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All of the senior staff at AATC are specialists in the cognitive behavioral treatment of the anxiety disorders and OC spectrum disorders. Each senior staff person has trained at the leading graduate, post-doctoral and internship programs in the United States and Canada and continues to undergo continuous post-graduate education and clinical training in order to stay on the cutting edge of science and treatment for the anxiety disorders. All of our senior staff have been mentored by the leading experts in the research and treatment of anxiety disorders. We are proud to be carrying on their tradition of excellence. Our goal is to provide you with the most advanced and compassionate assessment and treatment available. Many of our senior staff and graduate students maintain an active teaching, writing and research career which further sharpens our ability to stay on top of the latest advancements in our specialty.
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Dr. Karen Cassiday received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1990 from the University of Health Sciences/The Chicago Medical School (now known as the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Sciences). She is the owner and Clinical Director of the Anxiety and Agoraphobia Treatment Center. Her research and publications have focused upon information processing in posttraumatic stress disorder and cognitive behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders in children, teens and adults. She has also developed and written treatment manuals for cognitive behavioral treatment of seizure disorders while an undergraduate and for eating disorders while a graduate student. Dr. Cassiday has served as the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of OCD Chicago since 1994. She is on the Clinical Advisory Board of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America since 1996. She is a popular speaker at local, regional and national professional meetings. Dr. Cassiday leads training workshops on the assessment and treatment anxiety disorders for mental health and medical professionals at national and international meetings. She is clinical assistant professor at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Sciences and an instructor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Rush Medical School. She is a founding fellow in the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. |
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Karen Lynn Cassiday, Ph.D., A.C.T. |
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Dr. Crystal Bauer received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has trained with some of the leading experts in the field of anxiety disorders. She especially enjoys working with children, teens and adults who require intensive exposure therapy and with youth and adults with comorbid anxiety and mood disorders. She completed her doctoral internship at Family Service and Guidance Center in Topeka, Kansas and was an integral part in their Anxiety Treatment Program focusing on children, adolescents, and their families. Dr. Bauer works closely with her patients to develop an individualized and evidence-based treatment plan with the goal of helping her patients and their families manage and treat their symptoms of OCD, GAD, Social Anxiety, Specific Phobias, Panic Disorders, Tic and Skin Picking Disorders. She specializes in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for children, adolescents. Dr. Bauer has also worked with severely behavior-disordered youth in intensive outpatient programs, schools, and maximum security residential settings. She was previously an Adjunct Professor at Washburn University in Kansas and taught courses in Adolescent Development and cognitive behavioral psychology. Her research focused upon bipolar disorder in youth. |
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Dr. Brian J. Schmaus has been a staff member at the Anxiety and Agoraphobia Treatment Center since 2004. He earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Schmaus completed his doctoral internship at Vancouver Coastal Health, where he primarily worked in the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the University of British Columbia. He has trained with leading national and international experts in the field of anxiety and related disorders. Dr. Schmaus is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of children, adolescents and adults with anxiety and related disorders. He also enjoys working with patients of all ages on the autistic spectrum. His previous work experiences include working in the Child and Adolescent Inpatient Unit and the Laureate Day School at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. |
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Karin Schroeder-Nothaft, M.S., LCPC earned her Master’s Degree in Psychology - Clinical Counseling from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, IL. Working with children, adolescents, adults and families Karin specializes in empirically supported cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety spectrum disorders such as social anxiety, GAD, OCD and body focused repetitive behaviors. She has a special interest in treatment of Selective Mutism and Body Dismorphic Disorder. She provides socials skills training for individuals of all age. She strongly believes in using creative, engaging and developmentally appropriate methods treating children and adolescents. Karin places great empathizes on a warm and collaborative therapeutic relationship with her patients and their families. |
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Allison Tresness, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, who received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Roosevelt University. She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Her training includes juvenile correctional facilities, a therapeutic day school, medical settings, and private practice. She completed her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at River Valley Detention Center in Joliet, Illinois. Dr. Tresness worked at an Illinois juvenile prison, Illinois Youth Center (IYC) Chicago, where she was at the forefront of implementing an integrated treatment model utilizing Multisystemic Therapy (MST) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). She also supervised master-level and doctoral-level psychology interns from schools throughout the Chicagoland area. Dr. Tresness specializes in the use of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to treat children, adolescents, and adults experiencing anxiety and co-morbid disorders. She enjoys a collaborative and supportive relationship with her patients. She uses a warm, non-judgmental and safe approach to therapy, and her aim is to empower her patients to create healthy changes. When she is not engaging in clinical work, she practices yoga, and enjoys bike riding and being outdoors. |
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Melanie Santos, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist specializing in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, and mood disorders. She has extensive training in body image disorders, including body dysmorphic disorder and binge eating. Dr. Santos received her doctoral degree from the Virginia Consortium Program in Clinical Psychology and received further training in clinical and health psychology at Geisinger Medical Center. She is co-author of the book "Overcoming Body Dysmorphic Disorder." |
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Daniel Goldstein received a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and is currently working toward a second Master's degree and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Mr. Goldstein provides empirically supported treatment interventions for anxiety and depressive disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, impulse-control disorders, and depression to patients across the life span. He has experience across a wide range of environments including forensic, specialized research settings, and federal health care centers. Mr. Goldstein strives to create a strong collaborative therapeutic relationship in order to help his patients improve in their daily functioning and overall quality of life. He also enjoys spending time with friends and family and playing an occasional round of golf in his free time. |
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Chelsey Wilkes earned her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and is currently working toward her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. Ms. Wilkes provides treatment to children, adolescents, and adults utilizing empirically supported treatment interventions for anxiety and depressive disorders including social anxiety, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, impulse control disorders, and depression. Ms. Wilkes specific research and clinical interests include empirically supported treatment for anxiety and depressive disorders across the lifespan. She has a wide range of clinical experience across veteran affairs, community settings, and other outpatient settings. She also has specialized experience working with patients with co-morbidity, developmental delays, and chronic mental illness. Ms. Wilkes works to utilize patient strengths to provide effective treatment for patients of all ages. In her free time, Ms. Wilkes enjoys playing soccer, going for hikes, and being outdoors. |
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