seen clients change, she shares, “Absolutely; most of them. For many, it's their first offense, certainly first sex offense. And once they have done their time and learned better and had therapy, they’d never go back to it; there are things they just did not know.” For instance, many clients weren’t aware of the law. Regarding group sex, Dr. Harris explains that even though a situation may be consensual, but one person in the group gets out of hand, and police get involved, all parties will be arrested under the category of gang rape, even if the woman says the others were not a problem. Regarding minors, even if two people are in love, but one is underage, that is illegal too and considered statutory rape. But what about the repeat offenders?
“ For the very troubled ones, the illness was prior to puberty. Children were exposed to inappropriate sexual behavior or assaulted themselves sexually, so they grow up with a warped sense of who they are and what life is supposed to be.” So, what can we, as a society, do to help? “ We have to teach early. We have to get the parents and educators to be more watchful. I think it would not hurt to have sex education, sex offender classes, or sex offender theories taught in HS. To have some kind of training where parents are part of the process. Assemblies with talks and lectures—that would be helpful.”
From EMAGES Intern
W hen Deborah Taylor was finishing her master’s degree from the University of Chicago as a social worker, there were many internships to choose from. Often, graduates from her program would talk about the different programs. Deborah shares, “ Whenever EMAGES would come up, they would say how great the program was. I was trying to decide where to
And so, Deborah Taylor took advantage of the
EMAGES intern program, coming on board in 2019, not only interning for a year as part of her licensing process but also working for six months at the office in billing for the clinicians. “I had a great rapport with Dr. Wash; she
was the program director. She had a hands-on approach and an open-door policy regarding the other staff and interns. Everybody was helpful and easy to get along with! It was a very well-run ship. I loved working at EMAGES; it was a great opportunity.” Regarding the progress of clients, she commented, “They are trying to become rehabilitated and get back into society, and they are
intern, and my antenna was going up. I wondered if I could do my
internship there. I applied to EMAGES on pins and needles. When I got in, I realized they wanted me to be in the sexual abuse program. I talked to Doctor Harris, the program leader, and she explained how the program worked and what I would be doing. After talking to her, I thought it sounded like something I could do because these people need help too!”
willing to come to the agency for services, to find out why they did what they did, and to learn to have a coping mechanism. . . I just want to be helpful to people who have lost their way.”
to Licensed Counselor DEBORAH TAYLOR , Licensed counselor, and former intern at EMAGES And when clients graduate? “I saw that they were happy that they had completed the program. They weren’t proud of what they'd done to get there, they weren’t proud of what they did, but once they had gone through the program, they were happy that they had completed it, and they felt proud that now they could go out in the world with the tools they needed to keep themselves grounded.” Deborah showed compassion and high hopes for her clients. “Some were reluctant to come, but they came. You didn’t see them defiant. They knew they had to be there. They did what they had to do. They treated me with respect all the time. There was never any disrespect from clients. To me, they are people who have done some things; they did their time in jail,
and now they want to move on to the next point in their lives, to work within the parameters that they have now placed themselves in, and they want to do good for themselves.” And what is Deborah Taylor doing today? “I have my master's degree in social work and am currently licensed in Illinois to do social work.”
