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Meet Our Team

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Chance Gawlinski
LLCSW, CADC

Sabrina Spearman
LCSW

Cynthia Pepin
LCSW, CAADC

I am one of the three owners of Second Chance Counseling Center LLC. I hold a Masters in Social Work degree and I am also a certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. My passion and skill set is working with those in recovery of substance use and addiction, and helping promote recovery lifestyles. I have also been facilitating battering intervention groups for domestic violence prevention in our northern Michigan communities since 2016. When I’m not fulfilling my life purpose of treating others in need of service, I am enjoying quality time with my best friend and wife, Alice, and our two miniature dachshunds, Pumpkin and Peach. I cherish friendship, traveling, music, classic monster movies, and pinball.  I like to bring a person-centered approach with my clients and provide an environment founded on trust, safety, and accountability.

I am one of the three owners of Second Chance Counseling Center LLC. I earned my Master of Social Work in 2015.  I am a strong believer in Strengths Based Perspective. I have been trained in EMDR, Batterers Intervention from Duluth, Minnesota, Seeking Safety, many White Bison trainings, REBT, DBT, and Motivational Interviewing. In my off time, I enjoy helping others find a purpose by working through the mental health and substance abuse issues. I love spending time with my children and grandchildren. Football is a must for me as I am an avid Detroit Lions fan. I love being outdoors, enjoy cookouts and spending time in my pool.

Front Office Personnel

I am one of three owners of Second Chance Counseling Center LLC. I am also the Clinical Director. I am a clinical social worker who graduated from Spring Arbor University in 2015. I like to focus on anxiety, depression, and trauma and work with all ages. I am trained in trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy, EMDR therapy, motivational interviewing, substance abuse, and rational emotive behavioral therapy. I enjoy spending time with my family and two dogs.

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Carly Livingston
Medical Billing

I work behind the scenes in the billing department making sure claims are submitted and successfully reimbursed while balancing account information. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my three children and my husband. I also really enjoy crafting for my craft fairs and I love watching  football, wrestling, and watching my kids in their extra-curricular activities.

Eva Gray
Intake Coordinator

I am the intake coordinator/ Receptionist for Second Chance Counseling Center. I have an associates degree in general studies, have experience working at Harbor Hall with the woman clients and I have had experience working with the elderly. I am an artist in my free time and enjoy taking on new challenges. I’m a mother to three children two boys and a girl, and dogs and cats. Along with a lizard and a dozen chickens. We as a family love to Kayak and Garden, we are always challenging the kids to grab a hammer and help build whatever projects pop into my creative head. My dream is to someday become an art therapist and show people how creativity can benefit mental health. 

Laura Spearman
Adminstrative Assistant

I am one of the Intake Coordinators for Second Chance Counseling Center. I’m a dedicated and strong headed worker! I have previous experience being a house manager/Activity Assistant for a nursing facility. I love helping people where I can! I am a mother to a 2 year old goofy boy who I love being with. During my free time, I love to travel where I can. I most enjoy seeing historical places and hearing about the history. I love spending time with my family and being outside. During my free time, I love to read. I paint, and play video games. My dream is to hopefully become a dedicated BHT (Behavioral Health Technician)

Therapists

Alice Gawlinski
Master Level Intern

Hello! I am currently a Masters level intern therapist. I am deeply passionate about helping people overcome and reflect on their challenges. I am trained in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy) for PTSD and trauma, DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) informed therapy to help individuals who struggle with emotional regulation, addictions, and effective communication, and I utilize several other evidence-based modalities when assisting clients. I approach therapy with a trauma-informed mindset, and enjoy building authentic and positive therapeutic relationships with clients. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, and spending time in nature with my husband and our two miniature dachshunds, Pumpkin and Peach.  

Jennifer Blaisdel
LCSW

I received my masters in social work at Wayne State University in 2013. I decided to go into social work because I enjoy meeting new people and have a passion to help others. I specialize in  medical social work with working in nursing homes and home care health settings.  During this journey, I provided ongoing support and counseling to older adults and their families. Being a social worker is so rewarding because I can help provide tools and resources in this journey that we call life. I believe there is a higher power in this world and that we all need help on our journey. When I am not helping others, I enjoy spending time with my husband and children.

