NCE’s 2023-2024 fiscal year, illustrating how the College is following through with our commitment to the betterment of education on both a local and national level.
VOL. 15
ISPP NEWSLETTER
IN THE LOOP
Fall 2025
TAKE A MOMENT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT FALL 2025 HIGHLIGHTS AND WHAT’S TO COME!
In this newsletter you can expect:
Welcome Message
The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology program at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (ISPP) is designed to educate and train students to become effective health service
Since its founding in 1976, ISPP has continuously strived to provide excellent doctoral training in an APA-accredited, academically rigorous, and nurturing environment. We are proud of our 49 year legacy.
ISPP Assembly
ISPP Community Gatherings
IPA. Conference
psychologists. ISPP aspires to develop
Recent Publications and Presentations
psychologists who have the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for successful clinical practice.
Current Student and Alumni Spotlight
Get Involved!
The Thrive Center
Resources
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Welcome Message from the Program Director VOL. 15
Leah Horvath, PhD Program Director, Associate Professor Greetings, ISPP Community and Friends!
This time of year – with the changing colors, fall harvest, and focus on abundance and gratitude – is a wonderful opportunity for me to reflect on abundance in my life. The abundance of our ISPP community is something that I am grateful for every day. Abundance might seem an odd word choice when speaking of a community of healers – but I think it works. With more than 1,000 alumni, current students, faculty and staff, supervisors, and former colleagues – we are abundant. And the work that we do, the care that we provide, the hope that we inspire – is abundant! Earlier this month, I attended the IPA convention - which was a lovely event. I was most struck by all the current and former colleagues and students that I saw and had the chance to connect with (maybe some of you reading this note now)! It was a beautiful reminder of the abundance of the ISPP community. Scroll to page 5 to see some photo highlights from ISPP’s participation in the IPA convention. Bask in the abundance that our students and alumni bring - you can learn more about our Spotlighted ISPP Student, Claudia Milano, on page 9. Our featured alum this edition is Dr. Daniela Schreier – a former student and adjunct faculty. Learn about the amazing work she is doing around the world on page 11. On page 13, you can meet our new full-time faculty member, Dr. Michelle Tan! The impact of our community is abundant, and I hope that you and your loved ones enjoy this autumn season and all the abundance that it brings.
Sending my best to our ISPP community,
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ISPP Student Assembly
It is the mission of this organization to provide both personal and professional support and development opportunities to the students of ISPP at NLU. We aim to promote a strong community environment that facilitates student well-being, engagement, relationship building, and personal growth, with a focus on respect and dignity for all.
Please meet the 2024-2025 ISPP Assembly Board!
Faculty Support/Sponsor Misty Mann
President Marie Eddy (3rd year)
Vice President Heather Toma (3rd year)
Event Coordinator Jolea Crearer
Treasurer Comfort Ajuga
Peer Mentorship Program Chair Jamie Swiderski
3rd Year Student Representative Aliya Persaud
2nd Year Student Representative LaWanda Thomas
1st Year Student Representative Jessica Vigil Spirek & Kate O’Leary
Congratulations!
EVENTS
Winter
Fall
Additional ISPP Assembly positions are yet to be filled! Keep an eye out for additional members who will be contributing to the 2025-2026 committee.
ISPP Assembly traditionally hosts practicum preparation events. Please contact President Marie Eddy for future events.
Student Concerns Survey
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ISPP Community Gatherings
On September 23, 2025, Dr. Andy Suth gave a talk titled “From TikTok to Roblox (and Beyond): How the world for today’s kids makes it harder to pay attention, harder to relate to each other, and harder to read.” Dr. Suth is a pediatric neuropsychologist (and former ISPP faculty member) who works as the Director of Clinical Assessments and Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Ohana Center for Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health in Monterey, California. Thank you for such a wonderful discussion! On October 28, 2025, ISPP students organized a self-care choose your own adventure event! Tania Abukoush, Stephan Oliveira, Ana Perez, Maninder Singh, and Dulce Valenzuela organized a very fun event that included reflection activities, arts and crafts, and a Halloween-themed Escape Room! In the busyness of our daily lives – it’s important to find time for fun, connection, and letting go of stress. And this was a great way to do that!
