ARLENE AMANN-MAXIMAY
Cunupia,Trinidad & Tobago
Summary
Dedicated professional with strong background in providing evidence-based counseling services to individuals, couples and families. Skilled in developing treatment plans, conducting assessments and documenting progress. Committed to advocating for mental health and well-being of clients.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Student Counselor
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)
04.2008 - 07.2024
- Provided psychological services to students at the Tamana, E.C.I.A.F., Agora, Pt. Lisas and Tobago campuses where counseling, related interventions, and educational outreaches to students and families were the main provisions
- Provided promotional and other requested outreaches to students, families and staff; consulted with academic staff for student referrals
- Completed over seventy (80) outreach sessions; designed the coding system for student clients; assisted team in crafting service forms; created promotional and educational literature for the overall service and outreach workshops conducted
- Provided crisis interventions as needed
- Collaborated with colleagues to start up, brand and promote Counselling services to the UTT student population and community as the inaugural Student Counseling Service at the UTT
- Created linkages between University counselling service and parallel established community services
School Psychology Intern
North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS)
08.2018 - 06.2019
- Functioned as a School Psychologist under supervision in the Special Education department of the NTPS school district
- Conducted psycho-educational evaluations within the Special Education division and collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to discuss and make recommendations for Special Education provisions for qualifying candidates
- Duties included: interviews with teachers and caregivers to assess behavioral, social and emotional and intellectual functioning of children from pre-school to grade 12
- In-class observations of such children
- Administration of batteries of psycho-educational assessments of children utilizing intelligence, achievement, and other cognitive processing measures and behavioral rating scales from pre-school to grade 12; analysis/synthesis of information from same
- Psycho-educational reports based on analysis of tests and assessments administered, observations and interviews conduct of interviews, consultations and collaborations with parents and school professionals to obtain data for academic and behavioral interventions and special education placements
- Conduct of functional behavior assessments to provide tailored behavioral interventions for target children and adjustment of interventions based on ongoing data collection of effect of interventions
- Collaboration with multidisciplinary professionals to discuss Special Education cases, psycho-educational evaluations and recommendations to Special Education team based on findings of evaluation towards development of individualized education plans (IEPs)
- Coordination and conduct of IEP meetings to present findings of psycho-educational evaluations to parents and the Special Education team
- Facilitation of parent training workshops, e.g on suicide prevention
Part-time Lecturer
Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies
09.2007 - 01.2011
- Taught Introductory Psychology course to mainly working adults at Associate Degree level.
Counselor
Elder Associates Ltd.
10.2000 - 03.2008
- Provided in-house and outreach psychological services to diverse EAP clients across Trinidad and Tobago including individuals, families, couples and adolescents
- Developed and implemented treatment plans and performed crisis intervention including EMDR where indicated
- Provided outreach services including supervision for peer support volunteers; facilitation of seminars, group presentations, EAP orientations and Crisis Intervention for client organisations
- Wrote client reports and liaised with adjunctive mental health professionals as necessary to coordinate client care; wrote articles for company’s newsletter
- Led the planning and coordination of company’s first, highly successful ‘Careers in Psychology’ seminar; assisted with the planning and coordination of several company events.
Part-time Lecturer
Caribbean Union College
09.2000 - 03.2001
- Taught accelerated course in Social Psychology to B.Sc Students.
Outreach Counselor
Super Five Program, Ministry of Sport & Youth Affairs
06.2000 - 08.2000
- Provided outreach counseling in Central and South Trinidad to adolescent athletes, their families and significant others
- Issues included: study skills, career counseling, developmental and adjustment issues, interpersonal relations and skills, self-esteem, goal-setting, family issues including bereavement, abuse, disruption and substance abuse.
Counseling Intern
Elder Associates Ltd.
06.1999 - 05.2000
- As company’s inaugural intern, provided supervised psychological and counsellng services to individuals, couples, families and adolescents; participated in EAP orientation services and seminars; co-designed and facilitated a women’s seminar; devised/implemented treatment plans and wrote client reports.
Special Teacher I (Art & Craft)
Ministry of Education
09.1994 - 01.2000
- Taught Art to pupils aged 11 – 16 (Forms 1 – 3)
- Provided voluntary counseling of referred adolescents in addition to primary teaching responsibilities
- Assisted with organization of sporting and other school events
Graduate Student/Graduate Assistant
Andrews University
01.1999 - 05.1999
- Completed practicum in Counseling: provided counseling for adults and families and worked with children of divorce aged 6 – 12 for ten weeks
- Conducted educational testing and psychological assessments of children
- Assisted with research, report writing and tutorial preparations.