Teri Grody
LCSW, CAADC

I obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work through Spring Arbor University where she is also an adjunct online instructor. She is licensed by the State of Michigan as a Clinical Social Worker and is certified by the Michigan Certification Board for Addiction Professionals as an Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Teri completed EMDR training with Dr.Greenwald through the Trauma Institute and Child Trauma Institute and was trained by Josh Smith at the DBT Institute of Michigan in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. She has also received training in CBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing, REBT, and Solution Focused Therapy, She often uses a combination of evidenced-based theories to best meet the needs of her clients. She works with individuals ages 10 and up primarily through telehealth, but will consider meeting clients in person as well. Her appointments are suited for individuals that are unable to meet during traditional office hours as she only schedules clients in the evening or on weekends. Teri likes to focus on anxiety, trauma, substance use disorders, addictive behavior, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, and depression. 

Ana Cunningham
LLCSW

With a specialized focus on mood disorders such as Anxiety, Depression, as well as Trauma, PTSD, Dissociation, Life Transitions, Stress Management, Anger Management, Self-Harm, Grief, Low Self-Esteem, and Coping Strategies, I am committed to guiding individuals on their path to emotional well-being and self-realization.

My therapeutic philosophy is anchored in a broad spectrum of evidence-based treatments and modalities. I have expertise in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), DBT-Informed practices,  Grief Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1, Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Level 1, Trauma Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) Levels 1 and 2, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Sensorimotor Informed Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Furthermore, Insight-Oriented techniques are seamlessly woven into my sessions, ensuring that each client's therapy is tailored to their unique needs and life narrative.

I perceive therapy as a profound journey of exploration — a space where clients can dive deeper into understanding their essence, desires, and aspirations. My life's mission is to walk alongside clients during this journey of self-awareness, empowering them to harness their inner strength, cultivate love, and nurture their innate creativity.

Outside the therapeutic setting, I find joy in culinary adventures, immersing myself in books, writing, and exploring the world through travel.

Esther Brill
LLCSW

I earned my master’s degree in social work from Spring Arbor University and am drawn to working with teen and adult clients living with trauma, anxiety, and depression. It is very important to me to create a safe space for my clients to be themselves without fear of judgment. I am also certified in DBT and offer DBT-informed therapy for people living with BPD and suicidal ideation. It is my goal to expand those skills to the best of my ability and help my clients to become the best version of themselves.

When I am not working, I am active in the local community theatre, both on and offstage. I also love music, particularly old school alternative and 80s new wave. I am married to my best friend and have four children, two dogs, and one angry cat.

Heather Cornett
LLCSW

I love empowering individuals ; helping them to heal, rise above their challenges, take personal ownership over their life, and learn to thrive in every circumstance. I take a strengths based approach to therapy. "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it" - Helen Keller.

Do you have obstacles that are holding you back from the life you dream of? Are you dealing with past trauma, anxiety, depression, addiction, relational difficulty, codependency, or emotional pain/numbness? Let's tackle it together. I use a number of evidence based practices including CBT, DBT, Mindfulness, IFS informed therapy and EMDR to help you grow.

Let me help you learn how to let down your defenses and feel safe. Find freedom from the things that trigger you and steal your joy. Get curious about why you feel and react the way you do. Learn to embrace your personal process and walk in fearless self acceptance. It can be scary to take the first step, but I always say... you can't be brave without fear.

Steven Wallace
LLCSW

I earned my Master's Degree in Social work from Spring Arbor University and have a passion for working with teens and young adults. Specifically, I have experience in working with anxiety, depression, boundaries, and relationships. I most often use Acceptance and Commitment principles alongside my client-centered approach with my clients, but I am trained in DBT as well. I've known since I was in middle school that I wanted to be a therapist, and now I get the opportunity to do so with Second Chance! In my spare time, I enjoy making music (mainly guitar, but I play 4 other instruments as well) and listening to it, too. I like all kinds of music from BB King to Metallica to Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac. I also enjoy playing basketball and soccer with my friends as well as video games.

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Chad Alexander
MA-LPC

I am a lifelong resident of Northern Michigan, having grown up in Gaylord and then moved to the Petoskey area in 2004. I enjoy reading fantasy novels, I am a huge Dungeons and Dragons nerd, and I love all things Star Wars. I seek to provide compassionate, non-judgmental counseling for teens and adults who need to talk about things that are hard to talk about. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, traumatic experiences, life transitions, relationship struggles, or just managing the stress of a busy life, counseling can help.
I received my Master of Arts degree in Counseling from Spring Arbor University in 2016. I am also trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic- & Attachment-Focused EMDR (S.A.F.E. EMDR), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I also draw heavily from Narrative Therapy and mindfulness principles.

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