MEET OUR TEAM
At Forward Focus Counseling Center, we believe healing happens in connection. Our team brings skill, compassion, and dedication to support you on your journey.
Rose Lafferty, LCSW
Founder of Forward Focus Counseling
Center
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"My journey into the field of Mental Health began long before any formal training. Growing up, I experienced firsthand what it felt like to be unseen and unheard. Those early experiences showed me how essential it is for people to feel safe, supported, and understood. They shaped my lifelong commitment to creating that kind of space for others."
At just 16, I began volunteering with local social service agencies, including programs supporting at-risk youth and families. I facilitated adolescent support groups. An unusual role for someone so young, but one that felt like home. These early opportunities didn't just inspire me, they confirmed that this was my path.
"I BECAME THE THERAPIST I ONCE NEEDED. SOMEONE TO TRULY LISTEN AND BELIEVE IN YOU."
Since then, I've spent more than 35 years walking alongside individuals, couples, and families as a private practitioner under the name Professional Counseling and often simply as Rose Lafferty, LCSW. Throughout the decades, I've been honored to witness the incredible strength and transformation of the people I've worked with. I continue to believe deeply in the power of a compassionate space where healing begins and meaningful growth can unfold.
In response to the growing needs in our community, I founded Forward Focus Counseling Center to expand beyond what I could provide alone. I'm building a team of caring, well-trained professionals who share a vision grounded in compassion, integrity, and clinical excellence. Together we're creating a Center where support, insight, and practical tools come together to help each person move forward toward a more meaningful, grounded, and fulfilling life.
With a foundation in trauma informed care and a mission rooted in accessibility, Forward Focus Counseling Center is committed to supporting underserved populations and strengthening mental health infrastructure in Central Illinois and beyond. We are dedicated to offering evidence informed services that meet the unique needs of individuals, families, and communities.
I am grateful to be part of your journey, and I look forward to the healing and growth ahead.
MEET OUR COACH
Compassionate guidance for life's challenges. Supporting individuals and families with clarity, care, and practical tools.
"I'm excited to be part of something meaningful from the ground up helping to shape a space where families feel seen, supported, and truly cared for."
Crystal, Life Skills & Family Coach
Crystal Hatley: Life Skills & Family Coach.
Our dedicated coach, Crystal Hatley, brings both passion and expertise to her work with individuals of all ages and families. As a full-time educator with specialized training and experience in autism, ADHD and parenting, she understands the unique challenges that many families face and how to help them navigate with confidence.
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Crystal provides strength-based coaching to support emotional regulation, communication, executive functioning, and family systems. Her warm, collaborative approach ensures that clients feel heard, supported, and empowered every step of the way.
At Forward Focus Counseling Center, coaching complements our therapy services by offering practical, hands on support to build skills, foster resilience, and move toward lasting change.