Crystal McDonald, LCSW
Santa Fe,NM
Summary
Experienced with student counseling and crisis intervention, promoting mental health and well-being. Utilizes effective communication and empathy to build trust and support within educational settings. Knowledge of developing individualized support plans and collaborating with educators to foster positive student outcomes.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
School Social Worker
Santa Fe Public Schools
Santa Fe, NM
08.2025 - Current
- Collaborated with school staff to develop individualized support plans for students.
- Facilitated crisis intervention sessions to address immediate student emotional needs.
- Conducted assessments to identify student challenges and recommend appropriate interventions.
- Organized and led group therapy sessions focused on social-emotional learning skills.
- Enhanced student engagement through tailored counseling strategies that fostered resilience and growth.
- Streamlined communication between families and school resources, improving service access for students.
- Advocated for policy changes addressing mental health issues within the school environment.
- Collaborated with educators and families to support student mental health initiatives.
- Facilitated IEP meetings, ensuring effective communication between teachers, parents, and specialists.
- Developed engaging educational materials that promoted awareness of social emotional issues in schools.
- Maintained accurate documentation of client progress and interventions in compliance with policies.
- Managed 54 students on caseload along with 32 of the students being in a behavioral program.
Contracted K-12 Online School Social Worker
New Mexico Destination Career Academy
Santa Fe, NM
09.2024 - 05.2025
- Collaborate with the principal, teachers, school administrators and other professionals to create and maintain relationships involving student academic success.
- Direct services including casework, crisis intervention as well as consulting with teachers and administrators.
- Working with a multidisciplinary team, managing IEP meetings and interpreting quantitative data during meetings to determine eligibility of social emotional learning services.
- Working with students that qualify for IEP and other specific learning disabilities.
- Organized weekly virtual counseling sessions for 25-35 students providing an ongoing of services focusing on developing social emotional learning skills.
Multi-Systemic Therapist (MST)
Southwest Family Guidance Center and Institute
Santa Fe, NM
01.2020 - 06.2023
- Educated families on community resources and referral programs, and develop and implement realistic treatment plans to improve the care and wellbeing of children.
- Served on the interdisciplinary team, and provided case management for clients and families.
- Conducted 100% of client assessments including review of referral information, identifying and engaging key participants, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses, and developing an analysis of identified problem behaviors within the ecological context.
- Collaborated with families, youth, community agency staff and all relevant systems and key participants within each system to ensure their buy-in and cooperation throughout MST treatment.
- Implemented problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation, outcome review and crisis intervention.
- Managed a caseload of 5-6 families, providing comprehensive 24/7 support services that improve family functioning.
- Attended IEP, probation, court and school meetings in support of families through advocating and transcribing information to increase family cohesion and empowerment.
- Participated in weekly team supervision and consultation.
School Therapist (Practicum)
McCurdy Charter School (Project Carino)
Espanola, NM
08.2018 - 05.2019
- Provided individual therapy to adolescent clients based on trauma-informed care utilizing Child Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Therapy and crisis care.
- Facilitated two support groups incorporating evidence-based activities and interventions while maintaining a caseload of 3-5 students.
- Conducted five service assessments with students and families and provided classroom presentations and emotional support for school staff.
- Influenced policy change and creation for bullying within the school while collaborating and communicating daily with school staff and other agencies.
Assistant Therapist (Practicum)
Santa Fe County Teen Court
Santa Fe, NM
01.2018 - 07.2018
- Assisting and conducting assessments with families.
- Entered confidential data into a new computer system focusing on agency policy.
- Advocating for early intervention and restorative justice.
- Exposure and understanding of diversity within our communities.
- Participated and established in evidence-based interventions.
- Responsible for managing up to 10 courtroom proceedings every week.
Education
Masters of Social Work - Clinical Social Work
New Mexico Highlands University School of Social Work
Las Vegas, NM05-2019
Bachelor of Arts - Clinical Psychology
New Mexico Highlands University School of Psychology
Santa Fe, NM05-2017
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Santa Fe Community College School of Psychology
Santa Fe, NM05-2013
Skills
- Resource Planning
- Progress Notes
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Crisis Intervention
- Psychoeducational
- Treatment Planning
- Evaluation and assessments
- Rapid rapport building
- Confidentiality and trustworthiness
- Cultural competency
- Social and emotional intelligence
- Verbal and written communication
Accomplishments
- Developed and attributed to a behavioral program for 32 students.
- Handled caseload of 54 students.
- Devised protocol to help students communicate emotions and needs effectively.
- Documented and resolved crisis situations which led to successful behavior outcomes.
Certification
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
- NMPED School Social Worker: Level 2
Timeline
School Social Worker
Santa Fe Public Schools
08.2025 - Current
Contracted K-12 Online School Social Worker
New Mexico Destination Career Academy
09.2024 - 05.2025
Multi-Systemic Therapist (MST)
Southwest Family Guidance Center and Institute
01.2020 - 06.2023
School Therapist (Practicum)
McCurdy Charter School (Project Carino)
08.2018 - 05.2019
Assistant Therapist (Practicum)
Santa Fe County Teen Court
01.2018 - 07.2018
Masters of Social Work - Clinical Social Work
New Mexico Highlands University School of Social Work
Bachelor of Arts - Clinical Psychology
New Mexico Highlands University School of Psychology
Associate of Arts - Psychology
Santa Fe Community College School of Psychology
Certification
(2020 - 2022) Leadership Academy at Southwest Family Guidance Center and Institute. Received the following certificates;
- Methods and Techniques in Clinical Supervision
- Mental health related professional development supervisory issues
- Cultural competence in clinical supervisory
- Treating traumatic stress in children and adolescents
- Working with Mid and High school Youth on issues of gender and sexual identity
- Suicide Assessment and critical response training
- Models of Supervision