KOEN COUNSELING AND WELLNESS CENTER
FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING
Tessa Beard, MSW
Title: Therapist
Location: Edwardsville, IL, Jerseville, IL, and Telehealth
Hi, my name is Tessa Beard. I’m a therapist who is passionate about working with children, teens, and adolescents to help them navigate life’s challenges and build emotional strength. I earned my Master’s Degree in Social Work from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in 2025 and have a deep commitment to supporting the mental health and well-being of young people.
My goal in therapy is to create a safe, supportive space where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered. I strive to help my clients develop healthy coping skills, improve their self-esteem, manage difficult emotions, and build stronger relationships with those around them.
I use a strengths-based, client-centered approach and tailor each session to meet the unique needs of the individual. I often incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), play therapy techniques, and mindfulness strategies to help my clients better understand themselves and the world around them. I also value the importance of involving families when appropriate to ensure lasting growth and healing.
I truly believe that with the right support, every child and adolescent has the ability to thrive.
Micah Arps, MSW, LSW
Title: Therapist
Location: Edwardsville, IL and Telehealth
My name is Micah Arps, and I am a Licensed Social Worker who has a passion for working with
future generations in becoming better versions of themselves! I earned my Master’s Degree in
Social Work from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) in 2024 and am working
towards my LCSW. My areas of experience include anxiety, depression, stress, and trauma.
When working with clients, I want to create a space where they feel safe and seen throughout
their therapeutic journey!
Troy Cobb, MSW, LSW
Title: Therapist
Location: Edwardsville, IL and Telehealth
I am a Licensed Social Worker with seven years of experience as a school social worker, primarily working with adolescents and young adults. I earned my Bachelor of Social Work from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2018 and my Master of Social Work from Illinois State University in 2020. My background in school social work has given me extensive experience supporting individuals through emotional, behavioral, social, academic, and life challenges while collaborating with families and other members of their support systems. While much of my professional experience has centered on adolescents and young adults, I am also comfortable working with adults and am continuing to expand this area of my clinical practice.
I enjoy helping clients navigate anxiety and stress, emotional regulation, self-esteem, communication, relationships, behavioral concerns, conflict, self-advocacy, life transitions, and the development of healthy coping skills. I believe therapy should be a supportive and nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, understood, and comfortable being themselves. I also believe therapy should provide clients with practical tools they can carry with them outside of the therapeutic space.
My approach is person-centered, strengths-based, trauma-informed, solution-focused, and CBT-informed. Depending on each client's individual needs, I also incorporate psychoeducation, behavioral and skills-based interventions, supportive therapy, mindfulness-based strategies, motivational interviewing techniques, and narrative approaches. I work collaboratively with clients to better understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, experiences, and behaviors while building upon their existing strengths and developing skills that support meaningful change.
Outside of my professional work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, listening to music, traveling, attending sporting events, and finding new ways to enjoy life and prioritize self-care.
Sidnee Sawyer, LCPC
Title: Therapist
Location: Edwardsville, IL and Telehealth
I am dedicated to guiding individuals through life's challenges with compassion, clarity, and evidence-based care. I earned my degree from McKendree University and bring a thoughtful, holistic perspective to my clinical work. I predominantly work with adolescents (12+), young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and self-esteem concerns. My background includes implementing accessible school-based counseling programs for adolescents, using trauma-focused interventions, and blending practical skill-building with mind-body awareness.
My approach incorporates multiple philosophies to guide clients in creating their own meaning in life, overcoming feelings of inferiority, and developing greater psychological flexibility by understanding their emotions instead of avoiding or dismissing them. By integrating these varied therapeutic approaches, I provide a comprehensive and tailored treatment plan that addresses each client's unique needs, fostering growth, self-awareness, and emotional well-being.
What I enjoy most about my role is building genuine relationships and creating a safe, empathetic space where clients can build confidence in their resiliency skills and feel empowered to explore their authentic selves.
Outside of my work at Koen, you can usually find me hanging out with my dog or getting completely lost in a good book. I'm also a huge foodie who loves discovering new local restaurants and trying different dishes! To balance it all out, I stay active outdoors and keep involved with sports coaching and logistics.
Daniel Bishop, LPC
Title: Therapist
Location: Edwardsville, IL and Telehealth
I pursued a career in counseling because I believe mental health is the force that binds us all and gives us all more in common than we may think. I earned my master's in clinical mental health counseling from Webster University and a certification in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in order to foster my skills of validating and reflecting the struggles, insecurities, and fears of clients of vast backgrounds. With the use of CBT, I have assisted clients struggling with depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, body image issues, and grief gaining a clearer understanding of their potential for attaining stabler and more fulfilling lives. No matter how busy we keep ourselves, life is never short of its curveballs, twists and turns, and setbacks. Through applied cognitive skills and mindfulness techniques, My clients can expect to have negative thinking patterns rerouted and hope for the future restored! Helping clients find a path through even the most turbulent and uncertain of waters presents a new challenge each day, but it is a challenge I am always eager to navigate alongside them!
Outside of working at Koen, I enjoy writing; I am a published author!