Therapist

• Jan 2022 - Present

Social Services Representative

• Jul 2019 - Jul 2022

As a Senior Social Service Representative, it is my privilege to provide trauma informed care to adolescents age 13-17 with emotional behavioral health problems. Safety and crisis stabilization is our top priority. Although, the program I provide services for is intended to be a 3-4 month program, the average stay is closer 8-10 months due to placement issues within the foster system of Tennessee. Due to this lengthy placement, I am awarded with the ability to provide extended psychotherapy on a weekly basis delivered in a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and TF-CBT informed format. I am also responsible for group therapy, averaging 10 hours weekly addressing anger management, relaxation techniques, TF-CBT, CBT, daily goals, substance abuse prevention, and independent living skills. Successful implementation of groups requires continued education, programming/organizational skills, firm boundary setting, maintaining a safe learning environment, successful rapport building and reflective yet appropriate communication skills. Other therapist related requirements are completing psychosocial assessments, collecting the pts complete history from the prenatal period to current time from various resources, creating treatment plans and updating as necessary, and participating in a multidisciplinary treatment team with active involvement in determining diagnosis, progress and effectiveness of medication regime. I also conduct family therapy when reunification and contact is possible. For case management, I am responsible for maintaining appropriate and timely documentation in TFACTS, creating safety plans, maintaining documentation in accordance with state/federal/insurance guidelines and policies, collaborating with DCS/CPS/GAL's and other professionals within the teens team, and creating aftercare/discharge plan and summary in accordance with the identified step down. Show less

Intern

• Sep 2018 - May 2019

As a clinical level intern at soundliving counseling, I was rewarded with the opportunity to shadow multiple therapists and learn how to appropriately deliver psychodynamic therapy through observation, practice and supervision. During this time I also had the chance to become acquainted with the logistics of billing and coding, as well as communicating with insurance companies. Although the majority of the hours obtained related primarily to delivering individual, couples and family therapy, the practice also held a big emphasis on community outreach events and marketing for individual benefit, as well as mental health awareness. Show less

Generalist Level Intern

• Aug 2017 - May 2018

As a generalist level intern, I was able to assist in the mentorship and tutoring program offered to the students of Howard High (Chattanooga, TN) working towards credit recovery and graduation. Furthermore, I was rewarded with the ability to implement evidence based assessments within the program in order to provide better quality intakes, case management and discharge. Additionally, it was my responsibility to maintain adequate documentation and organization of in-person and electronic files. As a generalist level intern, I was able to assist in the mentorship and tutoring program offered to the students of Howard High (Chattanooga, TN) working towards credit recovery and graduation. Furthermore, I was rewarded with the ability to implement evidence based assessments within the program in order to provide better quality intakes, case management and discharge. Additionally, it was my responsibility to maintain adequate documentation and organization of in-person and electronic files.

Developmental Disabilities Camp Trained Volunteer

• Jun 2016 - Aug 2016

This volunteer experience was funded by the Chattanooga Therapeutic Recreation Center and The Children's Discovery Museum. After an extensive 5 month training program provided through UTC, I was able to improve my knowledge of first person language, motivational interviewing, and basic understanding of how to provide care for individuals with disabilities. I also learned how to change maladaptive behaviors through the implementation of behavioral interventions for youth and adolescents with/without disabilities. One of my favorite aspects of the camps was the ability to assist and observed in integrating children with and without disabilities as a means to teaching the children how to interact with each other and maintain friendships despite their small differences. During this experience, one child and her accomplishments stuck out to me the most. During one week of camps, I was paired with a little girl whom was terrified of the water. This was troubling because the camp allowed 2 long pool days that week. During these days, the girl started out very guarded insisting on sitting a safe and far distance from the pool. Slowly but surely, I was able to get her to " sit in the sun" with me until we slowly inched our way to the pool edge. This process took the full two days of building confidence and either practicing self-soothing techniques or offering distractions through scenery/music/rapport building. At the last ten minutes of the second day, we were able to sit on the edge of the pool with our feet in the water. Go us! Show less

Certified Nursing Assistant

• Nov 2015 - Aug 2016

As a CNA providing trauma care, it was my responsibility to provide high quality patient care and assistance, preserve patient dignity, display strong clinical skills in assessment of vital signs and nonverbal body ques, ensure accurate and timely flow of information by maintaining thorough patient electronic records, and maintain privacy/ HIPPA regulations. Although i traded in my scrubs for business/business casual apparel, this role has still improved my professionalism by having a great deal of respect for all employees within my place of work, from environmental services to the CEO. This hospital truly exemplified for me what it looks like to work in an environment focused on equality and appreciation. Show less

Certified Nursing Assistant

• Jan 2014 - Dec 2015

While working as a CNA at NHC I was given the opportunity to work in depth with Speech pathologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, RN's, LPN's, Social Workers, Recreational Therapists, MD's and various other professionals. Although my primary duties included maintaining ADL's, daily hygiene, comfortable, mobility assistance and documentation, there is one of many educational experiences that stands out. At 18 years old and fairly new to the field, the assisted living and rehabilitation facility i worked at received one of its youngest patients. A young man, only two years older than I was at the time and he refused to work with almost everyone. Myself and a speech pathologist were in charge of his primary care due to this reason. With extensive guidance from the S.P. I was blessed with the ability to help him re-learn to swallow and communicate. The pt went from having a mouth wired shut and unable to eat or drink anything, to eventually being able to talk and eat normally again. I was lucky enough to help through all stages of learning to swallow, hum, pronounce words and eventually sentences, but the most rewarding part was being able to see him eat "real food" again. This experience made me a better person by teaching patience, understanding, and how to care for others appropriately, It also improved my medical terminology and fluency, my frustration tolerance and communication with unhappy clients, and most importantly, how to implement boundaries effectively. This was my first job that required knowledge and understanding of HIPPA guidelines. Show less

Student Volunteer Assistant

• Aug 2009 - 2011

Volunteered with the special education department of Waverly Central High School, as a student voltunteer. This means i was able to dedicate a minimum of one hour a day assisting in the care and adapted education of the individuals receiving special education services. I was able to assist in many activities and mentor multiple students during my time as a student at Waverly Central. One student in particular, I was rewarded with the ability to work with for three years on his speech pathology. Although the student was able to verbally communicate efficiently, he primarily communicated in the third person. In order to improve his social skills and verbal proficiency, we began working with precomposed note cards that had basic vocabulary words on them. He started with reading individual words out loud and slowly progressed to simple sentences. After years of private one on one sessions and rehearsed, low ratio public speaking, this student now confidently talks in first person, and only refers to himself in third person when he wants to make a joke. Show less