Meet the Team

 Michelle Halm, MA, M.Ed, PEL, FT

Michelle is the founder and lead facilitator at Grief Connection Space, LLC.  Over the past 10+ years, Michelle has been providing support to those impacted by grief. 

She hold the designation of a Fellow in Thanatology from the Association of Death Education and Counseling.  She is also LPC -license eligible in Illinois.  She combines her grief knowledge along with her formal education to build supportive partnerships and provide community education (space) for grief. 

Michelle is also a certified instructor for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's Youth Mental Health First Aid and Teen Mental Health First Aid. 

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-halm-ma-m-ed-pel-ft-3a00a88/

Anna Padron Sikora, LCSW

Anna is a bilingual bicultural Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

Anna has been working with individuals and families in the communities for over 20 years addressing and supporting mental health wellness. Anna attended Northern Illinois University and holds a  Bachelor of Art in Human Services and Masters in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago.  

Connect with Anna on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-padron-sikora-lcsw-22711443/

Alyssa Jesberger, LCSW

Alyssa has a decade of experience in the field of mental health. She has experience in both psychotherapy and mental health service administration. She has facilitated trainings and workshops on supporting individuals who have experienced trauma and grief throughout the western suburbs. She has seven years of experience providing trauma informed, reflective clinical supervision to emerging professionals, students, and inexperienced supervisors in the mental health fields. She has facilitated trauma and grief consultation groups as well as reflective supervision consultation groups for professionals. She is a certified clinical trauma professional and is working toward her certification in perinatal mental health through Post Partum Support International. She also has a lived experience with trauma and grief as a full-term pregnancy loss survivor. Her first love is theatre and art and she is a strong proponent of the therapeutic powers of art for learning to live with the impacts of trauma and grief.

Liz Otto Haskins

 Elizabeth Otto Haskins is a seasoned professional with a strong background in community service, philanthropy, and bereavement support. With extensive experience in volunteer leadership and marketing, she has effectively managed community events and sponsorships, particularly in support of children and families. Her recent roles have included supporting philanthropic initiatives and managing sensitive communications, reflecting her dedication to making a meaningful impact in the Chicago region. Elizabeth aims to leverage her skills and passion in a role focused on benefiting the community and supporting people's bereavement needs. 

Sara Buttita

Sara earned her MSW from Dominican University in May 2024 and is LSW-eligible. She believes that community education is essential for improving awareness and support for those facing loss. She aims to provide compassionate care to help individuals heal and navigate one of life’s most challenging experiences.

Recently, Sara completed her clinical internship as a Bereavement Counselor at Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care. Prior to that, she interned with Pillars Community Health’s Buddy’s Place Program, where she helped develop and deliver grief education to local schools and families, facilitated grief support programs, and participated in outreach initiatives. Sara recognizes that grief can arise from various life events, including divorce, illness, military service, immigration, and disability. Her community-focused work has given her a deep understanding of grief and bereavement support from both clinical and outreach perspectives. 

Heather Fernandez, LCSW

Heather is bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  She is also a certified instructor for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's Youth Mental Health First Aid courses.  She also works in community mental health with schools and youth programming.