FOUNDERS

Clinical Social Workers. Yoga + Fitness Instructors. Sisters. Innovators.

Melissa and Caroline, both Licensed Clinical Social Workers, are passionate about empowering individuals to fulfill their highest potential. They offer traditional individual talk therapy and mind/body therapies. On their own personal and professional journeys, each became drawn to yoga and fitness. Not only did they begin to see the benefits of incorporating yoga/fitness therapy approaches with their clients, but they experienced the power of mind-body wellness themselves! Together, this LCSW sister duo created the practice in 2012 as a place for girls and women to feel strong from the inside-out! After four years, it became clear to Melissa and Caroline that the Northbrook and surrounding communities needed more.  With this in mind, they expanded to become True Mind + Body in order to serve all family members through a comprehensive approach to mental and physical health!

Founders from left to right: Caroline Novack, LCSW, RYT, PRYT-P and Melissa novack, lcsw, RYT

Founders from left to right: Caroline Novack, LCSW, RYT, PRYT-P and Melissa novack, lcsw, RYT

Melissa Novack, LCSW, RYT

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Melissa  is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master's degree in Social Work and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a Bachelor of Arts.  

Melissa specializes in working with women and teenage girls. Her areas of expertise with women include motivating productive change, helping women through significant life transitions, parenting consultation, infertility, pregnancy anxiety, pregnancy loss, and postpartum depression. Her areas of expertise with teenage girls include anxiety/depression, self-injury, body image and weight management issues, divorce, self-esteem, academic and social pressures, transition to high school and college, and friendship/interpersonal relationships. 

In addition to being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Melissa is also a Registered Yoga Teacher and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). She believes that the mind and body have a strong physical and emotional connection, and as a result, works to combine personal fitness and strength training with psychotherapy. Melissa participated in Shri Yoga’s 200 hour teacher training program in 2016, and has been teaching yoga at True Yoga + Fitness ever since. 

Caroline Novack, LCSW, RYT, PRYT-P

Caroline  is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan. 

Caroline specializes in working with teenage girls, young adults, and women. Her background with teens spans across a variety of settings, including schools, intensive outpatient treatment programs, and outpatient centers, where she has worked extensively with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, self-injury, transitions to high school and college, and issues with friendships and other interpersonal relationships. Caroline’s background with women includes challenges associated with infertility, pregnancy anxiety, and postpartum depression/anxiety. Caroline has undergone extensive training in maternal mental health through the Postpartum Support International.

Caroline is also a Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy Practitioner (PRYT-P), Therapeutic Yoga Instructor, and Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). She has participated in internationally recognized yoga, yoga therapy, and kids and family yoga programs, including Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy, CorePower Yoga, the Amala School of Prenatal Yoga, and Rainbow Kids Yoga. It is Caroline's passion to share yoga with clients in order to provide girls and women a holisitc approach to life wellness. She provides short-term, solution- focused individual yoga therapy sessions as well as individual and group therapeutic yoga classes.


Clinical Associates


Amy Vree, LCSW

Senior Clinician

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Amy graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master's degree in Social Work and earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan. She has extensive clinical experience working with both adult and adolescent populations.

Prior to joining True Mind + Body, Amy worked with underserved, high-risk teenagers, young adults and their families in alternative high school and teen health center settings. She has experience working with clients around anxiety/depression, self-esteem and relationship issues, self-injury, life transitions, trauma and postpartum depression.

Amy believes that the therapeutic relationship is extremely important and works to build a safe, supportive foundation with her clients.  She uses a strength-based approach to help clients break unhealthy patterns, develop more functional coping strategies, create change and to generally feel more comfortable and balanced in their lives.


Becky Novack, M.A.

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Becky provides Executive Functioning Coaching as well as Special Education Advocacy for children and adolescents. Becky's goal is to give her clients the tools they need to thrive in school and beyond. She has extensive experience teaching students strategies in getting organized, self-regulation, long term planning, maintaining focus, and in developing the social skills they need to be strong self advocates.  Becky has always had a passion for helping unique learners develop into independent, confident young adults.  Her approach incorporates research based strategies with student centered goal setting to achieve measurable success for all children and adolescents.  

Becky worked as a full-time Special Education teacher for 8 years.  In addition to her University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Bachelor's degree in Special Education, Becky earned her Masters degree as a Reading Specialist from Concordia University and obtained her graduate education certificate in English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education from the American College of Education.


Benjamin Taour, LPC

Benjamin graduated from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science with a Master of Science in clinical counseling and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Illinois State University.

