Meet the Team

Jackie Lightner, LICSW, MSW, RYT 200 is the founder and Executive Director of LightWork Therapy and Recovery. With over a decade of experience as a social worker and clinician in the mental health field, Jackie is passionate about creating programs that help women who are experiencing life changes, anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and addiction. Jackie founded LightWork under the foundational model of helping clients learn tangible skills and practices that they can take with them into the more difficult moments of life. Jackie has been featured as a keynote speaker and panelist at events such as NorthShore Chamber’s annual THRIVE summit and the MAHP Annual Conference, has been honored to be a guest on several amazing podcasts like NAPS’ Unswaddled and Point 1, and provides corporate trainings and speaking engagements at global companies such as EF Education First, and more.

Molly Hoopes, LMHC is a licensed mental health counselor and the Clinical Director at Lightwork Therapy and Recovery. She has been part of the Lightwork team from the very beginning and is proud to be a founding member of the organization. Bringing over 10 years of experience working in the field, Molly specializes in working with women with depression, anxiety, trauma, relational issues, self-esteem, transitions, and general life stress. Her approach integrates various modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness techniques. Molly is passionate about building clinical programs that empower women and encourage supportive, wrap-around services for healing. When she’s not in the office, she loves spending time outdoors, reading, and spoiling her dog!

Makayla, our Clinical Coordinator, brings her passion for wellness and helping others to the forefront of her professional endeavors. She focuses on the seamless operation of Lightwork Therapy and Recovery, playing a pivotal part in creating a supportive and empathetic environment. Her passion for mental health advocacy is reflected in her daily efforts to ensure that women receive the care and resources needed to navigate their mental health journeys. Beyond the walls of Lightwork, Makayla enjoys cooking, live music and outdoor activities.

Danielle is a compassionate and driven individual who holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Social Work. With a strong dedication to helping others, she has proven her commitment through her work in detox, where she supported individuals on their path to recovery. As the newest member of our admissions team, Danielle leads with both an encouraging and informative mentality. In her personal life, Danielle enjoys running, walking her pup, spending time with friends and family, and relaxing with a comfort show and a nice cup of coffee.

Danielle is a registered dietitian and has a master’s degree in nutrition science from Boston University. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is currently pursuing her doctorate in psychology. She is the owner of Lavallee Wellness, a local dietetic practice that supports women and families in managing various nutrition-related health conditions and optimizing their lifestyles to feel their best. Danielle is passionate about empowering women to better understand themselves and their behaviors to support a positive relationship with their bodies and food. She believes nutrition education and meaningful clinical support can increase quality of life, de-stressing and uncomplicating food and eating. When she is not enjoying speaking with her patients or working with her team, she can be found reading a good book series or playing with her kids.

Jenny is a licensed mental health counselor and DBT group facilitator at Lightwork Therapy and Recovery. Jenny believes in an integrative approach to therapy, in which she utilizes evidence-based techniques and skills from modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, and trauma-informed care. Her passion for helping others is rooted in establishing strong therapeutic relationships with her clients, creating safe and non-judgemental space for them to explore their thoughts and emotions. She is committed to providing compassionate care that is both inclusive and collaborative, working together with clients to address their unique needs and goals. As a firm believer in the power of continuous learning, Jenny strives to integrate new knowledge and skills into her practice. But when she’s engaging in self-care of her own, you can find her spending time with friends and family, reading up on (and solving) the newest true-crime case, and snuggling up with her hound dog mix.

Marie is deeply passionate about running art programs. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Millersville University and has five years of teaching experience. Additionally, she earned a Master’s degree in Art Administration from Drexel University. Currently, she is completing her clinical hours for LMHC and Art Therapy. With experience working with individuals of all ages, Marie is continually inspired by the transformative power of art across different age groups. As an Art Therapist, Marie enjoys incorporating an internal family systems perspective and a mindfulness-based approach into her practice. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys engaging in breathwork classes, working out, camping, and, of course, painting.

Jill is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT) at Lightwork Recovery and Therapy. Jill believes we are all here experiencing many layers of discomfort everyday, both physically and emotionally, and the practice is trying to navigate how to be with them.
Jill utilizes a trauma informed approach to hold space for clients to be able to lean into the discomfort, to hear what is beneath its surface and respond rather than react. She offers unconditional positive regard allowing the clients to show up exactly as they are in that moment. She uses somatic engagement and inquiry to support listening in and responding rather than reacting then creates compassion to the experience of this present moment. She reminds us that the practice isn’t about forcing ourselves to stay present but to build our ability to welcome ourselves back again and again.