Melissa Porrey (She/Her) LPC, NCC
Project Director, USAID Staff Care Center at The KonTerra Group- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Leah Barber, MPA
It's truly a joy for me to be able to write this recommendation for Melissa! She and I have been colleagues for going on five years, and having her on my team has been a continuous bright spot in my day-to-day professional work. Melissa is incredibly professional, and not only works hard, but does an incredible job of getting things done successfully and well. It was eye-opening to see the work that she has done during COVID - seemingly overnight (well, overnight with a lot of hard work and coordination in between!), she and her team of mental health volunteers updated Resiliency training from in-person only to completely virtual. The last 10 months have been incredibly difficult for so many people, but the work that Melissa has done and continues to do has helped lighten the load for so many and has give people important coping tools during a very hard time. Melissa is compassionate, hard-working, kind, and one of the best colleagues you could ask for. Whether working together in person or virtually, I always look forward to our work together and know that whatever she creates will be high quality and well-thought-out. She does incredible work with her team of mental health volunteers providing these services across the country and around the globe, and I know that we're all thankful to have her on the team.
Sydney Morton, MPA
Melissa is known as a trusted expert and thought leader in the mental health field. As the strategic leader for resiliency programs, Melissa personally designs programs delivered to people around the country and around the world. During COVID-19, Melissa pivoted and rapidly adapted global programs. She truly embodied innovation, leadership, and strategic foresight in the most challenging of contexts, at a time when her expertise was needed most. Perhaps most notable about Melissa is the way she works with others to delivers results. Melissa is thoughtful, generous, kind, dedicated, and intentional. She always puts mission and people first. It speaks volumes that Melissa is so highly regarded by so many at such a large organization.
Leah Barber, MPA
It's truly a joy for me to be able to write this recommendation for Melissa! She and I have been colleagues for going on five years, and having her on my team has been a continuous bright spot in my day-to-day professional work. Melissa is incredibly professional, and not only works hard, but does an incredible job of getting things done successfully and well. It was eye-opening to see the work that she has done during COVID - seemingly overnight (well, overnight with a lot of hard work and coordination in between!), she and her team of mental health volunteers updated Resiliency training from in-person only to completely virtual. The last 10 months have been incredibly difficult for so many people, but the work that Melissa has done and continues to do has helped lighten the load for so many and has give people important coping tools during a very hard time. Melissa is compassionate, hard-working, kind, and one of the best colleagues you could ask for. Whether working together in person or virtually, I always look forward to our work together and know that whatever she creates will be high quality and well-thought-out. She does incredible work with her team of mental health volunteers providing these services across the country and around the globe, and I know that we're all thankful to have her on the team.
Sydney Morton, MPA
Melissa is known as a trusted expert and thought leader in the mental health field. As the strategic leader for resiliency programs, Melissa personally designs programs delivered to people around the country and around the world. During COVID-19, Melissa pivoted and rapidly adapted global programs. She truly embodied innovation, leadership, and strategic foresight in the most challenging of contexts, at a time when her expertise was needed most. Perhaps most notable about Melissa is the way she works with others to delivers results. Melissa is thoughtful, generous, kind, dedicated, and intentional. She always puts mission and people first. It speaks volumes that Melissa is so highly regarded by so many at such a large organization.
Leah Barber, MPA
It's truly a joy for me to be able to write this recommendation for Melissa! She and I have been colleagues for going on five years, and having her on my team has been a continuous bright spot in my day-to-day professional work. Melissa is incredibly professional, and not only works hard, but does an incredible job of getting things done successfully and well. It was eye-opening to see the work that she has done during COVID - seemingly overnight (well, overnight with a lot of hard work and coordination in between!), she and her team of mental health volunteers updated Resiliency training from in-person only to completely virtual. The last 10 months have been incredibly difficult for so many people, but the work that Melissa has done and continues to do has helped lighten the load for so many and has give people important coping tools during a very hard time. Melissa is compassionate, hard-working, kind, and one of the best colleagues you could ask for. Whether working together in person or virtually, I always look forward to our work together and know that whatever she creates will be high quality and well-thought-out. She does incredible work with her team of mental health volunteers providing these services across the country and around the globe, and I know that we're all thankful to have her on the team.
Sydney Morton, MPA
Melissa is known as a trusted expert and thought leader in the mental health field. As the strategic leader for resiliency programs, Melissa personally designs programs delivered to people around the country and around the world. During COVID-19, Melissa pivoted and rapidly adapted global programs. She truly embodied innovation, leadership, and strategic foresight in the most challenging of contexts, at a time when her expertise was needed most. Perhaps most notable about Melissa is the way she works with others to delivers results. Melissa is thoughtful, generous, kind, dedicated, and intentional. She always puts mission and people first. It speaks volumes that Melissa is so highly regarded by so many at such a large organization.
Leah Barber, MPA
It's truly a joy for me to be able to write this recommendation for Melissa! She and I have been colleagues for going on five years, and having her on my team has been a continuous bright spot in my day-to-day professional work. Melissa is incredibly professional, and not only works hard, but does an incredible job of getting things done successfully and well. It was eye-opening to see the work that she has done during COVID - seemingly overnight (well, overnight with a lot of hard work and coordination in between!), she and her team of mental health volunteers updated Resiliency training from in-person only to completely virtual. The last 10 months have been incredibly difficult for so many people, but the work that Melissa has done and continues to do has helped lighten the load for so many and has give people important coping tools during a very hard time. Melissa is compassionate, hard-working, kind, and one of the best colleagues you could ask for. Whether working together in person or virtually, I always look forward to our work together and know that whatever she creates will be high quality and well-thought-out. She does incredible work with her team of mental health volunteers providing these services across the country and around the globe, and I know that we're all thankful to have her on the team.
