Meier Clinics

Tips for Coping with the Holidays

The holidays bring excitement and joy for many people.  Celebrating the birth of our Lord gives us joy and peace and we look forward to new year ahead with hope.  However, the holidays can also bring much stress. This time of year, often brings many demands to our lives, including cooking meals, shopping, baking, cleaning, and entertaining and family issues, to name a few.  And with COVID-19 present in our communities, additional stress, and worrying about our health and the health of our loved ones is a big concern.  It is quite likely that our holiday plans will look very different during the pandemic.  With all these stressors, many people are or will be feeling anxious, sad, or depressed. 

Since the yuletide season is often hectic, it is important to make time for the activities and people that matter the most.  It is important to say “no” to activities and events that steal our joy rather than give joy.  Be selective with the things you engage in.  Don’t over book your season.  With COVID-19, there may be fewer activities to engage in.  This may be a blessing to many people.  Be sure to make time for people you are closest to and set limits with others. Set realistic goals with your time and stick to healthy boundaries.

Acknowledge your feelings.  If you are not feeling particularly cheerful, it is important to admit this to yourself and a trusted other. Reach out to a friend or family member and share your feelings and seek support.  Grab a coffee, green tea or eggnog and share. 

Do not give up healthy habits during this busy time of year.  Be sure to eat healthy, get plenty of sleep and exercise.  The holidays are typically a time where we are overeating and/or eating a lot of sweets.  There is nothing wrong with enjoying good food, just don’t overdo it.  And get your 8 hours of sleep along with making the time to engage in healthy cardio activities.  Go for a mindful walk, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of the great outdoors. 

Family is so important to people during the holiday season.  Whether you are visiting, calling or video chatting, make time for family.  For many people family can bring pain.  Try to set aside differences, but also establish appropriate boundaries with family.  In some situations, it may be better not to spend time with certain family members. Try not to put pressure on yourself or let others pressure you. 

Do not overspend for Christmas.  Establish and stick to a budget. Remember the focal point of Christmas is the birth of Christ.  Celebrate God’s profound gift of His Son to the world.  And Jesus gave His life so that we can live in communion with God through grace.  Ponder this amazing gift as we celebrate the season and realize that our hope rests in this.

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If you're contemplating whether Meier Clinics can provide the mental health support you need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We understand that determining whether our programs and services are the right fit for you or someone close to you can be challenging. You can start the process by filling out a simple form, and one of our empathetic and caring staff members will reach out to you. Let us help you determine if we can provide the assistance you need.

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Adrienne Lakey Crouse

M.A.

Treatment Issues:

Adults, Adolescents, Older Adults, Couples, Families, Psychological Testing, Depression, Anxiety, Personality Disorders, Severe Mental Illness

Education and Training:

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and French, Wheaton College, 2021.

Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, Wheaton College, 2023.

Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology, Wheaton College, Anticipated 2026. 

Background and Experience: Ariel has experience working as a registered behavior technician with adolescents who have Autism. Volunteered peer counseling services at a homeless shelter for adults with various mental health issues. Additionally, she has experience with providing individual and group therapy sessions.

Special Interests and Services:

Adrienne works with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults for both therapy and psychological assessment. She offers holistic, empathetic care from emotion-focused and cognitive-behavioral perspectives. Adrienne is most experienced in working with clients on issues such as depression, anxiety, mood disorders, personality disorders, interpersonal conflict, identity conflict, life transitions, religious and spiritual struggles, and several mental illnesses. 

Additional Information:

Adrienne is currently earning her Ph.D. from Wheaton College, with special research interests in religious deidentification and sexuality. She is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and an active participant in her local parish. 

Ariel Soule

B.A, Intern

Treatment Issues: ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Aspergers, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Substance Use Disorders, Codependency, Trauma, PTSD, Relationship Issues, Family Issues, Intimacy Concerns, Life Transitions, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, Spiritual Concerns.

Education and Training:  (Current Student) Master of Arts in Behavioral Health Counseling, from Northwest University, Kirkland WA, 2022-2025. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, from Northwest University. Kirkland WA, 2022.

Background and Experience: Ariel has experience working as a registered behavior technician with adolescents who have Autism. Volunteered peer counseling services at a homeless shelter for adults with various mental health issues. Additionally, she has experience with providing individual and group therapy sessions.

Special Interests and Services: Ariel has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in clinical and volunteer settings. Ariel developed a passion for treating Autism when working with adolescents using Applied Behavioral Analysis. She is passionate about helping other people with ADHD learn skills to help them tackle their struggles. Utilizing a research based approach that is tailored to the individual needs of each client, Ariel is passionate about incorporating tools from various therapeutic modalities including but not limited to person centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, creative expressive arts, dialectical behavioral therapy, narrative therapy, and emotionally focused therapy.

