• Write for Suite101
• Sign In

• Home
• Profile

Mike Rohling, Youth & Family Therapist - Brenda Liggins

Mike is the Manager of Youth and Family Interventions at Southern Illinois Regional Social Services (SIRSS) in Carbondale, Illinois. He has a Bachelors degree in Juvenile Counseling and a Masters degree in Family Counseling and Research Methods both from the Crime Study Center at Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale. Mike has been working with youth and their families for 32 years including 12 years in residential settings. Mike is also a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in Illinois, and is a member of the Jackson County Mental Health Action Team. As a team member, he has contributed a series of articles to the local news paper, the Southern Illisnoian, for the last two years.

MIke has always managed a large staff group as well as being a field instructor for the SIU School of Social Work. These experiences have made him a very easy going teacher for young people. Mike has a great deal of experience working with them to process their learning experiences and conducting focus groups for staff and clients. He has become very flexible and creative in his work managing crisis for run away and throw away kids and their families.

An additional career responsibility has been Mike's participation on state wide committees as well as the Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY). ICOY is a political lobbying group and he travels extensively for this part of his work. Mike works with and speaks to legislators regularly and communicates with people from all across the state.

Mike has a number of interesting hobbies that require specific skills and equipment. He and his family have always been very out-door and sports oriented. They enjoy camping, canoeing, hiking, rock climbing and rappelling, scuba diving, and traveling. They are also avid athletes and have spent time participating in soccer and volleyball leagues, running, biking, swimming, tri-athalons and marathons.

All of these activities require a great deal of focus, energy and endurance. They help Mike keep a clear head and the need for intense training makes him a very dependable training partner.