Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic

We offer behavioral health services for people with disabilities and their families with access to counseling, assessment, and treatment from licensed professionals.

About Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic

Most mental health providers aren’t trained to work with people who have developmental disabilities. And most disability service providers aren’t equipped for mental health support. Emerge was built to close that gap.

The Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic is a licensed mental health practice staffed entirely by clinicians who specialize in supporting people with disabilities. We provide assessment, individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy for people who have too often been told that their mental health needs are someone else’s problem.

Who We Help

Emerge addresses the complexities of people who have depression, anxiety, interpersonal challenges, trauma, grief, emotional regulation needs, or co-occurring mental health conditions. We work with children, adolescents, and adults. We serve individuals and, where appropriate, their families.

Nationally, an estimated 30 to 40 percent of people with I/DD experience a co-occurring mental health condition, roughly three to four times the rate in the general population. Diagnostic overshadowing, which means attributing psychiatric symptoms to the disability itself, means these conditions are frequently missed. We don’t miss them.

Schedule an Intake Appointment → Contact Us to Get Started

How We Work

• Specialized assessment: Initial and ongoing evaluation by clinicians trained in both mental health and disability, so nothing gets attributed to the wrong cause.

• Individual therapy: One-on-one sessions tailored to your communication style, cognitive profile, and goals. We use evidence-based approaches including CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

• Group therapy: Group sessions that build social skills, emotional regulation, and the experience of being understood by peers who share similar experiences.

• Family therapy: Sessions that bring the family into the work, because mental health rarely sits with one person alone.

• Person-centered case management: Mental health doesn’t happen in isolation. With your consent, we coordinate with medical and behavioral health providers, schools, and workplaces so everyone’s working from the same picture.

• Flexible access: Sessions are available in person at our primary Lombard clinic or at our satellite locations in Burr Ridge, Downers Grove, Lisle, and Elmhurst. In-home and telehealth sessions are also available, so access doesn’t depend on transportation.

Coverage and Access

Emerge currently accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Community, and Meridian. We also accept self-pay. We do not currently accept HCBS waiver funds.

We’re expanding our insurance networks quickly. Check with our intake specialist or visit this page for the current list before you assume you’re not covered. Telehealth and in-home sessions are available if traveling to a clinic isn’t an option. To schedule an intake appointment, contact our clinic directly.

• 
  Giuliana Alfano, LCPC
• 
  Erin Halden, LCSW
• 
  Sonia Bajaj, LCPC
• 
  Keelin Burchfield, MHP
• 
  Erin Byrne, LSW
• 
  Michael Clarke, MA
• 
  Jennifer Frausto, MHP
• 
  Madeleine Worden, MHP

Giuliana Alfano, LCPC

Giuliana is the Senior Director of Community & Family Supports Services, which includes the behavioral health clinic. With over 15 years of experience, she oversees a multidisciplinary team providing therapy and employment support. She began her career at Ray Graham Association as a QIDP/Case Manager and has worked in clinical, hospital, and managed care settings. Giuliana holds a Master’s in Community Counseling and focuses on holistic, person-centered care.

Erin Halden, LCSW

Erin is the Director of Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic. She has over two decades of experience in the intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) field, working in community-based residential homes, intermediate care facilities, and day service programs. Erin helped establish and license the Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic. She holds a Master of Social Work with a concentration in mental health from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Outside of work, Erin enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Sonia Bajaj, LCPC

Sonia is the Lead Mental Health Professional at Emerge Behavioral Health Clinic. She has extensive experience in agency-wide coordination of mental health and disability services, specializing in strength-based treatment and self-advocacy. As the older sister of a sibling with autism, Sonia has witnessed firsthand the powerful impact of the Ray Graham community on her own family. She is dedicated to helping individuals feel confident in their abilities and empowered to truly emerge.

Keelin Burchfield, MHP

Keelin is a Mental Health Professional working primarily with individuals with developmental disabilities. She addresses trauma, anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia using person-centered care, CBT, DBT, and motivational interviewing. Since earning her Bachelor’s in Psychology from Saint Xavier University in 2021, she has worked in group homes and community living settings. Keelin enjoys reading, outdoor activities, and spending time with her family and cat.

Erin Byrne, LSW

Erin is a Licensed Social Worker at RGA Emerge BHC with over a decade of experience supporting individuals with IDD. She focuses on anxiety, depression, mood regulation, and relationship challenges using a Strengths-Based approach, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness. She began her career as an Independent Living Skills Instructor in Los Angeles before joining Ray Graham Association as a Resource Coordinator. Erin earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She enjoys exploring Chicago, spending time with her son, and listening to Bruce Springsteen.

Michael Clarke, MA

Michael is a Mental Health Professional with over 15 years of experience in education, supporting young people through their academic and personal development. His background includes working with children and adolescents across a range of social, emotional, and developmental needs. Michael holds a Master's degree in School Counseling from Concordia University. Outside of work, he's a father of three who enjoys golfing, spending time outdoors, and staying active in his community.

Jennifer Frausto, MHP

Jennifer is a Mental Health Professional working with children, adolescents, and adults with developmental disabilities. She focuses on anxiety management, emotional regulation, and social skill development using person-centered care and CBT. Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s in Criminology from DePaul University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. Outside of work, she enjoys connecting with her community and spending time with loved ones.

Madeleine Worden, MHP

Madeleine is a Mental Health Professional with experience supporting adults and families with IDD. She treats anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship challenges using CBT, DBT, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Her background includes work in community mental health centers and behavioral health hospitals. Madeleine holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Illinois State University. She is passionate about providing a safe, non-judgmental space for healing.