Catherine Navarrete-Smith
Sutter Creek,CA
Summary
Compassionate Mental Health Clinician known for high productivity and efficiency in task completion. Possess specialized skills in cognitive behavioral therapy, crisis intervention, and patient assessment. Excel in empathy, communication, and problem-solving which enhance client outcomes. Bring dedication to fostering mental well-being with respect and professionalism.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Rula
Sutter Creek, California
05.2025 - Current
- Provide outpatient individual, couples, and/or family therapy to children, adolescents, and adults presenting with anxiety, depression, trauma-related disorders, relational conflict, and adjustment concerns
- Conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and develop individualized treatment plans with measurable clinical goals -Implement evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-informed interventions, trauma-focused approaches, and person-centered therapy
- Perform ongoing risk assessments related to suicidal ideation, self-harm, homicidal ideation, and mandated reporting obligations
- Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation (intake assessments, progress notes, treatment plans, discharge summaries) in compliance with HIPAA, state licensing board standards, and insurance requirements
- Collaborate with psychiatrists, primary care providers, school personnel, and other collateral contacts to ensure coordinated care (with appropriate releases of information)
- Provide psychoeducation to clients and families regarding symptom management, coping strategies, and relapse prevention
- Manage independent caseload including scheduling, billing coordination, insurance verification (if applicable), and client communication
- Utilize culturally responsive, trauma-informed practices to support diverse client populations
- Participate in clinical consultation, peer supervision, and continuing education to maintain licensure and clinical competency
- Adhere to ethical standards outlined by state licensing board and relevant professional associations
Mental Health Clinician
Stockton Unified School District
Stockton, CA
08.2021 - Current
- Provide a variety of mental health services such as individual, group, and family therapy, consultation, milieu and other evidenced based therapeutic interventions and support services to identified students and/or families
- Collaborate with and other professionals on a multidisciplinary team and develop programs meeting the social emotional and behavioral needs of students, including students eligible for Special Education under Emotional Disturbance
- Participate as a member of various intervention planning teams including Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to provide mental health related services to address serious mental health issues related to the students educational placement; assist in monitoring progress of students; and refer and link family to services within the community
- Collect data and prepare a variety of reports for the purpose of documenting case history, assessment, treatment, and medical and other billing records
- Provide consultation to all Program staff, administrators, and parents concerning serious mental health needs of students and supports needed to assist in the progress toward mental health related goals
- Organize and conduct psycho-educational groups related to mental health issues
- Develop and provide quality professional development training for school staff
- Maintain confidentiality and complete documentation
- Communicate with students, families, and school staff coordinating activities and resolve issues or concerns related to students' mental health needs
Crisis Worker Extra Help
Amador County Behavioral Health
Sutter Creek
08.2021 - 10.2025
- Conduct comprehensive field-based crisis assessments for adults, adolescents, and children experiencing acute psychiatric distress, including evaluation of danger to self (DTS), danger to others (DTO), and grave disability (GD)
- Determine eligibility and initiate involuntary psychiatric holds (e.g., 5150/5585) in accordance with the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS Act) and county protocols
- Utilize evidence-based crisis intervention models, trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and de-escalation techniques to stabilize individuals in acute distress
- Develop collaborative safety plans and least-restrictive alternatives to hospitalization when clinically appropriate
- Coordinate psychiatric evaluations, hospital placements, and transportation logistics with emergency departments, inpatient facilities, law enforcement, and ambulance services
- Provide consultation and technical assistance to law enforcement and community partners regarding mental health crises and diversion strategies
