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Douglas L. McKinley, Psy. D.           

                           

Dr. McKinley is the founder and director of Associates in Family Care, Ltd. Since 1991, he has built a solid group practice that is committed to providing a holistic health model of treatment including spiritual, emotional,

cognitive, and physical growth.

AFC started as an individual private practice in a shared one-room office on Washington Avenue in Naperville. We have since added staff psychologists, therapists, and support staff, and grown into our new

office suite now located at 1811 W. Diehl Road. In 1999, Dr. McKinley expanded AFC by adding personal and executive coaching and a speaking service that provides seminars and retreats. Currently Dr. McKinley is focused on leadership and organization of the three divisions of AFC….Intervention (counseling), Prevention (communication), and Development (coaching). He spends the majority of his time developing the coaching and speaking services while seeing therapy clients on a limited basis. Dr. McKinley pursues the study of psychology and theology and enjoys teaching and writing about the usefulness of both fields of study.

Dr. McKinley is a college graduate from Olivet Nazarene University. He received his master’s degree from Wright State University. His doctoral degree in clinical psychology was earned at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Since leaving college, he has served as a full-time Youth and Music Director at a Nazarene church in Ohio. He has also worked as a family therapist in a program for the severely behaviorally handicapped and as a crisis and staff therapist for two other mental health agencies. While in private practice, he has been active with leadership at Linden Oaks Hospital serving as Chair of the Allied Steering Committee and as a primary supervisor for the Internship Program. He has served as the Marriage and Family Director at Christ Church of Oak Brook from 1999-2000 and in several leadership positions in his own church which include board membership, teaching, and small group director.  He is very active in local softball and basketball programs and has run in numerous triathlons. Dr. McKinley is a Registered Corporate Coach with the National Association for Business Coaching and the Director of Corporate Coaching at the Institute for Life Coach Training.  He is a graduate from the Institute for Life Coach Training and was appointed to a faculty position in 2001. His first book, Mad About Us, was published in 2004. 

Dr. McKinley lives in the west suburbs with his wife Jana, and children, Seth and Megan.

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James A. Shalley, Psy.D.

Dr. Shalley has been working as a clinical therapist for

the past sixteen years. Prior to his clinical experience he had extensive experience counseling a variety of age groups in the non-profit arena. He has held leadership positions and been a primary keynote speaker in both his full-time positions.

Jim's primary focus of therapy is developing self-awareness in his clients so they can be free to

make changes to improve the quality and condition of their lives. His humor and relational style is sighted as helpful to his client’s progress and success in treatment. He enjoys working with individuals and couples on their relationship issues. He has had great success in working on sexuality issues with both men and women. Jim enjoys working with individuals on their personal development, recovery from most typical emotional dynamics, i.e. depression, anxiety, divorce, grief and loss, as well as other significant life transitions.  Because of his extensive training in theology, Jim is a seasoned thinker on spiritual formation issues. He values the opportunity to incorporate spiritual dynamics in the healing process.

Jim has a history degree from Olivet Nazarene University and a master's of divinity degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary. After serving many years in various types of ministries, he began work on his master's degree in clinical psychology. In 1992 he moved back to Chicago to pursue a doctoral program in clinical psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. He worked part-time as a therapist at the newly developed private practice of Associates in Family Care. He was the first of the therapists to join the group and was instrumental in assisting Dr. McKinley in developing the practice. In 1997 he earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Since that time he has been working full-time as a clinical therapist at both AFC and Pathways Counseling Services.

Jim is a gifted communicator one-on-one and in large gatherings. He has a passion for all who seek his services to experience a level of congruency based on the goals they establish.

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Sandra Lee Blood, M.A., L.C.P.C.

Sandra Blood heads up our newest acquisition, the AFC Lake Zurich office, which she established in 1989. Sandra obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology from Roosevelt University in 1985 and her Master's Degree in clinical psychology from Wheaton College Graduate School in 1988. Her internship was with The Guidance Center, a subsidiary of Elmhurst Hospital, in Elmhurst, IL.

Upon graduation, Sandra worked for a year with

Cornerstone Counseling Association where she led a 12-week therapy group for sexual abuse survivors. Sandra was one of the original Crisis Response Team members for two years when HCA Woodland Hospital opened in 1990 in Hoffman Estates. She conducted psychological assessments and processed voluntary and involuntary inpatient admissions.

Sandra is a single parent who raised two daughters doing administrative work before changing careers. She has extensive business experience, primarily in sales and marketing. She also managed respiratory therapy seminars in hospitals in various sales districts around the country. In each job she managed to find some kind of outlet for her writing ability, at one point putting out a newsletter to the national sales force from concept to distribution. For several years, she was a book reviewer for the Journal of Psychology and Christianity, a publication of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies. She is a published author, her most recent piece appearing in The Chicago Caregiver about the trip she and her brother took to the Grand Canyon with their mother who has Alzheimer’s.

Sandra enjoys volunteering at Willow Creek Community Church where she has been a small group leader, worked in the Hospitality Room, Women’s Ministries, and stage design through Production.

Sandra lives a productive single life in the northwest suburbs with her cat Green Eyes.

Articles

To review two of the articles written by Sandra, click the links below:

Coping With Fear and/or ER:The Emotion Response Or What can the mind/body connection do for me?

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Sharon J. Gilbert, M.S., L.C.P.C.

Sharon is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and has been practicing psychotherapy for over 14 years. She has worked in agency, hospital and private settings. She is experienced in working with adolscents, couples, families and individuals. In addition to her psychotherapy work, Sharon is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology and Education at several schools in both graduate and undergraduate programs.

Sharon receives consistent feedback from clients and students alike regarding her use of humor and her ability to truly understand what people are going through.  She also has the capacity to challenge people to bring out their best, often times exceeding their own expectations of themselves. 

Her extensive work with adolescents and young adults has enabled her to develop the ability to connect with, understand and help these clients recognize and work on their issues. She also has an interest in working with couples, exploring the dynamics between them and channeling the energy in the relationship.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from North Central College in Naperville and her Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Benedictine University in 1995.

 

Her internships included Addison Township Social Services and College of DuPage.  At COD she provided personal, educational and career counseling to students and members of the community.  In her capacity as an intern there she also co-taught Career Directions and Communication Skills.  Sharon has also worked in outplacement and career counseling, and corporate Human Resources. 

She is a frequent presenter at many local day care provider organizations, PACES and various other venues.

To review two of the artlices written by Sharon, click the links below:

Divorce and Children and/or The Changes of Adolescence

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