Welcome to Lemon Tree

Andrew Hamlyn, LCPC, NBCC

Clinical Director

Andrew@lemontreecounselingservices.com

The main reason I sought to become a mental health therapist was, like so many others in this field, my own mental health issues. I was a freshman in high school when I started having panic attacks. Every day kind of like an exercise in survival for most of the first half of the school year. I got better at pretending these weren’t an issue and made it through the rest of the year, somehow. During the summer, I had a severe panic attack at home that led to my mom encouraging me to participate in therapy. I was a young male athlete with a misguided sense of pride. Needless to say, I was hesitant. It turned out to be the best decision I ever made. I even have the same therapist today that I did for my initial session!

I graduated from Warren Township High School in 2002, and received my Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in 2008. I knew I wanted to go into mental health the field, but was unsure if I could really be a therapist. I worked as a foster care case manager for two years and as a comprehensive community-based youth services (CCBYS) case manager for five years. It was during the latter endeavor that I realized the limitations of my ability to help people, based on my education and training. I applied to grad schools and settled on Argosy University in Schaumburg (as I am not a big fan of driving to Chicago during rush hour). I completed my internship at Arden Shore, providing therapeutic services to children and parents involved with the foster care system. It was also during this time that I worked as a psychiatric technician at Vista Health Services. Both experiences were difficult at times, but prepared me very well for my job. I graduated from Argosy University with a Masters of Art in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 

Over the last 8 years or so, I have continued to refine my approach to therapy. I work with all ages and backgrounds. I pride myself in being easy to talk to while also being able to hold my clients accountable. I utilize cognitive behavior therapy, as my main approach but try to remain eclectic. I also use aspects of Gestalt, Adlerian, and Solution-Focused theories. There is nothing more rewarding to me as a professional than getting to be a part of the journey my clients take to change their lives for the better.

I have been married to the love of my life, Mandy, since May of 2016. Together, we have identical twin boys, David and Nathaniel, born in 2020 (true covid babies). In my free time, you can find me spending time with my family, yelling at the Cubs, Bulls, or Bears, depending on the time of year, and doing my best to engage in self-care.

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Amy Grant, LSW, MSW

Amy@lemontreecounselingservices.com

As a therapist, I strive to provide a safe and comfortable space for you to heal and grow.  I am a seasoned professional with a background in a variety of caregiving roles.  I am passionate about working with adults and youth through a variety of challenges and life transitions.  I have experience supporting people of all ages, including children, parents of children with special needs, teens and young adults, middle ages and more experienced adults.  I have supported people through navigating transitions, managing depression and anxiety, trauma, understanding neurodivergence, and career changes. 

I am a compassionate and supporting therapist that practices from CBT and solution focused basis with integrating  attachment theory, play therapy, and skills from DBT.  I am trauma informed and am trained in and utilize EMDR.

I have worked in a variety of settings providing support to others, including work as a school social worker, and a lactation consultant.  My personal experience as a parent of a child with special needs, and emerging adults have inspired my work and desire to support others through their journey.

Navigating changes in life can be challenging and it can be helpful to have someone to walk with us as we grow through new phases in life. Whether you are a new parent, experiencing relationship changes, coping with loss,or  learning to manage other challenges, I would love to support you and help you. 

In my free time, I enjoy cooking, crocheting, spending time with my family, camping and hiking.  I am married to my husband of 22 years, and have two young adult children. While my children were young, I was blessed to be home with them as well as volunteer as a mother-to-mother breastfeeding support group leader, and supported new mothers as a lactation consultant.  I earned a Master of Social Work in 2018 and worked as a school social worker prior to transitioning to a counseling practice where I enjoyed working with people from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and challenges.  

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Sara Moss, Administrative Assistant

Sara@lemontreecounselingservices.com

Hi everyone! My name is Sara Moss. I was born and raised in Gurnee, Illinois and graduated from Warren Township High School. After high school, I went off to the University of Wisconsin- Parkside and got my BS in Psychology and Criminal Justice. A little bit more about me: Some of my hobbies include cooking/baking, coloring, listening to music, and hanging out with family and friends. I like practicing self-care by taking a bath, reading a good book, going for a walk with my puppy, and going to bed at a decent hour. I enjoy watching YouTube and Hulu, lately I have been obsessed with The Handmaids Tale. I am very excited to be joining the Lemon Tree Counseling team, and I can’t wait to get started! 

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Ava Ravago, Advanced Generalist Intern

Ava@lemontreecounselingservices.com

Hi! My name is Ava (pronounced Ah-va, like avocado). I’m a proud Filipino-American,
born and raised in Waukegan. I went to Waukegan High School and then spent four
years at the College of Lake County trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I took just
about every intro class until I landed in Intro to Social Work—and that’s where
everything clicked. From that class on, I dove deeper into topics like mental health,
advocacy, working with diverse populations, and learning about the many resources out
there to help people.
After CLC, I transferred to Northeastern Illinois University and earned my Bachelor’s in
Social Work. During my time there, I worked as an activities aide at a psychiatric facility,
helping adults with chronic mental illnesses, and interned at a nonprofit supporting at-
risk youth by teaching life skills and healthy coping strategies. After graduating, I was hired as a case manager at the Lake County Health Department, supporting adults in the community living with chronic mental health conditions. Now, I’m continuing my education at Dominican University, where I’m working toward my Master’s in Social Work.


My goal is to become a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, specifically working
with individuals who are children of immigrants. I’m passionate about mental health,
healing generational trauma, and creating space for others to feel seen and
empowered. This work is super personal to me—it honors my own healing and allows
me to help others start theirs. I’m really excited to be part of The Lemon Tree team and
continue growing in this work!
Fun facts:
I am a big foodie (so please share recipes and restaurants with me)
I play 5 instruments and 4 out 5 are self-taught
I have two adorable dogs; Meeko and Zoey!

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Caroline Garcillano, Generalist Intern

Caroline@lemontreecounselingservices.com

Hello! My name is Caroline and I am a new intern at Lemon Tree Counseling. I was born in the Philippines and moved to Illinois when I was about five years old. I went to Warren Township High School and initially went to CLC intending to major in Pharmacy. However, I have always had a passion for the mental health field due to my experiences navigating the stigma around mental health in the Asian-American community, So, when the pandemic hit, I decided to switch my major to Psychology, and continued my education in the University of Illinois at Chicago, where I eventually earned my bachelor’s degree. During my tenure at UIC, I worked as a case manager in the South Side of Chicago, connecting residents to community resources as well as a tutor for young children and adolescents, acting as a source of support and assisting them in developing coping strategies and life skills.

Upon graduating, I worked as a Registered Behavioral Technician for a year, servicing young children with autism and their families, and currently I work in Utilization Management at Lake Behavioral Hospital, helping to coordinate treatment for individuals with chronic mental illnesses. Now I am starting my education at Dominican University, for a Master’s in Social Work. I hope to be a source of support and an advocate for those in my community, and I’m very excited to be working alongside Lemon Tree!

Some fun facts about me: I love cooking, baking, reading books, writing traveling, video games, and crocheting, and I play both piano and guitar! 

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