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 counseling.
  • 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 counseling.
  • Adoption counseling.
  • Group counseling.
  • Psychological testing.
  • Psychiatric medication evaluation and medication management.

Location and directions

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Community Services - Main office
620 S. 76th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53214
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Hours
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment.

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

Melissa Del Rosario, MA, LPC, earned a master's degree from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy and is a licensed professional counselor. Melissa's area of interest is in working with adolescents. She has experience with high risk youth and adolescents involved in foster care and group home settings as well as youth living with their biological families who display a variety of behaviors including trauma, abuse, aggression, anxiety and depression. Melissa has experience working in transitional living placements, group homes and in-home programs. She provides individual, family and group counseling for children, adolescents and adults. Melissa's approach to therapy is client- and family-centered with a focus on empowering families and youth.

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 Manager for our Milwaukee office.

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.

Elizabeth Lanter, MSW, APSW, earned a master's degree in Social Work from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is a therapist in training working on becoming a licensed clinical social worker. She has an advanced clinical practice certificate in Infant, Early Childhood and Family Mental Health from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her therapeutic practices primarily focus on the socio-emotional development of the parent, the socio-emotional development of the child and their relationship. She provides strength-based individual, family and group services. She has experience working with children and families impacted by physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse domestic violence, physical neglect and emotional neglect, mostly involved in the child welfare system. 

Courtney Meindel, MS, LPC, received a master's Degree in Community Counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and is a licensed professional counselor.  She has six years experience working with children, adolescents, and families in community, day treatment, residential, and inpatient treatment settings.  Courtney provides individual, family, and group therapy services and has experience working with children who have experienced abuse, domestic violence, and neglect. Courtney also has a strong interest in working with young children experiencing behavioral problems, depression, anxiety, grief, and attachment disorders. Courtney uses a variety of therapeutic techniques in her work and she is currently working towards certification as a registered play therapist.

Jenny Miller, 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.

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.

Danielle E. Sample, PsyD, holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist. She has 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.

Shanna Sullivan, LCSW, has a masters' degree in Social Work and received her training at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  She holds a Certificate in Trauma Counseling and practices Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  She is a strong believer in helping children and families to find a way to use their inner strength and life experiences in the healing process.  During her career, Shanna has provided interventions in various community settings including families involved with the child welfare system, hospital settings, and those needing higher level psychiatric care.  Shanna enjoys working with children ages four to eighteen, specializing in separation, foster care, reunification, adoption, grief and loss, medical trauma, and family and generational trauma issues, including neglect, and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.  Using art and play therapy techniques, Shanna has guided many children and families in their journey towards recovery.

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 approximately 20 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.