Erica Barnes, M.S., L.C.P.C.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Erica joined the CSDC staff in August 2011 after working in the DeKalb/Sycamore area for 14 years in various counseling settings, such as private practice, the DeKalb County Health Department, an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for substance abuse, and the DeKalb County Drug Court Program. She has practiced as a counselor for 7 years working with individuals who are experiencing depression, grief and loss, substance abuse, relationship concerns, HIV/AIDS, anxiety, parent-child concerns, and posttraumatic stress concerns. Her areas of interest are group therapy, multicultural concerns, and supervision. Currently, she provides individual and group counseling, and coordinates the CSDC outreach activities to the NIU campus community. Erica uses cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, psychodynamic, and client-centered approaches in her work with clients. She is invested in helping students reach their full potential and make life changing decisions based on their own self definitions. Outside of being a counselor, Erica enjoys watching movies and a few of her favorites are Gladiator, Pretty Woman, Joy Luck Club, Boomerang, Matrix and Shawshank Redemption. She also enjoys running, has run the Shamrock Shuffle every year since 2005, and completed the Chicago Half Marathon in September 2010. Erica also enjoys laughing, dancing and spending time with her children. Stop in for a walk-in! Go Huskies!
Sandra Carey, Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Kim Cecil, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Kim joined the CSDC staff in August 2009 after working in grantmaking for a couple of years. Kim obtained her Master's in Social Work from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration and became clinically licensed in 2001. Kim's brings fifteen years of experience in working with survivors of violence and trauma of all ages. Her specialization focuses on life transitions, LGBTQ concerns, and healing from trauma and loss. Kim integrates a variety of theories in her work while building on each client's strengths, focusing on identity development, and helping students reach their goals and potential.
Bindu Lakshmi Gandhiraj, M.D.
Licensed Psychiatrist
Dr. Gandhiraj joined NIU Health Services in 2008. In January 2010, she became a staff member of the CSDC and continues to provide psychiatric services to students at Health Services. She is a graduate of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and Chicago Medical School in North Chicago, Illinois. She practices general psychiatry and has special interest in neuropsychiatry.
Elizabeth (Liz) Garcia, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist &
Acting Clinical Coordinator
Dr. Garcia has been at the CSDC since 2005 and has experience working in both the university and community settings. Currently, she provides individual and group counseling, while also overseeing and coordinating substance use assessments for the predoctoral interns. Her counseling orientation is strength-based integrative, with an emphasis on interpersonal-process, cognitive, solution focused, and motivational enhancement perspectives. Dr. Garcia’s clinical areas of interest are student substance use, the effect of substance use on family and peer relationships, relationship concerns, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, pet loss, and supervision.
Rick Long, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Long has been at the CSDC since 1988. He is a member of Division 32 (Humanistic Psychology) of the American Psychological Association. In addition, he is a member of the Association for the Development of the Person-Centered Approach (ADPCA), the Association for Humanistic Psychology (AHP), the Focusing Institute, and the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling (WAPCEPC). His theoretical orientation is client-centered / experiential. Dr. Long has extensive experience working with college students in psychotherapy. He also regularly supervises predoctoral interns and practicum students.
Mark S. Matuszewski, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist &
Practicum Coordinator
“Dr. Mark” (if you want to be more formal) joined the CSDC Staff in 2009. Having worked in community mental health centers for 12 years, he has extensive experience helping adults with emotional and mental health concerns. Mark’s counseling orientation focuses on meaning-making and interpersonal relationships. He provides individual and group therapy. Mark’s clinical interests include: the challenges faced by student military veterans; men’s issues; recovery from and living with trauma; long-term mental health issues; and the extraordinary dichotomy between Cubs and White Sox fans.
Tim Paquette, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist &
Assistant Director/Training Director
Dr. Paquette has been a staff member at the CSDC since 2004 and he has worked exclusively with university students for many years. He provides individual and group counseling and is training director of CSDC's APA accredited predoctoral internship program. His areas of expertise include multicultural issues, relationship concerns, men's issues, and anxiety concerns. Dr. Paquette’s professional interests include college student development, diversity education/training, social justice, and supervision. His counseling orientation is integrative, with an emphasis on interpersonal-process, humanistic, and cognitive perspectives.
Diane Pospisil-Kinney, M.A., L.C.P.C.
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
Brooke Ruxton, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist &
Acting Executive Director
Dr. Ruxton joined the CSDC staff in 2008 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University. She also has experience working with college students at Iowa State University and Arizona State University. Dr. Ruxton’s counseling orientation is integrative, with an emphasis on interpersonal and dynamic approaches that allow individuals to examine concerns from a relational perspective. Her clinical interests include grief and loss, trauma, relationship and family issues, women’s issues, eating disorders, and training/supervision.
Shiraz Piroshaw Tata, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Tata provides individual and group psychotherapy to NIU students, supervision to trainees at CSDC, and some outreach to the campus community. Dr. Tata has done research on issues related to acculturation in the Asian American community, and has done outreach on many topics. Dr. Tata has expertise in working with a variety of diversity, transition, identity, abuse and loss issues. Her areas of clinical interest include multicultural counseling, healing from trauma, family of origin and other relationship concerns. She uses an integrative approach in counseling and relies on humanistic, interpersonal and cognitive-behavioral perspectives.