Our Team
At the Anxiety & OCD Behavioral Health Center (AOBHC), every clinician is trained in the same evidence-based methods that make our practice unique—CBT, ERP, and ACT. Whether you see Dr. Plinovich or another member of our team, you’ll receive expert, compassionate care grounded in the same proven approaches.
Our clinicians share a common mission: helping patients face fears, build resilience, and create lasting change. We collaborate closely, consult regularly, and bring decades of combined experience treating anxiety, OCD, and related conditions.
No matter who you work with, you’re getting the strength of the entire AOBHC team behind you.
Heather (Chik) Plinovich, Ph.D., HSPP
Founder and Director
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Chesterton Office
Dr. Heather Plinovich is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of the Anxiety & OCD Behavioral Health Center (AOBHC). With nearly two decades of experience, she specializes in evidence-based treatment for anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and related conditions across the lifespan.
Dr. Plinovich completed her graduate training at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and later trained with internationally recognized experts in OCD and anxiety across Canada and the United States. Her approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, self-compassion–based strategies, and executive functioning and communication skills training. She is also trained in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), a parent-based approach for youth with anxiety, OCD, and ARFID.
Dr. Plinovich now focuses primarily on overseeing AOBHC’s clinical team. She provides direct training, supervision, and ongoing consultation to ensure each therapist delivers the same high-quality, research-supported care that the practice is known for—so patients receive excellent, specialized treatment without a long wait.
Dedicated to expanding access to care, Dr. Plinovich founded AOBHC in 2013 to bring specialized services to Northwest Indiana and beyond through PSYPACT authorization. She previously served on the board of OCD Midwest and has taught as an adjunct professor and guest lectured in several graduate psychology programs in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. She currently serves as an adjunct professor at Purdue University Northwest and has published research under her maiden name, Chik.
Kimberly Brunt, Ph.D., HSPP
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Associate Professor of Psychology at Purdue University Northwest
Chesterton Office
Dr. Kimberly Brunt is a licensed clinical psychologist in Indiana and a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at Purdue University Northwest. With more than 25 years of experience as a therapist, professor, mentor, and researcher, Dr. Brunt is recognized for her ability to translate complex psychological and behavioral science into practical, effective treatment strategies that improve lives.
Dr. Brunt blends academic expertise with clinical wisdom. As a professor, she has taught courses on diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical ethics—knowledge that directly informs her work with patients. Her clinical judgment and ability to make thoughtful ethical decisions are unparalleled, giving patients and families confidence that their care is both effective and grounded in the highest professional standards.
In her clinical practice, Dr. Brunt has successfully treated individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, and trauma-related conditions. She uses evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), motivational interviewing, and mindfulness. She emphasizes skill-building in problem-solving, emotional regulation, and healthy relationships, helping patients develop resilience and create lasting change.
Beyond direct patient care, Dr. Brunt has mentored early-career clinicians, educated psychology students, and presented widely on topics such as childhood anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder in children, and ethics in clinical practice. She also serves her community as a member of the Porter County Board of Health, reflecting her ongoing commitment to public mental health and professional leadership.
Jackie Davis, MA, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Schererville Office
Jackie Davis is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Indiana with more than 30 years of experience helping adults and adolescents navigate trauma, depression, anxiety, and life’s most difficult challenges. She has worked across a wide range of settings—including residential programs, hospitals, schools, outpatient clinics, and home-based services—bringing a steady, compassionate presence wherever care is needed.
Jackie is certified in trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and has advanced training in exposure and response prevention (ERP) for anxiety and OCD under the supervision of Dr. Heather Plinovich. She is also skilled in disorder-specific CBT, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness-based approaches. Over her career, she has supported patients facing trauma, chronic mental illness, medically complex conditions, interpersonal difficulties, and crises such as domestic violence. In every context, she is calm under pressure and trusted for her strong clinical instincts.
Jackie believes in empowering patients to become their own therapists. She teaches individuals to recognize the patterns that maintain their symptoms and equips them with practical strategies to create sustainable, long-term change. Known for her firm yet compassionate style, she balances warmth and flexibility with the expertise that comes from decades of experience.