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Our goal is to provide our clients with a variety of programs and services designed to educate and promote a life free of substance abuse. Make your mental health a priority. Mental health impacts how you think, feel and act, and it determines how you might handle stress or relate to others. Your mental health can change over time and can be influenced by life situations like job stress, loss of a loved one or changes in physical health. We are here to help. Give us a call today! EMAGES (773) 224-7386
From
Intern to
Doctor to Giving Back at
EMAGES Retreat Dr. KaMetta clarK, a forMer intern with eMaGeS Doctoral proGraM
I n 2019, Dr. Kametta Clark interned at EMAGES for a year through their doctoral program. Her supervisor was Dr. Wash, and Dr. Clark would come once a week on Wednesdays for four hours. “I did individual and group therapy. On Saturdays, we went to sessions for classes and training. My clients were individual sex offenders. Miss Sandra did substance abuse in the evening, so I would go into her group when I finished with my clients. Before that, I’d had little experience with substance abuse, but working with sex offender clients was something I had never done, something that I didn’t think I would ever do. It’s something that spoke to me; it gave me a different perspective. . . everybody needs an advocate.” When asked if she saw a change in her clients while there, she replied, “I definitely saw a change. For an individual who may be closed or non-accountable, accountability changes with their verbiage and participation. Sometimes you can see the whole mask come off the individual in one session. It is rewarding and not just that; it makes you feel like the work you put in allows them to also put in the work for themselves.” Dr. Clark is also a teacher. “ My Doctorate is in counseling education and supervision, so I teach
counselors to be counselors, but my master's is in mental health counseling. So, I teach people how to be counselors, and I also do individual therapy.” She also counsels in a school setting. “ It gives me joy to do that work. Now I am transitioning to my own practice. I go to the school system, teach a curriculum to counselors, and do a curriculum for students helping them with their issues. So many kids are faced with anxiety, depression, and PTSD, and I teach them about healthy relationships, self-awareness,
trustworthiness, and self-care. I have seen kids, ages 5th to 12th grade.” Dr. Clark says it’s good to work with students at an early age because it helps prepare them for the challenges of high school, when things can get very difficult, sharing that “social media is tough these days for kids. If nothing else, it keeps your mind ticking as to ‘What else can I do for these kids?’ I want to make sure these kids are getting something out of this so they can continue to excel in their education
and do something for themselves.”
She also shares, “They have a marvelous retreat at EMAGES every year. Interns who worked there in previous years all come and share their knowledge about what they learned while there, what it looked like, what they took away, and what they are still using to this day. It was really a great experience for me. It was a three-day process, and amazing to see all these people come back and support that process, to hear the intern's stories and how EMAGES made them what they are today. It's really good to hear their stories.”
S heila Chew was working as a supervisor at the postal service, DPS (Delivery Point Sequence), and was also a bowling coach. One of her bowling clients was none other than the CEO of EMAGES, Dr. Wash! One day, while bowling, Dr. Wash asked Sheila a computer question. “Dr. Wash had just gotten a computer, and something was wrong. So, I went to her office, and I connected the printer and made sure she had everything she needed to start using a computer in her one office.” EMAGES has grown quite a bit since then! “Now we have 12 rooms! We have a computer and TV in almost every room.” At first, she came aboard as a consultant, but in 2010 was hired as office manager. When COVID hit, and social distancing became essential, Sheila was faced with quite a challenge. “By the fourth week of March 2020, when the clients couldn’t come in, I started up the free conference calls. We got three or four numbers so that our clients could call in on that particular number, and we could have group therapy that way. I care so much about EMAGES; I was just trying to keep us going.” There were new requirements from the Department of Health Services, and Telehealth was introduced, which is a communication service for mental health and substance abuse therapy, as well as individual or group therapy, done over the phone. Sheila laughs, “We thought it would be over in a few months. Now mostly everything is on Zoom and hybrid.” She explains that hybrid is when they have groups with both virtual clients and those who come in person. Since April, things have loosened up, and EMAGES is hoping to get the majority of clients to come in person.
