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Meet Our Team

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Brenda Vance, MS, LPC, NCC

CEO, Lead Clinician

Brenda is a dynamic, top-of-the-line therapist who brings over a decade of clinical experience, fierce compassion, and a deeply personalized approach to mental health care. Holding a Master's in Clinical Mental Health and Counseling, Brenda specializes in trauma, substance use disorders, high clinical needs, neurodivergence, and general mental health wellness. Brenda works with adolescents through adults to help them move from a place of survival to a space of thriving, empowerment, and clarity.

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Clients are drawn to Brenda for her unwavering belief that no person is “broken.” Instead, she sees each individual as whole, worthy, and capable of healing. Her mission is to help clients recognize their strength, rewrite their narratives, and build the life they truly want—one rooted in purpose, balance, and self-trust.

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Brenda is an eclectic, solution-focused therapist who thoughtfully integrates a variety of evidence-based modalities to meet the unique needs of each client.

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Her toolkit includes:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for managing thoughts, emotions, and behaviors

  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness

  • Narrative Therapy for reclaiming personal stories and challenging internalized messages

  • Person Centered Therapy giving full autonomy to the individual, as you are in control of your life

  • Trauma-informed care that prioritizes safety, empowerment, and choice

  • Strength-based interventions that focus on resilience and personal agency

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Brenda’s passion for neuroscience deeply informs her practice. She considers herself a “brain detective”—committed to understanding how each client’s unique brain works, processes, and heals. She combines cutting-edge brain-based research with clinical expertise to tailor interventions that align with how the client’s nervous system functions best. Whether she’s supporting a neurodivergent adolescent, a trauma survivor, or someone navigating emotional dysregulation, Brenda is constantly researching and applying neuroscience-informed strategies to awaken each person to their brain’s potential. Her goal is not just to help clients cope—but to help them truly thrive by unlocking their innate cognitive and emotional strengths.

 

Brenda works extensively with clients navigating:

  • Complex trauma and PTSD

  • Substance use recovery and relapse prevention

  • First Responders and crisis counseling

  • Neurodivergent identities (including ADHD, autism, sensory differences)

  • Anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and self-esteem concerns

  • Life transitions, identity work, and family system challenges

  • High clinical needs cases and general mental health

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In addition to individual therapy, Brenda is a passionate advocate for neurodivergent students and families, offering consulting and support around 504 Plans and IEP development. She understands the educational system inside and out and works tirelessly to ensure her clients receive equitable accommodations and services. In addition, Brenda has expertise in working alongside parents and GALs navigating parental agreements.

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What truly sets Brenda apart is her blend of empathy, scientific curiosity, and relentless advocacy. She offers a space where individuals can safely explore their truth, access tools for change, and gain momentum toward their goals. Clients often describe Brenda as “real,” “empowering,” and “the therapist who helped me finally feel seen.”

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Brenda is currently accepting new clients for therapy and consultation. Whether you're navigating trauma, identity, or simply feel stuck and want to shift into a new chapter, Brenda is here to help you rise, heal, and thrive—with purpose, clarity, and confidence.

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Chloe Green, MA

CFO, Practice Manager

As the CFO and Practice Manager of Black Lotus Counseling Center, Chloe brings a powerful blend of strategic intelligence, historical insight, and deep compassion to the mission of accessible, equitable, and transformative mental health care. With a Master’s degree in History and a specialization in intersectionality, Chloe understands that every individual's experience is shaped by layered identities—and that healing must honor those complexities.

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Rooted in the belief that no one's access to care should be limited due to the environment they were born into, Chloe has dedicated her life and work to dismantling systemic barriers and empowering individuals and families to access care that truly reflects their lived experiences. Greatly inspired by the groundbreaking work of Kimberlé Crenshaw, Chloe brings a multi-axis lens to advocacy, ensuring that clients are not just seen, but understood in their full identity.

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Chloe is passionate about empowering individuals—not just in the therapy room, but at the front desk, in the waiting room, and in every space where someone dares to begin healing. She believes that even small moments of contact with care—whether a smile, a welcome, or a resource—can be life-changing. With every administrative process and financial system she oversees, Chloe works to reduce friction, increase access, and make mental health care seamless, affirming, and stigma-free. 

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An advocate for collective freedom, cultural diversity, and the liberation of all oppressed peoples, Chloe uses her leadership role to create space for truth—truth in identity, truth in expression, and truth in healing. She is especially passionate about helping families seek and normalize mental health support, understanding that when one person heals, entire communities begin to transform. 

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Often called the “special intelligence master” to Brenda’s "brain detective,” Chloe combines systems-thinking with human empathy to help Black Lotus Counseling Center grow with integrity, vision, and soul. She is not just building a practice—she is cultivating a movement.

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Chloe's ultimate mission? To create a world where people are free to Rise, Heal, and Thrive—without apology, without shame, and without delay.

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Dr. Matthew Sprong, PhD, LCPC, CADC

President, Clinical Supervisor

Dr. Matthew E. Sprong is a distinguished leader in mental health and vocational rehabilitation, serving as the President and Clinical Supervisor at Black Lotus Counseling Center. With a career spanning over a decade, Dr. Sprong is dedicated to supporting individuals with chronic medical and psychological conditions, earning him widespread respect and recognition in the field.

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Dr. Sprong holds a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and Administration from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. His contributions to the field are substantial, with over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles focusing on vocational rehabilitation, chronic pain, and rare health conditions. His research has been featured in prestigious journals such as Pub Med, Rare Diseases, Frontiers in Psychology, Journal of Life Care Planning, Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, and Journal of Applied Rehabilitation.

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In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Sprong is a Certified Life Care Planner, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, and Certified Vocational Evaluator. He is also a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania. He has worked at the Evaluation and Development Center and the Department of Veteran Affiars Veteran Helath Administreation. Within these two roles, he has provided vocational rehabilitation and placed hundreds of clients and Veterans with severe psychiatric and medical disabilities in employment. He has worked on the independent living needs of Veterans with severe psychiatric and medical impairments. He is also an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Addiction Studies and Behavioral Health at Governors State University. He has previously been involved in academia in the disciplines of Rehabilitation Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Public Administration, and Human Service Graduate programs at various universities. 

Black Lotus Counseling Center, LLC  |  2025

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