Yellowbrick collaborates with adolescents and emerging adults, ages 16-30's, their families and participating professionals toward the development and implementation of a strategic “Life Plan.” An integrative, multi-specialty consultation clarifies strengths, limitations, and risks, and defines motivations, goals and choices.
Following his education at Yale, The Chicago Medical School, Northwestern University Medical School Psychiatry Residency and The Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, Dr. Viner has over four decades of experience applying the clinical and research knowledge of psychiatry and psychoanalysis to the challenge of creating meaningful and pragmatically effective treatment programs.
Dr. Viner has served as the Medical Director for Inpatient Services at Northwestern Memorial Hospital/Feinberg School of Medicine and Four Winds Chicago Hospital. He is the CEO and Chief Medical Officer at Yellowbrick, a national referral center for the treatment of troubled emerging adults, in addition to his role as Founder of Synchrony. Dr. Viner has over a decade of experience utilizing TMS and other brain-based technologies.
Dr. Viner has served on the faculties of the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute and as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine (1980-2012). He is Secretary of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Ethics Committee at the Chicago Psychoanalytic Institute and Chair of the Ethics Committee for the American Psychoanalytic Association.
Dr. Viner is Board Certified in Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is the recipient of the Illinois Psychiatric Society 2016 Award for Excellence & Innovation in Clinical Services.
Dr. Viner is parent to six sons and daughters ages 26-41.
Dr. Laura Viner is a Clinical Psychologist and tenured Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Medical School. For over 30 years, Dr. Viner has done clinical research, teaching of Psychology and Psychiatry students, and assessment and clinical treatment of individuals, families and groups with adults, adolescents, and children. She has published over 50 scholarly articles in scientific journals and books, including her recent popular psychology book on psychoneuroimmunology, The Joy Formula for Health and Beauty. Dr. Viner also gives scientific presentations to professional audiences around the country.
Dr. Laura Viner is Director of Research at Yellowbrick. Prior to Yellowbrick, Dr. Viner was Senior Staff Psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern University where she also developed and directed a program for inner city children and their families to prevent violence and antisocial behavior. Earlier at Northwestern, Dr. Viner was Director of the Outpatient Eating Disorders Program.
Dr. Viner is a parent to six emerging adult and young adult children.
Stephanie received her Bachelors degree at Purdue University in Behavioral Science in 2012. She decided to continue her education and focus on the clinical side of mental health. She attended Valparaiso University where she received her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2015. She worked as a career counselor at Valparaiso University assisting young adults in the transitioning from home to college and beyond. She began her post education professional training at the Institute for Applied Neuroscience in North Carolina where she was introduced to neurofeedback technology. Stephanie then spent the next few years focusing on neurofeedback and brainwave technologies at the EEG Institute in Woodland Hills, California. Stephanie then created AIM services, a business that focused on the education and use of of neurofeedback in the medical community. As a brainwave practitioner she collaborated with the Healing Arts Center, an alternative medical treatment facility, providing neurofeedback as well as brain stimulation technology to patients. She worked with a wide range of illnesses such as Lyme Disease, Anxiety, Depression, Addictions, Sleep Disorders, Autism, ADHD and PTSD. Stephanie also collaborated with the Homecoming for Veterans program working one on one with Veterans providing cutting edge neurofeedback to assist in military service related PTSD. In addition she provided services for individuals focusing on brain training, specific to peak performance in sports and education. She has been an integral part of several research studies focusing on brainwave activity and it’s role in brain and body healing.
Stephanie, now a member of the Yellowbrick Admissions Team, enjoys using her expertise and serving the CCN when necessary. As Admissions Coordinator, Stephanie is usually the first point of contact for families and potential patients exploring Yellowbrick as a possible treatment option.
Ms. Bostick earned her Bachelors of Nursing Degree in 1994 from St. Andrews University and a Masters in Education from the University of Dayton in 2005. She is a Certified Addictions Counselor (CADC) and a Certified Addictionologist. Ms.Bostick has extensive experience clinically in medical, addiction and psychiatric settings providing direct clinical care, offering leadership and management, directing operations and providing Quality Assurance and Accreditation expertise.
