Clinical Associates

Alexandra Zaikova, M.A., QMPH, AMFT, is currently a Clinical Associate and former Advanced Doctoral Fellow in Families, Illness, and Collaborative Health, as well as a full-time 4th year doctoral student in the Couple and Family Therapy Ph.D. program at Adler University, with a specialty interest in Medical Family Therapy (OB/GYN and fertility issues). She completed her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Adler University as well, and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Case Western Reserve University, with Minors in Medical Anthropology and Russian.

Sasha works from a systemic relationships perspective, with emphasis on Contextual and Experiential models of family therapy. From personal and professional experience, Sasha has particular interest in working with couples and families who live with chronic illness in their daily lives, and to foster resilience and coping with that experience. From this, she also has a passion for working with the biopsychosocial-spiritual perspective, and integrating the physical, psychosocial, and relational realms in services. She has worked in a number of clinical settings, including community mental health centers and within the juvenile justice system, across different modalities of treatment, from individual to group.

Regardless of the model, Sasha works with clients with the belief in the goodness of the human spirit and the strength and benefit of genuine, caring relationships, and that every human being, regardless of the situation, has the capacity to grow, develop, and overcome any adversity.

Carol Salas, M.A., QMPH, AMFT, LMFT, is currently a Bilingual Clinical Associate and former Advanced Doctoral Fellow in Families, Illness, and Collaborative Health. She is a full-time 4th-year doctoral student in the Couple and Family Therapy Ph.D. program at Adler University, with a particular interest in Medical Family Therapy. Carol graduated from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (Argosy) with a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Social Work from Chicago State University.

Carol works with individuals, couples, and families from an integrated systemic perspective, with emphasis on Structural Therapy, Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and Psychoeducational models. Carol has experience and interest in working with individuals, couples, and families who are impacted by chronic illness, and specifically, in Latino/Hispanic individuals, couples, or families that have limited access to mental health due to the barrier of the language.

Carol provides therapy in both Spanish and English and believes that individuals or families struggle to express themselves, especially when communicating emotions can find it more challenging to do so with the language barrier. Carol thinks whose first language is not English may find it very difficult to identify words to express their feelings in a foreign language, especially, their profound emotions. Carol emphasizes her work in providing a safe space for her patients, allowing them to express their feelings without feeling judged or stigmatized. Carol has experience in treating: depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, chronic medical illness, neurocognitive disorders, and difficulties in coping with daily life stressors.

Carol enjoys working with a wide variety of individuals, couples, and families that are experiencing dysfunctional dynamics, emotional difficulties, and need help in finding a balance so they can improve their functioning and be capable of increasing their welfare.

Caitlin Swallow, MA, ALMFT, is a Clinical Associate and former Doctoral Fellow and is completing her PhD in the Couple Family Therapy program at Adler University.  She provides counseling/therapy with a range of couple and family concerns.  She specializes in medical family therapy, with experience in couple’s therapy, behavioral health consultation and collaboration, and working with families with complex medical conditions. Her research focuses on families with children and adolescents with complex medical conditions, such as cancer, and the implications for siblings and their relationships. She holds degrees from the University of Connecticut (BA in Human Development and Family Studies) and Southern Connecticut State University (Masters in Family Therapy) and is a Certified Gestalt Therapist. She is a member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology.

Caitlin’s approach to therapy is direct, compassionate, and collaborative. As a therapist she utilizes a family systems perspective and focuses on helping her clients know themselves better and help their families gain healthier ways to manage their lives and relationships.