Cameron L. Ortega
San Antonio
Summary
Results-oriented behavioral health executive with 20 years of experience in leading outpatient, residential, and telehealth treatment programs. Texas Board-Approved LPC-S skilled in building high-performing clinical teams and designing evidence-based programming while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Expertise in crisis management and operational oversight enhances access to innovative virtual treatment systems for individuals with co-occurring disorders and diverse backgrounds.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Owner / Clinical Supervisor
Bend in the River Counseling, PLLC
Bandera
01.2023 - Current
- Provide individual and group clinical supervision to associate therapists and interns
- Facilitated individual, family, and group therapy for adolescents, young adults, and adults to support diverse mental health needs
- Deliver evidence-based care using CBT, DBT-informed skills, ACT, MI, and trauma-informed modalities
- Conducted crisis assessments and developed safety plans to manage risk effectively
- Audited documentation to uphold ethical, legal, and professional standards
- Develop structured treatment planning frameworks and supervision protocols
- Maintain full telehealth caseload utilizing HIPAA-compliant platforms
Professor (Counseling Programs)
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg
01.2018 - 09.2025
- Conducted courses on diagnosis, ethics, addictions, and advanced counseling at a graduate level.
- Designed and implemented CACREP-aligned curriculum to enhance program effectiveness
- Facilitated training for graduate clinicians in documentation, differential diagnosis, and supervision models to improve clinical competencies
Clinical Director – SRSC Wellness Counseling Clinic
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
01.2019 - 01.2023
- Launched specialized mental health services for first responders during COVID-19
- Developed and implemented structured clinical programming to enhance patient engagement and outcomes
- Oversaw clinical operations and supervised clinicians to ensure high standards of care
- Participated in leadership team strategic planning to align services with community mental health needs
Assistant Clinical Director
Pura Vida Counseling
McAllen
01.2012 - 01.2018
- Delivered individual and group clinical supervision to enhance clinician skills and client outcomes
- Supported clinicians managing high-acuity and complex cases
- Coordinated staff training and professional development to elevate clinical practice and service delivery
- Hired, onboarded, and evaluated therapist competencies.
- Ensured compliance with ethical standards, client rights, and regulatory requirements
- Monitored caseload distribution, documentation integrity, and treatment plan adherence
- Partnered in policy development and quality improvement initiatives to ensure high standards of care
- Contributed to performance evaluations and strategic program planning
Clinical Therapist
Hidalgo County Community Supervision & Corrections
01.2010 - 01.2012
- Conducted biopsychosocial assessments and developed individualized treatment plans to address client needs
- Facilitated group therapy sessions utilizing CBT, DBT, psychoeducation, and relapse prevention strategies to support client recovery
- Maintained detailed clinical documentation in compliance with agency standards
- Participated in interdisciplinary case conferences to collaborate on comprehensive client care strategies
Education
Ph.D. - Rehabilitation Counseling
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX12-2022
Master of Science - Rehabilitation Counseling
University of Texas - Pan American
Edinburg, TX12-2009
Bachelor of Arts - Fine Arts
Univeristy of Texas - Pan American
Edinburg, TX12-2006
Skills
- Clinical supervision
- Program development
- Evidence-based care
- Behavioral health assessment
- Crisis management
- Telehealth services
- Staff training
- Compliance auditing
Affiliations
American Society of Addiction Medicine (2024 to present)
American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (2023 to present)
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (2023 to present)
National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns (2021 to present)
Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association (2021 to present)
National Rehabilitation Association (2021 to present)
Texas Rehabilitation Association (2021 to present)
National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (2018 to present)
Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (2018 to present)
American Rehabilitation Counseling Association (2023 to present)
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (2023 to present)
National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns (2021 to present)
Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Association (2021 to present)
National Rehabilitation Association (2021 to present)
Texas Rehabilitation Association (2021 to present)
National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (2018 to present)
Texas Association of Addiction Professionals (2018 to present)
Modalities
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT-informed)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Trauma-informed approaches
- Harm reduction models
- Expressive Arts in Counseling
Certification
• Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor, Texas
• Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Texas
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
• Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Texas
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
Telehealth Technology
- Extensive telehealth service delivery experience
- EMR systems and documentation auditing
- Cloud-based platforms (Zoom, Gmail, Slack, Dropbox)
- HIPAA-compliant virtual communication
Awards
- Terry Hale Addiction Professional of the Year, 2023 (Texas Association of Addiction Professionals)
Intensive Treatment Experience
- Outpatient & Intensive Outpatient (IOP) settings
- Group therapy facilitation
- Substance use and co-occurring mental health treatment
- Crisis intervention and safety hierarchy implementation
- Family engagement and systems-informed approaches
- Trauma-informed and harm reduction frameworks
- Clinical Supervision
Timeline
Owner / Clinical Supervisor
Bend in the River Counseling, PLLC
01.2023 - Current
Clinical Director – SRSC Wellness Counseling Clinic
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
01.2019 - 01.2023
Professor (Counseling Programs)
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
01.2018 - 09.2025
Assistant Clinical Director
Pura Vida Counseling
01.2012 - 01.2018
Clinical Therapist
Hidalgo County Community Supervision & Corrections
01.2010 - 01.2012
Ph.D. - Rehabilitation Counseling
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Master of Science - Rehabilitation Counseling
University of Texas - Pan American
Bachelor of Arts - Fine Arts
Univeristy of Texas - Pan American