ALLISON LEVINE, MA, LCSW, SEP
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
Certified Theraplay® Therapist and Supervisor
Somatic Experiencing Practitioner
With over 20 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Allison brings a heartfelt understanding of the unique challenges children and families face. Her work has been shaped by meaningful time at Children’s Memorial Hospital, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and The Theraplay Institute’s Child and Family Clinic. She specializes in supporting families through trauma, chronic illness and complex medical needs, physical manifestations of stress, anxiety, parenting challenges, divorce, and experiences of grief and loss.
Allison offers a range of therapeutic support, including family therapy, individual therapy for children and teens, and guidance for parents who want to better care for themselves and their children. Her approach is grounded in compassion, collaboration, and a deep respect for each person’s story. She works closely with families to clarify goals, reprocess traumatic experiences, and gently shift patterns that may no longer be serving them. Whether meeting with a child, teen, parent, or family, Allison shapes each session around individual developmental needs and personality so that everyone can experience genuine warmth, engaging connection, and feel cared for and understood.
Her training in the mind-body connection helps families recognize how emotions, behavior, physical sensations, and overall wellness are intertwined. From there, she focuses together with clients on finding relief, building regulation, and moving toward healing. Allison integrates a variety of expressive and relational approaches into her work, including Theraplay®, Somatic Experiencing, Sand Tray, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Narrative Therapy, play, and art—always with the goal of fostering connection, resilience, and hope.
Allison earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2003 and her Master of Art in Social Work and Health Administration and Policy at the University of Chicago in 2005.
Speaker Topics:
The Body’s Response to Trauma
What is Medical Trauma?
Applications of Theraplay for Medical Trauma
Little Bodies and Growing Brains: The effects of trauma in early childhood
Publications:
Both Mommy and Daddy Love You: A coloring book for children whose parents are separating or divorcing
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ANDREA BUSHALA, MSW, LCSW, RPT-S
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor
Certified Theraplay® Therapist, Trainer and Supervisor
Andrea has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Miami University with an emphasis in Child Development. She obtained her Master of Social Work degree from Loyola University Chicago with a dual specialization in School Social Work and Children and Families. Andrea has worked at a community mental health clinic focusing on children and young adults experiencing anxiety and depression as well as in the public school system providing individual and group therapy for children ages 2-6. In her clinical work, Andrea uses a strength-based perspective, incorporating the learnings from trauma, attachment theory and brain development to help families optimize relationships and their sense of connection.
Andrea also completed a two-year postgraduate fellowship in Infant Parent Mental Health at the University of Massachusetts/Boston in November 2019.
Andrea is a Theraplay Trainer and Supervisor, a Certified Child Centered Play Therapist as well as a Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor. She is an active member of the IL Association for Play Therapy and held an Executive Board position from 2017-2024. An Affiliate Professor at Northwestern University Masters of Counselling Program, she teaches Methods of Play Therapy to graduate students hoping to pass down her love of working with little ones and their families.
ERIN GUSTAFSON, MS, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Developmental Therapist
Certified Lactation Educator, Certified Educator of Infant Massage,
Level 1 Theraplay Trained
Erin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 12 years experience working with children and families. Erin earned her Bachelor of Art in Sociology at the University of Notre Dame and her Master of Science in Child Development with an Infancy Specialization at the Erikson Institute and her Master of Social Work at Loyola University of Chicago. Erin completed her graduate training at Evanston's NorthShore Hospital and the Erikson Institute's Fussy Baby Network. Following graduate school, Erin worked for 10 years as a Developmental Therapist and Social Worker at La Rabida Children's Hospital on the inpatient unit and in the outpatient Developmental and Rehabilitation Center.
Erin has a strong understanding of child development and parent child relationships. She has spent her career working in the Early Intervention System as a Developmental Therapist and Social Worker in the home and at La Rabida Children’s Hospital. During that time, she treated children and families with chronic medical conditions and developmental delays. In her clinical work, Erin uses a strength-based approach and trauma perspective while incorporating attachment theory principles and developmental knowledge to help families optimize relationships and connections while supporting child development. Additionally, she has experience working in maternal mental wellness, providing prenatal and postpartum support to mothers and children.
Erin is proficient in both written and spoken Spanish in conversational and work related settings.
Speaker Topics:
Infant Behavior and Cue
Toxic Stress
Infant Massage
SOPHIE MARWIL, MS, MSW
Sophie Marwil holds a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Neuroscience from Connecticut College and Master’s degrees in both Child Development and Social Work from the Erikson Institute in Chicago. Sophie has an extensive background working with children and families across a range of developmental and clinical settings. As a longtime Co-Director at Chippewa Ranch Camp, she has witnessed the impact of a nurturing environment in fostering confidence, resilience, and empathy in children. During her graduate studies, she also interned with the Foster Care Team at Brightpoint, where she gained valuable experience supporting children and families through various life transitions and challenges.
Sophie is passionate about helping families and young children (ages 1-10) thrive. Her work focuses on supporting families as they navigate the complexities of raising emotionally healthy children in today’s world. Grounded in a developmental and strengths-based approach, Sophie helps parents understand how children grow and learn to manage their emotions, build relationships, and develop key life skills. Sophie’s work centers around relationship-building and family engagement, empowering parents to foster healthy, adaptive growth in their children through empathy, structure, and connection.
Licensed Social Worker
KELSEY BUCKLEY
Kelsey Buckley is in her final year in the Masters of Social Work program at the Erikson Institute. She holds her BFA from Texas State University, and worked as a preschool teacher for five years before returning to school to study Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Prior to joining the team at Healing Space, Kelsey worked as a school social work intern at the Chicago Waldorf School, providing one-on-one and in-class services to children needing additional support in the school environment. A lifelong theatre artist, Kelsey has always had a great appreciation for the power of play, which is what led her towards a career working with children. She enjoys partnering with parents and families to foster joy, warmth, and fun in family relationships. Kelsey's work starts from a place of curiosity and is grounded in developmental understanding. She is a passionate advocate for the rights of children and parents. Kelsey has professional training in Child Centered Play Therapy and will complete her Theraplay Level One training in September.
Social Work Intern