Currently, I provide counseling for adults and adolescents. My background is in psychodynamics, but I also value and incorporate evidenced based approaches as well. I tend to focus on developing a relationship with my client first before diving into treatment. I’m a firm believer that therapy is about giving your client what they need, and that happens through the bond you develop with them as well as having a deep understanding of you they are. I take time to listen, validate, and honor the person. I model acceptance, non-judgmental stance, and allowing the client to change when they are ready. Gradually, I work with clients on coping skills to help them manage intense emotions, tolerate their distress, and effectively manage relationships.

My responsibilities included providing comprehensive clinical mental health services (group, individual, family therapy) to students identified by the school district having significant emotional challenges impacting their ability to function optimally in school, with peers, and at home. Students in the cohort had a range of challenges such as psychiatric illness, dealing with grief/loss, had suffered from significant emotional trauma, had difficulty staying in school due to their emotional challenges, and/or experienced difficulty with interpersonal effectiveness and distress tolerance. I also maintained relationships and coordinated their care with outside providers and in-district staff such as administrators, child study team case managers, school counselors, faculty, teacher's aides, etc. I also managed staff, participated in treatment planning, and participated heavily in program development. My administrative duties included maintaining students' charts (both electronically and paper), the level system that assisted in helping students take responsibility for their treatment, and other related computer tasks that helped me to organize a very fast paced school day. Phone and email contact, and ongoing meetings with staff to promote a team approach was imperative to the success of the program.

Provided mental health counseling, crisis management and prepared discharge plans for child and adolescent patients in this fast paced, multi-disclipinary inpatient mental health hospital

Provided mental health counseling in the homes of children and their familiesUsed the Nurtured Heart Approach as a foundation for assisting families

Provided mental health counseling, mental status examinations and discharge planning in this sub-acute nursing/long term care facilityCoordinated care of patients with multi-disciplinary team including medical doctors, nurses, CNAs, physical therapists, etc.Worked with families experiencing significant emotional distress and loss, assisting them through the process of taking care of their loved ones after discharge

Provided management of mental health services and other related support services to families of children with emotional challenges; families needed this service due to their limited capacity to manage these services on their own, management of multiple services became overwhelming, and/or due to limited resourcesProvided education, advocacy and empowered families Managed 10-12 families at a time, going out twice a month or more to the home, school, treatment facility, juvenile detention center, to monitor progress Assisted in an advocacy capacity during youths' court hearings; educating judges and attorneys as needed to ensure appropriate disposition was carried outHighly organized in maintaining youths' electronic and paper charts, coordinating meetings with providers, managing phone calls, emails, etc.

Developed behavior modification plans, trained staff to carry out safe crisis management, and acted as a model for appropriate interaction and healthy relationship with people with developmental challenges and co-occurring psychiatric illness