TECH- SAVVY HYBRID Counseling IN A COVID WORLD Sheila Chew: office manager & tech support
“I care so much about EMAGES; I was just trying to keep us going.” It is obvious that Sheila has a passion for what she does and that she believes in EMAGES. “I am very thankful to see how we’ve grown, how we moved from one room to twelve. And now that we have 12 rooms, and we can have internet with websites and Facebook and hybrid, we can do what we need to do for our clients. We all appreciate Dr. Wash for keeping us hanging in there so that we could provide services during COVID. That was a great thing. So now we are trying to get more grants, to serve more clients.” As an office manager, Sheila’s job is to ensure the facility's operation goes on no matter what. “We keep in contact with the clients and ensure each client’s needs are met, from reaching a counselor to addressing financial issues; we try to take care of those issues. I also do the financial bookkeeping at EMAGES to ensure the financial part of EMAGES is going well. I work directly with accounts and businesses and with the board to let them know what’s going on with the operations.” “
-sheila
chew
Does EMAGES, INC. Do? What
E MAGES, Inc. provides Alcohol/ Substance Abuse Evaluation, Substance Abuse Treatment, Individual and group therapy. We provide referrals to auxiliary programs to assist with developing a healthy support network through linkage agreements with other community agencies. EMAGES, Inc. provides DUI Evaluations and all levels of treatment, updated evaluations and Alcohol/Substance Abuse Investigative Reports, and all paperwork is accepted by the Illinois Secretary of State. EMAGES,Inc. Is also a teaching facility and provides Internships to students from the City of Chicago colleges and universities throughout the Chicage Area, EMAGES, Inc. provides Comprehensive Sex Offender treatment in Collaboration with Cook County and Illinois Department of Corrections, Anger- magnagement group
e-emages.org
therapy, Mental Health services and individual therapy. We provide Sex offender Therapy and trainings, and provides CEU trainings in collaborations with IIBAP and IAODAPCA.
G eraldine Taylor started her career in childcare and was told she had a special gift. “Some of the mothers would sit with me and tell me about their problems. I would talk with them, and I guess some of the counselors overheard me talking. After the clients left, the counselors said, ‘You need to go to school and get into counseling!’ I thought about it and decided to do it!” And she’s been doing it ever since! In 1984 she began her counseling career and has been with EMAGES for 22 years. She also returned to school to get her master's degree in social work. Geraldine keeps busy, wearing many hats! “I do Substance abuse,
provider.” On a typical day, Geraldine does intakes, individual sessions, and substance abuse groups. She even works weekends! When asked what part of her job was the most impacting to her, she responds, “Right now, I’d say the sex offender group, because it's real life—these guys are dealing with real issues and changes. I'm trying to help them make a change
because of the poor choices they made in their lives. Seeing them coming out on the positive side of it is rewarding. I really see a change in them. The information we’ve given them, they are still living by.”
She joyfully shares that there is a solid success rate of turning lives around at
DUI, I’m a mental health practitioner, and I’m licensed as a sex offender
long-tiMe Counselor Sees Results in clientS Geraldine Taylor: Substance Abuse Counselor & Intake Specialist
EMAGES. “A lot of them come back to say hi. They call us, even come sit in with our groups now and then.” Geraldine explains that part of
“We are a multicultural, culturally specific treatment program. We have diverse clients of all races and religions.” Regarding recidivism, Geraldine says, “It depends if they really want to work on their sobriety. If they come in with high hopes, we try to keep that upfront. If they want to do it, they follow through. There are those who don’t want to be here, who don’t want to finish. Maybe they’ll come back again, and then they are ready. We sit and talk with them, and soon, they realize, ‘Yeah, I’ve got to do this so I can get myself together and get back on the right track.’ And she’s seen the success stories first- hand. “They do get themselves together, get married, get good jobs, start their own businesses, and have children.” the process of recovery is to give back. And she happily shares, “They are giving back. We had one client who was in our substance abuse treatment; he had alcohol issues. He completed the program, got sober, got into the field, and worked in our program for 10-15 years. We still stay in contact. He’s very good at his job, too.” Geraldine describes EMAGES: “We are a multicultural, culturally specific treatment program. We work with ages 18 on up, mostly African Americans, but we have diverse clients of all races and religions. We have LGBT clients. We do couples counseling, individual counseling, and mental health. We cover all the Chicago areas. We also have interns here working with us, and we help them and teach them the formats of the social work programs under substance abuse, DUI, sex offender, and mental health.” She adds, “I love it when the interns are here. They teach me; we learn from one another.” -Geraldine Taylor
“Dual Diagnosis” or “Co-Occuring Disorder” “Dual diagnosis" or "Co-Occurring disorder" refers to the presence of both a mental illness and a substance abuse problem. It is important to get effective treatment for both disorders. An effective treatment model is when both disorders are treated simultaneously.
