Staff

RUTH HALSTEAD

FoundeR, PResident/CEO

Ruth co-founded the Self-Injury Support Groups of Northwest Indiana (SISG) with Lynda Smith in February of 2016, where she currently serves as president, CEO. and group facilitator.  Ruth has been a practicing Marriage and Family Therapist for over a decade. She owns Ruth’s Family Therapy, a private practice in Merrillville, Indiana. Ruth created a study on non-suicidal self-injury at Purdue Calumet and published her findings in the Journal of Couple and Marital Therapy titled, “Self-Injury and Family Dynamics: A Correlation Analysis.” Ruth served on the Suicide Prevention Council at Geminis, where she offered suicide prevention training to the Northwest Indiana schools, and presented at local and state conferences to bring awareness and education around suicide prevention and non-suicidal self-injury.

CHRIS SINGEL

Group Facilitator

Chris is a graduate of Northcentral University, earning her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She graduated from Indiana University Northwest with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. She has experience working with children and families for over 21 years. Her specialties include behavior modification, special education, and self-injurious behavior using solution focused therapy, dialectical behavior therapy techniques, as well as animal assisted therapy.

Kayla “Kay” Hennelly

Group Facilitator

Kay is a graduate student at Northcentral University working toward her master’s degree in Marriage Family Therapy. She received her undergraduate degree at Purdue Northwest with a double major in psychology and sociology. Kay is currently interning at Ruth’s Family Therapy. She previously worked with at risk adolescents, families, and supervised parental visitations at Family House in Valparaiso. Kay also worked with teens and children at the Schererville Park’s summer programs.

Former Staff

STACEY WHEATLEY

PAST GROUP FACILITATOR

Stacey is a United States Veteran. She has worked at Regional Mental Health since 2018. Stacey graduated from Huntington University with her mater’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She graduated from Wesleyan University with her bachelor’s degree in mental health and substance abuse. Stacey finished her internships with the VA in Crown Point, Ruth’s Family Therapy in Merrillville, and Huntington University. She is currently at Regional Mental Health working toward her clinical hours to be fully licensed with her LCMHC (Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor) in Indiana. Stacey was the adolescent group facilitator from 2021 to 2022.

PAST GROUP FACILITATOR

Linda has maintained a professional Spiritual Counselor license for nearly 20 years. She volunteers much of her time for worthy causes in the Northwest Indiana area that include serving on the board of trustees for 12 different not-for-profit organizations. Linda has training in film production and writing. Linda loves to offer meditation and other spiritual seminars. She is politically active in advocating for women, children, immigrant rights, and protections for animals and the environment. Linda served as the adolescent group facilitator for two years in 2018 - 2019.

Amie RainfisH

PAST Group Facilitator

Amie has been a victim’s advocate since 2001 and has assisted victims with addictions, recovery, domestic violence, sexual assault, sexual abuse, PTSD, human trafficking and suicide prevention. She is certified through Office for Victims of Crime, with specific considerations for providing trauma-informed-care when assisting victims with protective orders and advocacy coordination. Amie works as a coordinator for the Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program and as a lived experience field expert. She is an Alumni AmeriCorps member. She has volunteered the past 4 years in Porter and Lake Counties training others in prevention programs. Amie served as the adult group facilitator for SISG in 2019.

Lynda Smith

Co-FoundeR, PAST GrOUP FACILITATOR

Lynda co-founded the Self-Injury Support Group of Northwest Indiana (SISG) in February 2016 with Ruth Halstead. Lynda was the first facilitator of the Family Support Group. This group was the first of its kind that we know of and was created to offer support to the family and friends of those who self-harm. Lynda served SISG families and the organization from 2016 to 2018.