David Baron, MD, was born and raised in part in New York City, and later in Livingston, New Jersey. He received his B.A. in Psychology (magna cum laude) and M.D. degrees from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Baron went on to complete his psychiatry residency at Tufts/New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Baron is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Rosalind Franklin University/The Chicago Medical School. In that role, he supervised psychiatric residents in their community psychiatry rotation for 15 years. During that time he also served as Administrative Psychiatrist, and Interim Director of Mental Health Services, for the DuPage County Health Department, supervising 50 psychiatrists and over 200 other clinical staff.
Dr. Baron’s clinical and administrative experience and practice since completing his training in 1989 has been within a developmental neurobiological understanding of mental illness. Over the course of his career, he has worked to understand mind and brain as different languages for the same essential human experience, including the complexity of neuroscience, the evolutionary basis of the human brain and behavior, and the deeply personal subjective experience of every individual.
Dr. Baron is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He served on the Ethics Committee of the Illinois Psychiatric Society as a member from 2001 to 2006, and as Chairman from 2006 to 2011.
Dr. Baron resides in Evanston. He enjoys travel, golf and cooking. He is a father to one emerging adult son.
Bryn Jessup, PhD is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz where he earned a BA in Psychology. He proceeded to earn both a Masters and then PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan in 1984. His Post-doctoral Fellowship was at The University of Michigan Children’s Hospital where he launched an enduring interest in child development, trauma and the impact on families. From 1986-1996, Dr Jessup was a Staff Psychologist at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago where he provided inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy with children, adolescents and adults; family therapy; diagnostic testing and evaluation; supervision and teaching for the APA-approved (clinical psychology) internship program and child psychiatry residency program. He began to specialize in high-risk families, including sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect, and foster care.
Dr. Jessup joined The Phoenix Institute in 1996 and later became the Director of its Northfield Office of The Phoenix Institute, a highly respected center specializing in working with individuals and families suffering the aftermath of trauma, abuse and neglect. In addition to providing outpatient adult, child, marital and family therapy, diagnostic testing and forensic assessment, he was responsible for clinical supervision of the multidisciplinary group practice providing specialized clinical services in the areas of traumatic stress, loss, and problems of emotional and sexual intimacy.
Dr. Jessup has been an Instructor in the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Dr. Michael Losoff is a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, subsequently earning a Masters in Human Development from the Pennsylvania State University and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. He completed a two-year NIMH Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Research and Clinical Work in Adolescence, jointly sponsored by Northwestern University Medical School and The University of Chicago.
Dr. Losoff brings a deep understanding of development during adolescence and young adulthood and to utilizing this understanding within the kinds of rich clinical settings that are relevant and resonant to Yellowbrick’s intensive community immersion model of treatment. These settings have included the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School at the University of Chicago and Little City Foundation. He has an appreciation of and expertise with in-depth, analytically informed psychotherapy and was the Founding Director and Coordinator of Clinical Services of the Center for Depth Psychotherapy at the C.G. Jung Center of Chicago. Additional leadership roles have included Program Director of the Child and Family Consultation Center at Community Counseling Centers of Chicago (C4). Dr. Losoff served as President (2013-2014) of the Chicago Association for Psychoanalytic Psychology.
Dr. Losoff is the father of an emerging adult daughter and son.
Pete Myers, Psy.D. earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in 1999, after having completed his master’s degree in the social sciences at the University of Chicago in 1992. Prior to his graduate training, he graduated from Kalamazoo College with a bachelor’s liberal arts degree with a major in psychology. He has worked in the field of mental health for the past 33 years. His background is grounded in psychodynamic and family systems-based approaches.
Most of his career had been at the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School at the University of Chicago, a residential and therapeutic school for children and adolescents with profound mental health and special educational needs. He began as one of the dormitory counselors at the school and grew over time into leadership roles including Clinical Director and Co-Executive Director. There he also served an individual, group, and family therapist as well. While working at the school, he was additionally the Director of the Brooke Whitted Center, a residential and outpatient transitional program for emerging young adults with significant mental health challenges in need of support to launch successfully into their adult lives. His tenure at the school was formative in his experience working within a therapeutic community, the importance influence of groups and their milieu. He also has worked as a psychometrician for a private practice, outpatient therapist at the Juvenile Protection Agency in Chicago, and staff therapist at the Manhattan Psychiatric Center, and inpatient program in NYC. Dr. Myers is a board member of the Association Children’s Residential and Community, an international organization advancing quality interventions for youth of all ages and their families.
