Erica Mergel
Lancaster,United States
Summary
Primary Therapist with expertise in substance abuse treatment, delivering impactful support and guidance to clients. Proven ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and adapt to evolving client needs. Highly skilled in motivational interviewing and relapse prevention, known for reliability and flexibility.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
LCDC III/Primary Therapist
Hope Valley Recovery
02.2025 - Current
- Under the supervision of the Lead Counselor, I am primarily responsible for the day-to-day treatment of individuals diagnosed with substance use and mental health disorders within the Community outpatient treatment facility from Feb to Sept, then transferred to the new women's 45 day PHP program.
- Facilitate individual, family and group counseling sessions to support recovery and personal growth.
- Develop personalized treatment plans based on client assessments and progress evaluations.
- Evaluate client progress on a regular basis using objective assessment tools, ensuring appropriate adjustments were made to their treatment plans as needed.
- Establish strong rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds and demographics, fostering an atmosphere of trust for open communication during counseling sessions.
- Conduct substance abuse assessments and screenings to accurately identify client needs and appropriate levels of care required.
- Promote a safe therapeutic environment that fostered trust between clients and counselors by setting clear boundaries and expectations.
- Oversee a large caseload and provide case management services.
- Communicate with family members on the progress of the patient and how they can play a role in the patient's recovery.
- Work with Probation officers, CPS caseworkers and referral sources to ensure clients compliance in treatment.
Owner/Massage Therapist/Personal Fitness Trainer/Health Coach
Monarch Wellness
01.2008 - Current
- Own, manage and operate a wellness center; providing therapeutic and trauma release massage, and wellness coaching.
- Designed workout programs tailored to client's needs, primarily focused on weight management, health promotion and disease prevention. Design workout programs consisting of resistance, cardiovascular, and flexibility. Created meal regimes to help clients reach fitness and weight loss goals.
- Oversaw daily operations, ensuring compliance with health regulations and standards.
- Developed and implemented wellness programs tailored to client needs.
Real Estate Agent
Red One Realty
03.2021 - Current
- Consults with clients to understand their real estate needs.
- Gathers, provides, and explains details of current market conditions, pricing, legal requirements, and similar information.
- Assists selling clients with pricing based on current market values.
- Assists clients with staging properties for sale; hosts open houses and other promotional events.
- Arranges or takes professional photography of properties for sale, highlighting appropriate features and attributes.
- Assists purchasing clients with identifying properties that meet their needs based on location, size, price, amenities, and other characteristics.
- Shows properties to clients, answering (or finding answers to) questions about the property.
- Assists clients (buying and selling) with the offer process, coordinating offers and counteroffers with the other party's agents.
- Ensures that terms and conditions of purchase agreements such as loans, home inspections, and pest inspections are met before closing dates.
- Ensures that paperwork is completed accurately and on time; corrects any errors or omissions.
- Coordinates activities required for property closing including document signing and fund disbursement.
- Maintains knowledge of the housing market, anticipated developments, school performance, and other matters of client interest and concern.
- Develops and maintains positive relationships with attorneys, mortgage lenders, and contractors to whom clients may be referred.
CDCA/Primary Therapist/Case Manager
Maryhaven
11.2023 - 02.2025
- Under the supervision of the Lead Counselor, I am primarily responsible for the day-to-day treatment of individuals diagnosed with substance use and mental health disorders within the men's long term residential treatment facility.
- Currently responsible for providing client assessments, treatment planning, two-hour large group counseling daily, weekly individual one hour counseling, monthly family counseling and other services to assist the client in the treatment process.
- Oversee a large caseload and provide case management services.
- Communicate with family members on the progress of the patient and how they can play a role in the patient's recovery.
- Facilitated individual and group counseling sessions to support clients in recovery from substance use disorders.
- Developed personalized treatment plans based on comprehensive assessments of client needs and goals.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance client care and ensure holistic treatment approaches.
- Implemented evidence-based practices to promote effective coping strategies among clients in recovery programs.
- Established strong rapport with clients, creating a supportive environment conducive to healing and growth.
- Advocated for community resources, connecting clients with services that support long-term recovery success.
- Contributed to a positive treatment culture by modeling and promoting healthy boundaries, communication practices, and self-care strategies among staff members.
- Provided crisis intervention services when needed, ensuring the safety and well-being of clients during difficult moments.
- Facilitated group sessions with 20-30 men and encouraged participants to share stories in safe, confidential environment.
Ongoing Caseworker
Fairfield County Protective Services
12.2021 - 07.2023
- Ongoing EPIC (Enhancing Permanency in Child and Families) Casework through Ohio State University, which is designed to holistically address substance misuse and provide parenting services for families involved with child welfare system.
- The EPIC program builds partnerships between the legal, medical, social, and child welfare systems of care for parents using substances and their children.
- The EPIC program is intended to be a long-term and significant component in the battle against the opioid epidemic in Ohio.
- Assess, evaluate, and conduct initial and ongoing case management of children and family services and needs.
- Assess, evaluate, and conduct investigation when receiving a claim or report of truancy, neglect, abuse or other issues within the home environment to ensure child/children's safety.
- Develop, review, update and ensure implementation of strength-based service plans for each child in care or custody including risk assessment, safety plans and goals.
- Complete all documentation in accordance with agency and regulatory requirements.
- Attend home and foster care visits; transport children to health, social services or other agency-related appointments as required.
- Maintain ongoing communication with FCPS staff and other constituencies; initiate court action when necessary.
