Our Therapists

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Dr. Castillo received her doctorate from California School of Professional Psychology.  With over 24 years of clinical experience in various settings as both clinician and clinical supervisor as well as adjunct professor.  Born in Guatemala, she is bilingual and bicultural with specialties in human sexuality, trauma, couple’s therapy, family therapy, and cultural related matters.  As Clinical Director of Centro Castillo, she is fully dedicated to create an environment of learning, growth, and healing to all that enter its offices. Grassroots efforts such as being a Peace Corps volunteer, Suicide Hotline Counselor, and participating in an annual medical mission trip to Guatemala foster her passion for social service. 

Ms. g. de Petrizzi earned her Masters degree from SSA at the University of Chicago. She completed the two-year Family Systems Program through The University of Illinois at the Institute for Juvenile Research. In addition, she has completed 4 years of doctoral studies at the Institute for Clinical Social Work.   Ms. de Petrizzi has extensive experience working with adolescents, couples and families. She has been completed at least one hundred Critical Incident stress debriefings including. She has also provided clinical supervision for second year master level students from the University of Chicago and The University of Illinois.  Ms. G. de Petrizzi has a beautiful ethnic mixture of Mexican, Spanish, Native American, and Dutch.  She is both bilingual and bicultural with more than 35 years of clinical experience. 

Dr. Garland received her doctorate from Yeshiva University in New York. She has over 6 years of experience providing individual and group therapy to children, adolescents, young adults, and families in a variety of settings, including schools and urban mental health clinics. She is skilled in providing therapy for individuals with issues related to autism, anxiety, depression, ADHD, social skills deficits, behavioral problems, and intellectual disabilities; however, Dr. Garland is currently only providing psychological testing services. 

Ms. Lajara Silva earned her Master’s degree from Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. She has 12 years of experience working with children, adolescents, families in various settings including vocational rehabilitation, substance abuse programs, forensic institution, and private practice. She is currently working on her dissertation to obtain her PhD studying the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and mental health utilization on the senior population. She has a strong clinical focus on helping individuals to elevate depression and decrease anxiety, manage learning difficulties, immigration process and navigate life transitions. Being selected to participate in the Ronald McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program during her undergraduate studies ultimately lead to Ms. Lajara Silva pursuit for higher education, and proud to be the first in her family to be enrolled in a doctoral program. Born and raised in Puerto Rico by a single, hardworking, mother has been the driving force and passion to work with the Latino population, immigrants of diverse sociodemographic backgrounds. 

Ms. Newman received her master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA. Ms. Newman has experience providing bilingual counseling to children, adolescents, and adults facing a wide variety of symptoms and life stressors in an outpatient setting. Her areas of experience include anxiety, depression, trauma, interpersonal and cultural conflict, behavioral issues, parenting, and others through a cognitive behavioral approach with a systemic lens. Before starting at Centro Castillo, Ms. Newman gained extensive experience providing trauma-informed, holistic case management to asylum seekers and undocumented survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. While Ms. Newman is not a person of color, she is bilingual fluent Spanish speaker and has a strong affinity and commitment to the Latino, immigrant, and refugee communities. Ms. Newman is committed to the lifelong practice of learning and self-reflection required to practice multicultural counseling. 

Ms.  Ramirez is a bilingual, second-generation, Mexican-American born and raised in Chicago. Ms. Ramirez received her master’s degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University (formerly known as Adler School of Professional Psychology). Ms. Ramirez has worked with children, adults, and families. She has experience working with domestic violence, depression, anxiety, and trauma.  

Dr. Ruiz received her PhD from the Carlos Albizu University in Puerto Rico. Her dissertation resulted in the creation of an Informational Manual for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Dr. Ruiz has experience providing individual therapy to children, adolescents, adults and geriatrics. He has experience working with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, parent training, autism, ADHD and pre-competitive anxiety with athletes. 

Ms. Garcia Alvarez obtained her Master’s in Social Work at Northeastern Illinois University with a focus in Clinical Mental Health. She was born in Michoacán, Mexico and practices with a bicultural lens as a bilingual therapist. She puts emphasis in recognizing cultural norms while working with culturally diverse clients. Ms. Garcia Alvarez has an array of skills and experience providing individual and group therapy in wide variety of settings, not limited to hospital settings, shelters and intensive outpatient clinics. Ms. Garcia Alvarez specializes in treatment of mood disorders, anxiety disorders, adjustments disorders, psychosis disorders, substance use and trauma. Ms. Garcia Alvarez hopes to continue fostering a strong community of empowerment to help clients overcome challenges. 

Dr. Jonathan Saavedra is a bicultural and bilingual first-generation Ecuadorian-American born and raised in the city of Chicago. He earned his doctorate from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology where he received specialized training focused on work with children, adolescents, and their families. Over the course of his training experiences he has had the opportunity to provide therapy to individuals of all ages in community mental health, school, and hospital settings. He has experience treating behavioral issues, ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma, family conflict, and parenting difficulties. Additionally, Dr. Saavedra has experience conducting psychological, psycho-educational, and neuropsychological testing for a broad range of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive issues related to intellectual disability, learning, attention and memory. 

Ms. Quintero received her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling at Adler University. She is a cis gender female, first generation, Mexican American born and raised in Chicago. She is fluent in both English and Spanish.  Ms. Quintero works with a wide range of ages from children to adults as individuals and families. She also runs group therapy. She has clinical experience working with domestic violence which includes victims, survivors, and perpetrators of violence. Additionally, she has experience working with trauma, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and behavioral difficulties.

Dr. Jose Centeno was born in the USA but moved with his family to Puerto Rico from early adolescence until his mid 20’s. He completed his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Universidad de Puerto Rico at Cayey, Puerto Rico and his doctorate in clinical psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology.  Dr. Centeno provides clinical services through individual, couples, family, and group therapy. Dr. Centeno practices Psychodynamic Psychotherapy integrated with a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) approach.  He enjoys working with adolescents and adults who struggle with depression, anxiety, life stressors/transitions, trauma, acculturation, cultural struggles/oppression, grief/loss, and LGBTQ+ issues. He is bilingual in English and Spanish. For Dr. Centeno, therapy is a journey toward alleviating psychological distress and addressing current ineffective behaviors.

Ms. Eligia Milan Alvarado is a cisgender female born and raised in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.  She earned her Master's degree from Governors State University and is currently working on a Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work at The Institute for Clinical Social Work.  She is a first-generation Mexican-American bilingual and bicultural therapist.  She worked over five years with a legal aid agency assisting with mental health evaluations for patients seeking immigration relief. In addition, she has clinical experience working with victims of crime, including victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking (both sex and labor).