Want to engage in self-care? Write a letter to your future self here
UPCOMING EVENTS
ACEPT Practicum Fair
ISPP Practicum Fair
Please join us on December 2, 2025 from 2 - 4 pm for the ISPP Practicum Fair! ISPP students will have the opportunity to learn about practicum sites from a student perspective. If you are interested in being a presenter, please fill out this survey.
The 2025 Annual Practicum Fair will be held virtually on December 4th and 5th. Students will have one hour to drop-in to learn more about the sites that offer their level of training and ask questions. For more information, please visit: https://aceptchicago.org/practicum- guidelines/practicum-fair/
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Illinois Psychological Association Convention VOL. 15
ISPP was very well represented at the IPA Convention in November! Congratulations to our students and faculty who presented - and the many ISPP alumni presented who as well!
Nora Danie, Alissandro Lemus, and Dulce Valenzuela (not pictured) – “Mirror reflections: A reimagining of self through art and image.”
Isabel Vayser - “Exploring chronic pain, depression, and cognition: Does self-efficacy matter?”
Amelia Larsen and Stephanie McCarty – “An Examination of the intersection between PTSD and ADHD symptoms”
Jake Becker and Shay Brakastor – “Risk factors impacting mental health efficacy for women with chronic pain”
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Illinois Psychological Association Convention VOL. 15
Lara Van Trevisan Waes – “The Misdiagnosis of symbolic losses: Therapeutic risks associated with the western cultural perspective”
Kasey Browne, Connor Pond, and Alex Lauro (not pictured) – Masculinity and psychological functioning: A Literature review on gender role stress, violence, and therapeutic pathways”
Marie Eddy and Comfort Ajuga (not pictured) – “Impact of cultural identity on help-seeking behaviors for mental health disorders”
Nina Khawam - The Relationship between dissociation and hallucinations in trauma- exposed individuals: A Literature review”
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Illinois Psychological Association Convention VOL. 15
Sam Erhan - “Understanding the intersection of transgender identity and dementia in older adults: A Literature review”
Dr. Bethany Cook - “Attention driven hyper- creative difference: Understanding ADHD beyond deficit models”
Drs. Emese Vitalis, Christina Biedermann, Misty Mann, Anissa Rivers, and Leah Horvath – “Let’s talk about menopause: From symptoms and stigma to empowerment”
And special congratulations to Dr. Erin Alexander, ISPP alum, who won the IPA Lifetime Achievement Award!
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Recent Presentations and Publications by ISPP Students
Maggie Sackinsky and her Dad, along with Dr. Brad Olson gave a roundtable talk titled “Ecological and Community Psychology Perspectives on Youth Sports, Coaching, and Parental Involvement”
And Maggie presented a poster titled, “Parental Engagement and Responsiveness to Child Behavioral Interventions in Medicaid-Eligible Families: A Systems- Based Literature Review” Presented in November at the Midwestern ECO conference on Social and Ecological Community Psychology
Check out student Hadeel Damra’s recent co- authored article on TMS and substance use published in Current Biology
https://www.cell.com/current- biology/abstract/S0960-9822(25)01315-6
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ISPP Current Student Spotlight: Claudia Milano VOL. 15
Claudia Milano, MA (She/Her) 4th Year Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student
Do you have any advice for prospective students?
