Find the therapist that best suits your needs.
Our team
THERAPY
Faith Hayes, MA, MOL, LMHC
Owner/ CEO
Faith has been in the social services field for 15 years. She has much experience working with anxiety, depression, trauma, stress management, anger management, and relationship stressors.
Anyone who knows Faith would describe her as highly empathic, compassionate, caring and committed to making a difference in the lives of others. Faith has experience in both roles of therapy, as therapist and as client. Faith understands the difficulty in seeking help, being vulnerable and facing personal struggles. Faith values and respects the lives of each of her clients and admires the strength and resiliency that she is privileged to see in her work every day. Faith will help you connect to these strengths within you and will work collaboratively to help overcome the struggles that you face. Faith believes that each of us has a greater purpose in this life and counseling is one of many tools to help achieve our highest potential.
When Faith is not busy counseling and acting as CEO of Stepping Stones, she loves spending time with her two children and her 19 and 17-year-old cats.
BILLING
Tara Buck, MBA
Billing Specialist
Tara currently holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology as well as a Master’s degree in Business concentrating on Human Resource Management. She has 10 years of experience dealing with health insurance claims. She also has over 20 years of experience in customer service, marketing, management, various aspects of human resources and event planning. Her hobbies include: creating content on various social media platforms, shopping, spending time with her nieces and nephews, doom scrolling and sending funny reels to her family and friends.
THERAPY
Jackie Minkalis, MS Ed, NCC, LMHC
Clinical Supervisor
Life is challenging, and I get it. I am a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I earned my MS.Ed in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Purdue University.
I have experience working with first responders, children, adolescents, teens, and adults on a range of struggles. I work with individuals who are experiencing trauma, anxiety, grief, depression, and children’s behaviors, particularly in the school setting. As a former elementary school therapist and Indiana department of Children Services worker, I also have experience working with the ‘little’s’ and their not-so-little emotions. My experience allows me to support the entire family system. I am here for you whether you need support with parent/child relationships or assistance with your own personal journey for overall well-being.
Currently, I am proud and privileged to be the Clinical Supervisor at Stepping Stones Counseling Center. I enjoy working with the talented and empathic therapists that are all a very important part of our team. We are so happy you are here with us!
THERAPY
Sarah Strebbing, LSW
Therapist
Sarah is a highly skilled and experienced social worker, having graduated from Winona State University with a Bachelor's degree in Social Work in 2014, followed by achieving her Master's degree in Social Work from IUPUI School of Social Work in 2024. With a decade of practice in the field, Sarah has honed her expertise in addressing the needs of her clients by utilizing a strengths-based approach. She understands that each client is unique and works with them to identify their unique strengths, which she then employs to help them overcome their challenges and achieve their goals. In addition to her strengths-based approach, Sarah is adept at utilizing evidence-based therapies to address the specific needs of her clients. She utilizes various therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Mindfulness, among others. She carefully selects and tailors these modalities to meet the unique needs and preferences of each client, ensuring that they receive the most appropriate and effective treatment. Sarah's areas of expertise include anxiety, depression, divorce/blended families and marriage conflict. She understands that these issues can be particularly challenging and works diligently with her clients to help them navigate through these difficult times. She is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of her clients and building a strong therapeutic relationship with them.
THERAPY
Natalie Lukich, LMHC
Therapist
Natalie holds a BA in Sociology and a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Purdue University. Natalie has experience as a supervisor, an LGBTQIA+ Program Coordinator, Resource Parent Support Group Educator and Coordinator, assessments, and is a licensed therapist. She lectures and advises on panels for the education of DCS workers, therapists, foster parents, other service providers and the community. She holds certification in Expressive Arts and LGBTQIA+ practices. Her animals, nature and art are her favorite forms of self care and she enjoys traveling and learning new things.