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Benjamin specializes in working with children and adolescents coping with anxiety, depression, substance use/abuse, trauma and interpersonal/familial relationship issues. He has worked with children, adolescents, and adults in a wide range of settings, including schools, community health centers, and hospital settings. Benjamin’s clinical approach is grounded in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) while also utilizing a family systems lens. He believes in meeting the client “where they are” and working collaboratively to meet their unique goals. Above all else, he believes the relationship between the therapist and client drives the therapeutic process forward.

In addition to traditional talk therapy, Benjamin specializes in Activity-Based Therapy for children and teenagers who would benefit from therapy in a more active, sporty environment rather than a formal office setting. Activity-Based Therapy takes place in a “sport’s court-like” environment and combines movement-based activities such as playing catch, hoops, soccer, and darts with other psychotherapeutic techniques.

Betsy Rubenstein, LCSW, MS

Senior Clinician

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Betsy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Master’s degree in Social Work and Erikson Institute with a Master of Science in Child Development.  She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Miami University.

Betsy has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and their families in health care, school, and community agency settings.  In her individual and group therapy work, Betsy specializes in self-esteem, peer and family relationships, body image, anxiety/depression, life changes, and the development of healthy coping skills. Betsy’s previous role was the director of children and adolescent programing at a cancer support center. She ran a comprehensive educational and supportive program for children and families affected by illness. Additionally, Betsy was the former Program Director of Girls in the Know, a non-profit organization designed to educate and empower mothers and their pre-teen daughters.

Through her therapeutic approach, Betsy aims to help her clients gain self-awareness and develop the skills to confidently manage future challenges.


Grace Francour, MS, LPC

Grace graduated from Georgia State University’s College of Education and Human Development with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Family Relationships from Miami University in Ohio. 

Grace specializes in working with toddlers, children, adolescents, and young adults coping with anxiety, depression, emotional regulation difficulties, behavioral concerns, low self-esteem, trauma, relationship concerns, and life transitions.  Grace has worked in community based mental health centers, autism centers, and small private practices prior to joining True Mind + Body.  Her therapeutic work is grounded in the belief that all people are both striving towards and capable of growth and self-actualization.  She views a collaborative therapeutic relationship as being the foundation for client growth. When working with toddlers and young children, Grace involves caregivers in the process to promote meaningful change. Grace utilizes both directive and non-directive play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, child-parent relational therapy, activity-based therapy and expressive interventions to support each client’s unique needs in therapy.  She especially enjoys working closely with parents and caregivers in meeting their own needs, while working to best support their child(ren), and using creativity in her sessions.


Jackie Bernfeld, LCPC

Clinical Supervisor

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Jackie is a clinically licensed counselor and art therapist with extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and young adults. She received her Master of Arts in Art Therapy and Counseling Psychology from Adler University and her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Psychology from Middlebury College.

Prior to joining True Mind + Body, Jackie worked as an Art Therapist in school, hospital, and community agency settings, treating a diverse range of clients. She works with those experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, grief and loss, life transitions, family structure, spectrum disorders, and interpersonal relationships.

Jackie is an integrative therapist and draws from traditional verbal therapy and art therapy, when appropriate, to align with individual needs and preferences. She strives to promote self-reflection and an increased awareness of psychological barriers through CBT and art therapy based interventions while helping clients manage and cope with inter- and intra-personal stressors.


Laura Campbell, LCSW, PEL, M.A., M.Ed

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Laura is a seasoned Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who has been practicing in various settings for over 20 years, including schools (k-12), police departments, and other inpatient/outpatient settings. She has also been a professor in the behavior sciences and graduate level courses in social work for over 10 years (including at TMB’s Co-Founders’ alma mater, University of Chicago).

Laura has vast experience working with children, adolescents, couples, families, and groups. Her speciality areas include body dysmorphia, eating disorders, social challenges, ADHD, anxiety and other areas that impair the well-being of a developing person. Laura is passionate about creating an empowering clinical relationship that supports clients in building a strong sense of self and increased awareness of their emotional regulation and innate ability to work through issues. Laura utilizes holistic methods such as cognitive behavior therapy, play therapy, family systems approach, narrative therapy and social thinking models to support her clients. 

Laura earned her masters degrees in Social Work and Administration / Education from Loyola University, Chicago, and her bachelors degree in economics at the University of Guelph in Toronto, Canada. Originally from Canada, Laura enjoys living in the Chicagoland area with her three kids She welcomes all clients to her practice.