Most of us choose to become psychologists because we want to dedicate our lives to healing others, understanding the complexities of the world, or use our time to create meaningful change. Yet, academia often introduces perfectionism and an obsession with productivity that can leave us feeling more like machines than human beings by the end of each semester. Over time, small pieces of our spark are chipped away, and by the third year, many of us find ourselves questioning why we began this journey in the first place. Being in a doctoral program for clinical psychology is a truly unique experience. We are not only scientists, but artists and philosophers. It is essential to remember that being a good clinician requires being deeply human. To do this, you must tend to your needs, your desires, and your healing. Taking time during the semester to live your life and create memories is just as important as studying. What will make you a great clinician is exploring the depth of who you are and gaining real-world experiences. Each failure, heartbreak, success, and joy you encounter adds to your depth and strengthens your understanding of life and the human experience. So please, do not forget to live. Go on vacation, fall in love, go to therapy, create art, explore new ideas or spiritual paths. Do anything that reminds you that you are more than your GPA. Living your life cultivates an inner wisdom that cannot be taught through textbooks and this internal knowing will allow you to integrate science and theory with authenticity in your practice. It will be the fuel behind your clinical intuition and allow you to guide the healing of others in profound ways, igniting true therapeutic change, which is, after all, the very reason most of us began this journey in the first place.
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ISPP Current Student Spotlight: Claudia Milano VOL. 15
If you'd like to share, please tell us about any work you do in the areas of advocacy, social justice, or working with underserved populations. I strive to advocate for underserved populations and challenge social injustices through my everyday choices - whether that means being intentional about where I spend my money, how I vote, or when I raise my voice in protest. Yet, I believe the most powerful and difficult form of advocacy begins in our personal lives. It requires us to critically examine our relationships and the people we choose to surround ourselves with. Our time and energy are precious, and advocacy extends beyond public action, it also exists in how we love. We can “vote with love” by engaging in emotionally regulated conversations with those who see the world differently, fostering understanding rather than division. At the same time, we can also vote with love by setting boundaries or walking away from relationships with those who disregard equality or fail to recognize the depth of injustice that others experience. Now more than ever, those who are empowered with both empathy and privilege must stand up against hate, resist tyranny, and choose love.
How did you get interested in psychology?
I became interested in psychology at a very young age. I was, and still am, fascinated by individual differences, particularly the depth and range of emotions that people experience and the unique ways they express them. I realized I wanted to study not only clinical mental health but the broader psychology of people, especially after recognizing how profoundly culture and religion shape one’s experiences. More recently, I have become deeply interested in human connection, love, and spirituality, and I hope to integrate these passions by one day becoming a couples therapist. Ultimately, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawn to understanding the human mind and experience. Being alive can be tragically painful, but it is also incredibly beautiful and poetic.
Claudia is currently an advanced doctoral extern at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center Behavioral Health Services. She has been involved at ISPP through her various teaching assistant positions, and was a research assistant for Dr. Warner’s “The Luke Project.”
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ISPP Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Daniela Schreier, Psy.D., ABPP VOL. 15
Dr. Daniela Schreier, Psy.D., ABPP (She/Her) Licensed Clinical Psychologist Board Certified in Clinical Psychology
Contact: drschreier@drschreier.com | Website: drdanielaschreier.com or drdanielaschreier.sg or ihsanliving.com or thegardenerinthesky.com
Dr. Daniela Schreier is a U.S. board-certified clinical psychologist (American Board of Professional Psychology) specializing in clinical and forensic psychology. She is licensed in Illinois, Kansas, and Hawaii, and a Registered Psychologist and Approved Supervisor with the Singapore Psychological Society (SPS) in Singapore. She is the Clinical Director of two boutique psychology firms: Smart Living LLC in Chicago, USA, and Ihsan Living Pte Ltd in Singapore. A former PR and business consultant, polyglot, and associate professor of psychology, she has authored two books and numerous articles, and contributed extensively as a media expert to international TV and radio stations. She currently pens the column "An Affair to Remember." She also contributes regularly to the Singapore Psychologist, the flagship magazine of the SPS.
How did you get interested in psychology?
