Addiction Treatment Staff

Northern Illinois Recovery Center works tirelessly to provide clients with the best addiction treatment possible. We employ an industry leading addiction treatment staff of physicians and licensed clinicians. They make it their number one priority to develop successful addiction therapy services for each person they see. Our staff also has deep ties to the community and can facilitate necessities such as housing and employment. Take a minute to get to know the addiction treatment staff that has your back on the road to recovery.

No matter your situation, the addiction treatment staff at Northern Illinois Recovery Center is equipped to help. Our compassionate team provides focused therapies and proven treatments to give each client an effective recovery plan! Call us at 855.786.1978 today for help changing your life!

Dr. Caitlyn McClure, DSW, LCSW

Clinical Director

As clinical director at Northern Illinois Recovery, Dr. McClure leads the clinical team in innovative and evidence-based practices to improve client care. Dr. McClure 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 through her Doctorate in Social Work in order to improve community and professional understanding of the far-reaching impacts of trauma. Dr. McClure has experience working with bereavement, trauma, mental health, and substance abuse with youth and adults in community-based and outpatient settings. She also is experienced in crisis management and deescalation strategies.

Jenny Wagner LCPC, CADC

Clinical Supervisor

Jenny Wagner LCPC, CADC; is the clinical supervisor at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. She is a licensed clinical professional counselor and a certified alcohol and drug counselor with twenty-five years of experience in treating patients with dual diagnosis or substance use disorders. She has worked in many different levels of care; residential, partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and aftercare programs. She has also worked in various positions; from providing individual, family, and couples therapy in a private practice setting to managing all levels of care as the clinical director of an addiction treatment center.

Her areas of expertise include; substance use disorders, sensory regulation, strategies to manage anxiety and depression, self-esteem issues, and codependency.

Jenny holds a Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from The Illinois School of Professional Psychology. She is a part of the Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Elgin to provide prevention efforts in her community. Jenny is also a foster parent and volunteers to help teenagers in the foster care system.

Dr. Beth Dunlap

Licensed Physician and Surgeon
Dr. Beth Dunlap, a board-certified addiction medicine and family medicine physician, and is the medical director at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. She is responsible for overseeing all the integrated medical services at both campuses. Beth completed medical school, residency, and fellowship at Northwestern University, where she continues to serve on the faculty as a member of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She has extensive experience in addiction medicine at all levels of care, and her clinical interests include integrated primary care and addiction medicine, harm reduction, and medication-assisted treatment.

Maegan Schultz, LCSW

Primary Therapist

Maegan Schultz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She received her Master’s of Social Work degree with a concentration in Mental Health from UIC’s Jane Addams College of Social Work. Maegan has experience working in medical social work, community based mental health, and outpatient mental health services with both youth and adults. She also has experience working in crisis intervention and management.

Della Saunders, MSASS

Primary Therapist
Della is a Primary Therapist at Northern Illinois Recovery. This is a second career for her, as she discovered her passion for helping others later in life. Della completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s in Applied Social Science from Case Western Reserve University in 2010. In the years following, Della has focused on Co-occurring disorders, working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of capacities. Her therapeutic approach utilizes components from dialectical behavior therapy, strengths-based therapy, and a heavy emphasis on cognitive-behavioral therapy. Della has extensive experience in the substance abuse field, as well as community-based mental health, and work with traumatized youth.

Erin Fowler, LSW, CADC

Primary Therapist

Erin Fowler is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Erin received her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education and History from Cornell College. Erin received her CADC education from Elgin Community College. Erin graduated in August 2020 from George Williams College with her Master’s in Social Work. Erin has worked in the mental health and substance abuse field for the last 14 years. Erin has a variety of experiences working with children, adolescents and adults.

Erika Heatley, LSW, CADC

Primary Therapist

Erika Heatley is a primary therapist at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. She is a licensed Social Worker and a certified alcohol and drug counselor. She received her undergraduate degree from University Wisconsin- Whitewater with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Family and Health Studies. Erika also completed her Master’s of Social Work degree with a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions from Loyola University Chicago. Erika has experience working in outpatient services including partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment in the fields of mental health, addictions and co-occurring treatment. Erika utilizes a person-center and holistic approach. Erika has a variety of experiences including biopsychosocial assessment, admissions and intake, insurance support and clinical services for the adult population in co-occurring mental health and substance use.

