Meet Our Team

Beacon of Enlightenment, NFP, is a team of knowledgeable and compassionate counselors and therapists who are ready to meet you wherever you are on your journey. With locations available to serve clients in both Crystal Lake and Rockford, we are committed to meeting your healthcare and financial needs with a wide range of treatment options for all age ranges.

Crisy M. Gowan, LCPC/CRC

CRYSTAL LAKE & ROCKFORD
Crisy M. Gowan LCPC/CRC is the founder of Lantern Therapy Services, LTD. Crisy graduated with a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Northern Illinois University in 2007. Crisy is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Crisy’s Clinical experience includes working in community mental health, SASS, residential, private practice, workman’s comp, and high school transitional programming. Crisy has been successfully working with adults and children for many years. Crisy specializes in working with a variety of areas including: children, trauma, borderline personality disorder, issues related to disability, mental illness, and workforce struggles. Crisy’s integrative approach to counseling utilizes various treatment approaches including : Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, and an emphasis Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and she is a certified EMDR therapist through EMDRIA.

Yessenia Mejia, LPC

CRYSTAL LAKE
Yessenia Mejia is a graduate of DePaul University with an MEd in Counseling. Yessenia has a background in working at schools within special services and with schools to be able to provide additional support for her clients. She has worked in an inpatient setting working with children and adolescents ranging between the ages of 4-17 while focusing on crisis management. She is very passionate about assisting students succeed in college and has worked for Northwestern University and DePaul University.

Yessenia uses CBT in combination with mindfulness and relational psychotherapy when she works with clients. She has been able to empathize and practice a variety of approaches with individuals ranging in ability. She works from an identity conscious framework, which allows her to individualize interventions with multicultural sensitivity and honoring the client’s identities.

Viviana Guierrez Atilano, MSW

CRYSTAL LAKE
Viviana Gutierrez Atilano is an experienced social worker who has provided services to diverse populations in various settings. Viviana holds a Bachelors of Psychology from North Central College and a Master of Social Work from George Williams College of Aurora University.  She is bilingual (English and Spanish) & bicultural, and enjoys using either language (or both!) in sessions. Viviana has worked in several non-profit organizations with clients who experience mental health crises, transitional youth challenges, DCFS involvement, anxiety, depression, trauma, and personality disorders. She utilizes an approach that puts clients’ needs first to help empower them in their own recovery process. 
Additionally, Viviana has worked with teens and adults clients who experience substance use disorders. Viviana understands the complex needs of individuals and families who experience co-occurring disorders. Currently, she is working to be a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC).   For several years, Viviana worked closely with several McHenry County area high schools to provide substance abuse prevention, treatment and education services to students, their families, and school staff. Viviana understands that each client experiences unique challenges and works collaboratively with each client to tailor treatment to best fit their needs. She utilizes various treatment modalities including: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SBFT), and Motivational Interviewing.

Amy Tures, LCSW

CRYSTAL LAKE
Amy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who believes in providing a caring and non-judgmental environment where individuals and families can openly process, reflect, and work collaboratively to achieve their goals. Amy values each individual and family system and utilizes a customized treatment approach including aspects of solution-focused therapy (SFBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and play therapy.
Amy’s clinical experience includes working with children and adults in community mental health, schools, and residential placements. Amy’s is an experienced school social worker with knowledge of developmental disabilities, learning disabilities and other academic challenges. She is also an advocate and resource for victims of relationship violence and has completed Domestic Violence Awareness and Intervention Training.

Michael Young, QHMP

Michael graduated with a Masters Degree in Counseling and Human Services from Lindsey Wilson College in KY and has a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts.  Michael has worked in the mental health field since 1999.  Michael’s clinical experience includes working in community mental health with adults and children, and respite care services.  
Michael specializes in working with a variety of struggles including: Aspergers, trauma, and mental illness. Michael’s integrative approach to counseling utilizes various treatment approaches including : Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person Centered Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy and therapy that utilizes art at the root of one’s healing. 
When not meeting with clients Michael is often found honing his art skills in order to develop ways to help his clients cope with day to day stressors. Michael focuses on different art modalities to help clients heal such as painting, drawing, printmaking, and wood working.

Kevin Thomas, LPC

CRYSTAL LAKE & ROCKFORD
Kevin’s approach with clients involves being fully present with them in a manner that honors who they are no matter where they have been in their life. It is such a gift to be able to be present with someone as they continue to grow the true definition of themselves. As a counselor, Kevin has worked with clients who struggle with depression, marital and family issues, criminal behavior, and PTSD. Kevin enjoys working with all ages and looks forward to forming new therapeutic relationships.

Latavia Elmore, LCSW

Latavia Agada is a licensed clinical social worker at the Rockford Lantern Therapy Services location, who is dedicated to assisting people in realizing their potential and achieving their goals. She is a big believer in people's ability to persevere and overcome life's challenges and sits with her clients as an interactive listener and a source of support. 
Latavia is licensed in the state of Illinois and holds bachelors' in sociology/anthropology and Russian from Swarthmore College and a master's in clinical social work from the University of Chicago. She is currently a PhD student in international psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a concentration in trauma. Latavia worked for a variety of non-profit organizations that served troubled children and teenagers, immigrants, refugees, people with disabilities, and people who were in crisis or who have struggled with anxiety, depression, trauma, and mental illness. Latavia uses cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) solution-focused therapy, the Grief Recovery Method and mindfulness amongst other therapy modalities and techniques to help people on their journey towards wholeness.