In my previous career as an international PR and business consultant, I had the unique opportunity to work and live on multiple continents. Through these experiences, I learned that, regardless of cultural background, people — in business and personal life — share the same basic needs: to be acknowledged, heard, respected, and valued. Above all, we want to be treated with authenticity and compassion. Wanting to provide this supportive environment, led me to begin therapy and reading self-help books at an early stage. My love for books was inspired by my grandmother. I realized that gaining the knowledge to change myself could also empower me to become a better person and help others. Ultimately, I chose psychology because it is a multidimensional profession I can practice anywhere in the world. It allows me to teach, write, and work as a practicing psychologist, leveraging all the insights gained throughout my global career.
Please tell us about a recent accomplishment that’s meaningful to you.
I’m thrilled to share two new projects that are very close to my heart and just launched:
Ihsan Living Pte Ltd, Singapore (https://ihsanliving.com) We’ve opened a new psychology clinic in Singapore, modeled directly after my practice in Chicago, S.M.A.R.T. Living LLC. Both are boutique venues designed to offer a personalized client experience. It brings me immense gratitude to bring this specialized, boutique approach to a new market. The Gardener in the Sky (https://thegardenerinthesky.com) This project is a personal passion: a blog that reflects on life’s journey. It covers diverse categories, including a section titled "The Therapist’s Journey." This specific column is meant for psychology students, those in training, and early career psychologists. It's a collection of shared experiences, not professional advice, designed to provide a glimpse behind the curtain of a psychologist's life and into the realities of the field.
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ISPP Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Daniela Schreier, Psy.D., ABPP VOL. 15
Do you have any advice for prospective students?
If you'd like to share, please tell us about one of your most important experiences at ISPP.
T – Time Will Pass Anyway It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, or what other people tell you: Dedicate the time required to earn the degree you need to become the professional you want to be. True friends will stick around, even if you see them less frequently initially. Imagine where you will be in six years, both personally and professionally, if you don't get your degree. Now, imagine you do get it. How will your life have changed? Choose change. Dedicate the time and focus needed to study your profession, and truly own it. R – Remember Other Timelines Move Forward Too As time passes, other timelines including the lives of children, family and friends also move forward. Make time for loved ones and hobbies while pursuing your educational goals. This balance may be challenging during the first semester as you reacquaint yourself with the demands of academic life, but it is essential for your well-being over the long run. U – Unpretentiousness Fosters Appreciation Live with gratitude and seize the opportunity you are given. Realize that you truly don’t know everything about psychology yet and always remain a student at heart. Not every place or country offers the robust educational structure needed to study psychology, become licensed, and board-certified. Appreciate the chance you have to learn within such a system. E – Excellence, Not Perfection (There Is None) Stop striving for perfection. There is no such thing as a perfect grade, a perfect paper, or a perfect outcome. Don’t demand perfection from yourself, your professors, and peers. Focus instead on achieving excellence and continual improvement, which is a sustainable and realistic goal.
My most important experience at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (ISPP) was the continuation of a strong mentorship tradition that began before I even arrived and extended well into my professional career. The relationships forged at ISPP stand for excellence in education and lasting, meaningful professional connections. My academic journey began at the Seattle campus of the Washington School of Professional Psychology (WSPP). There, I met Dr. Laura S. Brown, PhD ABPP, a truly larger-than-life figure in the field of psychology. Dr. Brown was my initial advisor and mentor, inspiring my board certification in clinical psychology and believing in me when I was uncertain of my path. To this day, we meet regularly for case supervision, a relationship that evolved seamlessly from student to colleague. Key Relationships at ISPP When I transferred to ISPP, this legacy of meaningful relationships continued and deepened: Dr. Annemarie Slobig, PsyD: An outstanding professor and clinical psychology department chair who was an institution within the ISPP PsyD program. She led the APA accreditation efforts for many years and personally oversaw my coursework transfer to Chicago. Though tough and by-the- book, her support was unwavering, and I immediately recognized professional excellence in her leadership. I deeply value her guidance and ongoing support. Dr. Kathleen O’Brian, PhD ABPP: The coordinator of the Forensic Minor was inspiring, personable, and an outstanding practitioner and professor who provided valuable guidance. Dr. Leah Horvath: The Program Director at The Illinois School of Professional Psychology at National Louis University, who was my boss when I began teaching. We started at ISPP around the same time I deeply value our long-standing professional relationship and her continued support. I deeply value this network of long-standing relationships. It provides the assurance that you can always return to a true Alma Mater, a place where dedicated, intelligent, and cooperative professionals collaborate and support each other. There are no perfect universities or professors, but there are dedicated people who strive to make things work despite imperfect circumstances.
