Therapists and Psychiatrists

Kelly Ducheny, Psy.D.
Director, Behavioral Health Services
Psychologist
Kelly Ducheny is a licensed psychologist and obtained her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University in 1993, with an emphasis in multicultural psychology and working with LGB clients. Kelly completed a postdoctoral fellowship in community health psychology at the Center for Healthy Communities at Wright State University. She joined Howard Brown Health Center as the Director of Behavioral Health Services in 2008. Before joining Howard Brown, Kelly was an Associate Professor and Department Chair at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Kelly has completed the State of Illinois Domestic Violence Service Providers Training and serves as a Hormone Advocate.  Kelly specializes in working with transgender/gender queer, LGB and HIV impacted clients, trauma, depression, and anxiety.  Kelly’s clinical interests also include multicultural psychology, assessment, interdisciplinary health care, qualitative research, and immigrant and refugee mental health.  Kelly is a member of the American Psychological Association Task Force to develop Guidelines for Working with Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Clients.

Michelle Emerick, Psy.D
Director of Clinical Training, Behavioral Health
Psychologist
Michelle Emerick is a licensed clinical psychologist who serves as the Director of Clinical Training and a hormone advocate at Howard Brown. Michelle facilitates the training program for psychology and social work graduate students. Although experienced in working with adults, Michelle’s focus at Howard Brown is supporting the youth in the GLBTQQ community (ages 15-25). She specializes in working with transgendered and HIV positive individuals, but also has significant training in working with trauma, interpersonal violence, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, coming out and positive communication. Her doctoral research focused on the experiences of young FTMs living outside of the gender binary and their experiences within the healthcare system. More recently, she participated in the redesigning of Howard Brown’s informed consent-based hormone protocol, “THInC.” Michelle has been working with the LGBT community for over 10 years and facilitates many discussions and trainings for others who wish to support the LGBT community. 

Stacy Agosto, LSW
Substance Abuse Counselor
Stacy Agosto received her Master’s degree from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration in 2012. Prior to joining Howard Brown, Stacy trained for two years at Center on Halsted where she provided individual, couples and group therapy for LGBT clients. Additionally, Stacy completed a year-long, inter-agency clinical training consortium on LGBT-specific issues with Center on Halsted, LakeShore Hospital’s Valeo Program and Howard Brown. In 2011, Stacy served as a Fellow in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office where she researched best practices in serving LGBT youth and provided policy recommendations to the Department of Family and Support Services. Her clinical interests include substance use, trauma, and HIV-related issues.

Deborah Cano, M.D.
Psychiatrist
Deborah Cano received her medical degree from the University of Texas at Galveston, where she also completed an internship in Internal Medicine.  She completed her residency at St. Vincent's Hospital Psychiatric in 2004. In 2006, Deborah attended New York University to complete an Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship. She is board certified in both General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry. Deborah joined Howard Brown Health Center in January 2008.

Hugh Cole, CADC
Substance Abuse Counselor
Hugh Cole is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor who has worked with LGBTQ clientele since 1988 when he began working with Gay Men’s Health Crisis, New York as a volunteer in HIV education and intervention. Hugh attended University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is currently a Master of Social Work candidate at Loyola University, Chicago. He began his clinical career at Howard Brown Health Center as an intern and is currently a member of the Recovering with Pride Program Team. He works with Heartland Alliance in supportive housing and is interested in working with all manifestations of the recovering individual. His specialties include inspiring motivation to change compulsive behaviors with HIV impacted, homeless and substance abusing clients. He is also interested in group and individual counseling, gerontology and human rights advocacy.

Aren Drehobl, LCSW, CADC
Program Manager, Recovering with Pride
Substance Abuse Counselor
Aren Drehobl is a licensed clinical social worker with a certification in alcohol and other drug counseling. Aren received a Master of Arts in Social Service Administration from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago in 2007. Additionally, Aren has completed the State of Illinois Domestic Violence Service Providers Training. Aren’s relevant clinical experience includes work with individuals and groups in both community and hospital settings. Specialty interests include addictions treatment, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, and work with LGBTQ communities in general.

Jillian Dronfield, LCSW
Staff Psychotherapist
Jillian Dronfield is a staff psychotherapist, who has been a staff member of Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) since 2004. Jillian specializes in working with individuals who are struggling with trauma, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, relationships and life transitions. Jillian received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan, where she received additional training at Domestic Violence Project/SAFE House and the Jean Ledwith King Women’s Center of Southeastern Michigan. Prior to joining the behavioral health staff, Jillian worked as an HIV Case Manager in the Social Services Department at HBHC. She is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and has received advanced trauma training from Womencare Counseling Center. Jillian’s additional clinical interests include how brain plasticity promotes an individual’s capacity for change and how to utilize mindfulness as a way to reduce stress.  

