“Cathy Baechle and Ron Strong came into our lives when my wife and I had exhausted every resource, every idea, and every path we thought we had left. Their support transformed not only our son, but our entire family. Through their professionalism, compassion, and family-centered approach, they gave us the tools and guidance we desperately needed. They taught us how to respond when our son refused to go to school, how to support him in making positive decisions, and how to work together as a family in ways we never had before. Because of Cathy and Ron’s dedication and expertise, we truly believe our son was able to graduate. Their impact on our lives has been profound, and I will always be deeply grateful for their unwavering support during one of the most difficult times in our family’s journey.”
District 113 Parent
"Before working with Cathy and Ron at Infinite Hope, our son had spent years in one-on-one settings with therapists, doctors, school social workers, and tutors. While many of those professionals were kind and well-intentioned, we weren’t seeing meaningful, lasting progress. He continued to struggle with emotional regulation, negative school behaviors, depression, and a deep sense of loneliness. No matter the environment or support we put in place, nothing seemed to create the steady, positive change he needed.
That changed when we began working with Cathy and Ron. Their warm, nonjudgmental, and deeply thoughtful approach stood apart immediately, but what truly made the difference was their commitment to working with our entire family. By meeting us in our home and including both parents and siblings in the process, they helped us build practical, sustainable frameworks that supported everyone—not just our son that struggled. This reduced stress across our household and created a more stable, understanding environment where our son could begin to thrive. Our other children gained insight, empathy, and tools of their own, and we as parents finally had strategies that worked for all of our children together, rather than feeling pulled in different directions.
Cathy and Ron also became invaluable partners in navigating our son’s school experience. They took the time to understand his needs, reviewed his IEP, and advocated for him in a way that shifted how the school saw him—not as a behavioral problem, but as a neurodivergent child in need of the right support. Infinite Hope’s approach, kindness, and willingness to go above and beyond for our family made this the most impactful support we’ve ever received. After years of searching, we finally felt like we have a team that truly understood and supported our son—and our entire family."
CPS Parents
"Adolescence can be a challenging time and in the spirit of it takes a village; sometimes, it takes a partnership with resolute professionals to travel the path. Cathy and Ron are ethically sound and were invested in our entire family's success. Combining sincere empathy and active listening, they helped our family develop a course of action. We will admit, at times, it was rocky. They were not afraid to tell us what we did not want to hear, and because of that, today, we have a success story – a young adult who is thriving and navigating a path in which he is invested. In no small way, these two professionals got him on that path."
NSA Parents
"Ms. Cathy Baechle made my husband and I feel welcome and respected at NSA. We felt supported, and heard by her. She also took the time to explain things well to us. We felt comfortable communicating our concerns and point of view to her. She tried different things to help our son to do well at school. We developed a very good relationship with Ms. Baechle. She is a very special person. We also had a very good relationship with Mr. Strong and Mrs. Schwartz. Overall, we felt and still feel a lot of gratitude to all of you. Thank you for all you did for us and our son."
NSA Parent
"I have known Cathy Baechle and Ron Strong professionally for close to 20 years in my capacity as a special education administrator working with students with significant social/emotional and behavioral challenges. Ron and Cathy provided mental health support to my most vulnerable and at-risk students and their families with the utmost care and compassion. Their collaboration and dedication to the profession is beyond measure. Their partnership in “Infinite Hope LLC” is sure to provide quality services and support to those in need."
Betty Holzkopf, Ed.S.
"Ron and Cathy are compassionate, informative and involved professionals. I can say with the highest sincerity that they successfully built strong rapport with all of the students on my caseload. I had the honor of working with both individuals as Off Campus Coordinator for a local high school. The ability to guide adolescents, allowing them to feel safe, and heard is a gift they both possess. The students gained insight and trust in order to begin their healthy lifestyle journey. It was a pleasure to watch the growth and stability of so many students. I can’t think of two better mental health providers and highly recommend both."
Maggie O'Hara
"I have partnered with both Ron and Cathy for the past 5 years in support of youth in need of social/emotional support. Together, they make a strong team and can provide high quality support to both teenagers struggling with social/emotional needs and their families. Their professional approach considers all aspects of a person's life when trying to help them overcome their personal challenges. Together, they make an impressive duo, they are two different personalities which allow them to be the right fit for just about anyone looking for support. Over the past five years, I have witnessed Ron and Cathy have success in working with some of the most at risk youth. I highly recommend their services as the family approach to treatment offers an opportunity for the entire family to participate and grow."
Matt Koulentes
"Ron and Cathy at Infinite Hope have been a kind of steadying force in our family’s journey, something deeper than support and more reliable than simple guidance. What they have offered our kids—and truthfully, what they’ve offered me as a father—goes beyond any clinical service or professional role. It’s a rare combination of warmth, wisdom, and sincere professionalism that feels like it was carved out specifically for the emotional terrain my children have had to navigate.
