Behavioral Health Consultants
Jennifer Balsan, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Behavioral Health Consultant
Jennifer Balsan, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Behavioral Health Consultant at Esperanza Health Center. She studied at Penn State and Bryn Mawr College, and received additional training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy through the Beck Institute and the Center for Cognitive Therapy in Philadelphia. Jennifer has a special interest in working with teenagers, and practiced social work in school settings with at-risk adolescents for many years. Jennifer first learned Spanish while studying abroad as a high school student, and is very excited to be here at Esperanza. When not at work, Jennifer loves being part of several different ministries at her local church, as well as spending time with her husband and four children.
BA: The Pennsylvania State University
MSW: Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research Licensures/Certifications:
• Pennsylvania License: Clinical Social Worker
Site where Ms. Balsan sees patients: Hunting Park
Christina Derenge, PsyD, MS, BSW
Behavioral Health Consultant
Christina Derenge, PsyD, MS, BSW is Behavioral Health Consultant at Esperanza, where her husband, Dominic also serves as a Family Medicine Physician. She earned her Doctorate and Masters of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ, and is a summa cum laude graduate of Arizona State University where she earned her Bachelor of Social Work degree. She looks forward to providing integrated behavioral health care to her patients as part of the Esperanza clinical team.
BSW: Arizona State University
PsyD, MA: Midwestern University
Licensures/Certifications:
• Pennsylvania License: Clinical Psychologist
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Site where Dr. Christina Derenge sees patients: Hunting Park
Mai-Khanh Gunther, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Behavioral Health Consultant
Mai-Khanh Gunther, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Behavioral Health Consultant at Esperanza Health Center. She first discovered a passion for inner-city work while living in Camden, NJ, and doing children’s ministry. She also gained rich experience from volunteering at an orphanage in Mexico. Ms. Gunther is thankful to work as part of her familia at Esperanza to promote physical and spiritual healing through Jesus’ love. In her free time, Ms. Gunther enjoys reading, running, eating and cooking ethnic food, and spending time with friends. She appreciates nature and anything creative. Ms. Gunther sees patients primarily at our Hunting Park location.
BA: Grove City College
MSW: Rutgers University
Licensures/Certifications:
• Pennsylvania License: Clinical Social Worker
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, Vietnamese
Sites where Ms. Gunther sees patients: Hunting Park
Meridith Kim, PsyD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist/Behavioral Health Consultant
Meridith Kim, PsyD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Behavioral Health Consultant at Esperanza Health Center. She earned her Doctorate in Psychology at Widener University and completed a post-doctoral program at the CARES Institute in Stratford, NJ. Dr. Kim studied Spanish in Costa Rica during college, completed clinical training at Esperanza as a graduate student, and returned as a full-time employee in 2016. She is passionate about equipping the church in spiritual and emotional care. When not at Esperanza, Dr. Kim loves being a part of the life of her local church family at Grace & Peace Community Church, and her neighborhood in South Philadelphia. She and her husband enjoy learning to cook Korean food, watching movies, and maintaining their tiny urban backyard garden.
BS: The College of New Jersey
PsyD: Widener University
Postgraduate: CARES Institute of Rowan University
Licensures/Certification:
• Pennsylvania License: Clinical Psychologist
Sites where Ms. Kim sees patients: Hunting Park
Sueihn Lee, LCSW, MDiv
Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Behavioral Health Consultant
Sueihn Lee, LCSW, MDiv is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Behavioral Health Consultant at Esperanza Health Center. She joined Esperanza Health Center in July 2013, having heard from her neighbors about the compassionate care they receive there. She is passionate about walking alongside others through inner healing by experiencing holistic expressions of the Gospel – spiritual transformation, social justice, and encountering truth.
BA: University of Pennsylvania
MSW: University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy & Practice
MDiv: Alliance Theological Seminary
Licensures/Certifications:
• Pennsylvania License: Clinical Social Worker
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Site where Ms. Lee sees patients: Hunting Park
Lisa Mutch, LPC, MS, MA
Licensed Professional Counselor/Behavioral Health Consultant
Lisa Mutch, LPC, MS, MA is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Behavioral Health Consultant at Esperanza Health Center. She has worked as a counselor over the past 15 years in various settings. Through the love of Christ, she is passionate about walking alongside others to help them experience inner healing and transformation in their lives. She is glad to be a part of the Esperanza clinical team providing integrative behavioral health care to patients. Outside of work, she enjoys salsa and ballroom dancing for exercise and spending time with family and friends.
BA: University of Virginia
MS: Duke University
MA: Biblical Theological Seminary, Graduate School of Counseling
Licenses/Certifications:
• Pennsylvania License: Professional Counselor
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Site where Ms. Mutch sees patients: Kensington
Daniel Norris, PsyD
Behavioral Health Psychologist
Daniel (Dan) Norris, PsyD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Behavioral Health Psychologist at Esperanza Health Center. He has worked as a psychologist in a variety of settings over the past twenty-five years with a special interest in long-term psychotherapy, marital therapy, and provision of mental health services in low-income areas. Dr. Norris and his wife have worked for years with engaged and married couples in the church setting. Hiking, photography, and spending time with family and friends are areas of interest in his time away from work.
BA: Seattle Pacific University
PsyD: Indiana State University
Licensures/Certifications:
• Pennsylvania License: Clinical Psychologist
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Site where Dr. Norris sees patients: Kensington
Heidi Sykora, LCSW
Licensed Social Worker/Behavioral Health Consultant
Heidi Sykora, LCSW is a Licensed Social Worker and Behavioral Health Consultant at Esperanza Health Center. Originally from Minnesota, Mrs. Sykora spent the majority of her formative years in Papua New Guinea where her parents were missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators. After attending college, she found her passion for service while working as a full-time volunteer at a house of hospitality for undocumented migrants in El Paso, Texas. She enjoys getting creative in the kitchen, mastering the art of cross-stitch, and adventuring in the great outdoors. Mrs. Sykora is grateful for the opportunity to make God’s love tangible as she strives to learn from and serve Esperanza’s patients.
BA: Eastern University
MSS: Bryn Mawr College
Licensures/Certifications:
• Pennsylvania License: Licensed Social Worker
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, Melanesian Pidgin
Primary site where Mrs. Sykora sees patients: Kensington