Arryn Hawthorne-Jader, AM, LCSW
Coordinator, Violence Recovery Program
Staff Psychotherapist
Arryn Hawthorne-Jader received her graduate degree from University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration in 1999 and joined the Howard Brown Health Center staff in 2006. Prior to joining the behavioral health team, she was a primary care social worker. Arryn specializes in working with survivors of childhood abuse, domestic and intimate partner violence, LGBTQ issues, HIV/AIDS, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and pet loss. She is a Certified Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist through the EMDR International Association and has completed the State of Illinois Domestic Violence Service Providers Training. Arryn is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement. 

Sara Hays, LSW, CADC
Substance Abuse Counselor
Sara Hays is a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Sara received a Masters of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago in 2012 and joined the Recovering with Pride team in the fall of 2012. Prior to coming to Howard Brown, Sara completed post graduate training as a substance abuse counselor at PEER Services in Evanston, IL. Sara also received clinical training as a graduate psychotherapy intern at Live Oak. Sara’s clinical experience includes work with adolescents, severe mental illness, LGBTQ issues, nontraditional relationships, substance abuse and dependence, depression, anxiety, trauma and loss. Sara’s work is grounded in the belief that the opportunity to engage in a safe therapeutic relationship creates the framework for profound change in the lives of an individual and their community as a whole.

Lisa Katona, LCSW
Staff Psychotherapist
Lisa Katona attended the University of Michigan, School of Social Work to obtain her Master of Social Work and has been with Howard Brown since 2006. Lisa has experience working with a wide variety of clinical issues related to the LGBTQ and Intersex population, and has completed her Certificate in Sex Therapy through the University of Michigan Sexual Health Certificate Program. Special interests include sexual health, gender identity, couples support and intimacy. Lisa has trained medical and social service providers across the state of Illinois to work with the LGBTQI population and has worked with the Intersex Society of North America to establish medical standards of care for persons affected by Disorders of Sexual Development.

Kuanwu Lin, Psy.D.
Psychologist
Kuan Lin is a licensed clinical psychologist. He received his Doctor of Psychology from Spalding University in Clinical Psychology, and completed an internship at the Counseling Center, University of Illinois at Chicago. He has over ten years of diverse clinical experience, providing treatments for LGBT issues, ethnic minority mental health issues, men’s health, mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, grief and loss, eating disturbance and body image concerns, mindfulness and holistic wellness. Kuan’s work experience also includes Asian Human Services, and he is fluent in Mandarin and Taiwanese. He was the Program Director at the Chinatown Office and the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program from 2001 to 2003, and he was a Staff Psychologist and the Assistant Director at the Counseling Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign until 2010. Kuan joined HBHC in 2010 because of his desire to serve Chicago's LGBT community.

Cullen Sprague, LCSW
Staff Psychotherapist
Cullen Sprague received his Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University in 2004. Cullen had therapy internships at Deborah's Place working with women experiencing homelessness and at Horizon's working with the LGBTQ population. From 2004-2007, Cullen was a Case Manager for Catholic Charities New Hope Apartments program working with mothers experiencing homelessness. Cullen received his license in clinical social work in 2007 and began working at Howard Brown as the Youth Psychotherapist at the Broadway Youth Center. Cullen specializes in working with LGBTQ youth (ages 12 to 24) on coming out, gender identity, trauma, family dynamics, anxiety, anger, depression, grief counseling, conflict resolution, crisis management and spirituality.  

Daniel Flave-Novak
Student Psychotherapist
Dan Flave-Novak is a student psychotherapist from Roosevelt University where he is pursuing his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. His clinical experience includes working as a peer counselor and group facilitator at Washington D.C.'s Whitman-Walker Clinic and serving as a crisis counselor for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  Prior to his mental health work, he spent 7 years handling LGBT policy as an aide for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. His interests include LGBT mental health and providing services and advocacy for uninsured and underinsured populations.

Hilary Hale, MA
Student Psychotherapist
Hilary Hale Green obtained her masters in Counseling Psychology at the Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA and is currently working on her doctorate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has professional experience working with developmentally disabled adults, with youth in a boarding school setting, and with adults coping with chronic mental illness. Hilary’s interests include working within the LGBTQ community, the study of spirituality and shamanism, and Existential Philosophy and practice.

Clare McBee
Student Psychotherapist
Clare McBee is a student psychotherapist from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, where she is an A.M. candidate. She also has a Masters in Anthropology and Women’s and Gender Studies from Brandeis University. Her previous clinical experience includes work at Beacon Hospice, PACT Project/Partners in Health, Chicago House & Social Service Agency, and Affinity Community Services. Her primary clinical interests are working with trans* and gender non-conforming individuals, HIV/AIDS, and the management of interpersonal and systemic (structural) trauma and oppression.

Imani Rupert
Student Psychotherapist
Imani Rupert is a student psychotherapist from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago.  Before working in Social Work, Imani worked with college students in a University setting. Her clinical interests include working with intersections of identity specifically, race, gender, sexual orientation, class, ability, and gender identity.

Ethan Webb
Student Psychotherapist
Ethan Elliot Webb obtained his masters in Clinical Psychology and is currently working on his doctorate at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. He has professional experience working with children in a public school setting, and performing diagnostic testing in a college counseling center. Ethan’s interests include working within the LGBTQ community.