Sydney Morton, MPA
Melissa is known as a trusted expert and thought leader in the mental health field. As the strategic leader for resiliency programs, Melissa personally designs programs delivered to people around the country and around the world. During COVID-19, Melissa pivoted and rapidly adapted global programs. She truly embodied innovation, leadership, and strategic foresight in the most challenging of contexts, at a time when her expertise was needed most. Perhaps most notable about Melissa is the way she works with others to delivers results. Melissa is thoughtful, generous, kind, dedicated, and intentional. She always puts mission and people first. It speaks volumes that Melissa is so highly regarded by so many at such a large organization.
Credentials
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Licensed Professional Counselor
Distric of Columbia Department of Health Regulation and Licensing Administration Board of Professional CounselingMar, 2016- Nov, 2024 -
Nationally Certified Counselor
National Board for Certified CounselorsOct, 2012- Nov, 2024
Experience
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The KonTerra Group
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United States
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Business Consulting and Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Project Director, USAID Staff Care Center
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Sep 2021 - Present
The KonTerra Group supports the health and effectiveness of organizations and their people through a focus on: - Clarity of purpose, direction, roles and responsibilities - Resilience of individuals and teams to embrace challenges and thrive in stressful situations - Learning as organizations and individuals to ensure ongoing collective growth With clear strategies, supportive environments, and a commitment to ongoing learning, organizations, teams and individuals grow stronger and accomplish more. Show less
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Verywell
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United States
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Technology, Information and Internet
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1 - 100 Employee
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Contributing Writer
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Sep 2021 - Present
Contribute original articles on mental-health related content for Verywell Health. Contribute original articles on mental-health related content for Verywell Health.
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American Red Cross
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United States
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Non-profit Organizations
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700 & Above Employee
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Senior Associate, Mental Health
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Jun 2016 - Sep 2021
Manage a global resiliency program for the American Red Cross Service to Armed Forces division. Tasks include building and maintaining psychological first aid, discussion-based, and mind-body programs that teach skill-building tools to service members, veterans and their families to help them prevent and heal stress and trauma related to military life and culture. Manage a global resiliency program for the American Red Cross Service to Armed Forces division. Tasks include building and maintaining psychological first aid, discussion-based, and mind-body programs that teach skill-building tools to service members, veterans and their families to help them prevent and heal stress and trauma related to military life and culture.
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Inova Health System
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United States
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Hospitals and Health Care
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700 & Above Employee
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PRN Mental Health Research Interventionist and Consultant
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Jun 2016 - Apr 2018
Main interventionist for NIH-funded PTSD study. Responsibilities include:-Identifying eligible research candidates who are at risk for developing PTSD-Enrolling patients into the study-Providing mental health intervention, case management, and CBT-focused counseling to patients for a six-month period-Keeping detailed notes and documentation Other consulting responsibilities include:-Creating content to be submitted to science and healthcare journals and publications-Developing curriculum for educational trainings for surgical residents-Overseeing and providing training for medical students and interns who assist with ongoing research projects and studies Show less
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Trauma Survivors Network Coordinator
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Mar 2013 - Jun 2016
Initially hired for a two-year Department of Defense-funded study to provide clinical supportive services at the largest level-1 trauma hospital in VA. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of providing mental health support to patients and their families after traumatic injury in preventing PTSD, depression, and other mental illness.At the conclusion of the study, hired into a permanent position and served as both a TSN Coordinator and Trauma Research Interventionist for an NIH-funded study.TSN Coordinator responsibilities include:Managing an inpatient mental health program for trauma survivors, which includes: -Giving mental health assessments for the diagnosis and prevention of mental illness and PTSD -Making community resource referrals as needed -Providing brief intervention counseling support to patients in crisisManaging an outpatient mental health program for the ongoing needs of trauma survivors, which includes: -Overseeing the facilitation of clinical support groups -Providing individual counseling to trauma patients and making referrals as neededManaging mental health consultants and graduate-level internsProviding in-services and educational presentations to hospital staff on the subject of trauma and secondary traumatic stressProject management and development of the TSN program Show less
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wikiHow
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United States
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Technology, Information and Internet
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1 - 100 Employee
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Mental Health Proofreader
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Feb 2015 - Feb 2016
Edited mental health-related web pages for content correctness. Edited mental health-related web pages for content correctness.
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Contributing Writer
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Oct 2015 - Dec 2015
Provided original mental health articles for psychology website. Provided original mental health articles for psychology website.
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The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
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Washington D.C.
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Clinical Consultant on Military Bereavement Counseling
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Sep 2012 - Sep 2014
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Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
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United States
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Individual and Family Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Manager, Casework Department
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Feb 2009 - Mar 2013
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Talogy
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United States
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Human Resources Services
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500 - 600 Employee
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Copy Editor II
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Feb 2006 - Feb 2009
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Education
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2008 - 2010
The George Washington University
Master of Arts (M.A.), Mental Health Counseling/Counselor -
2002 - 2005
Penn State University
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Journalism
Community
