Elizabeth Thielen, LPC, PCGC, ICGC-II, Senior Director at Nicasa Behavioral Health Services

Senior Director

Nicasa Behavioral Health Services

Elizabeth Thielen is a Senior Director at Nicasa Behavioral Health Services in Lake County, Illinois with over 25 years in the addictions field. A Licensed Professional Counselor, she is also one of about 70 certified gambling counselors in Illinois, holding both a Problem and Compulsive Gambling Counselor certification and an International Certified Gambling Counselor-II credential. Elizabeth has extensive experience working with individuals impacted by addictive disorders, providing treatment services in both outpatient and residential settings. She has taught “Advanced Counseling Skills” and “Impulse Control Disorders and Process Addictions” courses as an adjunct professor at the College of Lake County. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Council on Problem Gambling, serving terms as Secretary and as President for the group. Elizabeth co-chairs the Gambling Disorder Committee, which makes recommendations to the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery. Elizabeth is recognized as an engaging speaker on the subject of gambling disorder and prevention, speaking at a number of state, national and international conferences. She is passionate about increasing awareness of gambling disorder in the community and among helping professionals. Recognizing that all sectors of the community are impacted by and can impact problem gambling, Elizabeth collaborates with school systems, the criminal justice system, other social service agencies, and the gambling industry towards common goals.