Staff Directory

 Aleza Sitarz, M.Ed. (she/her) is joining the Stress and Trauma Treatment Center as the Director for Resilience Education in Southern Illinois. She grew up in Southern Illinois and has recently returned home to be closer to her family. Aleza has worked with school systems in Illinois and Texas for the last 15 years as a teacher, a school counselor, a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Curriculum Writer, and a SEL Specialist. She believes that resiliency: 

• is a skill that can be nurtured and grown under the right conditions; 
• takes root when school staff are given permission and time to connect with themselves and each other;
• starts with listening to youth, families, school staff, and their communities. 

Aleza is thrilled to be joining this team to support resilient youth, families, and communities in Southern Illinois. 

Dhru Mukherjee, Associate Professor and licensed clinical social worker/supervisor (LCSW-S), is recognized for his expertise in preparing mental health workforces to be trauma-informed, with a focus on those serving children, adolescents, and transitional youth. With support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and other federal funders and private foundations has developed and evaluated multiple trauma-informed training programs targeted at developing clinical skills for rural mental health professionals. In 2014, he founded the Trauma-Based Behavioral Health Fellowship. He has served on the Council of Social Work Education’s National Task Force where he developed a specialized curricular guide for trauma-informed social work practice, and he currently serves on the board of the Stress and Trauma Center.

Dr. Dhru serves children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups with challenges in a variety of areas such as addiction and substance use issues, non-suicidal self-harm behavior, psychological trauma, military/veteran issues, financial stress, teen and adolescent identity/peer pressure issues, and relationship stress . He uses a blend of Cognitive Behavioral, Solution Focused, Motivational Interviewing, and Exposure-Based approaches with his clients, and he is certified in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy, and Management and Adaptive Practices (MAP).

Dr. Dhru teaches in the Joint Master of Social Work (JMSW) program at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) and University of North Texas (UNT), as well as in the trauma certificate program at UNT. He holds a visiting position at the Center for Rural Health and Social Development (CRHSD) at Southern Illinois University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Dhru has over 15 years of teaching experience and has published research in numerous peer-reviewed journals. 

  Dr. Jacqueline Klossing is the Project Coordinator for the Bullying Prevention/Trauma Responsive Schools grant through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. She holds a faculty position at Iowa Children's Hospital providing both therapeutic and psychological evaluation services for children, adolescents, and families. Jacqueline received her Ph.D. in School Psychology in August 2019 from Northern Illinois University. Throughout her training, Jacqueline has worked in a variety of settings, including schools, early childhood centers, in-home therapy, and clinics. While she is a rostered provider of Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), certified Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) therapist, and Certified Managing &  Adaptive Practices (MAP).  She is currently training to complete her certification in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). She specializes in early childhood and trauma services and supporting families navigating services within the school system. 

  Kelsey received her Bachelor's degree in psychology from Illinois State University, where she stayed to pursue her doctoral degree in School Psychology. She is currently working to complete her doctoral internship at Egyptian Health Department and WOVSED.
Throughout her training, Kelsey has provided services to children, adolescents, and families in the school and clinical settings. She has worked with clients with a variety of presenting emotional, behavioral, academic, and cognitive concerns. Kelsey worked as a graduate assistant at The Autism Place (TAP), where she provided both individual ABA and group-based social skills services to children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Additionally, Kelsey has experience in providing comprehensive evaluations for children and adolescents with suspected emotional, behavioral, academic, and cognitive concerns.
Kelsey has received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Early Intervention, family therapy, and a variety of cognitive, academic, and social-emotional assessments. She aims to use this training to provide direct intervention as well as evaluative services to children and adolescents and their families. She uses a strengths-based and client-focused approach to help clients meet their full potential. 

Darlene received her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1983. While teaching elementary school, she pursued a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, after which she became a Certified School Counselor. Darlene has 30+ years of professional experience in counseling and administration. Some of these experiences include: Assistant Director of the Career and Counseling Center at SIUC, Director of SIUC School of Law Placement Center, School Counselor at several school districts, Mental Health Therapist at Egyptian Health Department, and Social Emotional Learning Specialist at Egyptian Health Department. Darlene currently serves as a Trauma Focused Treatment Therapist at the Stress and Trauma Treatment Center through the Southern Illinois Resiliency Project. In this position, she provides therapy for children up to the age of 18 and their families in Franklin County. Darlene is a Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer and has presented the program throughout southern Illinois. Darlene is trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), Managing and Adaptive Practices (MAP), and is currently receiving training in Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Darlene is passionate about providing services to children and teens who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s). In her spare time, Darlene enjoys spending time with her family, working in her yard, playing the piano and serves on the Board of Directors for Franklin & Hamilton County CASA.  

