Meet Our Team
Shelly Dutch
CSAC, ICS - Founding Director
Shelly Dutch has been dedicating her life work to young people and their families for almost 30 years. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her dedication to the alcohol and drug problem in our society. She is certified at both the state and national levels, and emphasizes mentoring and service as the key to recovery...Krystle Haviland
LPC, CSAC, Asst Clinic Director
Krystle is currently working as a licensed mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor and co-assistant clinic director and manages Connections UW affiliated programs. Krystle brings a vast experience working with teens and adults struggling with a wide range of mental health and substance use concerns. From a holistic and person-centered approach, Krystle recognizes barriers that may be present when counseling individuals from diverse backgrounds. She believes it is within the context of a person-to-person connection that each client experiences growth. Krystle is a EMDRIA trained and active EMDR practitioner.Tim Bautch
MA, LPC, CSAC, ICS
Tim has worked in the field of substance abuse/mental health for 16+ years in inpatient, outpatient, residential and correctional settings. He believes people know what they need to do to become healthy, however need assistance through positive relationships.Leslie Taylor
MD, Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine
Dr. Leslie Taylor is a board certified psychiatrist specializing in clinical research and medication management of psychiatric disorders. Dr Taylor is Medical Director at Connections and the TMS Center of Madison. Dr Taylor is additionally board certified in addiction medicine (ABAM). She has over 20 years of experience treating adults, and adolescents and is one of the most experienced psychiatrists with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in the state of Wisconsin..Kathy Oriel
MD, Family Medicine, Addiction Medicine
Doctor Oriel is delighted to join the Connections staff. As a family physician for over 20 years, she is passionate about caring for the whole person within the context of their lives. Dr. Oriel works alongside other professionals at Connections to support people struggling with substances and/or mood. Dr. Oriel values the time she is able to spend with patients and the relaxed atmosphere at Connections when compared to other healthcare settings. She provides a variety of medically-assisted therapies including Suboxone (R) and Vivitrol(R).Cory Divine
MA, LPC, CSAC
Cory works primarily with teens and young adults through the process of change. He believes in the strength of individuals, but also in the power of group thoughts as a means of transformation. He is also a musician who performs in a successful band, which has received recognition in Rolling Stone Magazine, and has toured nationally.PHOTO BY NOAH WILLMAN
Patrick Nichols
LCSW, SAC
Patrick has over 22 years of experience working with individuals, couples and families. He has worked in various settings - inpatient and outpatient, AODA and mental health clinics, domestic violence treatment and private practice. He will bring his years of experience doing interventions to Connections Counseling, and help families shepherd their loved ones into an appropriate treatment setting.Joe Kuehn
MA, LPC, SAC
Joe currently is a licensed mental health and substance abuse counselor. He started his own journey of recovery in 2007 at Connections Counseling and has continued to learn, grow and give back in the years since. Joe has experience working with a wide variety of ages, cultural and economic backgrounds. He believes that people who were once deemed "hopeless" in their struggles with mental health and substance use disorders, can become hopeful. Joe holds a BBA in Marketing and Finance, and a Master of Arts in Counseling with a Community Counseling emphasis. In addition to being a counselor, he is responsible for community outreach where he organizes and participates in speaking panels for schools, organizations and conferences.Mary Kay Aide
MS, LPC
Mary Kay has over 25 years working with individuals, couples and families in a variety of settings and organizations, such as day treatment for youth, community mental health, employee assistance consulting, and private practice. She has a master’s in Rehabilitiation Counseling, with an emphasis in AODA issues, is a Professional Certified Coach and Licensed Professional Counselor. Mary Kay brings a solution-focused and strength based philosophy to her work with couples and families that help her clients move forward in a healthy, positive direction.Chuck Callender
Business Director
Chuck is responsible for Connections non-clinical business activities. Chuck brings decades of corporate experience with a strong personal understanding and compassion for the importance of what we do for the patients Connections serves and their families. Chuck also serves on the Recovery Foundation board of Directors.Shannon Adamczyk
MS, LPC, SAC
Shannon is dually licensed for both mental health and substance use and has been a member of the Connections counseling family since 2014. Shannon works primarily with young adults, college students, and teens and is involved in individual work, group counseling, as well as UW-Madison BASICS, CASICS, and CHOICES programs. She has experience working with a wide range of issues […]Sara Jordan
LPC, ATR-BC, SAC-IT