Over the course of Dr. Myers’ career, he has been invested in and strives to work with young people of all ages and their families to overcome severe, persistent, and debilitating mental health challenges that are interfering with their abilities to grow into the persons they want to be, and, to live a life that brings them healthy relationships, meaning, joy, and accomplishment. He values working with families, recognizing the importance of the interdependence between individuals and family in understanding the challenges and building a future. Beginning with his work at the school, he has been a strong leader and advocate for quality interventions for LGBTQ+ individuals, in particular gender diverse individuals, which are affirming and respectful one’s identity development. He is committed to collaborating with each person as a unique individual and values each person’s distinctive and diverse characteristics, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, and ability.
Dr. Myers served as a part-time lecturer at the University of Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago Campus.
Zion is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who enjoys working with children, youth, and adults. They began their career working with children and youth in the child welfare system in the United States and Latin America. For the last 13 years, they have worked as a therapist, advocate, and director of various outpatient, inpatient, and community-based programs serving youth, adults, and families struggling with mental health issues and addiction. Zion has also served as a director and grant writer of social justice programming for low-resourced, minority, and LGBTQIA+ populations.
Zion received a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and a Master of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Tennessee. Zion also received the Certificate of Trauma Treatment and Certificate of Organizational Leadership from the University of Tennessee with a focus on macro and mezzo-level social work programming. Zion is certified in EMDR, TF-CBT, child-parent psychotherapy, and infant mental health.
Zion currently resides in Chicago. They enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing Dungeons and Dragons, theater, painting, and traveling.
Michael was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He is the middle child of three. He has lived a life of service in helping others in a variety of different ways. He has served as a Boy Scout and Boy Scout Troop Leader to being a Special Olympics Coach. He furthered his journey of service to others through the pursuit of higher education including earning a BA degree in Finance and Banking (Prairie View A & M University) to an MSW in Clinical Social Work (Howard University) to an MA in Clinical Psychology (Fisk University) with completing his clinical psychology internship training at Meharry Medical School.
In Michael’s journey of service to others after pursuit of higher education he began his work as an LPC in working extensively with children, youth and families in individual, group and family therapy. He them transitioned to middle and executive level experience as a Director of Residential Programs including working with adolescents, young adults and adults in shelters, group homes, juvenile justice programs and develop mentally disabled CILA homes (Alajobi, MYSI, Neumann Family Services). He has worked as a VP and Chief Clinical Officer (UCAN, South Suburban Council in severe trauma and addition programs and settings to include trauma informed work and as a Crisis Prevention Intervention trainer. He also has worked in the substance abuse and addiction working with adults in drug and alcohol addition, gambling addition and domestic violence.
Michael is single and enjoys playing sports (tennis), reading and movies.
Through her various outreach and business development roles, Tracy has become a knowledgeable and trusted resource for families and individuals seeking treatment for many years.
She comes to Yellowbrick from The Dorm, with locations in NY and DC, where she served as Director of Outreach & Business Development. For the past decade, Tracy has worked with the top psychiatric and mental health Residential Treatment Centers throughout the country in outreach and director positions as well as in consulting roles. She transitioned to the behavioral health world from corporate sales & marketing roles where she worked for international companies such as Honeywell and Franklin Covey. “I’m excited to work with Yellowbrick’s talented clinicians, helping to spread this forward thinking model nationally. The timing is just right for Yellowbrick to expand its message, and I am excited to be a part of this journey.”
Cynthia has a passion for ensuring the seamless operation of healthcare facilities. With a strong background in healthcare administration, she brings 25 years of experience to the table. She believes that a well-organized and efficiently run medical office is the foundation of exceptional patient care. Her mission is to support healthcare providers and staff in delivering the highest level of care by managing the administrative side of things. Her journey in healthcare administration began 30 years ago when she began working as a receptionist at her stepfather’s practice. Since then, she has had the privilege of working with various providers, where she has honed her skills in healthcare administration.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her sons, family, watching a good movie, reading, traveling, listening to music, and spending time with her 2 dogs.
