Jamie Stevens MA, NCC, LCPC, ASDCS, ADHD-CCSP

Therapist / Clinical Director / Adults (18+)

Jamie (she/her) is a skilled and experienced therapist with more than 15 years of expertise in the area of neurodiversity. She is certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS) and as an ADHD Certified Clinical Specialist (ADHD-CCSP). She possesses an extensive range of techniques that can provide significant benefits to her clients, including improved executive functioning, self-regulation, self-acceptance, social abilities, mood regulation, and overall mental well-being. Jamie’s approach to therapy is centered around the individual, putting her clients’ needs at the forefront of her practice. She is an authorized service provider for most insurance providers, offering top-quality therapeutic treatments to those in need.

Grace Chong

Practice Manager

Grace (they/them) is the Practice Manager for Jamie Stevens Counseling Group, overseeing client intakes, scheduling, and credit card payments with professionalism and care. Known for their friendly and approachable demeanor, Grace ensures every client feels welcomed and supported from the first interaction. Their strong organizational skills keep the practice running smoothly, allowing counselors to focus on providing quality care. Grace’s commitment to efficiency and compassion makes them an essential part of the counseling team.

Contact Grace at: grace@jamiestevenscounseling.com

(217)840-2934

Elise Belknap PhD, LPC, NCC

Director of Children's Services / Therapist

Elise (she/they) has a vast background in working with kids of all ages with many years’ experience in working with neurodiverse children and their families. Although her specialty here is working with children, she accepts clients of all ages. See her bio below.

“My work with individuals is rooted in curiosity, compassion, and skill building. I support clients in connecting with themselves while helping them understand how their history impacts their current relationships and their sense of self. I have many years of experience working with children and their caregivers. Our work together will involve play, attunement, and parent coaching. As a part of the therapeutic process, I collaborate with each child’s team to create a cohesive plan for children and their families.
I am also a queer affirming, sex-positive therapist familiar with a spectrum of sexual orientations, identities, and relationship structures. I am interested in collaborating with you to co-create a healing, safe, and non-judgmental environment where vulnerability, laughter, and silence are all welcome.”

Dylan Mahaffey MS, LPC, NCC

Therapist - Adolescents & Adults

Dylan (he/him) has a background in working with kids of all ages as a school counselor. He has experience in working with ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Although his background is in working with children, he has clinical experience working with adults as well. See his bio below.

Are you feeling lost, overwhelmed, or stuck? Are you feeling lonely, out of touch, or struggling? We all need support at some point during our lives. I specialize in working with clients with ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, difficulty adjusting, substance abuse, and overwhelming stress. It takes courage to take the first step. You are worth it. I take an eclectic approach to counseling. I like to use your strengths to empower future growth and happiness.
As a counselor, I believe in establishing a therapeutic relationship so that we can work together to meet whatever goals you may have. Therapy is a great way to help navigate the enormous changes in our world. I offer both in person and telehealth sessions.
We all need support and want to feel heard. I like to take a supportive caring approach to counseling. You deserve to reach your fullest potential and counseling can help you get there.

Lexia Swope-Hassan MSW, LCSW, ASDCS

Children and Adolescent Specialist

Lexia (she/her) is a dedicated child and adolescent therapist with over 8 years of experience supporting young people through her work as a School Social Worker. She has worked with a diverse range of children and teens, including those who are neurodivergent and those living with disabilities. She is certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).

Lexia provides both individual and group counseling focused on helping children and adolescents build self-regulation skills, improve their mental health, gain psychoeducation, and strengthen social skills. She has extensive experience working with children diagnosed with ADHD, autism, oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), anxiety, and depression, as well as those who have experienced trauma.

Lexia’s approach is grounded in empathy, inclusivity, and respect. She believes that building a strong, trusting relationship is the foundation for effective therapy. She uses evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing, while always tailoring her methods to meet each child’s unique needs.

