Denise Ewald
Reading
Summary
Dedicated social worker offering over 20 years of experience in the educational setting. Skilled in working with students facing learning difficulties, social challenges, anxiety and depression. Possess strong problem solving and communication skills.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Group Therapist
Psychotherapy Associates Of North Reading
09.2023 - Current
- Assisted clients in exploring feelings and understanding behaviors related to anxiety.
- Designed safe and supportive environment for clients to discuss issues.
- Provided education on mental health topics, such as anxiety.
- Facilitated group counseling sessions to support and encourage client growth.
School Social Worker
Wilmington High School
08.2023 - Current
- Provide social/emotional and behavior support and counseling for general education students and students with 504 Plans and Individualized Education Plans.
- Provide therapeutic support and psycho-education using Collaborative Problem Solving, Mindfulness Skills, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Social Thinking Skills and strategies for managing anxiety.
- Provide support and work collaboratively with teachers and parents regarding the educational, social and emotional needs of students, communicate and collaborate with outside support professionals regarding student progress and treatment, refer students to more specialized, ongoing community based counseling as needed.
- Conduct safety assessments of students as needed and refer students and families to appropriate support service agencies.
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
Wakefield Memorial High School
09.2016 - 06.2023
- Provided social/emotional and behavior support and counseling for students with Individualized Education Plans who are assigned to the Program for Alternative Learning (PAL) at Wakefield Memorial High School in Wakefield, MA
- Provided therapeutic support and psycho-education using Collaborative Problem Solving, Mindfulness Skills, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Social Thinking Skills and strategies for managing anxiety based on training with Lynn Lyons
- Facilitated psycho-educational groups for students and informational training to school staff and parents
- Provided support and worked collaboratively with teachers and parents regarding the educational, social and emotional needs of students, communicated and collaborated with outside support professionals regarding student progress and treatment, referred students to more specialized, ongoing community based counseling as needed
- Participated in the writing of student IEP goals, participated in IEP meetings, and provided written quarterly reports in regards to students' progress toward their emotional goals
- Conducted safety assessments of students and referred students and families to appropriate support service agencies
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
Reading Memorial High School
08.2015 - 06.2016
- Provided individual and group support to high school students with Individualized Education Plans who have educational, behavioral and emotional difficulties
- Planned and implemented psycho-educational groups including groups related to Mindfulness Skills, DBT Skills, and Social Thinking Skills.
- Collaborated and provided support to teachers and parents regarding the educational, social and emotional needs of students, communicated and collaborated with outside support professionals regarding student progress and treatment, referred students to more specialized, ongoing community based counseling as needed.
- Developed and wrote the social/emotional goals for student’s IEPs, participated in IEP meetings, and provided written quarterly reports regarding students' progress toward their emotional goals.
- Conducted safety assessments of students and referred students and families to appropriate support service agencies.
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
The Clearway School
12.2008 - 06.2015
- Provided individual and group support to middle and high school students with Individualized
Education Plans who have educational and emotional disabilities and who were placed in an out of district therapeutic school. - Planned and implemented weekly psycho-educational groups; group topics included, but were not limited to DBT, Mindfulness, Social Skills, Adapting to Transitions, Disability Awareness and Bullying Prevention based on curriculum from the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (MARC).
- Collaborated with and provided support to teachers and parents regarding the educational, social, and emotional needs of students; communicated and collaborated with outside support professionals regarding student progress and treatment; referred students to more specialized, ongoing community based counseling as needed.
- Participated in the writing of student IEP goals, student IEP meetings, and provided written quarterly reports regarding students' progress toward their emotional goals.
- Provided training and support to students, faculty, staff, and parents regarding Collaborative Problem Solving, Social Thinking, and Bullying Prevention curriculum.
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
Dover Sherborn Public Schools
09.2005 - 02.2008
- Provided individual and group counseling to students with educational, behavioral, and/or
emotional difficulties. - Planned and implemented psycho-educational group sessions regarding various adolescent issues both in school group and classroom settings.
