Celeste Casey Clarke, PhD, LCSW

Director of Human Resources

Celeste started with Independence Plus, Inc. (IPI) in 2003 as a consultant working with the Scheduling Department. IPI patients, families, and employees were her best teachers to understand what is truly essential to providing high quality skilled nursing in the home. Since her initial consulting gig with IPI, Celeste has served as Director of Social Work, Director of Human Resources, and Corporate Vice President.

Prior to July 2004 when Celeste began working full-time at IPI, she worked in community mental health and then operated her own psychotherapy practice working with individuals, couples, and families for over twenty-five years. Through the years she’s also taught undergraduate and graduate clinical courses at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, IL.

Celeste earned her BA in Psychology and Sociology, her Masters in Social Work, and PhD in Social Work from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She furthered her studies at the Family Institute in Chicago and also studied at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Her beliefs are grounded in a profound knowingness that life and work is meant to be honorable and meaningful no matter how challenging the circumstances may become.