Our Staff

Director

Judy Schiffman, LCSW, Director of Barr-Harris Children’s Grief Center since 2008, received a Masters degree from the University of Pennsylvania in social work and is a graduate of the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program at The Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis, of which she is presently assistant director. She has worked with children and their families for the past 25 years, with a special interest in parent and sibling loss. Judy is an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University in the Department of Psychiatry, where she teaches in a graduate program that trains genetic counselors.

Therapists

Paula Casas, LCSW, received a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago and also holds a Masters in Child Development from Erikson Institute for Child Development. She has worked in the field of early childhood and family support for over 15 years. Paula joined Barr-Harris in 2013 and is a therapist at the Deerfield office. Paula is fluent in Spanish and is very sensitive to cultural influences on grief and loss. Her work with children and caregivers is highly collaborative and relationship-based. Paula is particularly interested in helping children find meaning in their loss and identify healing strategies that work for them. Paula is also on staff at Willow Wellness Center in Park Ridge.

Jennifer Feinberg, LCSW, received a Masters degree in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago. She worked as a social worker at a therapeutic day school providing individual and group therapy to help students achieve success in an ongoing supportive environment. With a background in elementary education as well, she has taught both middle school and preschool. In addition to working as a therapist at Barr-Harris Children’s Grief Center in Deerfield, Jennifer works with children and families as a bereavement coordinator with North Shore Hospice. She also has experience facilitating support groups for adults who have had a loss. Her special interests are in parent and sibling loss.

Lisa Jablon Fowler, LCPC, received a Masters degree in Psychological Counseling from Southeast Missouri State university. She has worked a psychotherapist in private practice for 15 years, with an office currently located in Wilmette. Lisa is a certified Sandplay Practitioner, working with children, adolescents and adults suffering from trauma and grief. She also is a consultant for Childcare Network of Evanston and a psychotherapist for A Home Within, which provides psychotherapy free of charge for a for a foster care child for as long as they require.

Jessica Johnson, LCPC, completed her Masters degree at the Institute for Clinical Social Work. She worked for several years at a community mental health clinic in Albany Park as a child, adolescent, and adult psychotherapist, as well as running psychotherapy groups in a neighborhood high school. Jessica is currently in the Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training program at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. Jessica also maintains a private practice in downtown Chicago.

Renee Raap, LCSW, received a Bachelors degree in Social Work before working for four years as a dormitory counselor at the Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School, a residential facility and therapeutic day school for children and adolescents. While there, she earned a Masters degree in Social Work from The University of Chicago. After completing graduate studies, she moved to Brooklyn to work as a school social worker for two years. She then returned to Chicago to resume her work as an individual, group, and family therapist at the Orthogenic School, while completing the Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy training program at the Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. Renee works at our Evanston office.

Ruth Richman, LSW, received a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Chicago. She did her internship with Barr-Harris during her second year at school, and recently joined the staff in the Evanston office. She also recently accepted a part-time job as a medical social worker for a hospice agency. Ruth performs improvisational theatre as part of The Therapy Players, a troupe made of mental health professionals from the Chicago area.

Celeste Soden, LCSW, received a Masters Degree in Social Work from Loyola University. This is her second career choice after practicing Pediatric Nursing for many years. She received her BS/RN from Bowling Green State University. Celeste has always been focused in the care of children, both physically and emotionally. She believes in the development of the child as an individual with respect towards different patterns of growth. Her work is child centered with a strong emphasis on collaboration and relationships. Celeste also previously worked as a School Social Worker in Evanston/Skokie School District 65 for 12 years.

Johanna Sonnenfeld-Lenneberg, LCSW, received a Masters degree in Social Work from The University of Chicago and Masters in Public Administration from Roosevelt University. She completed the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program at Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. She has been a Barr-Harris therapist for 12 years. Johanna has a special interest in the treatment of adolescents. She is the site coordinator and therapist at our office at La Rabida Children’s Hospital. She also maintains a private practice.

Sharon Williams, LCSW , received a Masters degree in Social Work from The University of Chicago. She is a graduate of the of the Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Program at The Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis. She has been a therapist with Barr-Harris and site coordinator for the Little Company of Mary Hospital’s location for the past 16 years. Sharon developed our internship program for advanced graduate students. She has a special interest in working with trauma, children of military parents, and with Grandparents Raising Grandchildren families. She is on the faculty of Loyola University and maintains a private practice.

Director Emeritus

Benjamin Garber, M.D., has worked with Barr-Harris Children’s Grief Center since its beginning in 1976. He was director for 17 years and now serves as Director Emeritus. Dr. Garber has published many articles on childhood bereavement and loss. He also has a private practice in adult and child psychiatry and psychoanalysis and is a training and supervising analyst at The Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis.

Interns

Erikson Institute Masters in Social Work program: Diandra Entler, Karen Robbins

Roosevelt University: Kelsey Anderson

University of Chicago School of Social Work: Margaret Embick, Samantha Entzler

University of Illinois at Chicago Jane Addams School of Social Work: Margaret Klinge, Meredith Wilkinson