CALL EMAGES TODAY! 773.224.7386 Our philosophy is is that every individual in our society has the right to receive appropriate guidance that will assist them in developing to their fullest potential. DR. DANIEL JEAN SEX OFFENDER TRAINER & MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL
Interning Opportunities at EMAGES Vanessa Dean: forMer intern at eMages
E MAGES provides not only counseling services but also training and internships. Vanessa Dean was a student intern for two years. “ When I was getting my master's in the counseling program, I had a coworker who said, ‘My godmother works for EMAGES.’ So that’s where I did my internship— at EMAGES, and when getting my Ph.D. I did my internship there as well, in counselor education and supervision.” As an intern, Vanessa co-facilitated various EMAGES programs, from sex offender counseling to mental health, anger management, and substance abuse. Regarding sex offenders, Vanessa explains that they want to heal and return to society as productive, safe citizens and that less than five percent re-offend. She adds, “Most were sexually abused themselves and need to heal from their own trauma.” She was quite busy while interning, as she already had a job. “The groups I did were on Saturday mornings, and then during the week, I’d come after work to meet
with my mental health clients and substance abuse clients. It was an excellent experience.” She thoroughly enjoyed her time at EMAGES. “All the staff are great—Dr. Harris, whom I reported to for my master's degree, and Dr. Wash, who worked with the Ph.D. and junior college students.” She explains that the group counseling had eight to ten participants. When asked if there were difficulties, she said that, on the contrary, the clients would share with each other, encouraging each other’s recovery. Vanessa says, “ It was a cohesive group; they’d help each other, even call each other out. They’d keep each other going, and part of their healing process was knowing they were not alone— that most of the group had gone through the same thing. It was a great experience.” “The support they give you is phenomenal. Dr. Wash, Dr. Harris, Dr. Jean, and Mitzi— are great and very hands-on.” -Vanessa Dean She saw the change in the participants’ lives as they completed the program. “I was so proud of them as they graduated and went on with their lives and did well—clients who not only changed their own lives, but the lives of their families and society.” And though Vanessa has graduated, she still has a connection with EMAGES. “I stay in touch, and I volunteer my services whenever I can help out.” Vanessa has gone on to open her own business. “I have my own nonprofit called ‘Ruby and Mildred’s Behavioral Health Services and Center,’ named after my grandmothers. I provide Level 1 and Level 2 substance abuse
outpatient treatment.” And, naturally, if she has clients who need other services, she refers them to EMAGES. “ EMAGES is the perfect place to learn about your culture and different methodologies to work with the population in the sex offender, mental health, substance abuse, and anger management area.” “ The support they give you is phenomenal. Dr. Wash, Dr. Harris, Dr. Jean, and Mitzi—are great and very hands-on; they want to make sure you learn how to service African Americans in the community as well as other cultures. They are very diverse. So, anyone who wants an internship or wants to donate for a great cause, EMAGES is the place to do it.”
Facing the Darkness of substance abuse
Substance Abuse counseling is not only about overcoming addiction, but also the people and therapy options to help you get there. Quit using today with our Highly-Experienced Staff. We're here to help.
