Amy Donoghue, LCSW
Randolph,United States
Summary
Dynamic psychotherapist and social worker with over 20 years of experience, including pivotal roles in inpatient and outpatient settings, excels in clinical social work, mental health care, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Demonstrates advanced problem-solving, patient advocacy, and community resource maximization. Excels in fast-paced environments, leveraging advanced clinical skills and empathetic patient advocacy to achieve significant outcomes.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Psychotherapist, Independent Consultant
Geriatrics and Longevity Treatment Specialists
Bergen County, NJ
01.2022 - Current
- Conduct thorough biopsychosocial assessments of elderly and disabled clients entering assisted living facilities, identifying areas for targeted therapeutic interventions.
- Builds strong rapport with clients through active listening skills and empathic understanding of their experiences, fostering lasting therapeutic relationships.
- Evaluate client progress regularly, adjusting treatment plans as necessary based on changing needs or circumstances.
- Collaborate with healthcare professionals in coordinating care for clients with co-occurring mental health and physical health concerns, ensuring a holistic approach to treatment.
- Maintain updated patient records and changes in treatment plans.
Psychotherapist
Private Practice
New York, NY And Morris County, NJ
04.2003 - Current
- Experienced clinician with over 20 years experience with multiple populations in practice with individuals, couples and groups.
- Develop personalized treatment plans to address each client's specific needs, leading to improved mental health outcomes.
- Areas of expertise include, depression, anxiety, adjustment to illness/disability, aging-related issues, brain injury, caregiver stress, trauma, PTSD, adjustment issues, relationship issues, LGBTQ, life transitions, grief and loss.
- Trained in techniques such as psychodynamic psychotherapy, DBT, CBT, and stress reduction therapy to improve outcomes.
- Continuously update knowledge of emerging research, new techniques, and best practices in the field of psychotherapy ensuring delivery of cutting edge care to clients.
- Provide supervision to LMSWs in NY and NJ to increase their skills and help them amass clinical hours towards their LCSW
Social Worker
Fresenius Medical Care
Montclair, NJ
06.2019 - 07.2021
- Oversaw and provided care to a caseload of 153 patients with high acuity needs, using different dialysis modalities.
- Assessed all patients' psychosocial status, strengths, and areas of need that may affect optimal treatment outcomes as a part of the comprehensive assessment process.
- Identified effective interventions, created and implemented care plans that helped the patient meet rehabilitative and treatment goals, and improved quality of life.
- Provided counseling and psychoeducation to address areas of crisis, trauma, need, treatment adherence, and vocational/educational goals.
- Managed mechanisms and processes for knowing the specific situation of each patient at our COVID-19 isolation unit, including hospitalizations, testing, missed treatments, transportation, hospital discharges, and any significant change in patient care status.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure appropriate care coordination, creating integrated care plans to improve patient health outcomes.
- Created and taught advanced training for staff on clinical competency, advanced clinical skills, engagement with challenging patient populations, and palliative care to staff.
- Advocated for patients' rights, navigating complex systems to secure necessary resources and benefits.
- Provided clinical supervision to probationary social workers and LMSWs.
Senior Social Worker
Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack, NJ
04.2018 - 06.2019
- Completed thorough biopsychosocial intakes for all new patients admitted to a large adult medicine floor within 24 hours of admission.
- Provided skilled, clinical care and coverage for all floors and areas including ER, observation, oncology, neurology, cardiology, MICU, SICU, orthopedics, labor and delivery, NICU, pediatrics, and PICU.
- Worked directly with the interdisciplinary team to facilitate safe, comprehensive discharge plans with a special focus on addressing post-acute needs in the most appropriate setting.
- Collaborated with team to provide direct care and support to vulnerable populations including undocumented immigrants, under-insured and uninsured patients, and guardianship cases.
- Provided supportive counseling and advocacy to patients and loved ones facing crisis situations, trauma, new and/or chronic diagnoses and disabilities.
- Provided field instruction to MSW candidates and trained new social work staff.
Social Worker
Holy Name Medical Center
Teaneck, NJ
08.2016 - 06.2018
- Provided clinical expertise and services across populations on all floors and areas including adult medicine, oncology, neurology, ICU, cardiology, pediatrics, labor and delivery, orthopedics, surgical units, observation, and ER.
- Coordinated with the interdisciplinary team to create safe, comprehensive post acute care plans including: hospital transfer, skilled nursing facility, dialysis center, acute rehabilitation, drug treatment, hospice, home care, shelter, and LTACHs.
- Provided supportive counseling to patients and families facing acute medical crisis, new onset of medical condition and/or disability.
- Provided rapid assessment and crisis intervention to survivors of violent crime, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, drug overdose, suicide attempt, domestic violence, medical emergency and bereavement as indicated.
Lead Social Worker
University Eye Center
New York, NY
05.2005 - 01.2016
- Conducted comprehensive psychosocial assessments and analyzed social support networks of patients with traumatic or acquired brain injury, visual impairments and/or ocular disease.
- Provided supportive counseling, psycho-education,and crisis intervention services to patients, their family members, SUNY staff and students.
- Enhanced post-acute discharge plans to help patients with custodial needs remain safely in the community; assisted with obtaining resources, entitlements and community support services for patients; partnered with community agencies to help patients access needed services.
- Led low-vision and TBI support groups.
- Developed curricula and taught students, staff, professionals, patients and their loved ones on a broad spectrum of topics related to mental health and social issues confronting those affected by brain injury and/or vision loss.
- Provided field instruction to MSW students from Columbia University and New York University each semester.
Senior Social Worker, Palliative Care Team
NYU Langone Medical Center
New York, NY
04.2003 - 05.2005
- Conducted comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments with consideration of family relationships, the meaning of terminal/chronic illness to patients and their loved ones, coping mechanisms, and cultural/religious attitudes and beliefs.
- Facilitated development of interdisciplinary treatment plan with patients, attending physicians, house staff, residents, interns and nursing staff.
- Provided counseling to dying or critically ill adults, teens, children and/or their loved ones.
- Created complex post-acute discharge plans to hospice facilities, sub-acute facilities, home with home care or home hospice, or to other medical centers.
- Explored patient and family needs, made appropriate concrete and supportive referrals to services and agencies in the community.
- Provided psychoeducation to patients, their loved ones, and hospital staff about terminal/critical illness and palliative care.
- Facilitated daily interdisciplinary team meetings with different specialties throughout the hospital including the Emergency Department.
- Member of the NYU Langone Medical Center Ethics Committee.
Education
Masters of Social Work -
Silver School of Social Work, New York University
New York, NYBachelor of Arts - Psychology
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJSkills
- Over 20 years of experience in clinical social work, including inpatient care, post-acute discharge planning, and community advocacy
- Advanced clinical skills, expertise, and knowledge in mental illness, chronic illness, terminal illness, trauma, adjustment issues, death, dying, and grief with multiple different populations
- Advanced skills in problem-solving and maximizing resources
- Self-motivated and able to learn on own initiative
Timeline
Psychotherapist, Independent Consultant
Geriatrics and Longevity Treatment Specialists
01.2022 - Current
Social Worker
Fresenius Medical Care
06.2019 - 07.2021
Senior Social Worker
Hackensack University Medical Center
04.2018 - 06.2019
Social Worker
Holy Name Medical Center
08.2016 - 06.2018
Lead Social Worker
University Eye Center
05.2005 - 01.2016
Psychotherapist
Private Practice
04.2003 - Current
Senior Social Worker, Palliative Care Team
NYU Langone Medical Center
04.2003 - 05.2005
Masters of Social Work -
Silver School of Social Work, New York University
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
The College of New Jersey