Gail Zarbin LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over thirty years of clinical experience. She has worked at mental health clinics, at an in-patient hospital for adults and adolescents, and as a school social worker in a grade school. Gail has experience collaborating with teachers at public schools and Montessori schools. Gail works with children, individual adults, and couples. Couples often have challenges with communication and resolving conflicts without hurting each other. She works with multi-cultural, blended, and divorced families. She can help you with parenting struggles and to co-parent when you have differences. She will help you learn the skills to respond to a child who has low frustration tolerance, avoid power struggles, and learn to give realistic consequences. Gail has been trained and has experience working with special needs, such as Asperger’s and ADHD, depression, anxiety, alcohol and substance abuse, grief and loss, medical struggles, the LBGTQ community, adoption, and the need to use an egg donor, sperm donor, or a gestational surrogate. Infertility is a specialized area of training, and she can help you with the grief and loss of failed infertility cycles and miscarriages. Gail administrates the psychological evaluations for surrogates, egg donors, and Intended Parents who need to be cleared to move forward to become a family. Gail has implemented Employee Assistance Programs at major corporations to train management to respond to an employee when their personal struggles are decreasing their job performance. Gail is contracted to work with the employees of the Department of Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

During each session, Gail will teach you the skills to better manage your daily life challenges. Gail’s clinical style is to be interactive and to care to make a difference Gail is an adoptive parent of two children. Gail is not currently taking insurance and accepts patients on a sliding scale. She conducts appointments at her Oak Park office.

Grecia Ramirez MA received her Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Concordia University and Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and Chemistry  from Carroll University.  She has clinical training in a private practice setting with a focus on children, adolescents, and families working through depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders, among other issues. Grecia has experience with culturally-sensitive training, providing therapy services in Spanish and English. Prior to joining Ramos & Associates, Grecia served in various capacities, working in Juvenile Detention Centers, Domestic Violence/ Human Trafficking Advocacy, and  Community Crisis Response. Grecia serves as a Psychotherapist at Ramos & Associates

Mykal Merrill MA received his Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. He is currently completing his dissertation in pursuit of a Doctorate of Psychology and is pursuing certification as a Therapeutic Game Master from Game to Grow. He has completed training in hospital systems, community mental health centers and schools. He has worked primarily with children and adolescents. He has had experience with individuals across the whole life-span. He has had myriad opportunities to provide support in both English and Spanish. Myk (pronounced like Mike) often employs client centered approaches to help clients engage in self-exploration, self-identification, self-expression and identifying power within their lives. Myk serves as a Psychotherapist at Ramos & Associates. 

Myk loves being a parent, playing Role-Playing games (currently playing lots of Pathfinder), and playing board games. In addition to the therapy office, Myk can be found dressing up for LARP, playing games at GenCon, looking for perfect tortas ahogadas, and enjoying the art and architecture of the city.

Marc Cuiriz MA  received his Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lewis University and Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Psychology from University of Illinois at Chicago. He has clinical training in a private practice setting with a focus on adolescents, and adults working through depression, anxiety, behavioral disorders, among other issues. Prior to joining Ramos & Associates, Marc served in various capacities, working in Residential treatment centers and inpatient hospitalizations. Marc serves as a Psychotherapist at Ramos & Associates

 
Marc is a video game and Disney fan. Some of his favorite series include Percy Jackson, Spider-Man, and Assassin’s Creed. He enjoys spending time outdoors, and spending time with his cats.

Samantha Chavez MA LCPC CCTP earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling Psychology at Roosevelt University in 2017. She completed her Bachelors of Arts in Clinical Psychology at Saint Xavier University in the Fall of 2014. There she began volunteering at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital as a Child Life volunteer. She continued to volunteer there for three years in the Hematology & Oncology outpatient center. Samantha has extensive knowledge and accreditation working with children and adolescents. She completed her clinical practicum at the Family Behavioral Health Clinic in Des Plaines IL. Samantha also has experience working with geriatrics. She worked as a Life Enrichment Specialist providing support services in an Alzheimer’s and Dementia care unit. Samantha has clinical experience treating Trauma, Depression, ADHD, Anxiety, Grief, Physical and Mental Disabilities, and other presenting problems. Samantha is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. As a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional she incorporates DBT into her practice. 

 Samantha is a comic book and Disney fanatic. She enjoys spending time outdoors, and traveling around the country to find the best pizza. 

Patrick Robideau MA earned his Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling at North Park University in 2022. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Psychology at North Park University in 2019. He completed his clinical practicum at Ramos and Associates Behavioral Health clinic. Patrick has worked with children in both school and social settings for the last six years. He has clinical experience treating trauma, ADHD, depression, addiction, anxiety, grief and other presenting problems. Patrick enjoys incorporating play therapy into his sessions. Patrick enjoys sports and music. Patrick serves as a Psychotherapist at Ramos & Associates.