Alexa Johnson-Roach

Primary Therapist

Alexa is a graduate from Adler University, where she obtained her Master’s degree in Counseling with a specialization in art therapy. Alexa completed internship hours with NIRC during her program and is now with us full-time! She has worked in the mental health field since 2018, providing care for all ages in a variety of different levels of care including residential, inpatient, and now PHP/IOP. Alexa has experience working with varying client needs, but found herself drawn to working with adults struggling with substance use disorders early in her career. As far as art therapy is concerned, Alexa has always had a passion for art and found its ability to promote healing to be undeniable. When given the opportunity to combine the two areas of her life into one and make a career out of it, she just couldn’t pass it up.

Karen Warren

Primary Residential Therapist

Bio coming soon

Evan Joyce, CADC

Primary Residential Therapist

Bio coming soon

Aly Gilani

Case Manager

Aly has worked in reducing the shame and stigma of mental illness and addiction in her personal life and has decided to devote her career to helping clients find the internal strength and resources needed to live their best lives. She has demonstrated these skills and this commitment through her previous work with Live4Lali, Bridge House, and the Lake County Opioid Initiative. Aly is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Aly is inspired daily by her partner and their children. In her free time, Aly likes to hike, boat, and spend time with her family.

Holly Magdalin, LCPC

Group Therapist

Holly Magdalin is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She currently holds a Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling and has a background in Communicative Disorders both from Northern Illinois University. Holly has 6 years of professional experience working beside people struggling with mental health issues and substance use disorders. Her experience includes working in an inpatient facility as a chemical dependency primary counselor, an outpatient therapist, working with individuals, groups, and families battling their mental health, and supervising a clinical team. She comes with an eclectic approach with an emphasis on DBT, CBT, and Person-Centered therapies.

Gina Lawrence, LCPC, CRSS

Group Therapist
Gina Lawrence is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She currently holds a Masters in Clinical Counseling from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She is also a Certified Recovery Support Specialist and Certified WRAP facilitator. Gina has six years of professional experience working with people struggling with mental health and substance use issues. Her experience includes working in community mental health, supervising a clinical team, and private practice. Her therapeutic approach utilizes techniques from CBT, DBT, and Person-Centered.

Administration Team

Nick Howell

Executive Director

Nick holds a B.S. from Eureka College, where he studied Business Administration and Financial Economics. A native to McHenry County, he recently relocated back to the area after living in Central Illinois for the past 8 years. Nick has many years of experience leading and building teams in the healthcare industry. He is trained in Six Sigma, Lean, and Agile project methodologies. His areas of expertise include quality, financial, and operational improvement, as well as strategic planning and implementation. Nick is passionate about building high-performing teams and continuously improving himself, the systems, and the people with which he works.

Jesse Cervantes

Director of Operations

Jesse Cervantes is the Director of Operations at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. He has built strong roots in the Recovery Community throughout the Northern Illinois area. After overcoming a long strenuous battle with addiction himself, he found a passion for helping others and has dedicated his life to giving back to those in recovery. Jesse oversees the Residential Program and works vigorously with the Clinical Director to ensure successful operation of the programs offered at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. Jesse’s goal is to provide support to clients while they begin their journey into a new way of life. He is excited to be part of our clients’ discovery of themselves and all they can do throughout their treatment. In Jesse’s free time, he enjoys spoiling his niece Violet, photography, and living his best life.

Nick Villicana

Admissions Coordinator

Bio coming soon

Casey Polka

Admissions Coordinator

Casey has experience working as a Recovery Coach and Peer Support Specialist, assisting clients in meeting their recovery goals. Through her own recovery, Casey finds purpose in helping others struggling with addiction. Her goal is to help others connect with the resources they need to begin their journey in recovery and to encourage them along the way. In her free time, Casey likes spending time with her Golden Retriever, Lilah, and creating art. Casey is excited to be a member of the NIRC team and is passionate about advocating for self-care, hope, and healing.