Promise Healthcare - Kenyon

Marilyn Perez received an associate’s degree in nursing at Parkland College. She then earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing at Purdue University and her Master's in nursing at Illinois State University.

Marilyn sees patients of all ages at the Promise Healthcare – Frances Nelson location.

Marilyn is passionate about educating her patients on conventional and complementary healing practices that emphasize self-care, nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness.

She encourages patients to incorporate healthy habits into daily life by eating nutritious food, daily movement, good sleeping habits, and reducing stress.  These have been shown to improve/protect their physical and mental health.

When not working, Marilyn enjoys taking walks with her husband and their dog. She likes catching up on FaceTime with her daughters, who live out west, cooking, and traveling, and she likes to read at least one book per month.

Marilyn has been married for 23+ years. She has two adult daughters and a son who is a junior in high school. During the pandemic, her family also adopted a dog, Bruno.

“Patients should choose Promise Healthcare for high-quality care without having to break their bank and for the numerous services provided.”

Caren Cohen-Heath is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. She began her education at Eastern Illinois University, where she studied education and psychology.

Caren practices at Promise Healthcare-Frances Nelson, Promise Healthcare-Neil, and Promise Healthcare-Rantoul.

Caren brings a wealth of experience to her role, having worked in community mental health since 2007 and as a counselor since 2019. She is National Board Credentialed
Counsel Member and trained in Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT), Anger Management, Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP) and interventions for both substance use disorders and mental health needs.

Caren’s clinical passion lies in empowering women and helping people heal from trauma. Drawing from her own journey as a single parent navigating work, education, and
family, she connects deeply with those overcoming adversity. She believes that a person’s past or diagnosis doesn’t define their future and that people can still realize their dreams with the right support. Patients appreciate her compassionate, hopeful approach and her ability to meet them where they are.

Caren enjoys spending time with her family outside of her professional life, including her three children and seven grandchildren. She’s a fan of superhero and action movies,
especially Batman and Marvel, and enjoys crafting, reading, and playing games on her phone. She shares her home with three cats.

Ciela Tamayo, LSW, earned both her bachelor’s degree in psychology and Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She also completed her social work internship with Promise Healthcare.

Ciela has training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and cultural humility in therapy. Her clinical interests include working with people from diverse backgrounds, addressing generational trauma, building self-esteem, and helping patients develop healthier ways to navigate life’s challenges.

She is passionate about creating an environment where patients feel safe, heard, and understood. Ciela especially enjoys helping people recognize their strengths, work through difficult moments, and celebrate their growth and progress.

Ciela has more than 10 years of experience providing services to children and families. She believes quality care should be accessible and that patients should feel supported in both their health concerns and personal goals.

“I’m hopeful that we can work together to reach your goals, whether that means building healthier habits, reducing anxiety, or working through generational trauma. I look forward to getting to know you and supporting you along the way!”

Outside of work, Ciela enjoys walking in nature, working out, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. One memorable adventure was flying Superman-style through a cloud forest on the longest zip line in Latin America!