Elissa Duggan
Oceanside,CA
Summary
A dynamic mental health therapist with an license to practice clinical social work(LCSW). Adept at providing multi-tiered support to staff, families, and clients. Possessing a Master of Social Work and a Pupil Personnel Certificate, coupled with extensive community service experience within diverse cultural settings. Skilled in employing clinical interventions tailored to dual diagnosis and trauma-exposed high-risk populations.
Recognized for consistently applying a strengths-based approach with students, families, and colleagues. Additionally, a forward-thinking Behavioral Counselor with eight years of experience in correctional behavior counseling. Proficient in establishing patient rapport, conducting patient history documentation, and implementing therapeutic interventions, including CBT, DBT, and trauma therapy. Committed to delivering exceptional care through effective treatment planning and compassionate patient support.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Behavioral Health Clinician
Garry & Marry West PACE
04.2023 - Current
- Implemented trauma-informed care principles in working with clients who have experienced various forms of trauma, facilitating healing and resilience.
- Used Care Venation's Cognify and Pace Logic EMR to prepare and maintain diagnostic records, progress notes and federal and state-mandated forms.
- Assisted clients by helping develop skills and behaviors necessary to recover from addiction and modify behavior.
- Documented client progress through maintaining detailed case notes in compliance with agency guidelines and legal requirements.
- Conducted comprehensive assessments to identify mental health needs and formulate accurate diagnoses.
- Assessed mental health needs to determine nature and extent of clients' emotional, behavioral or mental health issues.
- Evaluated program effectiveness through collecting and analyzing data on client outcomes, using findings to inform adjustments in service delivery as needed.
- Provided crisis intervention services, effectively deescalating situations and connecting individuals with appropriate resources.
- Assisted in program development initiatives aimed at expanding service offerings or improving existing services based on feedback from clients or staff members.
- Completed one-on-one counseling with broad range of clients suffering from various diseases and issues.
- Delivered psychoeducational presentations to clients, families, and community members on various mental health topics to increase awareness and understanding.
- Participated in quality improvement projects focused on enhancing overall efficiency of department operations without compromising client care standards.
- Conducted crisis interventions to respond to clients in crisis, assess immediate needs and provide support and resources.
- Collaborated with primary care providers to ensure coordinated care for clients with co-occurring mental health and medical concerns.
- Participated in interdisciplinary staff meetings to implement research-based changes and assess treatment plans.
- Stayed current on mental health research to follow new developments and research in mental health field.
- Supervised interns or junior clinicians by providing guidance in assessment techniques, clinical interventions, documentation standards, and ethical considerations related to their work.
- Facilitated individual therapy sessions to address PTSD, anger management, substance abuse and grief.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
Clinical School Social Worker
Vista Unified & Escondido Union
03.2021 - 04.2023
- Working with Students ages 6-18
- Providing individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, case management, parent coaching, staff coaching, restorative justice facilitator, PBIS specialist, MTSS team lead, attendance interventions specialist, SEL lesson planning, and weekly classroom rotations
- Facilitated workshops for teachers, staff members, and parents on topics such as conflict resolution, stress management, and self-care strategies.
- Assisted families in navigating the social services system, including applying for benefits, accessing resources and connecting with other family support services.
- Intervened in crisis situations and counseled children experiencing emergencies and disruptive incidents.
- Offered individual and group therapeutic counseling.
- Participated in IEP, RTI and other related meetings that determined and implemented school-wide policies.
- Conducted home visits as needed to assess family dynamics impacting student success within the educational setting.
- Facilitated family therapy sessions between children, caregivers, and siblings to remediate conflict and build healthy relationships.
- Promoted a healthy school climate by implementing evidence-based prevention programs focused on mental health awareness and anti-bullying initiatives.
- Developed comprehensive treatment plans for students, addressing various social, emotional, and behavioral needs.
- Conducted thorough assessments of students 504 needs, identifying appropriate services and resources for optimal growth and development.
Child and Family Mental Health Clinician
Healthright360, Residential Addiction Treatment
07.2019 - 03.2021
- Working with women and children, ages 0-6, in a dual diagnosis residential treatment facility delivering the highest level of care in San Diego
- Providing individual, family, and group therapy in a variety of modalities on a variety of topics
- Collaborating with mothers to facilitate appropriate interventions for children with behavior concerns due to trauma exposure and developmental delays
- Working with multidisciplinary teams to provide holistic, person-centered care, for individuals diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and acute addictive disorders.
- Guided clients in effective therapeutic exercises integrated from Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
- Developed tailored treatment plans by utilizing various therapeutic modalities such as CBT, DBT, and solution-focused therapy.
