Milwaukee

Individual and family counseling is available for children and adolescents who need help with:

• Physical or sexual abuse, neglect or other trauma.
• Depression and anxiety.
• Low self-esteem.
• Problems due to divorce, separation, remarriage or death of a loved one.
• Parent-child conflicts.
• Pre- and post-adoption transition.
• Anger management issues.
• Academic or behavioral school problems.

We offer the following services:

• Individual and family therapy.
• Play therapy (using Theraplay and The Marschack Interaction Method).
• Parent/child coaching, using principles of Parent Child Interactive Therapy.
• Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
• Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.
• Grief and loss therapy.
• Adoption therapy.
• Group therapy.
• Psychological testing.
• Psychiatric medication evaluation and medication management.

Location and directions
620 S. 76th St.
Milwaukee, WI 53214
(414) 453-1400
Map

Hours
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday or by appointment.

Our staff
Children's Service Society of Wisconsin's therapists have extensive experience working with children, parents and families, including those involved in the child welfare system. 

Crystal Carter, MSW, LCSW, received a master's degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a licensed clinical social worker. Crystal works with children and adolescents experiencing emotional and behavioral issues related to abuse and neglect. She provides individual and family therapy. Her clinical practice includes working in schools, group homes and outpatient settings. Crystal works with children and families challenged by depression, anxiety, social skills, relationship problems, aggression and anger management. She has 16 years experience in the human services field in both direct practice and management. Crystal is an instructor at Upper Iowa University-Milwaukee teaching a course about marriage and the family.

Eden Christman Dreyer, MSW, LCSW, received a master's degree in Clinical Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago and is a licensed clinical social worker. Eden's overall therapeutic approach is one of respect, empathy and empowerment. She works with individuals and families to help them realize their strengths and meet their treatment goals. Eden is the Child and Family Counseling supervisor for our Milwaukee and Waukesha offices.

Nora Cord, MA, LPC, received a master's degree in Community Counseling from the University of Akron and is a licensed professional counselor. Nora has nine years experience working with children, adolescents and their families within the social service field. Her clinical practice includes working in a homeless shelter, day treatment and community mental health. Nora has worked with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma, including physical, sexual and domestic violence and neglect as well as those with attachment issues due to these experiences. She has participated in numerous trainings within this area of expertise, including Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Training offered by the Medical College of South Carolina. She is a certified trauma and loss specialist with the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. Nora also has received training in Parent Child Interaction Therapy. She provides individual, family and group counseling to toddler/preschool-age children through adolescents. She specializes in treating children and adolescents who have experienced child abuse or neglect and have attachment issues. She also has an interest in depression and anxiety and working with children and adolescents within the child welfare system. Nora uses a variety of therapeutic techniques in her work including play therapy, sand tray therapy, cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic.

Aaron Heffernan, MA, MSW, LCSW, has master's degrees in Philosophy and Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a licensed clinical social worker. Aaron provides individual and group counseling for children, adolescents, adults and families and has experience working with clients who are coping with depression, anxiety, divorce, anger management and domestic violence. Aaron has experience working with victims of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. He is a Level II Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing practitioner, working toward certification in this area. Aaron has had success using music and art-based therapy for traumatized clients, and he uses Hip Hop Music Therapy with many of his urban adolescent clients. Aaron's family-focused, strengths-based approach has worked well with a variety of family systems from varying backgrounds and cultures.

Kate Petzold, MS, LPC, is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a master's degree in Community Counseling and is a licensed professional counselor. She works with children and adolescence through psychotherapeutic counseling on the behavioral and emotional issues related to adoption. She provides both individual and family therapy. She has a strong interest in child abuse and neglect, childhood depression and anxiety, and attachment issues. She has participated in Reactive Attachment Disorder training and plans to continue her education in this area. She has nine years of experience in the social service field. Kate has experience working with children whose caregiver is deemed high risk for child abuse and neglect. She is trained in and has facilitated the Nurturing Program to biological parents working to have their child returned to their care. She has facilitated an Independent Living Skills group for adolescence. She has experience working with the mentally ill population. She has worked with women who were victims of domestic violence. Kate uses different therapeutic techniques in her work with children and families including cognitive behavioral andpsychodynamic, play therapy, and family systems techniques.

Jenny Plzak, MSE, LPC, earned a master's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and is a licensed professional counselor. Jenny's area of interest is in working with adolescents, especially those considered high risk and their families who are experiencing behavioral and emotional problems related to family relationships, social and identity issues and trauma. Jenny provides individual, family and group counseling for children, adolescents and adults using a strength-based, family-centered approach.

Danielle E. Sample, PsyD, holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist. She has 13 years experience providing services in community mental health, day treatment, residential, private practice and school settings. She provides individual, family and group counseling to children, adolescents and adults. Danielle specializes in treating youth who suffer from mood, anxiety and behavioral disorders as well as children who have been victims of abuse and neglect.

Lene H. Trost, MA, LCSW, is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and has worked as a social worker and child and family therapist for the past 15 years. She specializes in working with children and adults who have experienced physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and who have or are involved in the child welfare system. Lene also specializes in treating issues related to grief and loss.