What People Are Saying…
Our team
Dr. Lucy Parker-Barnes PhD, LCPC-IL, LPC-PA, CCMHC, NCC, CCTP
President of Empathic Empowerment Counseling, PLLC
I am a licensed professional counselor in Pennsylvania and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois. I have provided clinical care for over 9 years. I find this career very personally and professionally meaningful! I am also very passionate to help my clients find meaning in their lives, healing in their struggles, and confidence in themselves! Specifically, I work from an integrative existential, client centered approach. I am also familiar with other effective approaches including CBT, DBT, and ACT.
Emily Stowe-Sorensen MS, LPC-IL, LAPC-PA, NCC
Chief Administrative Officer of Empathic Empowerment Counseling, PLLC
I will provide an understanding, empathetic space for you to bring your challenges, worries, or fears. My core belief is that each person is the expert of their own story and therefore has the power within them for productive growth. Sometimes you just need some gentle guidance along the way and that's where I come in! I utilize multiple therapeutic techniques and creative interventions to tailor each session to meet your unique needs at that moment. Some of these techniques may focus on wellness, symptom tracking, awareness, thought reframing, and self compassion. I also believe that a person's unique experiences deeply affect them and so I approach counseling through a trauma-informed lens. The therapeutic process is a constantly changing journey that requires different pieces at each stage. I will be with you along this journey, thinking of creative ways to address your needs and always providing you with support and encouragement.
Dr. Matthew Sprong Ph.D., LPC-PA, LCPC-IL, CRC, CADC, CLCP, CVE
CEO of Empathic Empowerment Counseling, PLLC
Dr. Matthew E. Sprong is a distinguished leader in mental health and vocational rehabilitation, serving as the CEO, Clinical Supervisor, and Mental Health Counselor at Empathic Empowerment Counseling, PLLC. With a career spanning over a decade, Dr. Sprong is dedicated to supporting individuals with chronic medical and psychological conditions, earning him widespread respect and recognition in the field.
Dr. Sprong holds a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Administration from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. His contributions to the field are substantial, with over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles focusing on vocational rehabilitation, chronic pain, and rare health conditions. His research has been featured in prestigious journals such as Pub Med, Rare Diseases, Frontiers in Psychology, Journal of Life Care Planning, Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, and Journal of Applied Rehabilitation.
In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Sprong is a Certified Life Care Planner, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, and Certified Vocational Evaluator. He is also a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. His practical experience includes significant roles at the Evaluation and Developmental Center and the Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration. Dr. Sprong also contributes to the academic community as an assistant professor and director of the Doctor of Public Administration program at the University of Illinois Springfield. His involvement in Rehabilitation Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Human Service Graduate programs across various universities underscores his commitment to advancing the field.
At Empathic Empowerment Counseling, PLLC, Dr. Sprong blends his extensive clinical expertise with a deep commitment to empowering individuals, enhancing their quality of life through compassionate and effective care.
Amanda McNeely MS
I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families to help find the glimmers in troubling times, purpose when they feel lost and gain insight into themselves to find more adaptive and healthy ways of living. I work from a person-centered lens and will provide an individualized approach. I hope to be a calming, validating and supportive listening ear as we work together on a journey of healing and restoration. I am also trained in a trauma therapy called progressive counting, which helps reprocess traumatic memories in a way that allows for a path forward from distressing experiences. I welcome new clients who are looking to expand their toolbox of coping skills!
Denise Moser MS, LAPC, NCC
Wherever you are on your journey, I will welcome all of you into the room and will provide a nurturing space for you to be, explore, grow, and practice new ways of being. I have 11 years of counseling experience, a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, and am a nationally certified counselor. I am currently working towards independent licensure in PA. I help women navigate life’s transitions. In my practice I focus on working with both transgender and cisgender women, and with seniors. I also have experience working with and supporting the emotional transitions that families face when a member is living with Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, I have a history of facilitating women’s groups that foster a sense of community and empowerment. I am a strengths-based counselor and if you work with me, I will help you to unearth, highlight, and hone the tools and strengths you already possess, and will support you as you acquire new ones. I will help you to recognize the thoughts that are keeping you stuck and will work with you to identify new ways of thinking and being that both ring true and empower you to move forward. I will strive to build an empathic counseling relationship with you as the foundation of our work together. I also utilize mindfulness and therapeutic creative writing in my work.