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7601 S. Kostner Ave, #500 Chicago, IL 60652
BIOFEEDBACK THERAPY: Dr. Edward Butler > > > > >
D r. Butler got his start in the army reserve as a combat medic. “I decided to go into nursing. I became an RN—Registered Nurse. I was working in the emergency room. I thought I’d become a nurse anesthetist. I was looking at going to graduate school. I did a group, and one of the psychologists in the unit said, ‘Have you thought about going into psychology?’ I did, and I liked it. Dr. Wash was the director of one of the community mental health centers in Chicago, and I did some training at her center. When I finished training, I came on board; they knew me from the training, so it was an easy transition. I’ve worked for EMAGES for 20 years as a contract psychologist. I definitely enjoy what I do.” As a psychologist, Dr. Butler is mainly involved with mental health. He practices individual and group therapy from a mental health perspective and does evaluations and assessments. He also has an Anger Management group. He explains, “A more euphemistic term is Emotional Intelligence.” So, how does one end up in an anger management class? “Somehow, they got involved in the legal system predicated on some type of behavior, so one of their probation or parole conditions would be to take anger management classes or some type of mental health treatment. I tell clients, especially if they were referred by the department of corrections, that this is not punishment; this is a skill set to learn that you can use throughout your lifespan.” When asked if clients can get unruly—after all, it is called anger management—Dr. Butler shares, “There is a technique I introduce to my anger management
A Mind Body Technique > > > > > > Licensed Clinical Psychologist
clients, called Biofeedback.” Dr. Butler is a Board- Certified Associate Fellow in biofeedback from the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA). “It’s a mind-body technique where you teach people to recognize their physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.” Biofeedback
On top of being a therapist, he works with interns. “I supervise doctoral and psychology students who must do a postdoc to qualify for their license.” Regarding the clientele, “Somebody’s got to work with them, with those individuals.
If you commit a crime, you still have a right to an attorney; you have a right to be represented. People have a right to treatment.” What does the future hold for Dr. Butler? “I would like to write and do more research in the area of biofeedback.”
includes sensor readings. “These visual and auditory signals will teach them how to control their sympathetic nervous system—basically recognizing stress and anxiety or increased heart rate, breathing, and things of that nature.” But how long does the treatment take? “The length of a client program is predicated on the clinical picture. I do Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which would go on for probably six months. I teach patients to be their own therapists.” And there are success
stories! Regarding a particular client, “I did CBT- Cognitive behavioral therapy over six months and saw a significate change in their chronic depression. Research indicates that CBT works just as well as medication, and even better if they are on medication and CBT, a combination of both.”
Are Learning Life anD learning can last a lifetiMe EMAGES Interns “Initially I came to study and become a drug
counselor. Bu t at EMAGES I learned how to not only be a drug counselor but also let my clients know that I’m there for them, and let them know that it’s not me against them but that we’re working together. It was a truly ‘lived experience’, and so much more than only a study period for me.”
Education is a sacred key to our future. Any and all of our success as a culture is rooted in education and all of our failures rooted in ignorance. At EMAGES interns willingly walk into some of our society’s hottest fires to provide not only therapy but their empathy and their love as well. In January of 2022, Miss Markeeta Sims arrived to help, study, learn and grow. A Kennedy-King College student focusing on advanced social work and addiction studies, Miss Sims was ideally educated for her EMAGES duties and entered the program filled with passion. Diving into her anger management and mental health groups, it was here where, as she recently shared-
In addition to working directly with clients and learning directly through their life experiences, Miss Sims deeply appreciated the comprehensive range of studies that encompassed all of her previous academic endeavors and then put them into action.
“The work at EMAGES is just really great because you really get to learn all different angles of treatment. And
“With great sacrifices come great accomplishments. And for me, EMAGES was a great accomplishment.” Education is
you get to really see that treatment applied firsthand as you work with your clients. I just think it’s a great experience for anyone willing to intern.” For Markeeta, her 2022 EMAGES internship was the absolute professional boost she felt she needed to refocus her passion for social work, addiction studies and make the leap into becoming a professional drug counselor. She also shared her final take on her EMAGES time-
sacred. And education put into real action to help soothe and heal some of our society’s wounds is a win for all of us. For Miss Markeeta Sims her future work as a drug counselor is a vocation we all benefit from as we move forward. EMAGES and their interns are assuring that we all keep moving forward into a healthier future for all.
WHO IS ? EMAGES
e-emages.org
WE ARE EMAGES, INC.