What separates them from so many others is the way they show up: quietly, consistently, without ego, without judgment, and with an almost uncanny ability to see what is happening beneath the surface. My kids have had no shortage of challenges these last few years—some of them loud, some of them silent—and Ron and Cathy have been the kind of presence that brings steadiness into rooms where tension, confusion, or exhaustion have tried to take root.
As a father, you’re always carrying two parallel fears: that your children will hurt, and that you won’t see the hurt in time to do anything about it. Ron and Cathy have been the bridge in those moments when my own strength or understanding needed reinforcing. They’ve helped me see my children with clearer eyes, not because I didn’t already love them with everything I had, but because they helped reconnect that love with tools, language, and perspective I sometimes didn’t know how to access while carrying so much of the emotional load.
Their approach is never forceful, but it is intentional. Never distant, but never overstepping. They listen with a kind of presence that makes both kids feel heard without feeling exposed. They know how to support a teenager’s stubborn pride, how to calm a child’s high-voltage frustration, and how to speak to a parent who is trying to hold the center while also trying to heal himself. They carry a confidence that isn’t performative; it comes from deep experience, lived compassion, and the simple truth that they care.
I have watched them meet my kids exactly where they are—whether that’s overwhelmed, shut down, frustrated, confused, or trying to act older than they feel—and then walk with them step by step toward something steadier. There is no template in their work. There is no one-size-fits-all strategy. There is just attention, patience, and the kind of wisdom that comes from decades of doing this because it matters.
And above all, they have treated my children with dignity. Not pity. Not condescension. Dignity.
In a world where so many professionals work from a distance or rely on rote techniques, Ron and Cathy bring heart, intelligence, and a level of ethical grounding that you feel immediately. I trust them. I would trust them with any child, but especially with mine. Their impact in our lives has been profound, and as a father who has fought every day to give his kids the best chance to feel safe, loved, and understood, I can say without hesitation: Ron and Cathy are the real thing. They are a gift."
District 113 Parent
"Cathy Baechle and Ron Strong had an immeasurable impact on the life of my son, myself and our future as a family. When he started at North Shore Academy I was truly at the end of my rope and in despair. Cathy and Ron led the team engaging with him and went above and beyond, meeting with the two of us on a weekly basis. Their guidance provided him with a new skill set, a new outlook on problem solving and most importantly, a new sense of esteem. He was able to be hired to his first job and deal with life in more constructive ways rather than the destructive habits ingrained in him. By the time he graduated, he won an award. It was one of the proudest days of my life. Both Cathy and Ron are patient and kind but importantly, brook no nonsense and no excuses. I am forever grateful for the transformational impact they had on our lives."
NSA Parent
"It is with great pleasure to write a testimonial on behalf of Cathy Baechle and Ron Strong. Cathy and Ron are formidable counselors. I truly don’t know how I would have coped without their guidance. In addition to working with me, they did a fantastic job of guiding our son. Both of them did an excellent job of developing a calmer child. They accomplished this goal via counseling and through other structural supports at the school. After several years of their skills, my son was able to transfer from North Shore Academy to the local Off Campus school for students who needed classrooms with a smaller number of students.
Fast forward to today, my son is driving, working two jobs and living on his own. We are very proud of him and I owe his accomplishments to the skills he learned from Cathy and Ron, as well as the skills I acquired while working with them."
NSA Parent
"Ron and Cathy served as our family therapists for about a year, working with me, my husband, and our son. They function seamlessly as a team, and their approach was exactly what our family needed. We truly appreciated their balance of compassion and directness - something that is not always easy to find.
Ron's straightforward guidance, combined with Cathy's warmth and gentleness, created a supportive and effective therapeutic environment. They complement each other beautifully, and together they make an exceptional team.
We are very grateful for their help and genuinely feel they are a standout duo in the world of therapy."
NSA Parent
"Working with Cathy and Ron was one of the first times our family truly felt understood and supported as a whole family, not just as individuals trying to manage separate struggles. They brought warmth, calm, and compassion into our home during a very difficult time for us.
What stood out most was the way they built trust with all of us, especially my son, who could be very resistant to therapy at times. Somehow they made him feel comfortable enough to open up and participate without feeling judged or pushed. That was not easy to accomplish and it meant a great deal to our family.
Having therapists come into your home requires a huge amount of trust, and Cathy and Ron made that feel comfortable very quickly. They never felt intrusive or overly clinical. They felt like people who genuinely cared about our family and wanted to understand all of us and how we functioned together. They were patient, calm, and supportive even during difficult moments, and they helped all of us communicate better and understand each other more. We genuinely looked forward to their visits and always felt supported afterward.
I will always be grateful for the care, patience, and dedication they showed our family. They made a lasting impact on all of us."
District 113 Parent
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