Experience

Counseling Speaks, PLLC

• United States
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Apr 2015 - Present

  Counseling Speaks, PLLC is a mental health collective. Mental Health, Behavioral Health Private Practice Group. *Our Mission fosters the personal, emotional, and social well-being of its clients and helps them reach their fullest potential by providing comprehensive clinical counseling, consultation, coaching, supervision, crisis intervention, and psychoeducational services and products. **Our ​Vision: holistic counseling clinic that continually strives to enhance the mental health and overall well-being of individuals. Our practice embraces diversity and works within the community to promote a welcoming environment for all. Our bilingual staff is committed to providing a warm, safe, and welcoming environment for all clients that promotes a positive and healthy lifestyle.***Counseling Speaks, PLLC is licensed by the Illinois Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse (DASA) to provide DUI Evaluations and DUI risk reduction education levels I and II. All of our program staff members are state certified or licensed to provide evaluations, substance abuse education, and counseling.***Counseling Speaks, PLLC is approved by the National Board for Certified Counselor’s (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6926. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Counseling Speaks, PLLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Offices in Barrington, Chicago, Park Ridge, Lake Forest and Barrington. We offer in- person and virtual Telemental health services and psychiatry treatment. www.counselingspeaks.com



Yoga Alliance

• United States
• Wellness and Fitness Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Certified Yoga Instructor - 200HR

  • Aug 2014 - Present



Private Practice in Psychotherapy and Counseling

• Mental Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• International Keynote Speaker/ Clinical Counselor & Supervisor

  • Jan 2012 - Present

  Wereszczynska is an international speaker with noted presentations in the US, Poland, Italy, Greece, Canada, Switzerland and Hungary, based on her areas of expertise: “Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma and Burnout-The Cost of Caring” and “Rising above: A multicultural approach to mentoring women towards successful careers in counseling and psychology.”A few other noted presentations: Wereszczynska, K. (2017, March). Trauma of Victimization: Critical Symptoms, Response, and Recovery. Presentation at Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, IL. Wereszczynska, K. (2016, August). Correlations between teen violence & behavioral health. Presentation at Riveredge Hospital Rise-n-Learn, Forest Park, IL. Wereszczynska, K. (2016, July). Strategies and techniques on de-escalating crisis situations. Presentation at the 2016 American Mental Health Counselors Association 40th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.Wereszczynska, K. (2016, July). Opioid use disorder: An epidemic beginning in our medicine cabinets. Presentation at the 2016 American Mental Health Counselors Association 40th Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA.Wereszczynska, K. 2016, May). Reducing deadly school violence: Prevention through understanding behavioral health. Presentation at the Illinois Association for Multicultural Counseling Annual Spring Conference, Chicago, IL. Wereszczynska, K. (2015, November). Serving clients with mental health disabilities. Presentation at the Chicago Bar Association Conference, Chicago, IL. Wereszczynska, K. (2015, November). Finding the courage within: On becoming a leader among professional counselors. Presentation at the 2015 Illinois Counseling Association Annual Conference, Skokie, IL.Wereszczynska, K., & Holmes, M. (2015, November). Workplace bullying and mobbing: Understanding the trauma and injury associated with workplace hostilities. Presentation at the 2015 Illinois Counseling Association Annual Conference.



Oakton Community College

• United States
• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Part-Time Faculty, Lecturer, Psychology Department

  • Aug 2015 - Present



Private Practice

• Crisis Therapist, Behavioral Health Consultant

  • Jan 2012 - Present

  Provides individual and group mental health counseling, crisis intervention and consultations. Provides individual and group mental health counseling, crisis intervention and consultations.



In Her Shoes Foundation

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations

• Founder / Executive Director

  • Jan 2008 - Present

  In Her Shoes Foundation is giving hope to women and girls through positive influences and learning opportunities in their communities. https://comcastnewsmakers.com/2017/12/13/in-her-shoes-foundation/ In Her Shoes Foundation is giving hope to women and girls through positive influences and learning opportunities in their communities. https://comcastnewsmakers.com/2017/12/13/in-her-shoes-foundation/



University of St. Francis

• United States
• Higher Education
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Adjunct Professor of Psychology

  • Jan 2014 - Jan 2019



American Counseling Association

• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President / Illinois Association of Multicultural Counseling

  • 2016 - 2017



Sheilah A. Doyle Foundation

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Volunteer

  • Sep 2012 - May 2016

  The Sheilah A. Doyle Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides support and assistance to children ages 7-17 whose parent, legal guardian, or sibling fell victim to homicide. The Sheilah A. Doyle Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides support and assistance to children ages 7-17 whose parent, legal guardian, or sibling fell victim to homicide.



Chicago Lakeshore Hospital

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Intake Clinician

  • Jan 2011 - May 2016

  Conduct psychiatric and substance abuse level of need assessments for children, adolescents and adults who present to the hospital for treatment; and facilitate requests for services, resource referral, assessment of patient/family clinical needs, and interfaces with managed care organizations.

• Mental Health Counselor

  • Oct 2009 - 2011

  Leadership and clinical skills in working with acute inpatient adults with psychiatric and addictions problems. Responsibilities included daily assessments and documentation, treatment planning, educational groups, milieu management utilizing crisis intervention skills.



Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Crisis Intervention / SASS

  • Jun 2010 - May 2016

  Provides psychiatric hospitalization screenings, crisis intervention services, facilitates hospitalization, monitors psychiatrically hospitalized children and adolescents and provides discharge, linkage, and aftercare recommendations. Locations included client homes, schools, hospitals, homeless shelters and police station visits on call working hours in the Southside neighborhoods between Bronzeville and Roseland with individuals who present with suicidal and/ or homicidal ideations. Provides psychiatric hospitalization screenings, crisis intervention services, facilitates hospitalization, monitors psychiatrically hospitalized children and adolescents and provides discharge, linkage, and aftercare recommendations. Locations included client homes, schools, hospitals, homeless shelters and police station visits on call working hours in the Southside neighborhoods between Bronzeville and Roseland with individuals who present with suicidal and/ or homicidal ideations.



NorthShore University HealthSystem

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Licensed Professional Counselor

  • Feb 2011 - Jul 2013

  Work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote mental health using cognitive behavioral therapy in outpatient and inpatient program setting. Work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote mental health using cognitive behavioral therapy in outpatient and inpatient program setting.



St. Bernard Hospital

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Crisis Worker / Community Mental Health Council

  • Sep 2009 - 2011

  Provided intake/ crisis intervention and emergency services at St. Bernard hospital in Englewood working with individuals who presented with suicidal/ homicidal ideation and collaborated with treatment team to develop individualized treatment plans; Case management referrals Provided intake/ crisis intervention and emergency services at St. Bernard hospital in Englewood working with individuals who presented with suicidal/ homicidal ideation and collaborated with treatment team to develop individualized treatment plans; Case management referrals



Illinois Counseling Association

• United States
• Mental Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President / Chicago Counseling Association

  • 2009 - 2011



TASC, Inc. (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities)

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Therapist / TASC, Mental Health Court

  • Jun 2007 - 2008

  Followed up with clients once released from the Cook County jail, which included: home visitations, treatments centers and hospitals; Provided individual and group counseling/therapy sessions with proper onsite and school supervision; Worked in partnership with the Cook County jail, court system, and mental illness and substance abuse programs to help individuals get services in the community to rebuild their lives; Met with appointed Judges to report client progress. Document patients’ behavior and treatment; initiated supportive interactions around treatment issues; intervened in crisis situations.



AMITA Health

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Substance Abuse Technician

  • Jan 2004 - 2007