Who We Are

Dr. Kris Fulkerson, DSW, LCSW

Co-Founder Coping 4 Life
Owner Coping 4 Kids, Inc

Dr. Kris Fulkerson, DSW, LCSW, is a nationally respected clinician, educator, and innovator in the field of children’s grief and trauma care. She founded Coping 4 Kids in 2007 and later co-founded Coping 4 Life in 2016, expanding access to grief and mental health support in communities with limited resources. Her mission has been clear and consistent: ensuring grieving children are seen and heard, especially in underserved and rural areas. Before launching her organizations, Dr. Kris spent 13 years at a child and family bereavement center, building deep expertise in assessment, counseling, program design, and training. She has extensive training in grief, trauma, youth mental health needs, suicide prevention, and rural mental health, and she regularly presents locally and nationally, both in person and online. Dr. Kris has also volunteered nationally with TAPS and Experience Camps, designing and leading grief group activities for children, facilitating grief expression, and guiding camp staff in providing support. Her work has been widely recognized, including NASW Social Worker of the Year (2011), a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award (2016), and the Horace Mann Reaching Out & Building Bridges Award (2021) for innovative mobile social work programs in rural schools. Dr. Kris is the author of the book “Grief in the Middle of Nowhere: Special Considerations for Rural Grieving Children.”

Beth Ricciardi, MSW, LCSW

Co-Founder Coping 4 Life
Owner Kaleidi Counseling & Consulting, PLLC

Modalities:

• Certified Cognitive Behavioral Therapist
• Sport Social Worker Certification
• Brainspotting Certification
• EMDR Trained
• TF-CBT Trained
• Mental Performance Coach Trained
• Clinical Trauma Professional

Beth is the co-founder of Coping 4 Life, and the owner of Kaleidi Counseling & Consulting, PLLC. In addition to the behind the scenes work Beth does for Coping, she also uses her skills to lead the children’s camp programming for Let Grace In, a grief center based in Honolulu, HI, and joins the LGI team in bringing much needed grief support to the neighboring islands. Beth was involved with Experience Camps for Grieving Children for 12 years, serving as a Clinical Team Member nationally for 3 of those years. She also brought her nonprofit management and community relations expertise to the St. Louis Blues Alumni Association, serving as their Director of Operations for 7 seasons, which included the Winter Classic, Stanley Cup and NHL All-Star Game. Locally, she served on the Hannah’s Playground committee as a project manager, bringing inclusive play and accessibility to our community. She has a flexible and adaptive clinical perspective, working with people of all ages through issues stemming from grief, loss, trauma, anxiety, family conflicts and coping skills.

Stephanie Altizer, LCPC

Owner of Brain Essentials Counseling & Consultation, Inc

Modalities:

• EMDR Trained
• TF-CBT Trained
• DBT Trained
• Brainspotting Trained
• Clinical Hypnotherapy Trained

Stephanie is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) specializing in trauma-informed care for adolescents (ages 12 and up) and adults. Her clinical work is rooted in evidence-based modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Clinical Hypnotherapy. She is also trained in Brainspotting. She works with clients navigating trauma, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and complex developmental experiences.
Her approach is integrative and client-centered, emphasizing safety, collaboration, and nervous system regulation. She tailors treatment to each individual, drawing from structured, research-supported interventions while remaining responsive to each client’s unique internal experience and pace of healing.
When appropriate and aligned with client goals, she may incorporate mindfulness-based and somatic awareness practices, as well as intuitive, insight-oriented techniques that support deeper emotional processing and self-connection. These elements are always introduced transparently and grounded within a clinically informed framework.

She believes that healing occurs not only through symptom reduction, but through reconnection—with one’s body, internal sense of safety, and personal meaning. Her role is to provide a steady, attuned space where clients can process difficult experiences, build resilience, and move toward lasting change.

Amanda Marti, MA, LCPC

Owner of Believe You Can Counseling & Education, Inc

Modalities:

• Certified Art Therapist
• Synergetic Play Therapy Trained

Amanda Marti is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Art Therapist with training in Synergetic Play Therapy and the founder of Believe You Can Counseling and Education. She earned her B. S. in Psychology from SIU Edwardsville and M. A. in Professional Counseling at Lindenwood University. She has experience counseling adults and children with and without disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, intellectual delays and more. She has worked with Coping 4 Life since 2019, providing counseling at Aviston Elementary, Bartelso Grade School, Damiansville Elementary, St. Rose Elementary, All Saints Academy and at the Coping 4 Life office in Breese.

Cindy Grapperhaus, LCPC

Owner Connections 2, LLC

Modalities:

• TBRI Practitioner
• NMT Trained Provider
• EMDR trained
• Theraplay trained

Cindy is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the founder and owner of Connections2, LLC Counseling Services. With more than 25 years of experience in working with children and families, she is dedicated to providing compassionate care that fosters healing, resilience, and growth. Cindy’s extensive training and clinical experience allow her to effectively support those struggling with mental health issues, relationship and family conflicts, sexual abuse and assault, and trauma related behaviors. She is trauma-informed, adoption competent, skilled in crisis work, and has a passion for working with teens and families.

Kate Garrett Kruep, MS

Specializations:

• Human Development & Family Science
• Child Life
• Sexual Assault
• Trauma

Kate is a dedicated counselor with over 15 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families across a variety of settings. She earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from McKendree University and is passionate about helping individuals and families navigate life’s challenges with compassion, understanding and evidence-based support. Throughout her career, Kate has worked with clients facing concerns such as anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, family conflict, trauma, emotional regulation and life transitions. She believes in creating a safe, supportive and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, valued and empowered to grow. Kate takes a collaborative and strengths-based approach to counseling, tailoring treatment to meet the unique needs of each individual and family. Her goal is to help clients build resilience, strengthen relationships and develop practical tools for lasting emotional wellness.

Sydney Perez, LPC

Owner Brainworx, PLLC

Modalities:

• Motivational Interviewing Trained
• TF-CBT Trained
• ARC Trauma Model Trained
• IMCANS+ Certified

Sydney is the founder and lead therapist of Brainworx, PLLC. She has worked in the mental health field since 2017. Sydney has worked in community based mental health, counseling, case management, and social work jobs providing support and therapeutic services to homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth, as well as, youth placed in a residential hospitalization setting and in schools. She has a Master’s Degree from McKendree University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and holds a Professional Counseling license. She is trauma-informed, skilled in crisis work and interventions, and she enjoys working with adolescents and teens to help them navigate life and problems that may arise.