ABOUT US
OUR PHILOSOPHY
INtegRIty was launched in 2014 by Luella and Don Mahannah. It is a privately run, nonprofit counseling service on Bloomington’s west side. We do not take insurance and we serve the uninsured and under-insured. We operate as a "pay-as-you-can" agency and depend on client contributions to help cover the cost of our services.
INtegRIty enables a growing team of concerned professionals to partner in providing counseling, outreach, and community education on topics such as grief and loss, addiction, parenting, and coping skills for those with mental or emotional disorders.
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Our vision is "Stigma free mental health support for all." We serve all members of the community, regardless of race, gender, belief, orientation, or economic status.
DO. In order to make changes in behavior, thinking, and coping skills, a person must act. Improvement can’t take place without doing something. We believe the first step in doing is to decide to seek support - a team of people ready to walk beside him or her.
BE. In order to feel content in life, a person needs to see that he or she was created to be exactly who he or she is. Often, people waste time trying to be someone they aren't and fuel frustration by comparing themselves to others or not living up to their own expectations. Through counseling and mentoring, a person learns to recognize his or her unique strengths and traits and strives to improve relationships and behaviors.
HEAL. We believe every human being has emotional, physical, or behavioral scars that have affected their life. By doing the work, a person can begin to recover from abuse, abandonment, or neglect. We see healing as a holistic effort incorporating spiritual, cognitive, nutritional, and physical strategies.
Counseling Director
Luella Mahannah, MS, LCPC, volunteers full-time as Counseling Director of INtegRIty. She earned her Masters in Counseling Psychology in 1990 from Illinois State University and has worked professionally at the McLean County Center for Human Services and Catholic Charities. Luella became a volunteer counselor at Home Sweet Home Ministries in 2010. While there, she took additional graduate classes and became a Licensed Professional Counselor in 2013. In March of 2014, Luella, with her husband Don, founded INtegRIty Counseling in response to a growing need for mental health services for people who were falling through the cracks. Luella maintains a small counseling caseload while focusing her attention on directing the team of paid and volunteer counselors and master's and bachelor's level interns who are working together to meet the needs of the vulnerable and under-served population in McLean County. Luella has two adult daughters and was promoted to "Oma" in 2021 when her first granddaughter was born.
Full Time Counselor
Jennifer Moore, MFA MA LCPC worked for over 25 years as an Accountant. In 2000 Jennifer received an MFA With Honors (Master of Fine Arts Degree) from Roosevelt University. In 2015 Jennifer Received her MA With Honors in Clinical Psychology also from Roosevelt University. Jennifer has worked with both children and adults in all spheres. She believes in teaching Life Skills and Coping Skills. Jennifer considers herself an Analytical Counselor because she likes to know why. Her approach is when you understand why it is easier to change.
Part-time Counselors
Kathleen (Kathy) Case, LCSW  is a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has spent 40 + years working with children and adults with mental health and behavioral challenges.  Much of the time was in direct work with children who struggled in school because of behaviors that were the result of mental health or chronic behavioral issues.  In addition to her mental health work, she has spent much of her “spare” time in prison ministry, providing parent training classes for incarcerated parents.  Kathy has 3 adult children and two granddaughters and loves spending time with family.
Verneice Prince MSW, grew up in Chicago in the foster care system. While this brought on challenges to her life, she focused on her education and raising her children. Verneice now wants to use the experience and education she has gained to help people overcome obstacles to live the best quality of life possible. Her belief in God has helped her succeed, and because of her faith, she is willing to add a religious aspect to counseling sessions if desired. In addition to her roles as a mom and counselor, Verneice is the Founder of her own nonprofit, Cruisin Outta Poverty Services - COPS, NFP.
Volunteer Counselors
Don Taylor, LCPC began volunteering after 23 years of clinical experience at the Center for Human Services and in private practice at Professional Associates of Illinois. He has an MS in Counseling Psychology and an MS in Business Administration, both from Illinois State University. Don has worked extensively with adults with: mood and anxiety disorders, problems with intense and emotional reactivity, trauma reactions, personality disorders, childhood, and adult abuse issues, as well as chronic pain and stress. He is committed to working with each client in a very open, non-judgmental, and respectful manner. Don is a past Board President at PATH and a Vietnam veteran. He has been happily married to the best Italian cook he’s ever met.
Jenna Mangold, LCSW graduated from the University of Illinois and has experience working with youth on probation, as well as in crisis intervention, residential treatment, community mental health, and providing in home counseling for children and families involved in the child welfare system. Jenna enjoys working with a wide age range of clients including children, adolescents, and adults. She sees clients with issues ranging from PTSD/trauma, depression, anxiety, AD/HD, grief/loss, relationship issues, adjustment issues. She uses techniques including cognitive behavior therapy, mindfulness, dialectical behavior therapy, and solution focused techniques. In her free time, Jenna enjoys spending time with her family, watching baseball, and jogging.
Deb Cochran, MS Ed, has her Master's Degree in school counseling from Illinois State University. She started her career as a special education teacher and seventeen years as a counselor at Normal West High School and retired from Unit 5 Schools in 2012. Her experience includes personal and group counseling, working with families, and leadership training for adults and adolescents. Her therapy includes solution-focused counseling. Deb loves to spend time with her husband and friends, play golf, travel, and create.
Erika Quinn, MSW, LSW earned her MSW from the University of Illinois. She uses compassion, attunement, and experiential approaches like Internal Family Systems to accompany people as they heal and meet their therapeutic goals. She especially enjoys working with people suffering from grief, trauma, and attachment wounds. Before becoming a social worker, she was a professor of history. In her free time she enjoys walking her dog in the woods, baking, and reading.
