Staff Bios
Chris McLaughlin
Founder
As an entrepreneur and volunteer, I have been fortunate to experience much success in business and gratification from helping others. DrugHelpDesk.com represents the synthesis of these two pursuits, but it also stems from experience.
As a teenager, I was dangerously close to becoming a drug casualty before a structured and effective treatment program put me on a brighter, more promising path. More recently, I coordinated the treatment for a beloved niece who had fallen victim to substance abuse. I have seen firsthand the uncertainty, confusion, and desperation of parents who love their children but don’t know how to help them, and I became committed to providing them with a better path for answers.
My personal mission with DrugHelpDesk.com is to ensure everyone who needs treatment can find a program that fits their needs.
DrugHelpDesk.Com Contributors
Brian McKenna
Drug Counselor
LCSW, CAADC
Brian J. McKenna possesses extensive experience in working with high-risk adolescents in the areas of substance abuse and delinquency. As a director at the highly acclaimed OMNI Youth Services, he has oversee, prevention, juvenile justice, youth and family counseling, substance abuse services, and community outreach services since 1993. Brian is a trainer on the topics of clinical supervision, leadership, experiential therapy, family therapy, substance abuse counseling, and adolescent development. Recent trainings include: Understanding the Culture of Adolescents, Mind Matters Therapy with Moment Matters Adolescents, Engaging Families in Therapy, The Practice of Clinical Supervision, Building Initiatives for Adolescent Substance Abuse, and Facilitating Experiential Change. He holds a bachelor’s of social work (BSW) from Valparaiso University and a masters of social work (MSW) from the Jane Addams College of Social Work at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is currently a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a certified advanced alcohol and drug counselor (CAADC) with an adolescent treatment endorsement (ATE) in the state of Illinois.
Carlos G. Rodriguez
Drug Counselor
BA, CADC
Reared in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Carlos G. Rodriguez is the coordinator for substance abuse services at OMNI Youth Services located in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Having been in the field of juvenile justice since 1993, he possesses extensive experience in working with high-risk adolescents in the areas of substance abuse and delinquency. Carlos serves on the board of the Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice Institute. He is a trainer on the topics of experiential therapy, substance-abuse counseling, gang prevention and intervention, adolescent development and Balanced and Restorative Justice. He has been trained as a Family Group Conference facilitator, Circle Keeper, Wilderness First Responder, Wilderness Therapist, rock climber, kayaker and lifeguard. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of New Mexico and is currently a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) in the state of Illinois. Carlos lives in Chicago with his spouse Nitza and their son Galeano.
Mary Beth Kerf
Drug Counselor
LCPC, CADC
Mary Beth Kerf has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, is a licensed professional counselor and is certified in treating substance abuse and addiction. Mary Beth Kerf has over twenty years of experience providing clinical services to adolescents and their families. She has specializations in family therapy, addictions, interpersonal violence and trauma. She currently works as the Manger of Clinical Services at OMNI Youth Services. She provides clinical oversight to the counseling programs and treatment services OMNI offers. Mary Beth is the direct supervisor to the clinical staff and acts as a consultant to the community on the issues relevant to adolescents and families. Mary Beth has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families identify their strengths, overcome obstacles and live a more fulfilling life.
Jon Imms
Web development
Jon hails from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, where he received a degree in Applied Computing/Software Engineering from Northumbria University. Prior to university, Jon sailed the ocean wave for seven years as an operating mechanic in the British Royal Navy. Since moving to Chicago in 2009, Jon has continued his web design work and strategy, with a special focus in wordpress theme development.
Jon enjoys watching sports and is ever-loyal to his home soccer team, Newcastle United Football Club.
Sam Maher
SEO/Social Media
As the DrugHelpDesk.com’s head of Web strategy, Sam uses the full range of online media and social-networking tools to extend the reach of our online community. In this capacity, his experience in search engine optimization and knowledge of Web best practices ensures that DrugHelpDesk.com has a rich online presence and can be found easily by anyone in need of answers and resources on substance abuse. Sam is a recent graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, where he received a Bachelors of Science degree with an emphasis in Computer Graphics Technology. He is a native of Fort Wayne, Indiana.