Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Ayanna Smith

Grand Rapids,MI

Summary

Passionate and devoted Social Worker with expertise in addiction recovery, children and young adults, therapy facilitation, and art-based therapeutic interventions. Experienced in supporting individuals from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds through trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and community resource linkage. Skilled in creating safe, inclusive environments that foster self-expression, resilience, and peer support.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Substance Use Therapist

Salvation Army West Michigan Harbor Light
04.2024 - Current
  • Built strong rapport with clients, fostering trust and open communication for effective therapy sessions.
  • Maintained detailed case notes and documentation, ensuring effective tracking of progress and continuity of care across providers.
  • Established clear boundaries with clients, maintaining ethical practice standards while preserving the therapeutic relationship.
  • Provided individual therapy sessions tailored around identified treatment goals
  • Facilitated psychoeducational, co-occurring and core creative (art) group therapy sessions daily
  • Enhanced client well-being through personalized treatment plans tailored to individual needs and goals.
  • Improved patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based therapeutic techniques and interventions.
  • Delivered brief interventions to help clients develop healthy coping skills.
  • Conducted thorough assessments to accurately diagnose substance use and mental health conditions and develop appropriate treatment strategies.
  • Improved client coping mechanisms with cognitive behavioral techniques.
  • Maintain contact with referral sources, (i.e., gatekeeper, parole/probation agents) submitting requests for authorization for treatment as well as required reports
  • Complete discharge documentation on each client to include aftercare plan, referral and letters to referring agencies

Outpatient Clinical Therapist Intern

Forest View Psychiatric Hospital
08.2022 - 04.2023
  • Prepared required clinical documentation per established timeframes.
  • Assisted youth and adults in improving self-esteem, communication and coping skills.
  • Wrote reports on clients and maintained required paperwork.
  • Referred clients to other specialists, institutions or support services as necessary.
  • Applied various therapeutic methods to treat patients in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric facilities.
  • Provided comprehensive case management services, created treatment plans.
  • Developed goal-oriented psychoeducational and activity therapy groups.
  • Assessed patient behavior, moods and other responses to determine correct diagnosis and devise treatment plans.
  • Guided patients in effective therapeutic exercises integrated from Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
  • Facilitated Mindfulness activities for the adolescent and adult population.
  • Led up to 5 individual sessions per week and 2-3 group therapy meetings per day.
  • Assessed patients by conducting an intake assessment.
  • Completed biopsychosocial assessments.
  • Maintained energy and enthusiasm in fast-paced environment.
  • Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.

Holistic Defense Intern

Muskegon County Public Defenders Office
08.2021 - 04.2022
  • Maintained individual files such as case notes, and releases of information.
  • Actively built relationships by offering information and support.
  • Collaborated on a multidisciplinary team that included lawyers, judges and court officers.
  • Created mitigation reports to highlight client's strengths.
  • Holistic approach to legal care
  • Maintained regular contact with clients.
  • Provided support at court hearings
  • Conducted biopsychosocial assessments to assess clients history and diverse needs.
  • Attended FTM meetings.
  • Provided emotional support to clients.
  • Conducted jail visits.
  • .Communicated with family members of clients.
  • Upheld attorney-client confidentiality.
  • Monitored case progress for approximately 30 clients

Youth Treatment Specialist

Wedgwood Christian Services
09.2019 - 03.2022
  • Provided individual and group counseling.
  • Identified and prioritized treatment needs for every client.
  • Provided emergency response in crisis situations to diffuse tensions and prevent violence.
  • Displayed sensitivity to cultural and linguistic needs of residents and families.
  • Helped client's to deal with realities of their trauma and diagnoses and develop coping skills.
  • Monitored client's progress throughout rehabilitation program.
  • Recorded client information on special flow sheets, accurately indicating suicidal precautions, sleep flow and restraints.
  • Supported ongoing mental health treatment.
  • Assisted clients in obtaining and achieving personal goals for programming as a Goal-Worker.
  • Transported clients to appointments, shopping venues and entertainment events according to determined schedule.
  • Organized and provided medication at set times.
  • Assisted patients with personal care, social interaction, and emotional support.
  • Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.
  • Worked flexible hours; night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
  • Trained with Handle With Care behavioral management system
  • Prepared and cooked meals for clients.

Youth Board Secretary

NAACP Grand Rapids Chapter
01.2016 - Current
  • Maintains full contact list of 15 board members, board member appointment dates, term of appointments and board member biographies.
  • Conducts general board correspondence and kept records of all correspondence.
  • Signs official documents and board minutes.
  • Handles incoming and outgoing mail, email and faxes.
  • Writes clear, brief notes to record all motions and decisions of meetings.
  • Advocates and works alongside minority groups within the community.
  • Planning and organizing community events that include: voter registration events, rallies, protests, and give back opportunities.

ARCH Activity Leader

Kentwood Public Schools
04.2016 - 11.2019
  • Planned and implemented as many as 3 activities per day that focused on developing STEM skills.
  • Kept activity rooms and equipment organized and clean.
  • Integrated academic and vocational based curriculum to help students learn and acquire life skills.
  • Organized activities for students and created welcoming and supportive environment to encourage participation.
  • Managed safety concerns and adhered to all compliance requirements.
  • Worked with children individually and in groups to teach social, communicative and problem-solving skills.
  • Observed children to proactively identify issues with emotional or physical development and worked with parents and supervisors to address concerns.
  • Maintained group discipline through positive reinforcement, behavior modeling and collaboration with parents.
  • Served meals
  • Created virtual content for online learning

Education

Master of Social Work - Social Work

Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI
04.2023

Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work

Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI
04.2022

Skills

  • Treatment Planning
  • Building rapport
  • Crisis intervention
  • One-on-one sessions
  • Multicultural competence
  • CBT techniques
  • Documentation requirements
  • Referral coordination
  • DBT techniques
  • Group therapy
  • Psychological assessment
  • Substance use interventions
  • Experience with diverse populations

Certification

LLMSW,

CAADC-DP

Timeline

Substance Use Therapist

Salvation Army West Michigan Harbor Light
04.2024 - Current

Outpatient Clinical Therapist Intern

Forest View Psychiatric Hospital
08.2022 - 04.2023

Holistic Defense Intern

Muskegon County Public Defenders Office
08.2021 - 04.2022

Youth Treatment Specialist

Wedgwood Christian Services
09.2019 - 03.2022

ARCH Activity Leader

Kentwood Public Schools
04.2016 - 11.2019

Youth Board Secretary

NAACP Grand Rapids Chapter
01.2016 - Current

Master of Social Work - Social Work

Grand Valley State University

Bachelor of Social Work - Social Work

Grand Valley State University

Similar Profiles

  • ROGJREA EASON

    ROGJREA EASONROGJREA EASON

    Housing Case Manager at Salvation Army Harbor LightHousing Case Manager at Salvation Army Harbor Light

  • Karen Hill

    Karen HillKaren Hill

    Volunteer at Salvation Army Harbor Light CenterVolunteer at Salvation Army Harbor Light Center

  • JODY MERRITT

    JODY MERRITTJODY MERRITT

    Outreach Worker at The Salvation Army Harbor Light, Vancouver B.COutreach Worker at The Salvation Army Harbor Light, Vancouver B.C

  • Kap Tung

    Kap TungKap Tung

    Security Engineer/Technician at MossSecurity Engineer/Technician at Moss

  • Gwendalyn Harris

    Gwendalyn HarrisGwendalyn Harris

    Server at Peppino's Pizzeria & Sports GrilleServer at Peppino's Pizzeria & Sports Grille

CREATE PROFILE
Ayanna Smith