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New Faculty Member: Dr. Michelle Tan, Psy.D., HSP VOL. 15
Dr. Michelle Tan, Psy.D., HSP (She/Her) Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Michelle Tan is an Assistant Professor at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology as well as a licensed clinical psychologist whose work bridges the disciplines of health psychology and neuropsychology to address the complex interaction between brain, behavior, and physical health. Dr. Tan earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology emphasis) from Adler University, completing her APA-accredited internship at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Her professional background includes leadership roles as Program Manager of Evaluation Services and Training Director at a pediatric outpatient behavioral center and as Neuropsychology Emphasis Coordinator at Adler University during her time as faculty there. In her clinical work, Dr. Tan currently serves as Director of Assessment at Primary Care Psychology Associates, where she specializes in and oversees neuropsychological and psychological evaluation services across the lifespan and provides supervision for postdoctoral fellows and interns. She is deeply committed to training and mentoring future psychologists, emphasizing evidence-based practice, professional identity development, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Dr. Tan also provides evidence-based therapies including CBT, ACT, and mindfulness- based interventions to support clients to cope through challenges with the goal to improve daily functioning and quality of life. Other clinical and research interests include: ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, neurocognitive disorders, rehabilitation psychology, gerontology, palliative and end-of-life care. She is credentialed through PSYPACT and the National Register of Health Service Psychologists.
Welcome Dr. Tan to our NLU and ISPP community!
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Get Involved! Membership, Workgroup and Merch VOL. 15
American Association of Graduate Students (APAGS)
Antiracism & Intersectionality and Workgroup
APAGS is a division within the American Psychological Association (APA) dedicated to representing and addressing the needs of graduate students in psychology. APAGS provides resources, support, and advocacy for psychology graduate students to help them succeed in their academic and professional pursuits.
Get Involved: https://www.apa.org/apags /governance Resources: https://www.apa.org/apags /resources Resource Guide for Psychology Graduate Students of Color: https://www.apa.org/apags /resources/ethnic- minority-guide
Link: https://nl.zoom.us/j/921 36874153
All are encouraged and welcome to join us as we host an open conversation on race, racism, and the intersectionality of gender and gender identity. We meet every Tuesday at 6pm CST.
ISPP Merchansise Available Now!
https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/166889390?asc=u *Thank you to PsyD student Tina Giordano for creating the logo and shop!
https://unlicensed.threadless.com/designs/i-heart-ispp *I 💙 ISPP Merch
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The Thrive Center
National Louis University believes ALL students can THRIVE through the advocacy of an inclusive campus and the support of a caring community, where students feel a sense of belonging and empowerment to not only be academically successful, but thrive personally and professionally.
https://nl.edu/student-services/food-pantry-and-thrive- resources/campus-and-community-resources/
Looking for ways to give this holiday season? Click here to make a donation to the NLU Food Pantry!