Lisa Ungerleider, LCSW

Lisa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been practicing for over twenty years in school, community agency, and private practice settings. Lisa has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults and families. Lisa specializes in working with pre-teens, adolescents and adults struggling with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, peer and family relationships, parenting, and life transitions.

Lisa believes it is important to provide a safe, comfortable and supportive environment for clients while using an individualized therapeutic process. Lisa helps clients identify their strengths and learn new skills to empower them to manage current and future challenges. At True Mind + Body, Lisa provides teletherapy (virtual sessions only) for pre-teens, adolescents and adults. 

Lisa graduated from Rutgers University with a Master’s degree in Social Work and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Family Studies from Miami University. 

Lisa has spent most of her life in the Chicagoland area but recently moved out West. She is committed to staying connected and supporting clients from her hometown.


Mike Gortowski, MA, MS

Mike graduated from Adler University with a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Science in Sport and Human Performance.

Mike specializes in working with children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional regulation issues, trauma, and transitional and relationship issues. Throughout his career, Mike has experience working with a wide demographic of clients and families that come from a vast array of different backgrounds and experiences. Mike’s clinical approach is grounded in an eclectic philosophy, to better serve the uniqueness and individuality of the clients and families that he serves. His clinical experiences include communicating with clients through Activity-Based Therapy, directive and non-directive play therapy, narrative therapy, art therapy, music therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and reality therapy.

In addition to counseling, Mike is also an experienced Mental Performance Consultant. Through his work, Mike has helped his clients pursue excellence in sport, exercise, and career through mental skills conditioning. Mike has experience working with clients of all ages and sport backgrounds from college tennis to youth soccer and is driven by the goal of helping his clients discover the best version of their performance and themselves.


Pamela Costis, LCSW

Pamela is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a Master’s degree in Social Work. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and minor in Psychology from Carthage College.

Pamela specializes in helping teenagers and adults of all ages with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, emotion regulation, and interpersonal issues. Since joining True Mind + Body, Pamela has found a niche in working with young adults adjusting to various life changes, such as end of high school, starting college, life after college, career exploration, dating, and generally transitioning into adulthood. Additionally, Pamela has a special interest and background in helping individuals and families around grief and end-of-life issues and navigation of the healthcare system. Prior to joining True Mind + Body, Pamela received extensive clinical experience in hospitals and hospice and rehabilitation centers. 

Her clinical approach is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and narrative therapy, while also utilizing a systems lens. Pamela believes in meeting her clients where they are at, and using a strengths-based perspective when working with clients to meet their goals. Through her therapeutic approach, Pamela aims to help her clients gain self-awareness, develop healthy coping mechanisms, positively connect with others, and use their learned skills to feel more comfortable and confident in their daily lives.


Patrick Geraghty, LMSW

Pat graduated from Aurora University with a Master of Social Work degree, and he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from DePaul University.

Pat specializes in working with children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, difficulty with emotion regulation, and interpersonal/familial challenges. He has worked with this population in a variety of settings which includes schools, hospitals, and the child welfare system. Pat’s approach to therapy is humanistic in nature. He values the therapeutic relationship and meeting the client where they are. Pat strives to provide the environment to promote empowerment and personal growth.

In addition to traditional talk therapy, Pat specializes in Activity-Based Therapy for children and teenagers who would benefit from therapy in a more active, sporty environment rather than a formal office setting. Activity-Based Therapy takes place in a “sport’s court-like” environment and combines movement-based activities such as playing catch, hoops, soccer, and darts with other psychotherapeutic techniques.


Shannon Shahinian MSW, LSW, NMT Level I (LCSW pending)

Shannon is a licensed social worker (MSW, LSW) specializing in working with children, tweens, and families.  Graduating from Loyola University Chicago with a Masters in Social Work and Bachelor of Arts in Dance, Shannon has considerable knowledge in child development, childhood trauma, arts-based therapy interventions, and play-based therapy techniques.  Catering treatment approaches to individual clients and treating the “whole person” is of great importance to Shannon.

Previously, Shannon worked as a pediatric social worker at an intensive interdisciplinary therapy clinic, providing individual and group therapy for children and caregivers.  She has experience collaborating with family members, other therapy experts, and school systems to ensure quality care for all of her clients.  Shannon is passionate about working with children experiencing the effects of trauma, anxiety, developmental differences, self-regulation challenges, stressful family dynamics, and strained relationships.