- Empower families to make stable commitments to children by providing counseling and coordinating visits with biological parents and/or guardians and other relatives; develop a helping relationship and ensure needed supports and services are provided.
- Attend weekly supervision, weekly staff meetings, in-service training, and team meetings.
- Maintain a high degree of professionalism in the community, with clients, schools, courts and with referring agencies seeking to build and sustain positive relationships.
Executive Director
Grace Haven
06.2015 - 06.2016
- Establishing employment and administrative policies and procedures for all functions and for the day-to- day operation of a nonprofit sober living home for women in recovery from drugs and alcohol.
- Serving the women and children on a daily basis ensuring all rules, policies, procedures, and programming were implemented and enforced. Leading 8-10 women in addiction recovery groups daily. Mentored the women individually, helping them with parenting, coping and life skills.
- Ensured all resident's basic living needs were met. Responsible for taking residents to doctor's appointments, probation office, court hearings and drug testing. Also helped the residents with obtaining employment. Maintained two houses and the organization's van.
- Serving as the primary spokesperson to the organization's constituents, the media and the general public. Establish and maintain relationships with various organizations throughout the state and utilize those relationships to strategically enhance the mission.
- Report to and work closely with the Board of Directors to seek their involvement in policy decisions, fundraising and to increase the overall visibility of the Foundation throughout the State.
- Oversee organization Board, committee meetings, marketing and other communications efforts.
- Reviewed and approve contracts for services and programming. Planning and operation of annual budget.
Education
Mental Health Studies/Clinical Mental Health - Master of Art
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA12-2026
Chemical Dependency Counseling Assist and License Chemical Dependency Counselor III - Certification and License
The Institute For Addictions And Criminal Justice Studies
Columbus, OH09.2024
Community Health & Social Science - Associate of Arts in Social Science & Bachelors of Science in Technical Applied Science
Ohio University
Lancaster, OH05.2015
Human Services/Chemical Dependency Counseling Track - Associate of Arts degree
Central Ohio Technical College
Newark, OH05.2013
Physical Fitness Trainer - Certified
International Sports Sciences Association
Phoenix, AZ08.2026
Real Estate - License
Hondros College
Westerville, OH04.2019
Abuse and Trauma Mentor - Certificate
Compassionate Care International now International Institute of Abuse Counseling
Baltimore, OH01.2013
Massage Therapy - Licensed
American Institute of Alternative Medicine
Columbus, OH01.2008
Certificate in Surgical Technology and Military Readiness - Surgical Technology
United State Air University
Andrews AFB, MD05.2005
Certificate in Business - Business Science
American Commercial College
Lubbock, TX11.1999
Skills
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Case Management
- Inpatient PHP and Outpatient IOP
- Individual and Family Counseling
- Crisis Intervention
- Group Therapy
- Clinical documentation
- Professional boundaries
- Relapse prevention
- Multicultural competence
- Biopsychosocial assessment
Certification
- LCDC III
- CDCA II
- Certified Abuse and Trauma Mentor
- Certified Personal Trainer
- License Real Estate Agent
- Licensed Massage Therapist
- Driver's License
- CPR Certification
- First Aid Certification
Languages
English
Timeline
LCDC III/Primary Therapist
Hope Valley Recovery
02.2025 - Current
CDCA/Primary Therapist/Case Manager
Maryhaven
11.2023 - 02.2025
Ongoing Caseworker
Fairfield County Protective Services
12.2021 - 07.2023
Real Estate Agent
Red One Realty
03.2021 - Current
Executive Director
Grace Haven
06.2015 - 06.2016
Owner/Massage Therapist/Personal Fitness Trainer/Health Coach
Monarch Wellness
01.2008 - Current
Community Health & Social Science - Associate of Arts in Social Science & Bachelors of Science in Technical Applied Science
Ohio University
Human Services/Chemical Dependency Counseling Track - Associate of Arts degree
Central Ohio Technical College
Physical Fitness Trainer - Certified
International Sports Sciences Association
Real Estate - License
Hondros College
Abuse and Trauma Mentor - Certificate
Compassionate Care International now International Institute of Abuse Counseling
Mental Health Studies/Clinical Mental Health - Master of Art
Liberty University
Chemical Dependency Counseling Assist and License Chemical Dependency Counselor III - Certification and License
The Institute For Addictions And Criminal Justice Studies
Massage Therapy - Licensed
American Institute of Alternative Medicine
Certificate in Surgical Technology and Military Readiness - Surgical Technology
United State Air University
Certificate in Business - Business Science
American Commercial College
Military Service
Branch: United States Air Force Service Country: United States Rank: E4 May 2001 to May 2005
Volunteer Experience
Founder of Hope Over Dope, Lubbock, TX. Previous mentor at Fairfield County jail, leading a Living Free recovery group. Previously involved in serving on the Prayer Team, Children's Ministry, and Greeting services at C3 Church; Previously involved with a women's Drug/Alcohol Residential Housing in Chillicothe and Waverly, Ohio. Previously, outreach coordinator for Faith Missions, Rahab's Hide-Away, and local outreaches for C3 Church. Previously involved and a member of Central Ohio Rescue and Restore Coalition/Salvation Army in Columbus, OH; Previously involved with C.A.T.C.H court in Columbus, OH, working with survivors of Human Trafficking.
Additional Information
Computer Skills Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher, Video Editor, Photoshop, 70 WPM, 7500 KPH, Social Media.