Audrey Donovan MS, NCC
I’m proud to be an accomplished mental health counselor with eight years of experience in the field that I love. Throughout my career, I have effectively assisted clients in achieving their goals by delving into their emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. My approach emphasizes empowerment, validation of personal experiences, and the application of evidence-based techniques. My extensive experience enables her to work with individuals across all age groups, from children to adolescents and adults.
Jenna Clancy MS, LAPC, NCC
I understand that taking the first steps into counseling can be hard. I offer a safe, non-judgmental space for you to feel comfortable sharing in. I am passionate about helping my clients feel empowered, confident, and informed about who they are and who they want to be. I take a person-centered and solution-focused approach in the therapy room. While I see you, the client, as the main driver of your own growth and progress, I will walk beside you and encourage you on each step of your therapeutic journey.
Lesleigh Doebler MS, NCC
I am a pre-licensed mental health counselor based in Pennsylvania. My therapeutic approach is eclectic, grounded in feminist, narrative, and cognitive behavioral theories and practices. My goal is to offer empathetic and authentic support, creating a safe space for clients within my telehealth sessions.
Rebecca Crilley, MA, NCC
As a counselor, my job is to help you take control of your own life by providing the tools, education, and support you may need to make that happen. In our counseling sessions, we will focus on the goals you create for yourself, based on your specific concerns, needs, wants, and dreams. I am here to provide unconditional positive regard, which means to accept someone just as they are, without judging them based on their thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviors. My goal is to help create a safe space for you to work through your emotions and challenges, and to explore your own potential, which is often much more vast than you know! I believe that sometimes we need someone on the outside to help us slow down and realize that right here, right now, we are the master of our destiny. "We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change," - Sheryl Sandberg.
Surina Cardenas, MS, LPC
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois and Ohio, holding a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and certification as a Trauma Professional.
I am also pursuing a doctoral degree in Community Care & Counseling with a specialization in Traumatology, deepening my expertise in supporting individuals through life’s challenges.
I specialize in helping people who feel stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed and are ready to take meaningful steps toward growth and change.
My approach is rooted in empathy and collaboration, blending Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and a person-centered lens to create a personalized and effective path forward. I believe in providing a safe, compassionate space while also challenging my clients and holding them accountable in an empathetic and empowering way.
Together, we’ll work toward clarity, resilience, and the life you envision.
Jill Krull, MS, NCC
Jill (Isaacson) Krull is a graduate of Chestnut Hill College, where she obtained her Master's degree in clinical and counseling psychology, focusing on child and adolescent therapy. With ten years of experience in clinical environments, Jill has dedicated her practice to supporting children, adolescents, and adults. She firmly believes that personal growth is a continuous journey and emphasizes the importance of creating a nonjudgmental space rooted in self-compassion for effective treatment. “We begin to heal the moment we feel heard.”
“I offer a non judgmental virtual therapy space in which you have the freedom to be unapologetically yourself.”
Patricia Cilenti, MS, LBS, CMFT, CLC
I work to guide you in your expression to help give a voice to your conflicts, relationships, desires, and memories. We will "Unpack" what is persistent in your life and find your positive path to your best future! I am here to give you light and find a resolution to the challenges that you are facing. I work with individuals, couples, and families of all ages. Specializing in marriage and family therapy as well as children's behavioral issues.
Together, we can find insight where you feel stuck and relief where you feel pain. I work to shed new light on parts of your experience that feel intolerable or unknowable. I have an extensive trauma counseling background.
Keneley Bautista, a Hispanic therapist, holds a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in child and adolescent counseling from Lock Haven University. Her professional commitment is dedicated to providing culturally sensitive therapy and support to individuals from diverse backgrounds. Keneley's approach centers on building strong therapeutic alliances with her clients, meeting them at their current stage, and creating tailored treatment plans that account for their unique cultural perspectives and circumstances. Fluent in Spanish, she has extensive experience working with clients of all ages, including adults, and is passionate about guiding them towards positive and transformative changes to help them achieve emotional well-being and personal growth.
Keneley Bautista, MS
Contact us today!
EMPATHICEMPOWERMENTCOUNSELING@GMAIL.COM
(814) 230-0024
SERVING BOTH PENNSYLVANIA & ILLINOIS