Community Mental Health

Saint Mark's Episcopal Church  

Youth Minister 

December 2013 - May 2019 

Minister to youth in grades 6-12,. Duties included:

• Develop curriculum and facilitate weekly lessons, monthly social gatherings, engaging in long range planning; engage high school youth in leadership development training; and

• Design and implement outreach to community fostering awareness of social justice issues .

Gateways Hospital, Los Angeles,  CA                                             

Therapist

July 2017 to July 2018

Provided individual therapy and case management for adults with complex mental health diagnosis In hospital setting.. Duties included:

• Facilitate weekly short-term psycho-social groups for adults;

• Supervised medication management; and 

• Re-entry plans to home environment.

Penny Lane Centers, North Hills, CA                                             

Advocate Supervisor, Residential Ombudsman,  & Therapist

Jan 2013 to July 2017

Supervise Educational and Substance Abuse Treatment Advocates and programming. Duties included:

• Interface with school administrators, counselors, and teachers to ensure client placement in appropriate academic setting; launched Career Club in conjunction with Columbia University's School of Social Work to engage clients in career exploration/planning, academic goal-setting, resume-writing, and interview preparedness;

• Develop and facilitate staff training including new hire, LGBTQ awareness, diversity/cultural sensitivity, psychological and behavioral interventions, and state and county regulations/policies. 

• Manage a caseload of 12 clients, ages 13-18, in residential setting;

• Facilitate weekly short-term psycho-social groups for youth and conducted parent support groups; 

• Participated in IEPs, conferences with school administrators, teachers, and case managers to address client's academic needs; and

• Participate in LAC DMH roundtable meetings for youth in out-of-home placement.

Stirling Behavioral Health Institute, Van Nuys, CA                    

School-based Therapist

Apr 2012 to Dec 2012 

Provided individual and family therapy to children ages 5 - 13 years old in school-based and outpatient setting. Duties included:

• Participate in case reviews and meetings with staff psychiatrist and psychologist to review client cases & clinical issues;

• Prepare and present client progress reports, and receive treatment recommendations; and

• Review client educational plans, attend IEP meetings, advocate for behavioral interventions in school setting.

Rosemary Children Services, Pasadena, CA               

Clinical Lead, Crisis Clinician                                                   

Dec 2011 to Apr 2012 

Supervised the TBS (Therapeutic Behavioral Support) Team including:

• Attend LAC DMH roundtable meetings, attend/supervise all TBS meetings with clients;

• Provide individual, family and group therapy for teen girls ages 12-19 and their families; and

• Provide crisis intervention, safety planning, case management, and appropriate referrals.

Child & Family Center, Santa Clarita, CA                                    

Staff Therapist

Dec 2009 to Dec 2011

Provided individual, family, and group therapy in outpatient setting. Duties included:

• Prepare and present educational workshops/information for parent and community groups;

• Created group therapy curricula to address substance use prevention and early intervention; and

• Speaker at community-based lecture series to provide psycho-education for parents including: bullying, safe usage of social media, teen relationships and dating, assisting students with test and performance anxiety, and warning signs of substance use/abuse.