Jacqui Stieglitz brings over 20 years of experience in customer service and administration. Originally from Rome, Italy, Jacqui has lived in England where she attended Kent Boarding School studying English and Italian and graduating with an Associate’s Degree in English Literature. Jacqui has also resided on and off in Israel for several years before settling in Evanston to be closer to her family.
Jacqui is the mother of an emerging adult daughter and teenage son.
Tom Cummins, MD grew up in southern Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1986 and then from the University or Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in 1990. Dr. Cummins completed his Psychiatry Residency at Emory University in 1994 and Fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute in 1996.
Prior to coming to Yellowbrick, Dr Cummins was on the faculty of Emory University School of Medicine and subsequently Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine where his clinical role was primarily providing inpatient psychiatric treatment for children and adolescents. He served as the Medical Director of the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit at Lurie Children’ Hospital for over 18 years.
Dr. Cummins taught multiple courses in pediatric psychopathology and pediatric psychopharmacology to medical students, psychiatry residents and child and adolescent psychiatry fellows. During this time Dr Cummins was a member of Northwestern University Warren Wright Center for Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health research team, investigating ways to utilize neuroimaging techniques to better diagnose new onset serious mental illness in these age groups.
Dr. Cummins is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and member of The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is the father of two teenagers and enjoys running, walking, and reading in his free time.
Wendy comes to Yellowbrick with experiences rich in personal maturity, shared humanitarian values, and clinical practice in varied settings. Her professional career began as a not-for-profit entrepreneur following her receiving an MBA from Fletcher (Tufts University)/Harvard Business School. She developed organizations assisting homeless boys and abused women as well as creating business opportunities for disadvantaged populations to become economically self-sufficient. Since beginning her education at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2012, Wendy has worked as an art therapist with individuals of all ages, with families and in group settings, and has in-depth exposure to clinical contexts involving trauma and loss. Wendy’s creative interests include art therapy using painting, drawing, pottery, photography, videography & movie-making, fabric arts and other media.
Emma received her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and MSW from the University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration. Originally from Evanston, IL, Emma moved to Brooklyn, NY following graduate school. Emma began her career working in Harlem and the South Bronx with children, adolescents, and families involved in the child welfare system. Following this, Emma worked at a residential treatment facility in Brooklyn that provides treatment for adolescents with psychiatric diagnoses and criminal justice system involvement. Emma recently moved back to Chicago and is happy to be working in the community that she grew up in.
Maisha Lowery is an experienced Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She’s a double alumni of Governors State University, holding both a BA in Psychology and a MA in Psychology.
Maisha’s counseling career began in community mental health residential settings working with adolescent and emerging adult clients. She’s served in various professional roles from Clinician to Director. Working alongside clients and their families to implement effective therapeutic interventions, holistic programming, and wellness services, Maisha has been effective in crisis de-escalation as well as facilitating long-term recovery and enhanced functioning. As a culturally sensitive practitioner, she demonstrates exceptional sensitivity to client cultural, environmental and other contextual risk-factors.
Maisha is also personally focused on wellness and self-care practice. She demonstrates this through healthy routines with her family and friends, exercise, mindfulness, and meditation.
Taylor received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice from the University of Louisville in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. She came to the Chicagoland area by way of graduate education, earning her master’s in occupational therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Prior to becoming an occupational therapist, Taylor worked as an employment specialist for a non-profit and has a special affinity for productive role re-engagement. Throughout her clinical experience, Taylor has worked in mental and behavioral healthcare across the lifespan and continuum of care, working with residential substance use programs, inpatient psychiatric facilities, rehabilitation facilities, community integration services, and various levels of outpatient care. Her greatest passion is providing patients with the encouragement, support, and tools to engage in the roles and activities that serve them and let go of those that do not. Taylor now calls Chicago home and in her spare time values time spent with friends and family, exploring new restaurants and local fests, staying active, and cuddling with her cat.
Tim Prorok, PhD is a Cognitive Neuroscience Associate at Yellowbrick and currently operates neuromodulatory techniques including dTMS and Neurofeedback. Dr. Prorok is a graduate of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and did his undergraduate work at Elmhurst University in Psychology.
In addition to having a formidable knowledge of English History and Science Fiction, Tim has a soft spot for Alaska, candy corn, and any kind of chocolate. Also, to be noted, Tim enjoys train rides.
