Our Therapists and Team
At Emerald Cove Counseling, our therapists and team strive to foster a caring environment to help others heal and prosper. Prioritize your mental health and schedule an appointment with one of our providers today.
Jill Early-Gillies, LCSW
Founder and CEO of Emerald Cove Counseling, Jill has been a practicing LCSW for twenty years. Jill graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelors in Social Work and from Aurora University with a Masters in Social Work. She holds a certificate in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and is NASW trained in clinical supervision. She is experienced in mental health disorders, recovery counseling services, relationship issues, and blended families. Jill believes in helping her clients move past coping and into living more authentically, with less fear. Jill is currently offering Ketamine Integration Sessions and will be certified in Psychedelic Psychotherapy.
Jill is a mother of one daughter and two stepsons. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, kayaking, and camping. She is a proud member of the National Association of Social Workers and is a Board Member of Road Side Foundation. Jill is licensed to practice in the states of Illinois and New York and enjoys seeing patients in Sycamore, DeKalb, and all of Northern Illinois. While Jill is not currently taking on new clients—aside from Ketamine Integration—she is confident in referring you to Josh, Katie, or Zoilita, who are available and ready to support your care.
Joshua Wigget, LPC
Josh is a therapist who believes that meaningful therapy is a collaborative process—one that fosters self-understanding, healing, and a more fulfilling life.
Josh understands how anxiety can hold people back. For a long time, it got in his way too. It made social situations feel overwhelming, clouded his ability to think clearly, and kept him from showing up fully. Through his own journey, he learned that anxiety doesn’t have to be in control. He now helps clients develop practical tools to manage anxiety in the moment while also exploring the deeper patterns behind it. His goal is to help others build a stronger sense of calm, clarity, and confidence.
Josh earned his Bachelor’s degree in Family and Individual Development and his Master’s in Counseling from Northern Illinois University. He has spent a significant part of his life abroad, immersing himself in different cultures and perspectives. These experiences inform his understanding of identify, transition, and belonging, especially for those navigating life between cultures. Whether it’s related to location, relationships, or internal growth, he’s there to help.
Josh is LGBTQ+ allied and experienced in working with anxiety, depression, non-traditional relationship structures, and diverse sexual practices. He offers an affirming, nonjudgmental space where clients can reflect, heal and improve their capacity for emotional intimacy.
Outside of therapy, Josh enjoys playing guitar, spending time with his cats, going to concerts and comedy shows, and staying active through hiking, biking, and working out. He continues to explore the world through travel, embracing new cultures, foods, and perspectives along the way.
Katie Sampalis, LCSW
Katie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree from the Erikson Institute. She has completed Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist training and draws from a range of evidence-based modalities, including person-centered/humanistic therapy, CBT, DBT, strengths-based, and trauma-focused approaches.
Katie specializes in supporting individuals experiencing stress, anxiety, adoption-related challenges, relationship issues, family conflict, and trauma. She works collaboratively with clients to uncover patterns, build emotional insight, and create lasting, meaningful change in their lives.
Originally from Illinois, Katie recently returned after living in North Carolina for several years. She is a proud new mom to her daughter, a longtime dog mom, and enjoys life at home with her husband.
Zoilita Herrera, LCPC
Zoilita is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with over 25 years of experience in
the helping profession. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Northern Illinois
University and a Master’s degree in Clinical Professional Psychology from Roosevelt University. Her professional background spans a wide range of settings, including working with children and adults with disabilities, providing outpatient family therapy, conducting psychiatric emergency evaluations for children and teens, and supporting young adults and adults in community mental health and school environments.
Zoilita specializes in working with adults (18+) and offers compassionate support for those navigating challenges such as anger management, depression, anxiety, and life stress. She helps clients build coping skills, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen communication in order to foster meaningful, lasting change.
Fluent in Spanish and deeply connected to her cultural roots, Zoilita brings a bicultural perspective to her work. Raised in the suburbs of Illinois by immigrant parents and enriched by summers spent visiting family in Colombia and Ecuador, she is committed to providing inclusive and culturally responsive care.
Her therapeutic approach integrates a variety of evidence-based modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Humanistic and Client-Centered therapies, Positive Psychology, and Solution-Focused Therapy. She holds a Type 73 certification and is a proud member of the Illinois Mental Health Counselors Association. Zoilita is known for her empathetic, client-centered style and her dedication to helping individuals reach their full potential. She believes that a strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation for healing and personal growth.
In her free time, Zoilita enjoys spending time with her family and her rescue dog. She also finds joy in walking, drawing, reading, and playing the piano.
Adrianna Bennett, Intern
Adrianna is an intern with an undergraduate degree in psychology from Northern Illinois University and is working on her Master of Social Work in Advanced Clinical Practice at Walden University. She has worn many hats in the field, supporting people in the role of a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional at a day program, assisting adult persons with disabilities. Adrianna also worked at a hospital as a bedside safety companion, a visual monitor to ensure patient safety, and to meet their needs. She later transitioned to an emergency room front desk registrar and an outpatient registrar, where her director encouraged her to pursue her heartfelt mission of serving people in the role of a social worker.
Adrianna’s previous clinical experience involved assisting people who are experiencing substance abuse issues, marriage challenges, and life transitions. Adrianna has experience in using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and approaching mental health concerns from a holistic perspective. However, she understands that everyone is different and is knowledgeable about various evidence-based practices and Christian counseling, which allows her to be adaptable in applying other styles that best assist. Adrianna collaborates with clients to explore their mental, emotional, and relational well-being, helping them progress towards meaningful change.
Adrianna enjoys spending time doing activities with her husband and three giggly children, ages three, two, and one. She also started homeschooling and has been on a fun journey learning with the kids. Adrianna enjoys spending her time engaging in insightful and humorous conversations with friends, family, and her church family, playing card games like Spades, board games, reading, listening to piano music, and enjoying some old song favorites from Musiq Soulchild, Lauren Hill, and India Arie. She enjoys making DIY products such as toothpaste & laundry detergent, watching professional skaters and skating, watching gardening shows, cooking new food recipes, and serving and giving to others in various capacities.
Jamie Gillies, Relationship Coach
Jamie Gillies is a Certified Relationship Coach and offers relationship coaching through our Boundary House program. Jamie has mentored and coached dozens of men. He has expertise in abandonment issues, intimacy disorders, recovery counseling services, and spiritual connection. With a long career in the automotive industry, he is not afraid to dig deep into an issue and excels at finding creative solutions to problems. Jamie offers a beautiful balance of compassion and accountability, and we are so grateful to have him.
Brooke, Account Specialist
Brooke is our Account Specialist for Emerald Cove Counseling at Redeemed Billing.
She works behind the scenes to ensure smooth billing processes, from managing claims to handling accounts receivable. If you have any questions about your bill, Brooke is your go-to contact. If you’d like to learn more about how Redeemed Billing helps, you can visit here.
For billing and account inquires, contact Brooke below.
