BEREAVEMENT CARE MANAGER

215-516-9429 | rachel.essy@phila.gov

Rachel (she/her) is a Marriage and Family Therapist and previously worked with people and families from all walks of life. As a Marriage and Family Therapist, Rachel has learned the importance of understanding how systems and relationships can affect a person's grief.

Rachel’s approach to therapy is one of warmth and empathy. Rachel understands that change and growth have its fair share of ups and downs and every client has their own journey. Rachel previously worked at Thomas Jefferson NARP, a methadone clinic in Philadelphia, where she got to know amazing people who influenced her approach to grief and loss. Through her work at NARP she gained an understanding of the complicated journey that is grief. Rachel believes that self-care and goal-setting are important parts of mental well-being, and she incorporates those into her practice.

SENIOR BEREAVEMENT CARE PROVIDER

215-982-0959 | cadence.giles@phila.gov

Cadence is passionate about utilizing creative expression as part of the grief process. She holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Goddard College, where her studies focused on expressive arts therapy. She is an LPC candidate receiving supervision towards licensure. Prior to joining the Philly HEALs team, Cadence worked at JFK Behavioral Health as an outpatient therapist. Cadence believes that counseling relationships should always be collaborative, and that grief (and healing) are non-linear processes unique to each individual person. She works to tailor her therapeutic approach to match each person’s interests, needs, and belief systems.

In her role with Philly HEALs, Cadence provides individual grief counseling and support for her clients using relational, existential, and narrative practices. Additionally, Cadence runs Writing With Grief, a time-limited support group focused on using creative writing to explore and express grief, as well as to share stories about the people who have been lost to overdoses. Cadence believes that visual and narrative art practices are important tools for combatting the stigma associated with substance use and mental health. When she’s not working, Cadence enjoys spending time with her pets, getting out into nature, and playing video games.

CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELOR

Olabisi.Adams@phila.gov

Olabisi (she/her) delivers care that prioritizes the needs, personality and circumstances of children and adolescents who are grieving. Olabisi graduated with her M.ED in Counseling Psychology from Temple where she received training in the treatment of children, adolescents and young adults. Olabisi grew her passion to work with the Philadelphia community after completing her Masters practicum at Hope Partnership for Education School where she worked as a counseling intern with youth from underserved backgrounds dealing with trauma or hard circumstances at home. The impact of her practicum experience blossomed her aspiration to help children and teens in Philly heal from adverse childhood experiences (ACES) that are beyond their control and deeply impact their development. As a Philly native with the knowledge of the needs of children in the community, delivering bereavement counseling through Philly HEALs hits very close to home and is very important to Olabisi.

Olabisi uses a person-centered approach where she centers her care around learning the unique needs and background of her clients to provide counseling that best fits them. She will incorporate a blend of therapeutic art, therapeutic play (for younger kids) and other therapeutic activities/techniques that promote healthy development and expression of emotions for children or teens as they move through grief. Counseling is provided with the knowledge that substance abuse related loss can pose its own set of challenges and experience. Olabisi is patient, calm and will embrace all sides and phases of the bereavement journeys that children and adolescents move through. Olabisi approaches care from a mindfulness, developmental, cognitive-behavioral and trauma-informed lens. Olabisi openly works with children while communicating with their caregivers and families, school counselors and the community to bridge gaps and strengthen a network of support. Currently, Olabisi is pursuing her LPC and is receiving supervision towards licensure. Outside of work, Olabisi is a hiker, runner and lover of art, games and nature.

BEREAVEMENT CARE PROVIDER

Talia.Jones@phila.gov

Talia (she/her) is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson University’s Community and Trauma Counseling program, where she focused her studies on trauma, addictions, and recovery. She holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is an LPC candidate receiving supervision toward licensure.  

Prior to joining Philly HEALs, Talia worked at Northeast Treatment Centers where she helped connect families to substance abuse treatment and harm reduction resources. She also managed the Parenting Collaborative program, which provided free parenting education classes to Philadelphia residents of children under the age of 18.   

Talia is passionate about working in settings that service people of color and people from marginalized communities. Talia brings a commitment to advocacy and social justice to her work by addressing the impact of systems on grief, trauma, and toxic stress on individual, family, and community health. She believes that unprocessed grief or trauma can lead to adverse mental, physical, and spiritual conditions over time and generationally; thus, she sees grief counseling as prevention in addition to healing. Talia believes that counseling much be tailored to meet each individual’s needs, background, and values, and integrates therapeutic approaches that support the individual’s holistic wellbeing.  

BEREAVEMENT CARE PROVIDER

Joseph.E.ODonnell@phila.gov

Joe (he/him) is returning to the team after completing his internship and MSW program. In his new role with Philly HEALs, Joe will be supporting adults, children, teens, and families. Joe is passionate about supporting people as they grieve loss, primarily through closely listening to and honoring personal stories and experiences of surviving loved ones. He is most guided by a person-centered approach, seeing people as experts on their own lives and grieving journeys, while also believing in the power of community support and healing through group connection and working with clients to connect them with any additional supports they may need. Joseph strives to help grieving clients identify the activities and practices that are most meaningful and helpful to them.

Joe is a recent graduate of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to pursuing clinical social work and counseling, he worked in various chaplain roles as a Master of Divinity (MDiv) student, providing spiritual care and support in both hospital and university settings, ranging from deaths of loved ones to emotional crises to adjustment challenges.

Outside of work, Joe enjoys reading and learning new things, listening to and discovering music, and spending time outside.