Dr. Diane King has spent decades working with children, families, educators, and professionals in the areas of child development, trauma, social-emotional learning, temperament and personality, and family systems. She has developed college courses embedding topics such as adverse childhood experiences, trauma informed practice, trauma informed care, brain development, and developmental trauma to support professionals in learning how to apply that knowledge into working with young children (birth to 5). Dr. King has been an advocate for social and emotional wellness in early childhood for 20 years - since the inception of the "Social Emotional Program", now commonly known as "The Pyramid Model.” As a National Head Start Coach Mentor and Early Childhood Consultant, she was an early trailblazer in this work with administration, teachers, and families to implement the program. 

Dr. King and Dr. Buckman, PhD., Licensed Psychologist, Executive Director, Stress & Trauma Treatment Center have been collaborating for over four years to coordinate and deliver outstanding professional development events to early childhood professionals in southern Illinois. In 2019, Dr. Buckman and Dr. King co-taught "The Neurosequential Model for Education." This course provided an in-depth study of the neurosequential development of young children (birth through age five) and effective teaching practices to enhance development. 

Over the past school year, Dr. King has conducted presentations on Staff Wellness/Self Care, worked with Prevention Initiative infant toddler staff and Pre K staff concerning individual children, assisted administrators with program consultations, and worked with individual families. She serves as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant for the school districts in the southern sixteen counties. She continues to provide consultations and act as a mentor for educators supporting them to explore effective strategies in the classroom, staff development, family engagement, and optimal whole child development. She is a Pyramid trainer for Preschool and Infant Toddler as well as a trainer for the new Trauma Informed Care (TIC) eModules program and has an extensive network of relationships in the southern 16 counties of Southern Illinois with many school districts, Head Start programs, and child care programs.  

Dr. King received her Bachelor’s degree in Education with a minor in Psychology from Western Illinois University one course short of a double major. She maintains active Illinois teacher licenses for Early Childhood and Elementary Education and has taught PreK, Kindergarten, first, second, and third grades and substituted in Special Education. Dr. King’s Master’s degree is in Knowledge Management with a specialization in Organizational Development/Early Childhood Leadership and Management from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She completed her Doctorate Degree in Educational Administration – Management of Programs for Children and Youth at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, in 2010. Her research study, “Facilitating the Professional Development of Early Childhood Program Administrators Through an Online Education and Mentoring Program” was conducted with 25 southern Illinois administrators.

Dr. King is the vice president of the Board of Directors for the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (INCCRRA). Dr. King is also vice president of the Southern Illinois Early Childhood Action Team (SIECAT). She is the treasurer for the Southern Illinois Chapter of Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children (SILAEYC).

 Karla has her bachelor’s degree in social work and currently working on her master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Throughout her 23-year career Karla has worked with teens in a residential setting, assisting with life skills training, trauma, and behavioral challenges. She became a licensed foster parent and fostered children for nearly 11 years leading to adoption. She has experience working with foster/adoptive parents and children in the foster care system or who have been adopted. Karla has experience working with young children through Early Intervention for 12 years, focusing on children with Autism, and received certification in the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). She has experience working with children with feeding challenges and received training and certification in the Save Our Ship (SOS) feeding Approach. Karla has experience working with children, as well as the families of children, who have experienced trauma, sensory challenges, and a variety of developmental delays.
Since coming to the Stress and Trauma Therapy Center Karla has taken part and is working with MAP, TF-CBT, and PCIT therapy. Karla has a passion for children who have experienced trauma, and enjoys working with children, families, and adults.   

Megan is a Southern Illinois native with ten years of experience in child-serving systems including work in the realm of child welfare, alternative education, domestic violence advocacy, and clinical services. Megan has completed over 300 hours of trauma-specific education. Additionally, Megan is trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Parent Child Interaction Therapy, Child Parent Psychotherapy, and Managing Adaptive Practices. Additionally, Megan enjoys providing training and education to community organizations around the subject of trauma and childhood adversity. When Megan is not working with children and families, she can be found chasing her three small children or spending time at home with her high school sweetheart.   

Elena graduated from SIU-C in 2021 where she received her Bachelors in Social Work along with a Bachelors in Psychology. She also graduated with Associate degrees in Rehabilitation Services and Neuroscience. Elena is currently working towards her MSW with a focus on mental health, from SIU-C. She is also a current Fellow in the Trauma Based Behavioral Health Fellowship. Elena's role at the center includes meeting with clients as well as working with children in the Therapeutic Day Care. Elena enjoys meeting and working with a diverse population of clients. After completing her Master's degree Elena plans on working towards her licensure to become an LCSW before pursuing a PhD. 

Ian (they/them) received their Bachelor of Science in Sociology in 2019. Ian is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in children, youth, and families. Ian is further completing a graduate certificate in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. Ian is participating in the Trauma-Based Behavioral Health Fellowship. 

Ian seeks to empower clients through sociological mindfulness and a psychological imagination. Ian uses evidence-based research and techniques to help clients realize and reach their fullest potential. Ian is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Treatment in Schools and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Ian uses these techniques and trainings to help individuals with mental health issues and strengthen family systems.