Brandi Schwalen
Dedicated professional in long-term recovery with extensive experience in mental health and substance misuse with compassionate care and empathy providing years of support and advocacy. Certified as a Mental Health Peer Specialist, Recovery Support Peer Specialist, and Community Health Worker, with participation in first-hand training for law enforcement regarding best practices recognizing, engaging, and supporting individuals experiencing mental health episodes and substance misuse, as well as on-camera educational interviews to enhance community training with other first responders in neighboring cities. Actively involved in legislative discussions to promote harm reduction initiatives, leveraging lived experience to drive impactful change. Lived MAT experience with successful taper and completion of treatment program.
Work History
Crisis Intervention Peer Specialist
4 Years 8 Months• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to develop individualized care plans for clients.
• Educated clients on community resources and self-advocacy.
• Assisted in training new peer specialists on best practices and program protocols.
• Monitored client progress, treatment goals.
• Provided crisis intervention services during high-stress situations, deescalating situations, and safety planning.
• Assisted clients in identifying personal strengths and setting realistic goals for recovery journey.
• Educated staff on the role of peer specialists, promoting understanding and collaboration within the team.
• Empowered clients by teaching them coping strategies.
• Developed rapport with diverse clients through active listening, empathy, and genuine connection.
• Served as an advocate for clients during meetings/treatment planning sessions, ensuring their voices were heard and needs addressed.
• Maintained detailed case notes and documentation.
• Participated in ongoing training opportunities to enhance current professional skills.
• Enhanced client recovery by providing personalized support and sharing lived experiences.
Recovery Coach
8 Months• Advocated for clients' needs within the community, strengthening access to vital support services.
• Mentored new Recovery Coaches, sharing best practices and contributing to their professional development.
• Amplified client involvement in recovery programs by offering empathetic support.
• Empowered clients to set and achieve realistic goals through goal-setting sessions and progress monitoring.
• Maintained strict adherence to confidentiality standards.
• Strengthened relationships with community partners, enabling better access to resources and support services for clients.
• Utilized motivational interviewing techniques to help clients identify barriers to recovery and develop strategies for overcoming them.
• Established rapport with clients, creating a strong foundation for open communication and collaboration.
Education
GED
- LCDC With Associate of Applied Science
Skills
Accomplishments
- Conducted on-camera interviews for first responder training programs focused on effective community engagement with individuals experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.
- Facilitated training sessions and role-playing exercises with local law enforcement to strengthen skills in safely approaching, engaging, and supporting individuals affected by mental health and substance use disorders.
- Collaborated with a Texas State Representative to discuss and develop strategies for leveraging lived experience to inform policy, advance harm reduction initiatives, and improve community outcomes.
- Trained and mentored new peer support staff on technology systems, client engagement techniques, workplace policies and protocols, curriculum delivery, and accurate documentation practices.
- Selected as one of 16 Peer Specialists statewide to participate in and successfully complete the Texas Peer Specialist Leadership Cohort, an advanced leadership development program.
Certification
- Mental Health Peer Specialist
- Recovery Support Peer Specialist
- Community Health Worker
- CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) + MH Safety Planning
- ASIST
- SAMA
- First Aid/CPR
- Use of Motivational Interviewing in Clinical Practice
- Illness Management and Recovery
- Trauma-Informed Care Delivery for Clinicians amd Peer Specialists
- Community-Based Interventions to Reduce Suicide Risk
- Strategies for Decreasing Medical Errors in Behavioral Health
- COPSD
- Seeking Safety
- Assessing Suicide Risk Using the C-SSRS
- Understanding Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery-Oriented Practices
- Identification and Response to Child Abuse and Neglect
- Ethical and Legal Considerations for Telehealth
- The Use of Telehealth in Clinical Practice