Dominick Desiderio
Brooklyn,New York
Summary
I have always been fascinated with counseling and psychotherapy, specifically the Person-Centered approach. When I learned that many of the foundational principals of the PCA were implemented on the crisis hotline, I decided that I would very much like to serve on the lines. I started as a volunteer on the hotline and was promoted to shift captain - answering only incoming crisis calls. Recently, I have trained new listeners joining the hotline by assisting them with answering real-time calls, followed by a debriefing after each call. I study counseling at the master's level and will make this line of work my lifelong career. I think that it provides real help to people in need, and know that it provides me with a very strong sense of meaning.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Crisis Counselor/Shift Captain/Training Assistant
Caring Contact
Westfield, NJ
06.2021 - Current
- Provided emotional support and guidance to individuals dealing with a variety of life issues, including grief, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma and relationship conflicts.
- Maintained accurate records of all client interactions using an electronic health record system.
- Responded promptly to emergency situations by providing crisis intervention services.
- Assisted clients in identifying resources available within the community such as housing assistance or employment opportunities.
- Advised family members on how best to support their loved ones during difficult times.
- Attended trainings related to evidence-based practices in order to stay up-to-date on new developments in the field.
- Assessed risk to client, loved ones or general public through established evaluation procedures.
- Applied abilities in techniques like active listening and collaborative problem-solving to make positive impact.
- Developed safety plans to minimize crisis risk and intervene with specific procedures.
- Collected and documented information from clients about concerns and available contextual details.
- Responded to crisis situations when severe mental health and behavioral issues arose.
- Conducted individual training sessions for staff members.
Assistant to the Funeral Director
Frank Porello
Queens, NY
07.2014 - Current
- Provided support to families during visitation hours and funeral services.
- Greeted visitors, answered questions, and provided directions as needed.
- Coordinated with vendors for supplies such as caskets, flowers, and memorial folders.
- Ensured proper care of deceased prior to cremation or burial.
- Created memorial videos using photos and music provided by family members.
- Arranged for clergy or officiant when requested by families.
- Answered phone calls promptly and professionally handled inquiries from callers.
- Assisted in maintaining cleanliness of the facility; swept floors, wiped surfaces.
- Transported caskets to churches or other locations for services when necessary.
- Assisted funeral director in coordination of services.
- Offered comfort and counseling to address bereaved family members' needs.
- Escorted mourners to parlors for wakes and funerals.
- Arranged floral offerings and lights around caskets.
Assistant to the Funeral Director
Andrew Anastasio
Brooklyn, New York
01.2014 - 01.2020
- Offered comfort and counseling to address bereaved family members' needs.
- Assisted funeral director in coordination of services.
- Provided support to families during visitation hours and funeral services.
- Assisted in maintaining cleanliness of the facility; swept floors, wiped surfaces.
- Kept abreast of current trends in the funeral industry regarding products and services.
- Transported caskets to churches or other locations for services when necessary.
- Maintained confidentiality at all times respecting privacy rights of bereaved families.
Auxiliary Police Officer
NYPD
Brooklyn, New York
12.2007 - 11.2012
- Assisted local police in emergency response situations.
- Provided crowd control at public events.
- Interacted with the community to build relationships and trust.
- Assisted in investigations as needed.
- Observed, reported, and documented violations of law or policy.
- Protected government buildings, monuments, and other properties.
- Performed administrative tasks such as completing paperwork.
- Assisted with searches for missing persons or suspects.
Education
Master of Science - Psychology
Southern New Hampshire University
Hooksett, NH06.2021
Master of Arts - Counseling Psychology
Pace University
New York, NYSkills
- Reflective Listening
- Suicide Prevention
- Safety Planning
- Crisis Intervention
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Mental Health Support
- Interpersonal Communication
- Alliance Building
- Empathy
- Client Records Management
Certification
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training). Completed May 14, 2022.
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline
Crisis Counselor/Shift Captain/Training Assistant
Caring Contact
06.2021 - Current
Assistant to the Funeral Director
Frank Porello
07.2014 - Current
Assistant to the Funeral Director
Andrew Anastasio
01.2014 - 01.2020
Auxiliary Police Officer
NYPD
12.2007 - 11.2012
Master of Science - Psychology
Southern New Hampshire University
Master of Arts - Counseling Psychology
Pace University
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training). Completed May 14, 2022.
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