Our Therapists and Team

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. 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 attended Northern Illinois University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Family and Individual Development, followed by a Master’s in Education in Counseling. Josh has a broad worldview, having traveled and/or lived in 40 countries.

Josh is passionate about our immigrant population, assisting with navigating identity, belonging, and cultural adjustment. He recognizes the challenges related to culture shock, employment stress, family dynamics and social integration that often come with moving to a new country. Josh helps clients reconnect with their sense of self and build meaningful support systems in a new environment. He is available to support nomadic individuals in exploring identity and belonging, while learning to create a meaningful, grounded life, wherever they are, however temporary.  

Josh is LGBTQ+ allied and has experience supporting clients with anxiety and
depression, non-traditional relationship structures, and diverse sexual practices.

He believes that meaningful therapy is a collaborative journey, encouraging deeper self-understanding, growth toward a more authentic self, and the pursuit of a fulfilling life. 

Outside of his work, Josh enjoys spending time with his cats, playing guitar and listening to music, attending concerts and comedy shows, and staying active through activities like working out, hiking, and biking. As a passionate traveler, he has explored the globe, embracing new cultures, cuisines, landscapes, and cityscapes 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.

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.