Dr. Jayne Braden
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Jayne A. Braden, has been working in the court system since 1993. She earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1999 and was licensed as a psychologist in 2000. Regular training with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology helps keep her skills up to date. Evaluations she completes for the court include Child Custody and Psychological, Specific Forensic Psychological, Fitness to Stand Trial, and Criminal Responsibility. FOID reinstatement evaluations as well as those for DCFS are also completed by her. She completes evaluations in several county courts including Boone, DeKalb, Kane, Kendall, Lee, Ogle, Whiteside, and Winnebago. Pre-employment, fitness for duty, and promotional examinations are also completed for local police and fire departments. Fitness for duty evaluations are also completed for local companies. The Braden Counseling Center opened in 2002 and has been providing services to individuals with different challenges with evidence based treatments since that time.
Brenda Butz
Chief Operating Officer & SMART Facilitator
Brenda graduated from Kishwaukee College with a degree in Office Systems in 2013, and has since worked at BCC. Brenda continues to push herself to learn and grow as the demands of her job do.
As a SMART Facilitator, Brenda is dedicated to helping people gain independence from harmful addictive behaviors through our safe, friendly, mutual support meetings, our science-based and secular SMART Recovery 4-Point Program® and our principles and tools, all of which are proven to help people overcome their addictive behavior.
Brenda is your contact for any of your SMART Recovery, financial issues or general questions. As she greets everyone with a smile you can rest assured you will be her most important client. Brenda is a valuable part of Braden Counseling Center.
Mallory Ludwig
CRADC, SAP, PAIP
Mallory Ludwig is a Certified Reciprocal Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CRADC), a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP), and a Partner Abuse Intervention Program Facilitator (PAIP). She has been employed with Braden Counseling Center since August 2007.
She specializes in: DUI Evaluations, Alcohol and Drug Evaluations, Secretary of State Hearing documents, Substance Abuse Treatment, Partner Abuse Intervention (Domestic Violence Offenders)
Nikki Myers
LPC & SMART Facilitator
Nikki is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in substance use and mental health counseling. She finished her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northern Illinois University in December 2018. Nikki is also a SMART Recovery Facilitator, a support group that treats all addictions. Nikki’s clinical experience includes substance abuse and addiction, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, and life stressors. She is also certified in REBT and EMDR. Nikki believes in person-centered therapy to ensure a strong therapeutic relationship is met, and so that each client’s treatment is individualized for them. Such that, there are many therapeutic techniques that Nikki can use with a client, as she feels there is not only one technique that will fit each and every client. Nikki’s goal is to meet each client where they are at and help them reach the goals they are seeking through therapy.
Richard McCoy
LCPC, PAIP
Richard is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and an approved SOMB (Sex Offender Management Board) provider for the state of IL. He graduated from Argosy University in Denver with a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
His clinical experience includes psychological assessment, evaluations of court-mandated at-risk populations as well as treatment for individuals suffering from anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, and everyday life stressors. Richard’s experience in providing an eclectic, client-specific method to treatment allows the client to work through life’s most difficult moments in a manner familiar and authentic to them. Richard is also experienced and can assist those looking for EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy).
Paul Grasemann
BA, CADC, PAIP
Paul is a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC), Partner Abuse Facilitator and SMART Recovery Facilitator. He has worked with Braden Counseling Center since May of 2018 but has been working in the field of addictions since 2010. Paul has a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Sciences from National Louis University in Chicago as well as Human Services Substance Abuse Counseling classes from Elgin Community College. He currently works in the adult world of DUI. He also works with clients referred through Probation, Kane County Second Chance program, and self-referrals. He also works in the PAI Program for both men and women.
Paul likes connecting with a diverse population and working with people to help them reach their goals which, previously may have been impossible. He finds it rewarding to see people grow and transition as they apply what they have learned. Paul tries to make a connection with a client where they feel safe. He wants to make sure that they have a positive experience at our treatment facility. Paul also has training in Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), goal development, being culturally sensitive, and making sure that everything is client-centered.
Beyond the suffering you’ve known, I hope you find your way. May you never be broken again. Alter Bridge~
Nicole Bowker
LPC
Nicole is a Licensed Professional Counselor with an interest in trauma-informed counseling. Nicole received her Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Northern Illinois University. She has experience working with adolescents and adults in addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and other life stressors. Nicole aligns herself with CBT and Gestalt theories, however, she believes in adjusting her approach to each client in order to treat each individual as their unique self. Nicole is also experienced and can assist those looking for EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy).
Cyndy McDonald
Office Assistant, PAIP Facilitator
Cyndy has worked in this field for 20 plus years. She helps to run the front desk in our Sycamore, Elgin, and Bartlett locations. She also helps to facilitate our Partner Abuse Intervention Program which is where her heart and soul are. She loves people and seeing them grow through the process of their journey.
Sylvia Crownhart
Office Assistant
I came to DeKalb in 1991 to attend NIU. I met my husband there and we have been married since 1997. We made our home here and have two wonderful teenagers. I rejoined the workforce in July of 2017 after an extended absence caring for my children. I am excited to land here at the Braden Center as an administrative assistant. I have drawn great inspiration from the wise words of Maya Angelou, so I share them with you, our clients, as you too begin journeys towards healing and brighter tomorrows.
“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.”
~ Maya Angelou
Dwayne Thomas
CADC
Dwayne Thomas is a Certified Alcohol and other Drug abuse Counselor (CADC), whose previous clinical experiences have all been within long-term inpatient treatment, or correctional settings. In helping to meet the treatment needs and goals of various mandated target-populations (DCFS, Drug-Court, IDOC, etc.), Dwayne brings years of case-management experience to the Braden team. Dwayne has successfully worked with many clients who were initially resistant to implementing change in their lives during treatment, by utilizing both Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT) treatment modalities, to help clients resolve their ambivalence to change, and engage in the treatment process.