Counseling Services

Dima Dairanieh, LCSW, CADC
Staff Therapist
312-369-6979
“I love reading, cooking and art in all forms. I cannot go a day without music. Working on establishing a meditation practice and being more present.”

Gricel Serrano, LCPC
Staff Therapist
312-369-6978
“I think life is better with music, food, and laughter. Life can be difficult, but without humor--it becomes unbearable." 

Connie Valle
Administrative Assistant
312-369-8700
“I love spending time with my Family and having Family Dinners. I enjoy long car rides (we turn them into karaoke time!); definitely enjoy music especially oldies music. I love Mediterranean food and pizza! I enjoy good jokes and laughs. My favorite show is The Big Bang Theory and The History Channel. I like going to art galleries and admire different kinds of art.”

Clinical Interns 

Michele Lakemeyer, M.Ed
Clinical Intern
"I love spending time with my family – both chosen and bio. I’m also an avid soccer player and enjoy spending summers on the lake in my avocado floatie."

• Dima Dairanieh, LCSW, CADC

  Dima Dairanieh, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor holds a Master of Social Work degree from Jane Addams College. She has also completed a post-graduate clinical social work fellowship at Yale University. Dima has experience in individual, group, and family therapy and has worked with diverse populations across different age groups. She has worked in residential, in-home, and outpatient settings, focusing on working with adolescents and young adults utilizing strength based-therapy. Her theoretical style draws on relational theory, dialectical behavioral therapy, trauma informed practice as well as cognitive behavioral techniques. Dima has worked with a variety of presenting problems including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, anger management and substance abuse.

• Gricel Serrano, LCPC

  Gricel, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, obtained her Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Since 2011, Gricel has worked in a variety of settings including Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Psycho-social Rehabilitation (PSR), Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP), inpatient psychiatry, private practice, and various community mental health agencies. Gricel is bilingual in Spanish and has worked with both English and Spanish speaking clients. Her theoretical style draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). She works alongside her clients to improve mental health and living an authentic life. Gricel’s clinical preferences include depression, anxiety, and identity formation issues.  

• Connie Valle

  Connie joined Counseling Services in January 2019 and brings excellent customer service skills and enthusiasm to the office. Connie earned her Certificate of Nurse Assistant from Harold Washington College and is continuing her education. Connie has over eight years of experience working with diverse populations and within residential-outpatient services serving individuals with chronic illnesses. She strives to make her interactions with students comfortable and enjoyable.

• Michele Lakemeyer, M.Ed.
  Michele Lakemeyer is a current student at The University of Chicago in the Master of Arts Program in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration (SW). Michele has a background in education. She earned a Masters in Higher Education (M.Ed) from Loyola University Chicago and worked in the field of higher education for the past 10 years, most recently at Northwestern University. Michele is passionate about working with college students and uses an identity and justice framework. Michele is client-centered and has taken classes on dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and motivational interviewing (MI).