- Complete thorough clinical documentation including risk assessments, legal documentation for holds, safety plans, and disposition summaries in compliance with county, state, Medi-Cal, and HIPAA regulations
- Link clients and families to ongoing county behavioral health services, including outpatient therapy, case management, Full-Service Partnerships (FSP), substance use treatment, and community-based supports
- Participate in multidisciplinary case reviews and collaborate with psychiatrists, social workers, peer specialists, and public health professionals
- Support continuity of care through follow-up contacts and coordination with outpatient providers to reduce repeat crisis utilization
- Maintain cultural humility and provide linguistically appropriate services to diverse populations
- Participate in after-hours and on-call rotation to ensure 24/7 crisis coverage
Behavioral Health Care Clinician I
Amador County Behavioral Health Services
Amador, CA
02.2019 - 08.2021
- Work as a member of an Integrated Recovery Team with an age-based client population
- Performed interviews of consumers, relatives, and other involved persons to gather personal and social data relevant to assessing mental or emotional disorders
- Developed services/treatment plans with consumers
- Evaluate and document psychological, economic, vocational, educational, physical, health, socialization, and housing needs and coordinates with other staff members
- Assist consumers and other concerned individuals in understanding the nature of major psychological illnesses and their psychosocial effects
- Assist consumers and their families in understanding and choosing treatment options of mental health treatment
- Initiated and conducted brief therapy with individuals (youth/adult), groups, and families
- Collaborated with the treatment plan team in developing and implementing interventions including case management
- Established and maintained effective contacts with local area mental health resources including community members, parents, schools, residential facilities, and other agencies/organizations
- Performed crisis assessment and intervention during normal business hours and after hours
- Conducting psychiatric evaluation complying with W&I 5150 requirements
- Participated in mental health conferences and local area committees
- Prepared reports and written correspondence
- Provided Telehealth services (individual and group therapy) via Zoom
Mental Health Clinician I
San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services/CYS
Stockton, CA
08.2018 - 02.2019
- Collaboration with other professionals (Mental Health Specialist, Child Protective Service Social Workers, Psychiatrist) to ensure that foster care youth attend and participate in treatment services and recovery activities
- Participate in various meetings (Team Meetings, Multidisciplinary Team, Child Family)
- Adhere to Katie A
- Program policies and procedures
- Determine Severe Emotionally Disturbed Criteria
- Conduct mental health assessment and other assessments/inventories
- Develop and implement treatment plans
- Determine if there is a need for psychiatric evaluation and make appropriate referrals
- Implement intensive treatment psychotherapy with individuals, families, and groups
Social Services Work III
Tulare County Health and Human Services/CWS
Visalia, CA
09.2016 - 07.2018
- Managing a caseload within the Child Welfare Services spectrum specifically emergency response
- Managing a caseload consisting of up to 40 short term complex cases
- Investigating and making recommendations concerning family situations involving neglect or child abuse and determining appropriate types of intervention to preserve the family system such as developing safety plans, connecting families to Differential Response/Path 2 with local Family Resource Centers
- Occasionally investigating allegations of abuse and neglect in foster care
- Testifying in court on assigned cases as needed
- Representing CWS in all mandated court appearances specifically detention
- Referring and transporting clients to specialized services such as drug testing and Alcohol and Other drug services
- Interpreting and explaining rules, regulations, and policies to clients
- Preparing and maintaining case records, case narratives, and court reports
- Researching case files for medical, mental health and substance abuse history of parents and child and prepare written records
- Developing and assisting families with safety plans to decrease the risk of neglect or abuse
- Maintaining confidentiality of all information and materials handled
- Participating in staff development programs to increase competence
- Inputting data into a statewide, computerized client tracking and management system
- Preparing memos, letters and reports
Marriage Family Therapy Trainee
Family Services of Tulare County
Visalia, CA