Colleen McShea MA  earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Lewis University. She obtained her Bachelor of Art’s degree in psychology and Spanish from Loras College. Colleen completed her internship at Ramos and Associates and is passionate about mental health. Colleen enjoys working with individuals and families of all ages, and has a specialization working with adolescents and teens. Colleen has experience treating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, ADHD and other presenting problems. Colleen holds all sessions in English, but feels comfortable communicating with clients or their families in Spanish. 
Colleen loves animals, music, yoga, and spending time with family and friends. Colleen loves working with clients and helping them overcome challenges in their lives. Colleen serves as a Psychotherapist at Ramos and Associates. 

Lee Woods MA LCPC NCC CMPC  received a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology, with a specialization in Sport and Health Psychology from Adler University in 2015. His clinical interests revolve around mental skills training to balance energy management and mental focus for everyday life performances. He also focuses on the characteristics of effective leadership and team dynamics/building.Lee has clinical experience in working with exercisers to achieve weight loss and addressing negative thoughts and body image issues to reach personal and performance goals. In addition, he has experience working with the military for mental skills training to improve resilience and enhance a growth mindset for optimal performance. Lee has also assisted mixed martial arts and boxing athletes in mental training circuits to enhance training for peak performance and personal goals. Lee serves as our CEO. He is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a National Certified Counselor, as well as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant.

Lee is an avid comic book movie fan and comic book reader. He also enjoys weightlifting, training in mixed martial arts (MMA), and watching combat sports such as MMA and boxing.

Behavioral Health Clinic

Janet Diaz MA LCPC  earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling Psychology from North Park University in May 2018.  Has worked as a case manager, family support worker, facilitated groups and health access for the last 10 years providing care coordination and continuity of care.  Has worked in a psychiatric setting, gerontology setting, nursing home, hospital setting and has experience working with adults, adolescents including teen pregnancies, children and infant’s early development.  Janet is a certified as a care coordinator, has experience in completing developmental screenings for early intervention and has experience with home visitations and DCFS involvement.  Completed her clinical practicum at Erie Family Health Centers.

Currently works and has experience as a mental health clinician providing psychotherapy to the marginalized community, immigrant population and African American population, providing services in English and Spanish.  Janet provides mental health evaluations in facilitation to U-Visas and waiver letters. Janet is dedicated to supporting individuals, families and couples by offering psychotherapy to facilitate and support mental and emotional health. Janet supports in providing diagnostic evaluations, has experience in treating Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, Grief and other presenting mental health problems.  Janet enjoys implementing play therapy for her adolescents and children to help regulate their emotions. Janet is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. 

 Janet finds passion in helping others, traveling and dancing.  More than a profession this is Janet’s project in life, her mission is to continue her journey as a clinician preparing herself to then be able to give more to this world. 

Sandra M. Gomez has a master’s degree in Psychology and has been working as a counselor for the past 22 years. She worked at child protection agencies, as well as, Minister of Defense in Colombia for the Anti-Kidnapping Taskforce. In addition, she was a professor at the University of Sincelejo.
In 2003, she emigrated to Illinois, and lives and works in Lake County. She has been working at the Lake County Health Department for the past 11 years.  She was a counselor with the Trauma Treatment Program and is currently the Mental Health Educator and Community Policy Advocate. As well as, the chairperson for Lake County Suicide Prevention Task Force.
The past 5 years, she has been writing a weekly column on various mental health topics for PuroFutbol newspaper. She also has been writing articles for a Mexican newspaper and a Magazine Contacto Latino in South Carolina. In addition, she has been promoting mental health for several radio shows on ESPN Sport Channel and does videos clips for Contacto TV in South Carolina.
Sandra owns her own business, Awaken, where she provides community trainings on mental health as well as individual and family consultation. When Sandra is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years and her two children. She is looking forward to being an asset to the team and the community.

Dr. Edgar A. Ramos Psy.D is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with over 17 years of varied clinical experience. In 2004, he received his Master's Degree in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. In 2006, he received his Psy. D., from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. He received his clinical training pre and post doctoral at Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital. Dr. Ramos has extensive experience working with children, adolescent and adults. He has worked in various residential settings, Behavioral Health Hospitals, Nursing homes, and Community Mental Health Centers throughout Chicago.  In addition, Dr. Ramos is a full time faculty at  Concordia University Chicago in the Human Services department graduate programs . His primary focus is teaching in the Psychology department. Dr. Ramos supervises and trains Masters and Doctoral level  students at several sites. He is fluent in Spanish and provides clinical care in both Spanish and English. Dr. Ramos is an expert in the area of adolescent gangs. He has presented extensively on the topic. 

Dr. Ramos is an avid comic book collector and has merged his passion and love for psychology and comics by intertwining them both in the way he works with children and adolescents as well as presenting on the integration  of comic book superheroes  on mental health.