Lexia values collaboration with caregivers and sees them as essential partners in a child’s progress. She is also trained in crisis intervention and de-escalation, ensuring safety and support even in difficult moments.

Above all, Lexia is committed to providing ethical, client-centered, and culturally responsive care. She honors each client’s dignity, autonomy, and potential for growth.

Kelsey Langley MS, NCC, LPC

Children's Specialist / Adults

Kelsey (she/her) has over 15 years of experience in the art of play. She has earned her master’s of science degree in clinical counseling from Eastern Illinois University. She is currently earning her certification as a Clinical Neurodiversity Specialist. See her bio below.

Welcome, you’ve found a soft landing space with a caring therapist ready to walk with you on your healing journey. I bring a person-centered approach to therapy, believing the best in everyone and trusting in their capacity for positive change and development. Using this relational approach allows me to see clients beyond their diagnoses and support them in personally meaningful ways. I look forward to holding a safe container for my clients in which they can reconnect to their bodies, find support and co-regulation, and learn new skills that will help each individual on their journey.

With a background in supporting children through their play, it is my hope to bring a playful energy to therapy. When using playful or creative modalities, my goal is that clients would be able to reconnect with and express themselves through the language of play, as well as meet and tend to their inner child in the safe container of our session.

My goal is for clients to leave our session feeling connected, grounded, and hopeful. I look forward to connecting with you, exploring what approaches bring healing for you, and supporting your healing journey.

Avi Hessel MSW, PLSW

LGBTQIA+ Professional Advocate & Therapist

Avi (they/ them) has a strong background in LGBTQIA+ advocacy and community building. They primarily work with teens and adults. Being neurodivergent, nonbinary, and queer themself, they are passionate about providing a sensory-friendly, trauma-informed, and safe space for LGBTQIA+ individuals to explore their sexuality and/or gender. They excel at helping clients work through executive dysfunction, cope with sensory differences, and socialize authentically. Having personally navigated anxiety, questioning identities, bullying, chronic pain, and invisible disabilities, Avi offers an empathetic, human-centered approach that often incorporates mindfulness practices, nervous system regulation, and exploration of roles and transitions. They prioritize holding space for processing trauma, loss, and grief, and they are able to provide therapy through a broadly spiritual or specifically Jewish lens. They have a growing interest in art therapy based on their experiences with expressive arts combined with meditation.

https://en.pronouns.page/they/them/themself

Glen Forneris MSW, LCSW, ASDCS

Therapist - ALL AGES - Clinical Supervisor

With over 15 years of experience in the mental health field, Glen (he/him) is a dedicated and compassionate clinician who has worked with children, adults, and families in outpatient clinical settings as well as in schools. His approach is grounded in empathy, collaboration, and evidence-based practices tailored to meet each client’s unique needs. He is certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).

Currently serving as a school social worker at both an elementary and a middle school, Glen provides direct support to students, families, and educators. He specializes in helping children and adolescents navigate emotional and behavioral challenges, while also fostering healthy development and academic success.

Glen has extensive experience working with individuals diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), depression, anxiety, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and other mental health conditions. He is particularly skilled at working with clients who have experienced trauma and those with complex emotional needs.

He holds specialized training in trauma-informed care, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and autism spectrum interventions, and incorporates additional evidence-based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy. His goal is to support clients in developing emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and practical coping strategies that lead to long-term well-being.

Above all, Glen is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful space where every client feels heard, supported, and empowered to grow.

Jessica L. Messe MSW, LSW, ASDCS

Children's Therapist & Adults

Jessica (she/her) attended University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign earning Excellence in Scholarship with her Master’s of Social Work. Jessica has an Advanced Clinical concentration focusing on Schools. As a school social worker, she has experience working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, emotional disorders, other health impairments, and learning disabilities. She is certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS). She focuses on implementing social communication skills, problem solving, emotional regulation, stress management, and friendship skills into her sessions with a creative, calm, and personalized approach. She is passionate about working with individuals as they navigate grief and loss, life transitions, and changing family dynamics. Jessica is a Project Ti-3 Scholar earning certificates in Trauma-Informed Early Intervention, Early Childhood Special Education, and School Social Work. She specializes in providing trauma-informed care to youth and their families.