E MAGES, Inc. staff and consultants consist of psychologist, licensed professional counselors, licensed social workers, Licensed Sex Offender providers/
evaluators and treatment counselors. Staff and consultants are also certified by
IAODAPCA for substance abuse and MISA treatment.
Additionally, EMAGES, Inc. consultants have extensive work histories with
individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
Psychologist Enjoys EMAGES Training Program Dr. Haneefa Mateen, Post-Doctoral fellow A Safe Space to Share Without Punishment or Judgment
D r. Haneefa Mateen is a Post- Doctoral Fellow in Psychology, who counsels participants at EMAGES. She explains that the post-doctoral level, as opposed to interning, “is like having a job but being supervised. At the post-doctorate level, there is not usually training involved, but with the fellowship, there is actually training.” Her trainer is Dr. Butler, whom she shares counseling duties with. She hopes to stay on at EMAGES when she finishes. Educated at Chicago School for Professional Psychology and Illinois School of Professional Psychology, she received her master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. Specializing in substance abuse and sex offender treatment, she provides both individual counseling and group therapy at EMAGES. Dr. Mateen shares that she appreciates the opportunity to provide treatment to men because men don’t typically reach out for therapy and counseling. “I see it as an opportunity to heal and build healthy families.” She points out that typically, it is women who seek out therapy, and they bring their children. They may attempt family therapy, but the men generally don’t want to come. Dr. Mateen shares, "Unfortunately in the USA, it’s sad how
many people don’t have fathers, they didn't grow up with fathers, or even if they have an intact family, the fathers work such long hours.” She wants to make a difference, and helping male clients at EMAGES can do just that, changing the lives, not only of the men themselves but of their wives, children, family, and friends. When asked if the treatment for men is different than for women and children, Dr. Mateen shares that men often don’t feel comfortable talking about their feelings— they don’t have the “language” for them. Dr. Mateen adds, "Many men, when it comes to communication, were taught to speak ‘Sports language.’ And they mostly want to talk about work. The hard part is getting them to talk about something besides work!” She has found that storytelling helps—for example if she counsels someone with relationship problems: “A lot depends on the situation. I might tell them that I didn't know much about relationships when I was younger, in my 20s and 30s. Now that I'm older, I want more out of a relationship. That gets
them talking. How was your parent's relationship? And
“Men usually say they are appreciative of what they learn in groups and about life. Some even
drop in after graduation!”
I’ll try to get them to talk about friendships. Which is different from women—men don’t typically have the close relationships with their friends that women do.” She shares how important it is for them to acknowledge all areas of their lives in order to heal. “Men usually say they are appreciative of what they learn in groups and about life. Some even drop in after graduation!” Dr. Mateen came to EMAGES in April and has already seen a change and progress in many clients. She shares that group sessions typically last a year or more and provide “a safe space to share without punishment or judgment.” With individual therapy, the healing time depends on them. Some come of their own accord, suffering from depression, anxiety, or trauma. Some clients are mandated, but she has seen significant progress either way. Dr. Mateen is happy to be a part of EMAGES, saying, “It's one of a kind.”