Sara Jordan has been a certified counselor 15 years and a board certified art therapist since 2004. Her focus is working with individuals, couples and families addressing the challenges of substance abuse/dependence as well as anxiety, depression and trauma. Sara helps clients to discover and utilize their present resources and to nurture new resources available to them at Connections Counseling and in our community. She has an advanced graduate studies certificate in expressive arts and believes strongly in the healing power of the arts. Sara is working on her PhD in Expressive Arts at the European Graduate School in Switzerland.Alex Kress
MS, LPC-IT, SAC-IT
Alex brings enthusiasm and compassion to understanding and working with individuals with mental health and substance concerns. Alex practice emphasizes working with college students, adolescents and young adults. Alex is an avid muscision and a founding member of the bi-weekly music group at Connections.Jennifer Pitzo
MS, LPC, CSAC
Jennifer enjoys working with clients from all walks of life and believes a holistic approach is important in supporting clients to make lasting changes. She is nationally certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and works in the Adolescent Program at Connections. Jennifer is an EMDRIA certified EMDR practitioner. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental […]Pete Meagher
PhD, LCSW
Dr Pete Meagher is a full time professor who offers his expertise and passion part time at Connections. Pete teaches in a clinical social work program and specializes in mindfulness based approaches to treating anxiety, depression, trauma and dually diagnosed clients. Pete uses a unique approach to help clients discover and own their strengths to […]Hadeel Hasan
MSW, CAPSW, SAC-IT
Hadeel assists adolescents and adults struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. She works closely with Connections University of Wisconsin affiliated programs, BASICS, CASICS and Choices. Hadeel is very passionate about a person-centered and holistic approach when treating clients of diverse backgrounds.Emily Ricter
LMFT-IT
Emily works with individuals, adults and couples on issues including anxiety, depression, self esteem, trauma, grief and loss, addiction, life transitions, interpersonal relationships and parenting. Emily believe that change happens most effectively in the context of relationship and views the relationship between client and therapist to be one of the most important pieces of successful […]John Weibel
LPC, CSAC
John is a dually credentialed counselor focused on mental health counseling and substance abuse counseling. John has been practicing since 2010 and has a passion to help improve treatment outcomes for persons with diverse backgrounds. John has substantial experience with adolescents and adults. John is an EMDRIA trained and active EMDR practitioner.Brooke Mulcahy
MSW, CAPSW, SAC-IT
Brooke enjoys therapeutic work with people from all walks of life, especially adolescents and young adults who are struggling with mental health and substance use disorders. She has a background working in a variety of inpatient and outpatient programs and a foundation in DBT. Brooke believes in empowering clients through a person-centered and strengths-based treatment approach.Polly Sackett
LPC-IT, SAC-IT
Polly Sackett is a National Board Certified Counselor, Substance Abuse Counselor, and Grief Support Specialist. Polly’s counseling approach is person-centered and incorporates humanistic, holistic, and recovery model techniques. Polly works with adolescent and adult clients as well as individuals and couples. Polly’s areas of specialty are grief and loss, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, and relationship challenges. Polly values people from all […]Sue Moran
MS, LPC, CSAC, ICS
Sue has been providing therapy for over 25 years, and has worked in administrative and supervision roles for over 15 years. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor and a Certified Trauma Specialist. She specializes in working with adults who have experienced trauma, and integrating trauma healing with recovery from substance […]Kim Hurd
Mentor Coordinator, CCAR Recovery Coach
Kim is a woman in long-term recovery, passionate about mentoring others to a path of long-term, sustainable recovery through multiple physical, mental, and spiritual pathways. At Connections, Kim has primary responsibility for the MARI program providing innovative diversion to treatment for opioid offenders referred by Madison Police Department. The MARI program utilizes Certified Recovery Coaches […]Lisa O’Brien
MS, LPC-IT, SAC-IT
Lisa’s counseling philosophy is to create a welcoming environment where clients feel supported, inspired and hopeful as they address areas in their life in which they desire deeper insight and growth. She works primarily with adults on issues including anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief and loss, domestic violence and substance use. Lisa embraces diversity and […]Ethan Scofield
MSE, LPC-IT, SAC-IT
Ethan obtained his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UW-Madison and his master’s degree in professional counseling, with an emphasis in clinical mental health, from UW-Oshkosh. He sincerely believes the therapeutic space he shares with a client is sacred, and considers it an honor to bear witness to, and celebrate, an individual’s lived experience. He is convinced that change occurs […]Gabriela Valdivia
LMFT-IT, SAC-IT
Gabriela approaches her work with individuals, couples, and families, from a systemic perspective. She strives to create a safe and compassionate atmosphere while personalizing her approach to meet each client’s unique situation. She believes that everyone has the capacity to grow and change, and uses creative interventions to inspire psychological movement in therapy. Gabriela is bilingual and bicultural and has […]