Erin Pence is a Neuroscience Associate at Yellowbrick. She graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BS in Psychology and a concentration in Behavioral Neuroscience. She has worked in the mental health field for the past three years.
In her spare time, Erin enjoys hiking, drawing, and spending time with friends and family.
Sarah Tolan-Mee is a somatic therapist with a background in the performing arts. Her role at Yellowbrick is to facilitate emerging adults’ capacity for interoception; the ability to experience the connection with their inner emotional and physical experience. Using mindfulness, movement and sensorimotor techniques, Sarah’s enlists the mind-body relationship into the process of self-regulation. She has led Pulitzer Prize-winners, MacArthur Genius grant recipients, and PEN award winners in various mindfulness, movement, and creative play modalities. She conducts mind-body workshops locally and internationally for arts institutions, mental health care facilities, Fortune 500 companies, universities, and non-profits. Her training includes Alexander Technique, Somatic Experiencing, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Laban, and Embodied Mindfulness. She has a BA from Brown University, an MFA from The Juilliard School, and is certified in Somatic Parts Therapy.
Dr. Warfield has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and theology from Thomas More University, an MBA from Northern Kentucky University, a master of science in nursing (MSN) and a doctor of nursing practice (DNP) from Rush University. He also completed clinical hours at Northwestern University. Dr. Warfield comes to Yellowbrick with a wide array of experience. With over 30 years of work helping others reach their goals, Dr. Warfield’s knowledge and background can be tapped into as he strives to assist Yellowbrick’s emerging adults. In his spare time, he enjoys singing, camping, rafting, and live theatre.
Ilene Wynn, RD, LDN, earned a Bachelors of Science degree with honors in Nutrition and Medical Dietetics from the University of Illinois at Chicago – Health Sciences Center in 1983. She has worked primarily in outpatient treatment settings including Lake Forest Hospital, Health and Fitness Centers of Lake Forest Hospital and private practice for the past 23 years.
Ms. Wynn’s areas of expertise focus upon preventive Nutrition and Wellness, Disordered Eating, Weight Management and Sports Nutrition. Her philosophy emphasizes provision of nutrition care and intervention to facilitate behavioral and lifestyle changes. She has developed and implemented numerous nutrition education programs and materials for the community and corporate settings. She has extensive experience in nutrition consultation and treatment of individuals with Eating Disorders, having worked with University Behavioral Health since 1994.
Ms. Wynn is the mother of one emerging adult daughter and one teenage daughter.
Dr. Jung Mi Yi is a licensed clinical psychologist who enjoys working with adults and youth. She began her career providing crisis and therapy services to all populations in emergency rooms. For the last 13 years, she has served in leadership roles in hospital, outpatient, and residential settings, developing and administrating programs for youth with psychiatric challenges and those diagnosed with developmental disabilities.
Dr. Yi graduated from Ripon College with a B.A. in Psychology. She earned both her masters and doctoral degrees from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She also completed a Mini-MBA certificate program in Executive Management from Loyola University.
Maintaining a healthy balance in life is a strong focus for Jung Mi. She achieves this goal through connecting with family and friends, reading, painting and traveling. Physical sports like kickboxing work, too!
A mental health condition that’s characterized by intense shifts in mood including both manic and depressive episodes.
People living with Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, experience episodes of depression and sadness that are debilitating to daily life.
Those living with anxiety disorders experience high levels of anxiety and stress that interfere negatively with daily life.
A mental health issue in which a person’s cognitive function is impaired, resulting in symptoms like experiencing challenges with conducting speech, reading and writing, and behavior.
Mental health disorders that negatively affect a person’s behaviors, thought patterns, and function. People diagnosed with these disorders experience challenges with managing relationships and understanding various situations.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that people can develop as a result of experiencing traumatic situations, characterized by symptoms including flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, and more.
A mental health condition that is characterized by specific symptoms of forgetfulness and lack of concentration, which makes it challenging to complete necessary tasks.
Mental health conditions that interfere with a person’s eating habits, thought patterns, and behaviors in negative ways.
A mental health disorder diagnosable with the DSM-5 that is characterized by both obsessions and compulsive behaviors.