Level 1 & Level 2 Outpatient Services Treatment Components • Assessment & Evaluations • Individual Counseling • Group counseling • Treatment Plan Development & Review
• Discharge Planning • After Care Services • Crisis Intervention
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S ervice to community and country can take many forms. Many of us choose one over the other, many of us consider both yet never actually get around to taking action on either, and a very few of us not only choose both but then devote our lives to the pursuit of this life- changing vocation. USMC veteran and former EMAGES intern, Thomas Gouard, would be a prime example of the latter. Mr. Gouard began his commitment to service when he enlisted in the USMC and then served for 12 years—rising steadily in rank until eventually mustering out as an NCO/ Staff Sergeant—including his work as liaison between SACO (Substance Abuse and Control Thomas Gouard From USMC Service to an EMAGES INTERNSHIP B ecause learning can Be a lifelong adventure
Officer) counselors and USMC personal in need of such assistance. This was his initial contact with counseling work which refocused his goals and provided him a new professional direction as well a newfound personal satisfaction. It was his lengthy USMC experience which eventually lead him to pursuing his Associates degree in mental health counseling at Harold Washington Community College (as well as receiving his CADC qualifications) immediately following his military career which then brought him to pursuing more hands- on work as an intern at EMAGES. Focusing on his CADC (Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor) training and specializing
currently furthering his education at National Lewis University. Recalling his military training and the enduring sense of accomplishment and self-confidence it provided him, Mr. Gouard recently shared- “I’m absolutely fueled to put effort into everything I do and to try to stand out as much as I can in a positive way as a behavioral technician and beyond. And I have to say that my educational experience with EMAGES carries just as much weight with me as my service in the military. And I don’t say that lightly.”
For now the “beyond’ includes completing his degree from NLU and then hopefully entering into work as a counselor at military bases across the
in drug counseling, Mr. Gouard especially enjoyed working in group therapy with his diverse classes. He also felt his work in this area was gratifying beyond the personal. In his words- “I saw that because
country in order to help his fellow servicemen who unfortunately encounter problems along their own service journeys. We may notice that Mr. Gouard no longer wears his USMC uniform but he very clearly has not forgotten the abiding honor, respect and love that his time serving his country instilled in his spirit and soul. As he maps his future of even more service to his former brothers and sisters in arms, we may also notice that the action of service is itself one of the highest forms of our common humanity. From the USMC to EMAGES, the positive light of Mr. Gouard continues to beam brightly for all to see and to shine into our darkest corners where it’s most needed.
of my own background I might bring a different standpoint to the groups. So many of the individuals involved in the therapy had and held a really negative view toward social work because of their own negative past experiences, and I really felt I could offer a more positive outlook and a more positive light in this area.” In his six months of close work with EMAGES staff and counselors—including Dr. Wash, CADC Geraldine Taylor and Mitzi Scott in case management—Mr. Gouard began to appreciate the positive and profound length and depth of all that his counseling training could bring to his Emage’s groups as both individuals and as families. His internship experience also provided him with a fresh direction as he is
I’m not telling you it is going to be easy, i’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.
7601 S. Kostner Ave, #500 Chicago, IL 60652
O ur Mental HealthTreatment Program Covers: • Anxiety Disorder • Mood Disorder • Dysthymic Disorder • Personality Disorder
• Antisocial Personality Disorder • Avoidant Personality Disorder • Borderline Personality Disorder
CONTACT EMAGES, INC. EMAGES, INC. TODAY 773.224.7386 e-emages.org or Visit: Call:
Progress T he #1 G oal Mitzi Scott: suPervisor ParticiPants: of
M itzi Scott, Supervisor for EMAGES, has been with the company since July first, 2006. Starting as a consultant, she was hired months later as EMAGES’ first clinical full-time employee. She is a certified alcohol and drug counselor, certified DUI assessor and facilitator, and a social worker. Her job includes evaluations, therapy, training, paperwork, placing interns, and marketing. EMAGES offers many programs, including anger management and mental health, group and individual sessions, and sex offender therapy. Mitzi shares, "It's about assessment, appropriate programming, therapeutic groups, case management, paperwork, and moving clients through treatment.” Mitzi has been on
response to stress, so we lower the level of stress in a person’s life. There’s no treatment if you don’t treat the whole person.” “ We take it a step higher. We work from a culturally specific model. We identify the individual’s culture. Culture is not just ethnicity but their frame of thought, their frame of reference, all of what makes them who they are. We want the clients to look at their belief system and identify, ‘Are you living according to your belief system? If not, what can we do to get you to live to some degree by your belief system?’” EMAGES teaches people to resolve issues through a better level of communication,
the other side of the desk: “I am a product of the criminal justice system. I am a product of substance abuse. I am a product of most statistics that exist. I am recovering alcoholic and addict.” She shares that she will soon be celebrating 22 years of sobriety.