- Collaborated with teachers and parents regarding the educational, social, and emotional issues of their children.
- Communicated and collaborated with outside agencies and professionals regarding student progress and treatment.
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
CASE Collaborative-Colebrook High School
09.2004 - 08.2005
- Provided individual and group counseling to high school students with educational,
behavioral, and emotional difficulties who were placed in a therapeutic high school. - Planned and implemented psycho-educational group sessions regarding various adolescent issues both in small group and classroom settings.
- Provided clinical consultation for teachers regarding the students in their classes.
- Made assessments and the necessary student referrals for specific student interventions.
- Collaborated with students’ outside therapists, psychiatrists, and parents, and provided family support as needed.
Part Time School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor and Part Time High School Para Educator
Dover Sherborn Public Schools
09.2003 - 02.2004
- In addition to providing support as the School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor, also provided academic instruction and support for high school students with Individualized Education Plans through inclusion and/or direct services.
- Collaborated with special education and regular education teachers in providing individualized students services.
Social Worker for adolescents in residential treatment
The Institute for Family and Life Learning
07.2001 - 06.2003
- Provided individual, group, and family
therapy services to adolescents with educational, behavioral and emotional difficulties who were placed in residential treatment. - Provided group therapy services to residents as well as multi-family group therapy meetings; group topics included, but were not limited to substance use and abuse, self-esteem, conflict resolution, family support, and open ended group therapy.
- Collaborated with treatment providers and outside collaterals, including DSS, DYS, Probation Officers, and various school systems in regard to client and family treatment and discharge planning.
- Regularly attended community court hearings with the adolescents and their families.
- Provided home based individual and family clinical services to adolescents who had completed their residential treatment and had returned home to live with their families.
6th Grade Para Educator
Winchester Public Schools
09.1998 - 06.1999
- Provided academic instruction and support for students with Individualized Education Plans through inclusion and/or direct services.
- Participated in team meetings to evaluate and monitor the progress of students being served with Individualized Education Plans.
7th Grade Teacher
St. Agnes School
08.1997 - 06.1998
- Planned and implemented daily lessons in the areas of math and science for 7th and 8th grade students.
- Communicated with students’ parents/guardians regarding the educational progress of their children.
6th Grade Teacher / Jesuit Volunteer Corps
St. Matthew School
08.1996 - 08.1997
- Planned and implemented daily social studies lessons and activities for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students.
- Communicated with students’ parents/guardians regarding the educational progress of their children.
Education
Master of Social Work -
Boston College
Bachelor of Arts: Elementary and Special Education -
Providence College
Skills
- Adolescent Counseling
- Student Advocacy
- Behavioral Interventions
- Case management
- Psycho-Educational Groups
Certification
- School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor, Massachusetts, 353852
- Licensed Independent Social Worker, Massachusetts, 115090
Timeline
Group Therapist
Psychotherapy Associates Of North Reading
09.2023 - Current
School Social Worker
Wilmington High School
08.2023 - Current
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
Wakefield Memorial High School
09.2016 - 06.2023
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
Reading Memorial High School
08.2015 - 06.2016
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
The Clearway School
12.2008 - 06.2015
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
Dover Sherborn Public Schools
09.2005 - 02.2008
School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor
CASE Collaborative-Colebrook High School
09.2004 - 08.2005
Part Time School Social Worker/School Adjustment Counselor and Part Time High School Para Educator
Dover Sherborn Public Schools
09.2003 - 02.2004
Social Worker for adolescents in residential treatment
The Institute for Family and Life Learning
07.2001 - 06.2003
6th Grade Para Educator
Winchester Public Schools
09.1998 - 06.1999
7th Grade Teacher
St. Agnes School
08.1997 - 06.1998
6th Grade Teacher / Jesuit Volunteer Corps
St. Matthew School
08.1996 - 08.1997
Master of Social Work -
Boston College
Bachelor of Arts: Elementary and Special Education -
Providence College
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