THERAPY
Sarah Pancini, LSW
Therapist
Hi, I am Sarah Pancini a Licensed Social Worker. I graduated from Indiana University Northwest with a Master’s in Social Work and my undergraduate degree also in Social Work. I am a lifelong learner always seeking to learn further ways to help people. I work with a variety of issues affecting people, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and addiction. My stance is client-centered and teamwork oriented utilizing the individual’s strengths to manage their issues. I lean towards interventions that included elements of mindfulness, are holistic, mainly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Thank you for taking interest and reading my bio.
THERAPY
Carrie Mason, LCSW
Therapist
I am a married mother of two teenage daughters. I received my BSW in 2000 from Ball State University and my MSW from IU Northwest in 2002. I currently hold an LCSW and have been a practicing therapist for 20 years. I enjoy working with a diverse population of clients.
THERAPY
Maria Reyes, MA
Therapist
Maria Reyes is a graduate of Valparaiso University’s Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Maria has a concentration in trauma and utilizes integrated approaches of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy, and Emotion Focused Therapy. Maria is bilingual and strives to help Spanish-speaking communities and families have access to mental healthcare. Fun fact about Maria- she loves coffee!
THERAPY
Jennifer Tsilimos, LMHCA
Therapist
MSEd - Mental Health Counseling, Purdue University Northwest
BS – Psychology, Purdue University North Central
LMHCA - Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate
NCC - National Certified Counselor
Jennifer graduated from Purdue University’s Clinical Mental Health program with a Masters degree in 2018 and received a certificate in addictions counseling. Jennifer uses a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectal Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness in her practice. She has experience working with all ages but focuses on working with adolescent children (ages 14-18) and is available for telehealth and school services.
Areas of Specialization: Anxiety, Depression, Substance Abuse, Stress management
Age of Specialization: Children ages 14-18; Adults
THERAPY
Jaquise Whitehead, MSW
Therapist
MSW - Social Work, Loyola University Chicago
BS - Criminal Justice, Trine University
Jaquise has worked in East Chicago and Portage Schools as a substitute teacher. She worked as a behavioral specialist in residential and day treatment. Jaquise has over 5 years of experience as a family case manager with child services. She thrives to create a safe space for all clients while using a holistic approach through the person-in-environment theory to empower clients. Jaquise does not shy away from faith-based practices based on the client’s need, as each client's mental health and spiritual beliefs are important in their growth. Jaquise has mainly focused on anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, family and educational needs.
THERAPY
Stephanie Sons, LSW
Therapist
Licensed Social Worker
MSW - Indiana University Northwest
BS - Psychology, Grace College
Stephanie received her Bachelors Degree in Psychology with a minor in Behavioral Health from Grace College. She studied at Indiana University Northwest and completed her Masters Degree in Social Work with a concentration in School Therapy. Stephanie has worked with DCS and Juvenile Probation cases since 2011. She has been working in the school therapy program since 2021. She enjoys working with children and adolescents as well as families.
THERAPY
Jeremy Wirtz, MS
Therapist
MS - Clinical Mental Health, University of Louisiana
BS - Anthropology, Loyola University
Certification in Conflict Resolution and Mediation
Certified Life Coach
Jeremy’s theoretical foundations are reality and choice based, but he also employs elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, constructivism and narrative therapy in his approach. These theories work in combination to help a client convey their own reality or personal narrative so as to more efficiently establish and achieve accurate treatment goals. As a former Marine and National Park Ranger, Jeremy understands the more regimented lifestyles, and sub-cultural challenges of first responders, active duty military, and veterans. He also enjoys employing softer, creative interventions like poetry, song writing, and art to help a client tell their story. Jeremy studied advanced play therapy, and sand tray techniques. He believes that these techniques are not just for the young but for anyone, especially our aging perennials. He is a certified Life Coach and also holds a certification in Conflict Resolution and Medication from the Center for Conflict Resolution. Jeremy has a therapy dog named Belleau who is available for sessions as well.