- Adhered to ethical and legal standards for confidentiality, protecting clients' privacy.
- Provided crisis intervention services, de-escalating high-risk situations and connecting clients with appropriate resources.
- Evaluated treatment outcomes using standardized assessment tools and adjusting therapeutic interventions accordingly for optimal results.
- Managed patients with substance dependence and co-occurring Axis I and Axis II disorders.
- Attended trainings to participate in regular supervision and continued education to maintain professional competence and ethical standards.
Developmental Specialist II
Rady Children's Hospital
08.2018 - 06.2019
- Working with birth parents, foster families, and children ages zero to six, involved with Child Welfare Services
- Conducting emotional, social, and developmental screening assessments
- Providing corresponding referrals, In-home therapies, and case management to address the needs of the tender-aged child.
- Participated in interdisciplinary team meetings to coordinate care for clients.
- Administered assessments to identify clients' needs and establish treatment plans.
- Managed caseloads efficiently by prioritizing tasks effectively while maintaining high-quality service delivery.
- Maintained detailed records of each client''s progress, ensuring accurate documentation for future reference and collaboration among team members.
- Educated clients and families on mental health, wellness, and recovery topics.
Education
Masters of Social Work - Social Work
Brescia University
Owensboro, KY05.2018
Bachelors of Social Work - Social Work
Brescia University
Owensboro, KY05.2017
Skills
- Anxiety Management
Dual diagnoses expert
Mental health evaluations
Heartsaver First Aid
Skilled in intake interviewing
Recovery strategies
Expert in group psychotherapy
Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI)
Grief counseling
Specialist in PTSD treatment
Person-centered therapy
Child and Adolescent Therapy
Suicide Risk Assessment
Treatment Plans
Boundary Setting
Motivational Interviewing
Skilled in treatment and discharge planning
Individual Counseling
Biopsychosocial Assessments
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Family therapy
Psychoeducational strategies
Goal Setting
Clinical Documentation
Addiction therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Substance Abuse Counseling
Anger Management
Social skills teaching
Teamwork and Collaboration
Cultural Awareness
MS Office
Calm Under Pressure
Self-Directed
Decision-Making
Google Drive
Verbal Communication
Data Management
Accomplishments
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Supervised team of 6 staff members.
- Pupil Personal Cert. Child Welfare & Attendance
- Collaborated with team of 4 in the development of Positive Behavior Intervention Stratigies (PBIS) resulting in a platinum rating for the organization.
- Achieved 30% reduction in school wide behavior concerns through effectively helping with restorative justice projects on campus.
- Decreased long term attendance concerns by 33% through evidence biased intervention.
Volunteer Community Involvement
- Home for Abused Women and Children; Tacoma
- Nursing Home for Elderly and Veterans; Tacoma
- Quinault Nation's Children's Summer Camp
- Moldovan, Russian, and Ukrainian Community; Tacoma
- Short-Term Host Home for Japanese Exchange Students
- Host Home for Montenegro-Serbian Exchange Student
- Feed Our Homeless Teens Community Program; Tacoma
- World Relief Host Home for Kosovo-Albanian Refugees
- Salishan Housing Project's with The Vietnamese, Laotian, and Cambodian Communities; Tacoma
- Habitat for Humanity Home Building, Tacoma
- Youth With A Mission; Spain Missions Group
- Children's Preschool “Project Shade” Manager, 29 Palms
- Military Children and Families Community, North Carolina, Okinawa, Twentynine Palms, San Diego
Education Skills
- Develop and present SEL for all parties
- Implementation of Positive Behavior Support
- Provide direct social work services
- Group counseling services using evidence-based curriculum
- Supervise and provide training
- Engaging students and families
Affiliations
- School Social Work
- United Stated Marine Corp Families
- National Social Work Association
Certification
- Licensed Clinical Social Work - 2021 to Current
- Pupal Personnel Certificate - 2019 to Current
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Work Preference
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
HybridImportant To Me
Company CulturePaid time offWork-life balanceCareer advancementFlexible work hoursWork from home optionTimeline
Behavioral Health Clinician
Garry & Marry West PACE
04.2023 - Current
Clinical School Social Worker
Vista Unified & Escondido Union
03.2021 - 04.2023
Child and Family Mental Health Clinician
Healthright360, Residential Addiction Treatment
07.2019 - 03.2021
Developmental Specialist II
Rady Children's Hospital
08.2018 - 06.2019
Masters of Social Work - Social Work
Brescia University
Bachelors of Social Work - Social Work
Brescia University
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