Meet the NIC Team

Courtney is the Clinical Director for the Neuro Inclusive Counseling program at Options & Advocacy, obtained her MSW from Aurora University in 2016 and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Her professional work has been largely associated with LGBTQ, marginalized populations, and individuals with disabilities.

Yazmin has a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia College of Missouri and has several years of experience working with adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in a variety of roles.

Isabella has her bachelor’s degree in Clinical/Community Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is currently pursuing a master's degree in clinical mental health Counseling at Bradley University. She hopes to continue to grow in her career and become an LPC in the future.

Marikate obtained her Masters of Social Work degree from Aurora University and is a Licensed Social Worker. she has experience working with people with Autism and has professional interest in working with teens and young adults. 

Alma obtained her Masters in Social Work degree from Aurora University and is a Licensed Social Worker. She has experience working with children & teens while utilizing a variety of neuro-affirming therapy modalities. 

Otto is a Licensed Social Worker who began his professional career as a high school Spanish teacher and earned his Master’s of Social Work in 2023. Otto has experience working with adolescents in high school. He addresses conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, ODD, and autism by creating an accepting and non-judgmental environment in which they can work to grow, heal and transform their trauma.

Daisi has a Master's degree in Social Work from Aurora University. Spanish being her first language, she has a passion for helping others, particularly within the Hispanic community where language can sometimes be a barrier. She has worked with children since 2018 and finds joy in witnessing students grow and succeed. She is dedicated to supporting them on their journey towards achieving their goals.

Kelly began her professional career working in various school districts as a self-contained special education paraprofessional and has many years of experience working one to one with all ages of people with developmental, physical, and intellectual disabilities. She is pursuing a master's in social work degree from Aurora University and holds a bachelor's degree from Columbia College of Missouri with a focus on education, humanities, and social work.

Annette started her career working with children with special needs. She worked with a range of disabilities ages 3-22 in a classroom setting and older learners on job sites for 10 years. Annette earned her master's degree in special education with an emphasis on applied behavior. She is passionate about working with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and provides collaborative learning opportunities to families, school, staff and caregivers.

My name is Eliza and I am thrilled to be interning with Options and Advocacy for McHenry County! After working for almost a decade in the technology sector, I am pursuing a Master’s in Social Work from Aurora University with the goal of becoming a clinical psychotherapist dedicated to supporting and empowering neurodivergent clients. I am currently in the last year of my degree and will graduate in the summer of 2026. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow with Options and Advocacy this year.