Meet the Staff
Tammy B. Bringaze, Ph.D., N.C.C., L.M.H.C., Director
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Tammy received her Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University and her Master’s and Bachelor’s degree from Truman State University in Missouri. Before coming to WSC, Tammy served as Director of University Counseling Services at Truman State University and as Director at the Center for Marriage and Family Therapy at Saint Louis University. In addition to her college mental health experience, Tammy has worked with the Center for Survivors of War Torture and Trauma where she counseled torture survivors from Afghanistan and Bosnia.
Tammy has published several articles and presented at numerous regional and national conferences in the area of diversity. She has also been appointed to serve on a variety of national and regional committees including: the Prevention of Campus Violence Task Force through the MA Board of Higher Education, the American Counseling Association Ethics Revision Task Force, the Association of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling.
Tammy loves working with college students and takes a social constuctivist approach to counseling. In her free time, Tammy enjoys: traveling and has traveled to over 30 countries, skiing, kayaking, rollerblading, and tennis.
Suzanna Adams, M.A., N.C.C., L.M.H.C., Associate Director
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Suzanna has been at the Westfield State University Counseling Center since its inception in 1995. Previously, she worked at other college counseling centers as well as in a community mental health agency where she co-created and co-ordinated an intensive out-patient substance abuse treatment program for women. She has a broad experience working with college students and specializes in trauma processing utilizing EMDR in which she has been trained and has practiced for close to 10 years. She is married to Stephen Adams, Ph.D., Professor in the English department with whom she has two young adult daughters. She is a Disaster Mental Health supervisor in the American Red Cross, and has been deployed twice in national disasters in Oklahoma and Louisiana. When not working, she spends time singing in Novi Cantori, a chamber chorus as well as serving as a soloist in the Greater Westfield Community Chorus.
Brian Cahillane, M.S.SW., J.D., L.C.S.W., Assistant Director
Assistant Director and Substance Abuse Specialist
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Brian has been at Westfield State University since 1993 as the University’s first Substance Abuse Specialist. He then joined the newly created Counseling Center in Fall, 1995. He is responsible for substance abuse counseling and helping to guide substance abuse prevention efforts on campus. Brian also co-coordinates the First Year Experience Seminar. Brian has participated in J-Term courses at the College, accompanying students to Morocco and teaching them in Ireland/Northern Ireland. Brian has been on the Governing Council of the American Counseling Association and is a Past President of the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors. He currently serves on the Human Rights Committees of two area human service agencies.
Jo Ann Churchill, M.A., L.M.H.C., N.C.C., Counselor
Staff Associate
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Jo Ann has been employed by the Westfield State University for 25 years. Since obtaining her Masters in Counseling, she served in Career Services 6 years before joining the Counseling Center 3 years ago as a Licensed Mental Health and National Certified Counselor. She has also worked in the community mental health field since 1996. She is trained in EMDR and continues to develop these skills. Particular interests include working with women, young adults, couples and small groups. Specific areas of expertise include trauma, issues of loss and grief, mindfulness based stress reduction, anxiety/depression and disaster relief work. She is a Disaster Mental Health Volunteer with the American Red Cross and is involved with a non-profit organization, Hope for Limpopo, Inc., that provides support and services to women and children in the Limpopo Province area of South Africa.
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