With years of both direct service and supervisory experience, Jackie continues to refine her practice through ongoing education and training. She earned her master’s degree in counseling from Governors State University and remains committed to helping her patients achieve meaningful progress toward their goals.
Dana Gritters, MA, LMHC, LCPC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Schererville Office
Dana Gritters is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Indiana, and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in New Mexico. She also holds national certifications as a National Certified Counselor (NCC), Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC), and Clinical Certified Trauma Professional (CCTP). Dana serves as the administrative supervisor of AOBHC’s Schererville office.
With more than 20 years of experience, Dana is known for her dedication, persistence, and remarkable commitment to her patients’ growth. An avid reader and researcher, she constantly engages with the latest advances in mental health care and integrates them into her practice. She does not shy away from difficult situations—in fact, she thrives in them. Dana finds meaning and motivation in helping patients with the most complex challenges, offering steady guidance and creative strategies when they are needed most.
Working alongside Dr. Heather Plinovich for nearly a decade, Dana has developed extensive experience in exposure and response prevention (ERP) for anxiety and OCD. She also draws on CBT, mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and motivational interviewing. Patients describe her as straightforward, practical, and collaborative, appreciating her ability to turn intimidating concepts into simple, everyday strategies.
Dana has successfully treated patients with panic and anxiety, OCD, PTSD, grief, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, chronic pain, anger, and trauma-related issues. She earned her B.S. in law enforcement and judicial administration cum laude from Western Illinois University and her M.A. in community counseling with honors from Governors State University.
Ashlyn Knesek, Psy.D., HSPP
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Schererville Office
Dr. Ashlyn Knesek is a licensed clinical psychologist in Indiana who provides therapy for individuals of all ages, as well as families. She has particular expertise in working with children and adolescents, helping young people and their parents navigate emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges.
Dr. Knesek completed her doctorate at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, trained at highly regarded hospitals in Chicago, and went on to an APA-accredited internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan. These experiences gave her a strong foundation in evidence-based care, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches. She is also skilled in cognitive behavioral play therapy and often integrates behavioral modification strategies in her work with parents and children.
Known for her curiosity and insight, Dr. Knesek brings thoughtful questions and new perspectives to every case. She has a gift for reframing problems in ways that open up new solutions and is deeply committed to finding the most effective path forward for her patients. Patients and families experience her as warm, collaborative, and structured. She is also known for her professionalism and consistency—modeling healthy boundaries and encouraging patients to build their own.
Whether treating ADHD, depression, anxiety, or OCD, Dr. Knesek works collaboratively with patients and families to improve day-to-day functioning, strengthen resilience, and build skills that last well beyond therapy. Her combination of high standards, insight, and compassionate care makes her a trusted partner for children, teens, and families.
Ann Macker, MA, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Chesterton Office
Ann Macker (Licensed as Ann Raffenaud-Macker) is a licensed mental health counselor in Indiana and brings more than 15 years of experience supporting individuals and families through anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, autism, and life transitions. Before becoming a therapist, she spent over a decade in education, where she discovered how emotional wellbeing fuels learning and growth. That insight continues to shape her collaborative, whole-person approach to therapy.
Ann integrates Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for anxiety and OCD, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction, and expressive arts techniques to help patients build resilience and self-understanding, blending evidence-based methods with compassion and creativity.
She also has a long-standing interest in improving anxiety treatment for individuals managing diabetes, recognizing how physical symptoms, daily vigilance, and social stigma can intensify anxious patterns. Ann is passionate about increasing access to informed, compassionate care in this often-overlooked area.
Known for her ethical clarity and calm presence, Ann brings steadiness to complex situations and helps patients find courage in discomfort and meaning in change. Her background as both a clinician and former educator makes her a natural at teaching psychological skills in clear, relatable ways.
Ann earned her M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University. She views therapy as a space for both acceptance and growth—where insight turns into action, healing becomes sustainable, and change feels possible.