My Resume

Education: State University of New York at Buffalo Buffalo, NY Master's of Social Work Concentration: Alcohol & Other Drug Treatment University of Maine Orono, ME Bachelor of Arts in Sociology Professional Licensure: LCSW Maine #LC9978 Professional Affiliation: National Association of Social Workers Professional Experience: Private Practice Bangor, ME LCSW (currently) Private practice psychotherapy provided to adolescents, adults, & couples treating various mental health and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. Areas of clinical interest include: trauma, dissociation, PTSD, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use/abuse, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered issues, Asperger’s syndrome. Modalities of treatment include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, individual Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Seeking Safety, and Collaborative Problem Solving. I also provide clinical supervision for Rape Response Services. The Acadia Hospital Narcotics Treatment Program Bangor, ME Substance abuse evaluations, individual and group therapy for adolescents and adults with opioid dependence. Also provided services to parents who are expecting or currently parenting as a part of the Well Child clinic. Harbor Family Services-Aspenledge Hampden, ME Program Clinician (July 2006-July 2008) Clinical duties include: individual, group, and family therapy to adolescents and families; screening, clinical biopsychosocial assessment, mental health/substance use diagnosis; treatment plan development/implementation; development of behavioral support plans and crisis plans; clinical supervision for program staff; & clinical training for program staff. Modalities of treatment include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, use of art techniques and sand play, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Seeking Safety, Collaborative Problem Solving. Wings for Children & Families Bangor, ME Clinical Supervisor (May 2003-July 2006) In this position, I provided clinical supervision to case managers working with youth with mental health challenges using a multi-disciplinary approach. Duties included: individual and group supervision, overseeing service delivery to youth and their families, ensuring the use of wraparound planning, staff training/development of training, assisting case management staff in ensuring quality service delivery, participating in client teams, serving as case manager during the case manager's absence, carrying a small caseload, and working with local and state child serving systems to ensure coordinated care. Stutzman Addiction Treatment Center Buffalo, NY MSW Internship (August 2002-April 2003) In this social work internship position, I conducted biopyschosocial assessments and evaluations for adult clients entering inpatient treatment for addictions, conducted individual therapy sessions, family sessions, and co-facilitated group therapy sessions. Other duties included discharge planning, development of group curriculum for clients with co-occurring trauma issues, providing integrated treatment to clients with co-occurring mental health disorders. BryLin Hospitals Buffalo, NY MSW Internship (September 2001-April 2002) In this social work internship position, I worked on an inpatient, multi-disciplinary team and conducted psychosocial evaluations and assessments, individual and group therapy, and discharge planning for children, adolescents, and adults hospitalized for treatment of psychiatric illnesses and substance use challenges. Wings for Children & Families Bangor, ME Case Manager (June 1999-July 2001) In this position I facilitated service delivery to children and adolescents with mental health challenges, Autism/PDD, and emotional and behavioral challenges using the wraparound philosophy and approach. I ensured that service delivery was child-centered and family driven using a strength-based, culturally sensitive model. With the family and support team members, I assessed functional strengths and needs and developed individualized support plans to address those needs, coordinated and monitored needed services, and functioned as team leader. I worked with families to help them become self-sufficient in providing their own case management services, in learning to navigate the children’s mental health system, and helped them understand their child’s diagnosis. This position required me to: coordinate and advocate with various social service systems, work with families and teams to find natural sources of support and creative approaches to meeting needs outside of traditional services & therapies where appropriate, complete psychosocial assessments, maintain client records, and provide child & family supportive counseling. Community Health & Counseling Services Dover-Foxcroft, ME Case Manager, Children’s Services (August 1993-June 1999) In this position I: identified the behavioral, medical, social, rehabilitation, and educational needs of children and adolescents (birth-age 20) with emotional and behavioral challenges in treatment foster care or in their family of origin, identified services necessary to meet those needs, facilitated access to those services and coordinated the delivery of services. I also completed psychosocial assessments, provided crisis intervention, provided supportive counseling, developed treatment plans, maintained case records, functioned as team leader, provided emergency on-call duties, worked with various community professionals (physicians, Department of Human Services, lawyers, social workers, schools, etc.), and provided supervised and structured visitations. From January 1998-June 1999, I also functioned as the intake worker for a two county region providing: intake, triage, and referral services, coordinating services with various service providers, completing opening paperwork for cases, and maintaining data. This required an understanding of reimbursement systems, acting as a liaison with various community professionals, representing the agency at various community events (i.e. resource & health fairs), and maintaining resource and referral information. OHI Bangor, ME Residential Supervisor (August 1991-August 1993) I worked in a live-in position where I assisted adults with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses in a residential setting, taught activities of daily living skills and social skills; assessed needs, managed money for the home and persons served, and participated in the development of habilitation plans. This position required knowledge of Department of Human Services licensing regulations, fire codes, etc.; writing various reports. OHI Bangor, ME Developmental Tutor (July 1987-August 1991) I Assisted adults with developmental disabilities and mental illnesses in a residential setting, maintained a homelike atmosphere, maintained safety, and taught activities of daily living skills and social skills. Volunteer Experience Rape Response Services Bangor, ME Hotline Advocate (October 1989-November 1993) Provided crisis counseling, support, and referral to survivors of sexual assault; assistance with hospital visits, reporting to police, and using the legal system; community education; assistance with various community in-service trainings, workshops, and events; organizing march and speak-out; compiling state statistics. Pertinent MSW Courses & Coursework Nature & Treatment of Alcohol and other Drug Problems, Dual Disorders, Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse, Personality Disorders, Psychopathology, Diversity & Oppression, Interventions with Adults. MSW course work included heavy focus on integrated treatment for serving those with co-occurring disorders, trauma, Motivational Interviewing/Transtheoretical Model, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, & Schema Focused Therapy. Trained in the use of the following instruments: CAFAS, CALOCUS, CHAT, Ages & Stages Additional Training Various training on treatment interventions including: working with military families, substance abuse and gender; substance abuse and adolescents; juvenile sex offenders; attachment intervention; trauma and dissociation; learning disabilities; ritualistic abuse; juvenile fire setting; structural family intervention; eating disorders; family centered services; suicide prevention and intervention; child and adolescent development; grief, loss, and separation; sexual assault; sexual trauma; personality disorders; special education; trainings on various mental health diagnoses; wraparound philosophy and approach to treatment; DBT, MI, Collaborative Problem Solving. Various other professional development training including: professional ethics and boundaries; confidentiality and children’s records; group leadership; case management for children’s mental health; Mandt; ; Therapeutic Crisis Intervention; infant, child, and adult CPR; first aid, psychotropic medications.