Debora Kahn
Algonquin,IL
Summary
Experienced Licensed Social Worker for 20+ years in diagnosing and treating emotional and mental health disorders. Skilled in counseling, detailed case management, including mental health evaluation, and treatment recommendations for children, adolescents and adults. Proven ability to guide individuals toward more positive outcomes through behavior modification practices, management of emotions, appropriate communication, and in some instances, acceptance.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Therapist/Private Practice
Be Well Counseling & Wellness
Barrington, IL
04.2021 - Current
- Provided psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, and families.
- Increase self-awareness to manage emotions and regulate anxiety.
- Diagnosis clients, develop goals and enter progress notes.
- Monitored client's progress throughout the course of therapy by tracking goals set in treatment plan.
- Assisted clients in developing coping skills to better manage symptoms of mental illness or emotional distress.
- Utilized a variety of techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness practices during sessions.
- Participate in peer review to discuss challenges and client's progress.
Care Team Program Manager
Willow Creek Community Church
Barrington, IL
12.2019 - Current
- Train and oversee approximately 60 volunteers providing a wide range of services impacting financial, mental and spiritual needs of individuals.
- Collaborate with external agencies to provide supplemental support.
- Perform client assessments to determine qualification for services.
- Coach and guide team members facing challenging client cases.
- Document client’s needs, conversations and outcomes in an internal database.
- Monitor and administer budget
- Supervise Master of Social Work students.
Therapist/Private Practice
Life Counseling Center
Arlington Heights, IL
06.2018 - 04.2019
- Conduct psychosocial and intake assessment for new clients
- Chart and record information in client files
- Develop and implement comprehensive individual treatment plans based on the client's needs, including cognitive-behavioral intervention, mindfulness, grief/bereavement counseling, narrative trauma therapy, psychoeducation, stress reduction and healthy coping strategies.
Service Extension Volunteer
Salvation Army
Elk Grove Village, IL
01.2012 - 01.2017
- Interviewed families and individuals in need of emergency assistance for a wide range of items, including clothing, Christmas, food, prescriptions, mortgage/rent, and utilities.
- Assisted individuals based on income brackets with the Nicor Gas Sharing Program to provide energy assistance during winter months.
Elder Administrator/Care Pastor Associate
Willow Creek Community Church
Barrington, IL
01.2009 - 01.2012
- Supported Care Pastors through training, coaching and knowledge of community resources.
- Educated on financial services guidelines.
- Offered direction related to crisis situations, suicidal ideation, DCFS and mentally ill individuals.
- Scheduled appointments, organized data and performed essential administrative functions.
- Coached volunteers on de-escalation protocols and appropriate interaction with mental health agencies, law enforcement and medical facilities.
Care Pastor Volunteer
Willow Creek Community Church
Barrington, IL
01.2002 - 01.2009
- Handled callers with varying level of need, from extremely confused to suicidal
- Listened and empathized with clients in difficult situations; asked discerning questions and defined immediate mental, emotional and physical needs
- Guided client to internal/external resources
- De-escalated crisis situations
- Trained new volunteers.
Volunteer Leader, Single Adult Ministry & Women's Mentor
01.1992 - 01.2002
- Facilitated group discussions and designed creative methods to reinforce subject matter
- Organized recreational activities and events to encourage camaraderie, community involvement and public service
- Held roles as Women's Mentor and Jr
- High Ministry Leader
- Empowered women to problem solve, develop spiritual disciplines and grow in self-awareness
- Nurtured relationships with adolescents through weekly meetings and group facilitation.
Internship, Case Management Support
Still Middle School District 204
Aurora, IL
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Assisted case managers and teachers in promoting a positive school experience for students.
- Performed assessments to ascertain mental, social and emotional health.
- Addressed self-destructive behaviors, including self-injury, eating disorders, or anger/retaliation.
- Provided parent coaching; recommended community support providers to parents of students with higher level of needs.
- Led small group and individual discussions; tailored interaction based upon needs.
- Worked to integrate special education students into regular classroom.
Intensive Case Management/Respite Worker
DuPage County Health Department
Glen Ellyn, IL
01.1995 - 01.1999
- Managed a home-based caseload of mentally ill children at risk of psychiatric hospitalization and residential placement.
- Collaborated with schools, therapists and psychologists to maintain children in home.
- Encouraged families through empowerment strategies; implemented WrapAround plans.
- Linked families and resources.
- Engaged in structured activities for children.
- Served on multiple committees: Crisis Liaison Work Group, Environment of Care Committee, Respite Training Committee and I-Plan/Domestic Violence Task Force.
- Led groups of mentally ill individuals in life skills situational training
- Developed and implemented a monthly activity night for adolescents.
Education
Licensed Clinical Social Worker -
University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams School of Social Work
Skills
- Listening skills
- Couples counseling
- Grief and Bereavement Counseling
- Trauma-Informed Therapy
- Case Documentation
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Grief Processes
- Case Management
Timeline
Therapist/Private Practice
Be Well Counseling & Wellness
04.2021 - Current
Care Team Program Manager
Willow Creek Community Church
12.2019 - Current
Therapist/Private Practice
Life Counseling Center
06.2018 - 04.2019
Service Extension Volunteer
Salvation Army
01.2012 - 01.2017
Elder Administrator/Care Pastor Associate
Willow Creek Community Church
01.2009 - 01.2012
Care Pastor Volunteer
Willow Creek Community Church
01.2002 - 01.2009
Internship, Case Management Support
Still Middle School District 204
01.1999 - 01.2000
Intensive Case Management/Respite Worker
DuPage County Health Department
01.1995 - 01.1999
Volunteer Leader, Single Adult Ministry & Women's Mentor
01.1992 - 01.2002
Licensed Clinical Social Worker -
University of Illinois at Chicago, Jane Addams School of Social Work