Team Upaya

Founder/Director 

Amanda Bittner, PHD, LPC (MO), LCPC (IL), CCMHC, ACS DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician

Areas of Expertise: Borderline Personality Disorder, PTSD/trauma, depression, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, non-suicidal self-injury, chronic suicidal ideation, relationship issues, couples counseling, codependency, clinical supervision, clinical training

Therapist

Becky Connor, MA, LPC (MO), LCPC (IL)

Areas of Expertise: depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder, mania, chronic mental health concerns, substance use, relationship issues, non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, gender and sexuality exploration, LGBTQ+ concerns, clinical supervision

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Therapist/Administrative Assistant
Deborah Hargrove, MSW, LCSW

Areas of Expertise: children/adolescents & families, young adults, anxiety, depression, shame, emotion regulation, parenting issues, behavior modification, non-suicidal self injury, suicide ideation, relationship & family issues, client intake and administrative support

Therapist
Rita Skiba-Mathews, MSW, LCSW

Areas of Expertise: trauma/PTSD, family attachment and relationship issues, gender and sexuality exploration, LGBTQIA+ concerns, emotion dysregulation, Borderline Personality Disorder, non-suicidal self-injury, suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety

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Therapist
Anna Varghese, MA, LPC, NCC

Areas of Expertise: anxiety, depression, shame, trauma/PTSD, emotion dysregulation, suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury, self-esteem, grief & loss, relationship & familial issues, spiritual concerns, women's issues

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Therapist
Sara Carpenter, PHD, LPC, RPT

Areas of Expertise: children and adolescents, anxiety, depression, loss, self esteem, social skills, anger management, suicidal ideation, relationship issues, identity issues, divorce, clinical supervision

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Therapist
Claire Pfeifer, MED, LPC, NCC

Areas of Expertise: depression, anxiety, emotion dysregulation, relationship issues, Borderline Personality Disorder, chronic pain, trauma/PTSD, immigrants and refugees, suicidal ideation, non-suicidal self-injury, LGBTQIA+ concerns

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Counseling Intern
Jenna Poppe, BA

Areas of Expertise: anxiety, trauma/PTSD, self-esteem, depression, shame, family and relationship communication and issues, peripartum adjustment and challenges, adult ADHD, emotion dysregulation, grief & loss, spiritual concerns, religious trauma, women's issues, eating disorders and bariatric patient support

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Counseling Intern 
Amy Donovan, BA

Areas of Expertise: family issues, divorce, parenting, learning disabilities, behavioral concerns, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, body image, women's issues, grief & loss

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