03.2016 - 02.2017
- Assessment of the psychosocial needs of individuals, couples, family groups requesting service and development of individual case treatment plans, including children, adolescents, and adults
- Provision of a wide array of casework and therapeutic services, including weekly one-hour individual counseling sessions, co-parenting sessions, marital therapy, family therapy, referral and advocacy services
- Development and implementation of special therapeutic groups and programs as needed or assigned
- Attend individual and group supervision with Clinical Manager
- Demonstrate the ability to implement all current mandatory reporting laws that supersede client confidentiality policies
- Adhere to the standards and codes of Marriage Family Therapy ethics
Behavioral Education Assistant
ACES, Fresno
Fresno, CA
09.2007 - 05.2016
- Supervised Behavior Interventionists, including providing verbal and written feedback, with support of Program Managers
- Engaged in problem solving challenging situations with clients and families
- Created, updated, and modified programs for in-home Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) programs
- Provided case management/supervision
- Monitored client goals and client progress
- Created behavior plans, analyzing behavior data, and making behavior plan changes to ABA programs when necessary
- Assisted with the administration of developmental assessments
- Assisted with community based and generalization programs
- Provided parent/caregiver trainings
- Trained Behavior Interventionists to implement ABA programs
- Trained new hire behavior interventionist on all methodologies used within the company (i.e., Applied Behavior Analysist (ABA), Picture Exchange Communication (PECS), Pivotal Response Training (PRT), Discrete Trial Trainings (DTT), Shadow Aide Facilitation, Social Stories, and Sensory Integration)
- Responsible for the submission of quarterly progress reports
- Attend supervisor and clinical meetings
Behavior Interventionist
ACES, Fresno
Fresno, CA
09.2006 - 08.2007
- Provided one to one instruction to children with developmental delays specifically Autism Spectrum Disorder in-home, community, and school settings
- Responsible for the implementation of ABA strategies designed to increase client's functional skills (i.e
- Communication, adaptive behaviors, etc)
- Knowledge of Discrete Trials Training, Pivotal Response Training, Visual Strategies (TEACCH), Picture Exchange Communication (PECS), Shadow Aide Facilitation, Social Stories, and Sensory Integration
Child Care Worker
New Start Group Home
Sanger, CA
08.2005 - 08.2006
- Counseled and mentored at risk adolescent females with moderate level of behavior (ages ranging from 13yrs to 18yrs)
- Organized and managed indoor and outdoor activities
- Organized and arranged outings
- Helped residents with maintaining positive behavior using behavior management strategies (i.e., behavior contracts, token boards, and coping strategies)
- Taught residents appropriate structure and boundaries (i.e., complying with household rules, daily routines, and appropriate boundaries with peers and staff)
- Implemented crisis and intervention plans developed by lead staff, when necessary
- Completed daily notes
- Attended monthly meetings (i.e., resident concerns, in-service, and development)
Education
Masters of Science - Counseling/Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy
University of Phoenix
02.2017
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Phoenix
11.2012
Skills
- Psychological evaluation
- Crisis Management
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Individual, Group, Family therapy
- Therapeutic Intervention
- Adaptability and Flexibility
- Positive patient experiences
- Effective Communication
- Behavioral assessment
- Self Motivation
- Treatment Planning
Affiliations
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
- Autism Speaks
References
Available upon request.
Specialtrainings
CPR, AED, First-Aid
Credentials
LMFT149535
Timeline
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Rula
05.2025 - Current
Mental Health Clinician
Stockton Unified School District
08.2021 - Current
Crisis Worker Extra Help
Amador County Behavioral Health
08.2021 - 10.2025
Behavioral Health Care Clinician I
Amador County Behavioral Health Services
02.2019 - 08.2021
Mental Health Clinician I
San Joaquin County Behavioral Health Services/CYS
08.2018 - 02.2019
Social Services Work III
Tulare County Health and Human Services/CWS
09.2016 - 07.2018
Marriage Family Therapy Trainee
Family Services of Tulare County
03.2016 - 02.2017
Behavioral Education Assistant
ACES, Fresno
09.2007 - 05.2016
Behavior Interventionist
ACES, Fresno
09.2006 - 08.2007
Child Care Worker
New Start Group Home
08.2005 - 08.2006
Masters of Science - Counseling/Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Phoenix