Education
EdS, School Psychology -
Andrews University (off And On Campus)
Berrien Springs, MIM.A. Community Counseling -
Andrews University, Michigan, USA
M.A. Educational and Developmental Psychology -
Andrews University, Michigan, USA
B.A. (Hons) - Sociology
The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad
National Diploma - Commercial Art, Advertising & Design; Packaging & Display
John S. Donaldson Technical Institute, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Skills
- Provision of EAP services including: counseling and psychotherapy for individuals, adolescents, couples, families and crisis intervention; Design and facilitation of seminars, workshops and orientations to EAP services; supervision of initiate counselors
- Working knowledge of counseling theories and techniques, career counseling, adult therapy, marital and family therapy, group processes, multicultural counseling, child assessment, theories of learning and behaviour shaping, lifespan development, and abnormal psychology
- Psychoeducational Assessment (Pre-K to grade 12 and adult) including cognitive, emotional and behavioural assessments, observations and interviews with related personnel towards development of individualized education plans Proficient in administration and interpretation of cognitive instruments such as the Wechsler and Stanford-binet scales, and related Achievement tests
- Experience in assisting students with colllege applications and admissions procedures
- Trauma Response and Management (including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) for treatment of Trauma)
- Teaching at tertiary and secondary levels
- Client Advocacy
- Case Management
- Problem-solving abilities
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations
- Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
Affiliations
- The Trinidad and Tobago Association of Psychologists (Executive member 2013 – 2014, Treasurer)
- National Association of School Psychologists
Continued Professional Training
- The University of Trinidad and Tobago, Trinidad, One-day Conflict Management workshop, June 2012
- Northwest Brief Therapy Training Center (USA) for Trinidad & Tobago Association of Psychologists, Introduction to Solution-focused Therapy and Trauma Treatment, Stephen M. Langer, Ph.D., September 17 - 18, 2010
- The Franciscan Institute for Personal & Family Development, Trinidad, Introduction to Art Therapy Part II, Wilma Wernick, MS, ATR-BC, November 14 - 16, 2008
- The Franciscan Institute for Personal & Family Development, Trinidad, Introduction to Art Therapy, November 9 - 11, 2007
- The Child Trauma Institute, USA, EMDR (Eye-Movement Desensitization & Re-Processing) for Trauma-informed treatment, October 2006 and May 2007
- EMDR Humanitarian Assistance Programmes in association with the Trinidad & Tobago Association of Psychologists, Workshop: Traumatology and EMDR, November 2004
- The Consultation Centre and Division of Prevention and Community Research, Dept. of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine for Dianne Douglas & Associates in partnership with The Centre for Gender and Development Studies, UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad, Coping with Work and Family Stress: A Workplace Intervention (Train-the-Trainers Workshop), October 2004
Awards
- Gabreille Bielski Scholarship, Andrews University 1999
- Thesba Johnson Scholarship, Andrews University 1999
References
Available upon request.
Hobbies & Interests
- Art and Interior Design
- Performing Arts
- Philanthropy
Timeline
School Psychology Intern
North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS)
08.2018 - 06.2019
Student Counselor
The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)
04.2008 - 07.2024
Part-time Lecturer
Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies
09.2007 - 01.2011
Counselor
Elder Associates Ltd.
10.2000 - 03.2008
Part-time Lecturer
Caribbean Union College
09.2000 - 03.2001
Outreach Counselor
Super Five Program, Ministry of Sport & Youth Affairs
06.2000 - 08.2000
Counseling Intern
Elder Associates Ltd.
06.1999 - 05.2000
Graduate Student/Graduate Assistant
Andrews University
01.1999 - 05.1999
Special Teacher I (Art & Craft)
Ministry of Education
09.1994 - 01.2000
EdS, School Psychology -
Andrews University (off And On Campus)
M.A. Community Counseling -
Andrews University, Michigan, USA
M.A. Educational and Developmental Psychology -
Andrews University, Michigan, USA
B.A. (Hons) - Sociology
The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad
National Diploma - Commercial Art, Advertising & Design; Packaging & Display
John S. Donaldson Technical Institute, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
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