understanding, and being able to step into someone else’s shoes versus only being able to see things from a personal perspective. “When people start navigating through those things, their chances of maintaining a better quality of life becomes much brighter.” Mitzi shares, "Through
self-esteem building and self- worth building, we are building the client cognitively, emotionally, and helping them have a paradigm shift.” When asked how long the treatment program might take, she shares that some graduate from the program in six months. “We've had clients be here for up to a year. Progress can be slow and steady, but progress is progress.” Mitzi is on a mission. She gets out there, talks to people in need, and lets them know about EMAGES. “I do what I do in my neighborhood, not just at my job.”
When asked if she has seen clients recover fully, she is quick to answer, “Most of them have a complete turnaround. We have a pretty good output rate.” Mitzi explains that treatment and case management go hand in hand. “One of the founding bricks of substance abuse treatment is case management, connecting clients with resources to get a degree of equality in life. If a client is required to come to treatment but doesn’t have adequate housing, the ability to eat, or some stability, the chances of him adhering to treatment are… none.” She adds, “Alcohol and drugs are not a problem; they’re a symptom of a problem. Addiction is a
I n any truly advanced civilization, education is one of the greatest gifts we can give to our youth. It’s the socially sustainable gift that renews us all and revitalizes all of our futures together. It gives back and keeps giving back long after we’ve paid the bill. And yet even the best
through her professional efforts and focus on social services. “For me it was a tremendously worthwhile experience and a surprising one too. It was a gigantic educational windfall and my time there truly exceeded my wildest expectations. As a student, it was
also the most in-depth and real experience I could’ve ever hoped for outside a classroom.” Working closely with Ms. Scott through much of her EMAGES tenure, Ms. Gutierrez was able to see her work in an entirely different light than that of academia and the classroom. In recent conversation Ms.
educational gift can go stale if it remains unopened. For Jennifer Gutierrez, her practical education through an internship at EMAGES is the gift of service that we can all count on receiving for decades to come. While currently pursuing her AAS degree (Associate of
Gutierrez marked her participation in EMAGES internship program as her highest personal achievement in her chosen field of study and also noted that the professional connections she was able to make during her time there were absolutely invaluable.
Applied Science) in Addiction Studies at Kennedy-King College, in January of 2022 Ms. Gutierrez uncovered her opportunity to provide real world service in her chosen field by diving headfirst into her internship at EMAGES. During her four month term there, Ms. Gutierrez not only gave back to her greater community directly through her work but also served herself and her educational goals
Jennifer Gutierrez
“I see at least one of EMAGES primary missions as providing culturally sensitive and appropriate counseling to their community in general, and to the African-American community most specifically. I was able to make a lot of professional connections in the social services and addiction studies field that I otherwise would never have found the opportunity to make. I’m just really grateful to have had that opportunity with EMAGES.” In addition to capturing her AAS, Ms.
Gutierrez is now also preparing to sit for her CADC (Certified Alcohol Drug Counselor) exam and is even more hopeful, positive and determined about her choice to give back to a field that has already given her much more than she expected. Personal challenges are a part of our human condition and all of our futures, unfortunately, will include our sometimes unfair share. Those who are there to share their compassion and to help us find a way through our darkest challenges are an invaluable social service when we most need that help. And this is perhaps one of education’s greatest gifts of all.
Stepping Forward
with EMAGES Because we need a little help in all our futures
Why
EMAGES, Inc. staff and consultants consist of psychologist, licensed professional counselors, licensed social workers, Licensed Sex Offender providers/evaluators and treatment counselors. Staff and consultants are also certified by IAODAPCA for substance abuse and MISA treatment. Additionally, EMAGES, Inc. consultants have extensive work histories with individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
EMAGES, INC. 773.224.7386 emages4u@gmail.com e-emages.org
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