Reba Rice-Portwood is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in both Missouri and Illinois, bringing over two decades of experience in mental health counseling, trauma-informed care, and community wellness to her role as Trauma Therapist at Ignite Hope. Her career is defined by an unwavering dedication to healing, advocacy, and breaking the silence around mental health, particularly in communities that have been underserved.

Reba holds a Master of Education in Community Counseling from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Harris-Stowe State College. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a Certified Grief Counselor, a Certified Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Specialist, and a Certified Wellness Coach, a breadth of credentials that reflects her holistic approach to mental health care.

Throughout her career, Reba has provided individual, family, and group therapy to teens, adolescents, women, and incarcerated individuals. She has served in clinical and leadership roles across a range of settings, including community mental health centers, youth-serving organizations, and correctional facilities. Most recently, she served as Program Manager with the Missouri Institute of Mental Health, where she led gun safety and suicide prevention initiatives in partnership with community organizations across the St. Louis region.

Reba is a passionate advocate for suicide loss survivors and has shared her own story publicly, through a published article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, an NPR interview, a collaboration with the Brady Foundation, and multiple podcast appearances, to help reduce stigma and encourage help-seeking. She is also a certified instructor for the Conversations for Safer Homes and Conversations for Safer Schools programs, and a published author of a children's affirmation book.

At Ignite Hope, Reba brings her deep expertise in grief counseling, trauma response, crisis intervention, and wellness coaching to support clients on their journey toward healing and wholeness.

Karen Olejniczak is a Provisionally Licensed Professional Counselor whose path to trauma therapy is as distinctive as it is inspiring. With a background that spans law enforcement, emergency communications, and mental health counseling, Karen brings a rare depth of perspective to her work, one shaped by years of bearing witness to crisis, trauma, and resilience across multiple fields of public service.

Karen holds a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Bachelor's Degree in Behavioral Science, Health, and Nutrition, both from Missouri Baptist University, where she graduated with honors. She has been a licensed PLPC since 2025 and is a lifelong learner with aspirations of pursuing a PhD in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

At Ignite Hope, Karen provides trauma-informed counseling to adults and children, conducts intake assessments and treatment planning, facilitates group therapy, and offers school-based counseling services. She also collaborates with the Division of Children and Family Services to support children in the foster care system, work that draws directly on her years of experience navigating complex, high-stakes situations.

Before entering the counseling field, Karen served for nearly two decades as a Communications Operator III with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, where she managed sensitive data, coordinated emergency responses across 11 counties, and received specialized training in crisis intervention, working with victims of sex trafficking, and supporting individuals with mental health and developmental disabilities. She is CIT certified and brings that same calm, steady presence to her therapeutic work.

Karen's unique combination of law enforcement experience and clinical training gives her an exceptional ability to connect with clients who have navigated systems, survived crises, and are ready to begin healing.

Gwendolyn Adams is a compassionate and dedicated Trauma Case Manager at Ignite Hope, bringing nearly a decade of experience supporting children, families, and individuals across some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Her work is driven by a deep belief that every person deserves to be met with care, respect, and the resources they need to move forward.

Her career has taken her through a variety of impactful roles across the St. Louis region. As a Mobile Crisis Response Counselor, she assessed and stabilized children, adolescents, and adults in psychiatric crisis, working alongside multidisciplinary teams to ensure safety and connect individuals to follow-up care. She has also served as a foster care case manager, a case manager for individuals with developmental disabilities, and a therapeutic mentor, each role deepening her ability to advocate for clients navigating complex systems.

At Ignite Hope, Gwendolyn brings her steadiness, her warmth, and her commitment to client-centered care to her work as a Trauma Case Manager. She understands that healing is rarely a straight path, and she is committed to walking alongside each client with patience, purpose, and hope.

Currently pursuing her master’s degree in social work, Gwendolyn is on the path to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Her blend of professional experience and academic growth reflects her passion for empowering individuals and making a meaningful impact in the lives of those she serves.

Johniesha Deberry is a dedicated and compassionate social services professional with over 15 years of experience supporting children, families, and communities across Illinois. Her career reflects a deep commitment to child welfare, family reunification, and empowering individuals to build stable, self-sufficient lives.

Johniesha holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois and an Associate's degree from Parkland College. She is a licensed social worker and a Certified Case Manager, bringing both academic knowledge and hands-on expertise to her work.

Throughout her career, Johniesha has served in a variety of impactful roles, including Child Welfare Specialist with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), foster care case manager, truancy and GED case manager, foster parent trainer, and early childhood educator. In each role, she has worked tirelessly to connect clients with the resources they need: whether navigating the court system, developing safety plans, or helping families achieve permanency through reunification or adoption.

At Ignite Hope, Johniesha brings her extensive background in crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She is known for her strong interpersonal skills, her ability to build trust with diverse populations, and her unwavering advocacy for the children and families she serves.