Additional Information: Ariel enjoys traveling and deeply appreciates any form of artistic expression. Additionally, she enjoys spending time in nature, watching movies and reading books.

Keith Cobern

Ph. D., LMFT, LPC

                                                                      Treatment Issues: Family Intervention, Marriage and Family Counseling

                                                                      Education & Training: Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion, Philosophy and Sociology from Dallas Baptist University.  Master of Arts degree in Marriage and Family Counseling and Doctorate degree in Psychology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Licensed in Texas as a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

                                                                      Background and Experience: Dr. Cobern has worked for Meier Clinics since 1991.

                                                                      Special Interests & Services: Includes working primarily with marital and family issues, communication problems, relationship problems, marital affairs, divorce, blended families, alcoholic and dysfunctional family systems, family intervention and family coaching, depression and other mood disorders, anxiety disorders, attention deficit disorder, and individual coaching.

                                                                      Additional Info: Dr. Cobern provides supervision for LMFT and LPC interns and is an adjunct Assistant Professor of Counseling at Dallas Baptist University in the Master of Arts in Counseling Program. Insurance accepted: Aetna PPO/HMO, BCBS, Humana, Fed Med, BCBS HMO (Magellan).

                                                                      Ages: 18+

                                                                      Insurance Accepted: Aetna PPO/HMO, BCBS, Humana, Magellan (BCBS HMO)

                                                                      Claudia Haas

                                                                      PsyD

                                                                                                                                        Treatment Issues: Anxiety, Asperger’s Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, Communication Problems, Conflict-Resolution, Cultural Issues, Depression, Divorce, Eating Disorders, Family Issues, Grief, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Parenting, Personality Disorders, Marital Concerns, Self-Worth Issues, Trauma

                                                                                                                                        Education & Training: Dr. Haas worked for six years in the outpatient department of a Community Mental Health Hospital in South Bend, Indiana. Her responsibilities included leading adolescent substance abuse groups, conducting extensive assessments for adolescents placed into state custody, working within the juvenile justice system, and providing services for outpatient and day hospital patients.

                                                                                                                                        Background and Experience: Dr. Haas joined Meier Clinics in 2004 and has worked in a variety of settings with clients since 1998. Dr. Haas attained her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL.  Her clinical internship was completed with Carolina Medical Group in Charlotte, North Carolina, which included rotations in primary care physicians’ offices, school-based services, mental health emergency rooms, as well as child and adult inpatient and outpatient services. Dr. Haas is licensed in the state of Illinois as a Clinical Psychologist.

                                                                                                                                        Special Interests & Services: Dr. Haas currently counsels children, adolescents, and adults within individual, family, and marital counseling. She also provides psychological and A.D.H.D. testing. Approaches to eclectic therapy that Dr. Haas commonly utilizes include cognitive-behavioral, family oriented, and client-centered methods.

                                                                                                                                        Additional Info: Dr. Haas attended the Illinois Marriage and Family Therapy conference on Forgiveness in 2010 and recently treated a family using the Maudsley approach for anorexia nervosa, a family-based treatment for adolescents with eating disorders. She also had an article published in Better Homes and Gardens on “Emotional Eating and Children.”

                                                                                                                                        Jane Jung

                                                                                                                                        PsyD

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Dr. Jane Jung is a licensed psychologist at Meier Clinics.  She has worked with individuals, couples, and families for 16 years on issues such as anxiety, depression, complex PTSD, low self-esteem, relationship struggles, parenting, major life transitions, and spiritual faith issues.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Treatment Issues: Anxiety, Boundaries, Codependency, Cultural Identity, Depression, Family Issues, Grief/Loss, Loneliness, Marital Concerns, Parenting, Perfectionism, Rejection, Relationships, Self-Esteem, Self-Injury, Spiritual Concerns, and Stress Management

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Education & Training: Dr. Jung received her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University in 1999 and her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College in 2005.  Her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology was attained from Wheaton College in 2010. She became a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of IL in 2013.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Background and Experience: In addition to outpatient counseling, Dr. Jung is also the Director of Breakaway, an intensive after-school program for adolescents at Meier Clinics. She also serves as the clinical coordinator of the ProActive Kids Foundation and trains staff in working with children and their families in preventing obesity. Dr. Jung was trained in PREPARE/ENRICH by Life Innovations, Inc. in 2009 and Family Wellness in 2007.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Special Interests & Services: Dr. Jung enjoys working with children, adolescents, couples, and women within individual, family, and marital counseling.  Her therapy style is relational, client-centered, insight-oriented, and eclectic.  Dr. Jung views therapy as a relational process that aims to provide hope and healing. She enjoys integrating faith into counseling with those who specifically desire this.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Additional Info: Dr. Jung is Korean-American and is married with two children. She enjoys strolling through beautiful gardens, drinking tea over coffee, and finding a good deal.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          Kristen McKnight