Caitlyn McClure, LCSW

Caitlyn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in trauma work, particularly with children and teens.  She completed her bachelor's degree in counseling with a focus on addiction in 2014 and her Masters in Social Work with a specialization in trauma in 2015.  Since then, she has explored the intersection of addiction and trauma across the lifespan and is pursuing her Doctor of Social Work degree.
Caitlyn approaches therapy with the idea that personal engagement and awareness are the heart of successful transformation.  She challenges clients to shift perspectives, explore their narrative, and rewrite their role as they deal with things like anxiety, depression, anger management issues, trauma, addiction, grief and bereavement, behavior issues, suicidal thoughts, psychosis, social skills, and more.  Caitlyn practices from a Rogerian framework and integrates components of CBT, DBT, and narrative therapy to collaborate with clients and help them create their best life.

Ashley Flanagan, LPC

CRYSTAL LAKE
Ashley Flanagan studied Psychology and Spanish at Florida State University and graduated with an MA in Clinical Psychology, Sport and Health Specialization, from Adler University. Her credentials include being a National Certified Counselor (NCC), as confirmed by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). She is an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist, Certified Ally with 50+ hours of training, and encourages individuals to feel safe and empowered in their identity.
Her focus as a therapist is to help individuals who have experienced trauma, anxieties, and depression. Through the therapeutic relationship, she works with people to increase their personal discovery and gain access to the expression of authentic emotion. She believes we are innately designed to survive, and sometimes our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are negatively enacted. Her framework identifies that each person is doing the best they can in the moment and it is the therapist’s job to investigate additional moments of resilience, persistence, and self-compassion toward healing.
“I believe great people do things before they are ready” – Amy Poehler

Nicole Truijillo, LCPC

CRYSTAL LAKE
Nicole is an Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who is experienced in providing trauma informed care. She has a background in community mental health, mobile crisis response, and therapeutic support services in schools. Nicole holds a Bachelor's of Science in Health Sciences from Duquesne University and a Master's in Counseling with a Specialization in Sport and Health Psychology from Adler University. During her time as a clinician, she has developed experience working with anxiety, depression, ADHD, child and adolescent behavior, and trauma. 
Nicole's therapeutic approach blends cognitive behavioral therapy and client centered practices to help meet the client where they are. She believes in a collaborative treatment approach tailored to each individual's needs. Nicole allows clients a safe space to process difficult emotions and build resilience

Alexandria (AJ) Hummel, LSW

Crystal Lake
Alexandria (AJ) Hummel is a Licensed Social Worker who earned her Masters in Social Work from California State University of Northridge in 2019. AJ has experience working with children, teens, and their family’s with a large spectrum of mental health concerns and needs. AJ recently worked as a member of Community Support Team which specialized in crisis intervention, case management, and therapeutic services to high risk clients and their family’s.  
AJ enjoys meeting clients and their family’s where they are at and tailors their therapeutic experience around their needs and strengths. AJ works towards assisting her clients in growing natural supports in their life, whether that be family, friends, school staff, etc. while introducing other outside resources as needed. AJ has experience in using multiple therapeutic approaches such DBT, CBT, trauma informed care, psych-education, and game play, through strengths-based and client centered care.

Brianna Delgado, QMHP

Rockford
Brianna Delgado is a clinical therapist with experience with those with co-occuring disorders. Brianna is obtaining her Masters of Arts in Addictions Counseling and has a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Criminology. Brianna has worked in a residential setting with clients with various diagnoses. By understanding co-occurring disorders, Brianna creates individual treatment plans to ensure the progress of every client. She is currently working on her certification as a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor (CADC) along with her Certified Reciprocal Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CRADC). 
Brianna uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) while working with clients so that they can problem solve and cope with previous and current trauma. She is extremely passionate in helping her clients with mood regulation, changes of behavioral patterns, as well as altering cognitive distortions to solve current problems and live enjoyable lives.

Krystal Abalos, QMHP

Crystal Lake
Krystal has recently graduated from Concordia University with her Master’s of Arts in Mental Health Counseling. She completed her internship at an organization focused on domestic violence. Krystal’s therapeutic counseling focused on treating women and children who experienced depression, anxiety, and other related traumas. She utilizes an eclectic approach consisting of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Client Centered Therapy among others.

Krystal has spent the last 8 years working with adolescents and young adults with disabilities. She has taught her students independent skills, mainly in the vocational area. Krystal is very compassionate towards those with disabilities but also works with her students from the perspective of making tasks, ideas, and concepts fit into their world.

In her free time, Krystal enjoys hanging out at home with her family. She loves music and considers it her happy place. Krystal enjoys reading books and relaxing.