Single Stop As we begin the academic year, the Thrive Center is encouraging for staff and faculty to promote this excellent service. Single Stop is a one-stop application that provides all resources available to individual needs from housing, healthcare, education, financing, and much more! Volunteer Opportunities With our partnership with the Chicago Food Depository and other incredible events, the Thrive Center invites everyone to sign up for volunteer opportunities across the year. Pick a Date on Our Calendar
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VOL. 15
Additional Support and Resources
Office of Wellness Services (3rd Floor of 122 S. Michigan Ave)
Starting Fall 2025, the Counseling & Wellness Center is now the Office of Wellness Services. NLU has partnered with Skylight Counseling Center, who have counselors available on the southeast corner of the 3rd Floor of 122 S. Michigan Building in Office 3096. Drop-in hours are from 12-1pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays. To schedule an appointment with a counselor you can email wellness@nl.edu or submit a Contact us form through https://skylightcounselingcenter.com/nlu to match with a counselor and schedule sessions with a licensed counselor that fits your schedule.
In crisis? Text “START” to 741-741 or call 988
NLU’s Office of Wellness Services offers in-person and virtual session with licensed clinicians! This is FREE for students!
Learning Support
The Food & Hygiene Pantry (18-Rm. 526)
NLU’s Learning Support provide personalized tutoring (both virtually and onsite) in writing, math, computer science, and English-language learning (ELL/ESL support); coordinate with faculty to support student learning; host workshops and events to prepare students for major assessments; create and curate help guides and tutorials; and advocate for equitable educational access.
NLU’s food and hygiene pantry provides resources to help sutdents overcome the basic-needs barriers that impeded their academic success, physical health, and social emotional life.
HTTPS://NL.EDU/STUDENT-SERVICES/FOOD-PANTRY- AND-THRIVE-RESOURCES/CAMPUS-AND-COMMUNITY- RESOURCES/
https://nl.edu/learning-support/
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Additional Support and Resources
Immigration Resources
Office of the Attorney General, Know Your Rights Red cards, available in 56 languages The Resurrection Project Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights Southwest Suburban Immigration Project Immigrant Legal Resources Center National Immigrant Justice Center Volunteer to be a translator Immigration Assistance Workshops DACA Resources Judicial versus Immigration Warrants/Subpoenas Resources if you interact with or witness ICE: https://safechi.org Locate someone in ICE custody: https://locator.ice.gov/odls/#/search
LIST OF BOOKS FOR TALKING TO CHILDREN
Middle-Grade Books (ages 8-12)
Picture Books (ages 4-8)
“Efren Divided” by Ernesto Cisneros “Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl Fought for her American Dream” by Julissa Arce “Inside Out and Back Again” by Thanhha Lai “I Wish You Knew” by Jackie Azua Kramer
“Dreamers” by Yuyi Morales “My Two Blankets” by Irena Kobald and Freya Blackwood “Mamá the Alien” by René Colato Laínez “Something Happened to my Dad” by Hazzard Ann
Campus Support Resources
Through the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, we offer support to undocumented students through EMUS (EMpowering Undocumented Students), a task force of NLU staff dedicated to providing guidance and resources. Additionally, undocumented student liaisons and EMUS student ambassadors, also part of this office, are available to assist and advocate for your needs. Contact emus@nl.edu. We encourage you to prioritize your mental health and well-being by connecting with our counseling and wellness resources.
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VOL. 15
Additional Support and Resources
Help Hotlines
Help and Crisis Lifeline: 988 (Call or Text) The Trevor Project: Text 678-678 or call 866-488-7348 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 National Child Abuse Hotline: 800-422-4453 Elder Abuse Hotline: 800-252-8966 National Association of Anorexia Nervosa & Associated Disorders: 847-831-3438 National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE National Runaway Safeline: 800-786-2929 Crime Victims Hotline (Stalking): 866-689-HELP Alcohol Abuse and Crisis Intervention: 800-234-0246 National Safe Haven Alliance Crisis Hotline: 888-510-BABY Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255
Looking for a therapist?
https://www.nami.org/ https://locator.apa.org/ https://openpathcollective.org/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us
Thank you for reading!
ISPP @ NLU
FALL 2025
18 S Michigan Ave.
UP NEXT: Winter 2026, Vol. 16
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