Celeste Bradley, MA has her Masters Degree from ISU and a wealth of experience from Heartland Community College, McLean County Center for Human Services, and the Lighthouse Institute, now known as Chestnut Health Systems. Celeste is a trained Myers-Briggs facilitator especially qualified in helping others with career and life choices. She has been with INtegRIty since January 2015. We are grateful for her service and her deep compassion towards her clients. Celeste became a grandma in 2023 and spending time with her family is her greatest passion.
Jaylene Taubert MSW, LCSW has her MSW from ISU and has worked in social work management, has coordinated community anti-drug programs, and has served as a family advocate. At INtegRIty her primary focus is women and individuals experiencing life transition challenges, depression and anxiety; and working with couples on communication skills and managing stress in their relationship. Jaylene is married with two adult daughters and 2 grandchildren. She enjoys traveling and spending time with family.
Christie Vellella has a Master’s Degree in Education and is a retired Early Childhood Special Education teacher from Sarah Raymond School in Bloomington. She has taught public school for over 20 years and has previously worked for Hammitt School at The Baby Fold, SPICE Early Intervention, and Kaleidoscope. She has training in STEP (Systematic Training for Effective Parenting) and Love and Logic. Christie loves spending time with her husband, four adult children, and four grandchildren. In her free time, she is involved in plays at Community Players and participates in Holiday Spectacular in December.
Edye Stolz, MA, LPC, NCC has her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Georgia and her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Bradley University. She has a vast amount of experience as a Human Resources and Organization Development Leader and is currently employed at Country Financial. Edy works one-on-one with clients and enjoys working with groups; including starting a therapy group on mindfulness. She and her husband live in Washington IL with their three dogs; and they have two adult sons who live in Nashville, TN.
Becky Heerdt, MSW, LSW received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Illinois State University and specializes in grief and loss. Becky co-facilitates grief recovery support groups offered through Integrity. In addition to counseling, Becky is also the Recruitment Coordinator and a Quality Specialist for the Child Care Resource and Referral Network, located here in Bloomington, IL. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and walking with her 3 dogs and enjoys spending time with her friends and family, and traveling to new places.
Elizabeth Johnston, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who graduated from the Louisiana State University with her Master's in Social Work. She has experience working in Community Mental Health (long term) and Integrated Behavioral Health (short term). She works with clients experiencing a range of issues from depression, anxiety, grief/loss, relationship issues, personality disorders, and adjustment issues. She utilizes Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Solution Focused approaches. She is dedicated to making Bloomington-Normal a stronger and healthier community, one person at a time.
Samantha Case, MSW, LCSW graduated from ISU with a Master's in Social Work, with a Child and Family concentration. She has worked with children on the Autism spectrum her whole life, whether through volunteering, her internship at Marcfirst, speaking/educating on autism awareness, or her previous work with children on the spectrum with behavioral challenges. She was an ICASA (Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault) trained volunteer crisis advocate/counselor throughout her Bachelor and Master programs and is a full-time Client Care Counselor at a worldwide Employee Assistance Program where she puts those crisis management skills to work for employees in need across the US over the phone. She is dedicated to the empowerment of children and families through strengths perspective and client-centered practice.
Gabriella Harnish, MSW, LSW graduated from the University of Illinois with her MSW. Before moving to Bloomington/Normal, was born and raised in the Cayman Islands. She has extensive experience working with older adults and those with disabilities. Gabriella approaches all her clients with empathy and compassion, ensuring a person-centered focus. As a counselor, she believes in the importance of treating each person as a unique individual, worthy of unconditional acceptance, regardless of his or her personal circumstances or struggles. She would like to walk alongside you as you grow and heal in a safe therapeutic environment. Gabriella uses the pronouns she/her/hers.
Not Pictured:
Sierra Abel
Nicole Anderson
Jimmy Buonavolanto
Matt Coston
Dorothy Davis
Robin Dedmond-Thompson
Katie Dundas
Val Finkill
Migdalia Galue
Keliah Jolly
Julie Kleinkort
Kari Knowlton-Green
Amy Nussbaum
Leigh Walls
Melissa West
Program Coordinator
Kathleen Craven graduated from McKendree University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and public relations and is currently completing her master’s in communication at Illinois State University. While at Illinois State, she taught undergrad courses in both public speaking and interpersonal communication and has focused most of her research on social media and mental health communication. While she has lived all over the state, she is originally from the southside area of Chicago, and will always consider that “home”. In her free time, she enjoys a good documentary, listening to podcasts, going on drives, and spending time with her cat, Cutie.
Board Members
Don Mahannah serves as treasurer and community engagement for INtegRIty. He manages the financial records and regulatory aspects and works to turn our operating data into information to help us tell our story. He develops and produces marketing and business materials for presentations, events, and other potential donors, clients, and agencies. He does office maintenance, cleaning, and odd jobs whenever necessary. Don is retired from Caterpillar where he enjoyed nearly 30 years of using his talents as an electrical engineer and manager to help develop, build, renovate, and maintain office and factory space around the world.
Kristin Manzi, MSW serves as INtegRIty Counseling Board Vice President and has been a longtime community partner of INtegRIty, and started formally volunteering in January 2018 and joined the board that summer. She brings experience from years of professional and volunteer work with trauma survivors, nonprofit management and development, and positions such as committee chair as an alumni with Multicultural Leadership Program. Kristin loves talking to the community about INtegRIty's work, strategic planning as a member of the Visioning Team.
Board Members Not Pictured
Del Saam
Donald Wiggins
Kelsie Frooman
Lakeesha Smith
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