RockWater Counseling Center, Inc
RockWater Counseling Center, Inc (formally known as DUI & Addiction Counseling Center, Inc) opened its doors in December 2008 in Mundelein, IL, in order to meet the growing concern of substance abuse/dependency in our community and county. We don't claim to have all the answers, but what we do possess is an empathetic ear, understanding heart, knowledge of the system, and a passion for addiction counseling. Our counselors have
worked in various settings with many types of people, and now we are bringing that knowledge and those skills to Lake and the surrounding counties. RockWater consistently evaluates and improves our services to clients and their families, stay abreast of the latest research in the field of addictions, adhere to an established Code of Ethics in regards to ethical behavior, counseling practices, and the rights and confidentiality of our clients.
Barry Hinkeldey, MA, CADC - Program Director
Barry Hinkeldey has a vision of helping individuals regain a sense of control and positive outlook on life through sobriety. Barry holds a Masters of Arts in Counseling Psychology from North Park University, Chicago, Illinois (2019) and is a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC) licensed with IAODPCA (Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. (2007), Barry founded and opened the doors to what was once DUI & Addiction Counseling Center, Inc and recently changed the agency name to RockWater Counseling Center. The agency is located in the south central part of Lake County, Illinois. Barry facilitates psycho-educational and process-oriented group therapy sessions in a non-secular approach and also offers group therapy groups with a faith based approach. He is able to treat and counsel those that need redirection and drives his focus to heal those in need. Barry is currently an Instructor for future CADC counselors at Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois and College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois. Barry can also communicate to the hearing impaired through ASL (American Sign Language).
Beth Ahrens, CADC - Early Intervention Counselor
Beth Ahrens is a Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CADC) licensed with IAODPCA (Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc.) since 1992. She graduated from Western Illinois University in 1989 with a BA degree in Sociology and a double minor in Law and History. Beth worked for Lake County Government for 30 years. Starting in 1991, she spent 10 years as an inpatient addiction counselor with the Lake County Health Department-Addictions Treatment Program. In 2001, she transferred to the 19th Judicial District and worked for 20 years as a Probation Officer with the DUI Unit. She retired from Lake County in 2021.
Christine Hinkeldey, CADC - Counselor/Office Manager
Christine Hinkeldey holds a BA in Fine Arts with a focus in Graphic Design/Advertising and is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). Her career began airbrushing at a local mall before moving into office operations, where she gained technical experience coordinating ATM installations and supporting the IT help desk at Baxter Credit Union. After completing her degree, she transitioned into marketing, learning web development and campaign management.
She later served as a Regional Marketing Manager for First Nation Bank (now Synovus), overseeing campaigns, providing marketing materials to branches, analyzing results, and coordinating special events. Chris has also served on school district and chamber of commerce committees and contributed to a successful bank merger.
In addition to professional roles, she has offered freelance design services, creating logos, brochures, and direct mail campaigns. Today, she manages operations at RockWater Counseling Center, Inc., where in June 2025 she completed a 225-hour program to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, helping individuals navigate substance use challenges.