Counseling Awareness Month – April 2024

FSG is honored to celebrate Counseling Awareness Month and the integral work Amber Bond, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) and Cindy Brunson, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) do to support our community through their skilled and compassionate practices.

According to the President of the American Counseling Association, “A counselor is a trained professional who walks with the client without judgement to wherever they see their destination to be. And, along the way, we’re equipped to provide different alternatives to help the client move past the obstacles they face.” This quote beautifully describes the contributions that Amber and Cindy make to FSG and their clients/supervisees.

Amber proudly serves as FSG’s Executive Director while providing clinical supervision to clinicians and maintaining a mental health counseling caseload. Her training as a counselor included individual and group psychotherapy, clinical supervision, community counseling, and ethics, contributing to the expertise that enhances our community and fulfills her professional mission to improve people’s lives. Post-Master’s, Amber gained advanced training and experience working with children and adolescents, family therapy, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, and divorce mediation. She became a National Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (NCCMHC), reflecting her advanced training, ethical standards, and years of experience. She also earned a Perinatal Mental Health Certification, denoting her advanced training and expertise in supporting the mental health of parents at all stages of their fertility or adoption process through postpartum period. Amber is engaged in cultural humility practice and is passionate about supporting clients from diverse backgrounds. She uses a strength-based approach, working alongside clients and clinicians to remove barriers to personal growth and development.

Cindy Brunson, LPC, is one of FSG’s longest tenured Staff Therapists and brings a wealth of diverse experiences and strength to her clients and our organization. Cindy stresses that each of us has a responsibility for our own happiness and that our needs and goals need to be heard and pursued. She provides an opportunity for people who are feeling stuck, unsatisfied, or have experienced tragedy to be heard, respected, and provided direct guidance by someone who is emotionally invested in their journey and well-being. Cindy dedicates herself to the serious work of examining her clients’ needs, setting goals and objectives, and empowering her clients to open themselves to the process. Cindy has participated in extensive domestic violence training and numerous domestic violence workshops. She has facilitated men’s and women’s domestic violence groups for 13 years and started CASA Lake County (Court Appointed Special Advocates) with two other CASA Cook County volunteers in 1994.

Today and every day, we celebrate the extensive training and contributions of our professional counselors and encourage anyone in need of exploring how to improve their mental health and well-being to call FSG.