Shannon gravitates toward therapy approaches that emphasize the therapeutic relationship and follow the client’s lead.  She incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), Intentional Relationship Model (IRM), and Developmental Individual-differences and Relationship-based Model (DIR) to best support clients’ needs.  With an open mind and love for creativity, Shannon’s goal is to support the family unit and spark positive changes in children’s lives.  


Sonya Taylor, MS, E-RYT 500, YACEP

Sonya has a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Additionally, she has an advanced certification in yoga psychology and has been teaching and sharing therapeutic yoga for over a decade. At True Mind + Body, Sonya provides traditional talk therapy as well as yoga therapy, specializing in supporting teenage girls and women dealing with interpersonal and intrapersonal challenges, anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, grief, career and life transitions, and adjustment and family issues. Prior to joining TMB, Sonya worked in community mental health, recruiting, training, international coaching, mindfulness education, yoga, and meditation in both the corporate and private sector serving adults and adolescents.

Sonya is an integrative therapist who is passionate about using the holistic practices of meditation, mindfulness, breathwork, yoga, talk therapy and somatic movement to connect the body, mind, and emotions, recover from trauma and mental health challenges, and realize inherent internal worth. She is adept in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), therapeutic yoga, and somatic awareness. Sonya believes that change is a complex journey navigated at one’s own pace, and is passionate about creating a safe environment for insightful growth.


Stephanie Olafson, LCSW

Clinical Supervisor

Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). She graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago with her Master's degree in Social Work and her Bachelors degree in Psychology.

Stephanie specializes in working with pre-teens, adolescents, and young adults struggling with anxiety, depression, spectrum disorders, ADHD, body image issues and life transitions. Her background includes working in schools, private practice and community agency settings treating a diverse range of clients.

Stephanie utilizes a holistic approach, meeting each client where they are at and developing a plan that works best for them while integrating different modalities of therapy in order to best reach them. She primarily utilizes a strengths based approach with cognitive behavioral therapy in order to help the client build realistic and healthy coping strategies and build and maintain healthy relationships with effective communication. She is excited to begin to integrate active therapies into her practice.


Zach Lebowitz, LCPC

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Zach is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). He graduated from DePaul University with a Master’s degree in Counseling. He earned his Bachelor of Arts, also from DePaul, in Sociology with a minor in Psychology. Prior to joining True Mind + Body, Zach worked with traditionally underserved and often high-risk male youth for several years in Chicago Public Schools. He has experience working with clients around concerns of anxiety and depression, trauma, peer and family relationships, life transitions, stress and anger management.

Zach’s clinical approach is grounded in the foundation of the Cognitive Behavioral model but begins with the client-centered approach: providing an unconditional positive regard and working to build rapport and understanding between client and clinician. Zach utilizes a strengths based approach, seeking to identify positive and healthy skills that are already being utilized. He believes that education is an integral part of the therapeutic process, teaching and developing functional and healthy coping skills while working toward agreed upon goals and positive change.

Zach believes in a holistic approach to heath and specializes in “Active Talk Therapy” for children and teenagers who would benefit from therapy in a more active, sporty environment rather than a formal office setting. Active Talk Therapy takes place in a “sport’s court-like” environment and combines movement-based activities such as playing catch, hoops, soccer, and darts with other psychotherapeutic techniques.


Zoe Rhodes Nitsun, Candidate LMSW, Registered Yoga Teacher, Institute of Integrative Nutrition Coach

Zoe is currently completing her master’s in social work, LMSW, at Boston University and received her Bachelor of Arts from Williams College as a Psychology major and Asian studies Minor.

Prior to joining True Mind + Body, Zoe worked as an assistant clinical social worker in a public school district on the North Shore to support middle schoolers with a variety of social and emotional learning differences including Autism, ADHD, ODD and PTSD. Before pursuing her love for therapy, Zoe spent over two decades teaching yoga, meditation and mindfulness to children and adults of all ages. Zoe is a Registered Yoga Teacher and has traveled the world learning from different Yoga masters. Additionally, Zoe serves as a Yoga mentor and yoga teacher trainer. With her love for health, as well as her degree from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, Zoe has helped hundreds of people in the healing power of good food and nutrition. Additionally, as a former collegiate runner, she very much believes in the healing power of physical activity.

Zoe believes in a holistic therapeutic approach that tailors the therapy to the individual andenjoys working with children, adults, and parents. Using mindfulness, activity, and/or strength- based cognitive therapies, Zoe meets her clients where they are and helps empower them to discover the best versions of themselves.


Administrative Team


Lena Weszelits, Office Manager

Lena@truemindbody.com