                                                                                                                                                                                                          PsyD

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Treatment Issues: Bipolar Disorder, Boundaries, Communication, Overeating Issues, Feelings of Emptiness, Managing Stress, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Parenting, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Relationship Concerns, Same-Sex Attraction, Self Esteem, Sexual Abuse, and Spiritual Issues

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Education & Training: Kris received her Doctorate from Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in 1992. She is currently a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Background and Experience: Kris has been working with Meier Clinics since 1991. She works with men and women for individual counseling, from approximately age 18 through adulthood, including senior citizens. Kris describes her therapy style as relational, interpersonal, insight oriented, and cognitive-behavioral. She particularly enjoys working with clients who desire to integrate Christian truths and principles into their therapy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Special Interests & Services: For clients who desire to integrate Christian truths and principles into the counseling sessions, I especially value being able to openly talk about God in the sessions and to help clients understand how unhealthy views of God can impact how we view ourselves, others, and the world. I believe that God is the ultimate source of healing and that our worth and value come from being in a relationship with God. For clients who are not seeking Christian counseling, I desire to be (imperfectly) the unspoken presence of Christ through listening, caring, and displaying high respect for each person who enters my office.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Additional Info: In her free time, she enjoys daily walks, reading, gardening, and most importantly- being with her family and grandchildren. Kris has been married to Scot since 1973.  They have two adult, married children, and two grandchildren.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Luke Tseng

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Psy.D.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Treatment Issues: Dr. Tseng has completed both his Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College Graduate School.  Prior to entering his doctorate program, Dr. Tseng served as a cross-cultural worker in China for 2.5 years, teaching English to local students while also conducting member care for other cross-cultural workers.  More recently, he worked with individuals struggling from severe mood disorders in primary care mental health settings, including Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital and Linden Oaks Hospital.  At Meier, Dr. Tseng provides therapeutic and testing services to adults and adolescents in outpatient therapy, and the Catalyst program.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Education & Training: Dr. Tseng specializes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a therapeutic orientation that combines the evidence-based background of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with the humility and person-centered approaches found in Humanistic psychology.  Dr. Tseng is a firm believer that the key to meaningful change is to understand the self within our socio-cultural context.  This builds the foundation necessary to create space for intentional, yet flexible, change to occur.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Special Interests & Services: Some special areas of interest: missionary/member care, cross-cultural transition or relationship issues, race/ethnicity-related issues, depression-related disorders, anxiety-related disorders, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, suicidal ideation, and addiction.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Carol E Davis-Serpas

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            LCPC

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Treatment Issues: Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Personality Disorders, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder, and Self Injury

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Education & Training: Carol received her Masters degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University in 1991 and completed her clinical internship at the Illinois Psychiatric Institute. She has over eleven years of experience in psychiatric hospitals as a Christian counselor and has worked as an outpatient Christian counselor for nine years.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Background and Experience: Carol joined Meier Clinics in June of 2004 and continues to provide individual and family therapy for adults and older adolescents. In addition to providing weekly outpatient therapy, Carol also works with clients in Meier Clinics’ Adult Day Program.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Special Interests & Services: Carol describes her therapy style as warm but direct. She uses a variety of psychotherapy approaches including psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral, insight oriented, dialectical behavior therapy, and client-centered methods to meet the needs of each individual client.  Carol has received specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for the treatment of trauma and grief.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Additional Info: Other issues that Carol frequently works with: Communication, Relationship Issues, Singleness, Conflict-Resolution, Grief /Loss Recovery, Marital Concerns, Feelings of Emptiness, Family Issues, Parenting, Trauma, Divorce, and Hopelessness.  Carol attends a local, non-denominational church and has one adult son. She accepts clients who qualify for a reduced fee based on financial guidelines.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Gary A Casaccio

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          MD

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Treatment Issues: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, Nutrition, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Postpartum Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Education & Training: Dr. Casaccio received his Medical Degree (M.D.) from Chicago Medical School with a psychiatry residency at Loyola University, and he is currently licensed in Illinois as a psychiatrist.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Background and Experience: Dr. Casaccio has worked at Meier Clinics since 1994. He is very interested in health, fitness, and nutrition.  His areas of specialty include depression, seasonal affective disorder, nutrition, and social anxiety disorder.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Gary A Casaccio

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      MD

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Treatment Issues: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, Nutrition, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Postpartum Depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Education & Training: Dr. Casaccio received his Medical Degree (M.D.) from Chicago Medical School with a psychiatry residency at Loyola University, and he is currently licensed in Illinois as a psychiatrist.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Background and Experience: Dr. Casaccio has worked at Meier Clinics since 1994. He is very interested in health, fitness, and nutrition.  His areas of specialty include depression, seasonal affective disorder, nutrition, and social anxiety disorder.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  John Hoekenga

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  MA