Jessica brings warmth, collaboration, flexibility, and positivity to sessions, encouraging clients to develop coping strategies and social-emotional learning skills that work best for their individualized goals. Jessica is passionate about creating a supportive and inclusive therapeutic environment where all clients feel safe and empowered.

Peri Drury

Clinical Intern - Coming January 2026

Peri (they/ them) is finishing their Master’s of Social Work and is a clinical intern with Jamie Stevens Counseling Group. Peri has been on a varied road to becoming a therapist and has previously worked in middle schools, with a focus on queer and trauma-informed care for their students. As they have transitioned into the clinical space, they have furthered their passion for working with the LGBTQ+ community and enjoy working with both youth and adults. Peri takes a trauma-informed approach to their work and enjoys working with issues such as grief, life transitions, LGBTQ-affirmative therapy, gender-identity exploration, disability and chronic pain, depression, anxiety, trauma processing, self-image, and relationship issues. They also love working with neurodivergent clients, particularly women and gender-diverse clients who have received a later-in-life diagnosis and are trying to figure out how to understand themselves more deeply and accommodate their needs, such as figuring out how to unmask, accommodating sensory needs, and figuring out how to better manage executive functioning without burning out. Peri is working towards being certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).
Peri uses a strengths-based approach using a collaborative perspective with a warm and relatable demeanor. Peri says about their approach as a therapist, “I believe a strong therapeutic relationship is the core of how we work through your concerns and towards your goals together. So, if you need to laugh, cry, change directions mid-session, or need guidance on where to start, I’m ready to take this journey with you. It is a joy to support you through our co-creation of a safe space -free of judgment and filled with curiosity- where you can take the steps you need to get where you want to be.”

Contact Peri at: peri@jamiestevenscounseling.com

Jacob Stevens

Clinical Intern - Coming May 2026

Jacob (he/him) is a psychology major at Anderson University. He enjoys golf and spending time with friends. He will begin his clinical internship May 2026.

Contact Jacob at: jacob@jamiestevenscounseling.com

Claire Vail B.Ed

Educational Advocate & Support

Claire (she/her) is originally from Dallas Texas and has lived in the Champaign area for 35 years. Having a child on the autism spectrum led her to earning her bachelor’s degree in special education from Eastern Illinois University. She holds an LBS 1 certification and has managed the case list for Autism Support at Centennial High School for the last 18 years.

Due to her personal experience and her time at Centennial High School, she has developed a deep passion and understanding of people on the autism spectrum and the many strengths and challenges that impact their progress in the educational environment.

While at Centennial High School, Claire wrote and implemented over 400 IEP’s for students with eligibility for autism, which included goals for executive function, such as task initiation, organization, work completion, and test taking skills just to name a few, along with social skills such as social thinking, conversation, making friends, and expected / unexpected behaviors. The implementation of the goals involved collaboration with, and education of general education teachers.

Karen Downing

Billing Specialist

Karen (she/her) is a skilled Billing Specialist with expertise in managing insurance claims, payments, and billing processes for mental health practices. She ensures accurate and timely claim submission and compliance with insurance regulations. With strong attention to detail and excellent communication skills, Karen supports both clients and counselors by handling billing efficiently and maintaining transparent financial records. Her dedication helps streamline operations and ensures counseling services run smoothly and effectively for all involved.

Contact Karen at: karen@desertsunfinancial.com

Therapy Cat

Toulouse

Toulouse works at both locations. He is a ragdoll kitten that loves to play and take naps. If you are allergic to cats please let us know so we can schedule your session in a low allergen environment.