AKEEM BAIRD
New York,NY
Summary
LP- Mental Health Counselor with a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling and extensive experience in cognitive behavioral therapy, solution-based therapy, psychotherapy, DBT, ACT, Grief therapy, trauma-focused therapy and motivational interviewing. Proven ability to manage caseloads, develop tailored treatment plans, and support individuals with diverse mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma. Adept at facilitating psychoeducational groups and providing compassionate, client-centered care to promote emotional well-being and personal growth.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Athletic Counseling Liaison
Manhattan University
New York
08.2025 - 05.2026
- Managed caseload of 25 student athletes weekly, enhancing performance anxiety management, stress-focused cognitive training, and coping mechanisms.
- Developed specialized groups for injured athletes, facilitating mental recovery during and after injuries through techniques that improved interpersonal behavior and modified negative thought patterns.
- Conducted client assessments, creating comprehensive treatment plans based on CCAP information evaluation forms.
- Provided support to athletes addressing both performance-related and non-performance related challenges through motivational interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Based Therapy.
- Utilized psychotherapeutic, ACT, DBT modalities to help treat non-performance based negative thought patterns and behaviors.
Administrative Coordinator
Columbia University
New York
06.2013 - 08.2025
- Spearheaded and coordinated the logistics for departmental events and seminars, overseeing expenses and liaising with visiting scholars, international business leaders, and Ph.D. candidates.
- Administered and organized annual grant budgets allocated for academic research and development initiatives.
- Managed internal student education platforms, developing and curating academic content relevant to the MBA curriculum.
- Led an event management team responsible for 10-15 monthly events, controlling expenditures and interfacing with visiting scholars and seminar speakers.
Counseling Intern
Manhattan University
New York
01.2024 - 05.2025
- Oversaw a weekly caseload of 18 Manhattan University students, fostering skill development and understanding of maladaptive behaviors including self-harm, severe depression, grief, anxiety, substance abuse and domestic violence.
- Provided psychodynamic techniques not limited to DBT, ACT, CBT to help clients diagnosed with bipolar disorder, OCD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder, aiming to minimize negative thought patterns and frameworks.
- Maintained and organized sensitive, confidential client notes and forms meticulously for each individual on the caseload.
- Designed and facilitated psychoeducational groups tailored for students experiencing adjustment difficulties transitioning away from home and assimilating into collegiate environments.
- Utilized Trauma Informed Care, Gender Affirming Therapy interventions for clients navigating challenges related to identifying as LGBTQ with a focus on development and acceptance.
Education
Masters of Science - Mental Health Counseling
Manhattan University
New York05-2026
Masters of Science - Sports Management
Columbia University
New York05-2018
Bachelors of Arts - Forensic Psychology
John Jay College
New York05-2011
Skills
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Solution Focused Brief Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Anxiety Reduction Training
- Dialectal Behavior Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychoeducational group facilitation
- Crisis intervention
- CCAP
- PHQ-9
Personal Information
Title: Outpatient Mental Health Therapist
Timeline
Athletic Counseling Liaison
Manhattan University
08.2025 - 05.2026
Counseling Intern
Manhattan University
01.2024 - 05.2025
Administrative Coordinator
Columbia University
06.2013 - 08.2025
Masters of Science - Mental Health Counseling
Manhattan University
Masters of Science - Sports Management
Columbia University
Bachelors of Arts - Forensic Psychology
John Jay College