
Staff Counselor at PsyCare, Inc.
Youngstown, Ohio Area

Staff Counselor at PsyCare, Inc.
Youngstown, Ohio Area
Teaching: I have taught online courses for the following universities: University of Phoenix, Argosy University, and Ottawa University. I also have a private professional training business; I have offered CEU courses for counselors and social workers around the country.
Some of my highlights while working as a therapist with co-occurring disorders at Community Solutions Association:
• Developed and implemented two new treatment programs: Illness Management and Recovery Group for dual diagnosis clients and a 12-step Facilitation Program for clients referred by external sources
• Supervising/mentoring certified chemical dependency counselors and counselor assistants preparing for oral licensure examinations; developed and implemented an original study method
• Introduced EMDR as a treatment modality to the agency in 2006; have conducted over 150 sessions of the specialized treatment with clients in this setting
Teaching Philosophy (short form): My goal is to enlighten the content of each syllabus with the experience that I have acquired and continue to acquire by working in the Counseling and Human Services field. My instructional style encompasses three major characteristics: (a) I am a student-centered instructor, helping each student reach his/her individualized goals for learning, (b) I carry the scholar-practitioner model of my training into my instructional style, and (c) I embrace a multidisciplinary approach in my instructional style.
Chemical dependency counseling, working with co-occuring trauma/PTSD and addiction, dissociative disorders, pastoral counseling/spiritual issues, grief/loss, cross-cultural issues, mentoring/professional instruction
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Mental Health Care industry)
March 2008 — Present (1 year 5 months)
Staff counselor specializing in the treatment of Posttraumatic stress disorder and addictions
(Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Mental Health Care industry)
December 2005 — March 2008 (2 years 4 months)
I currently work with both primary chemical dependency cases and co-occuring disorders cases in this non-profit, community-based setting.
(Mental Health Care industry)
March 2005 — December 2005 (10 months)
I managed an inpatient caseload while in this position, providing group/individual counseling and case management while in this position. I also obtained experience running dual diagnosis groups at the hospital for appropriate clients.
(Non-Profit; Mental Health Care industry)
August 2004 — December 2004 (5 months)
Learned the ropes of chemical dependency counseling while in this position; extensive work with women's and adolescent population
(Public Company; Mental Health Care industry)
January 2004 — September 2004 (9 months)
Developed a feelings group for adolescents using music as a medium of expression while in this position; extensive exposure to adolescent and child counseling while in this position, including work with behavior modification
Ph.D. , Human Services (Counseling Studies Specialization) , 2006 — 2009
Dissertation- "EMDR in Addiction Continuing Care: A Phenomenological Study of Women Treated in Early Recovery"
Ph.D. conferred 5/31/09
M.A. , Counseling , 2003 — 2005
B.A. , Americand Studies and History , 1995 — 2000
Graduated summa cum laude, also with an honor diploma for successfully completing the Honor curriculum
Senior thesis in American Studies: "Nelly and Patsy in America: A Theatrical Exploration of Women in Baseball"
Professionally: addictions counseling, trauma counseling, working with co-occurring disorders, pastoral/spiritual issues, child abuse/working with adults abused as children Personally: music (listening/composing/performance)- espeically alt country and folk, movies, ballroom dancing, figure skating, travel, ethnic cuisine
-National-level presentations: 2007 EMDRIA Annual Conference (Dallas, TX); 1998 American Sociological Association National Conference (San Francisco, CA)
-Coached the 2005 Ohio High School Speech League State Champion in Prose-Poetry Reading and the 2005 State Runner-Up in Dramatic Interpretation; coached 2 national qualifiers and 2 other state finalists during coaching tenure at Chaney High School, 2003-2006
-2 time Dean's QUEST Award Winner for Outstanding Research in the College of Arts and Sciences, Youngstown State University (1998, 1999)
-Honor society memberships while an undergraduate:
The University Scholars and Honors Program, 1997-2000
The Clarence P. Gould Society (equivalent of Phi Beta Kappa), inducted 1998
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, inducted 1998
Golden Key International Honor Society, inducted 1998
Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society, inducted 1998