Erika Sands
Palm Coast,FL
Summary
Dynamically inspired new Clinician with gained experiences in micro, mezzo, and macro settings, demonstrated during tenure at Children’s Home Society of Florida. Skilled in crisis intervention and motivational interviewing, excelling in building rapport and delivering impactful treatment plans has been essential. Achieved significant advancements in client engagement and therapy outcomes through CBT techniques, person-centered techniques, play therapy, and solution-focused techniques.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Clinical Counseling Intern
Children’s Home Society of Florida
05.2024 - 11.2024
- Conducting intakes and biopsychosocial assessments; diagnosing; facilitating support groups; creating treatment plans; MRT telehealth; face-to-face counseling and telehealth counseling
- Facilitated psychoeducational groups on topics such as stress management, coping skills, and emotional regulation.
- Promoted family involvement in the therapeutic process through facilitating family therapy sessions or providing psychoeducation on mental health issues affecting their loved ones.
- Conducted thorough intake assessments to gather relevant information for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Contributed to a positive therapeutic environment by establishing rapport with clients and maintaining professional boundaries.
- Managed caseload effectively by prioritizing tasks based on urgency while maintaining required documentation standards.
- Maintained detailed case notes, documenting client progress and ensuring adherence to ethical guidelines and HIPAA regulations.
- Engaged clients in goal-setting activities that fostered personal growth and promoted self-efficacy.
- Increased awareness of available mental health resources by conducting presentations at local schools or community events.
- Supported clients in crisis situations, utilizing de-escalation techniques and coordinating appropriate interventions.
- Assisted in the development of treatment plans, setting attainable goals tailored to each client''s specific needs.
- Provided psychotherapy incorporating cognitive-behavioral, client-centered and play-therapy to treat wide range of psychological problems in patients.
- Utilized trauma-informed care principles when working with clients who had experienced significant adverse life events, fostering a safe and supportive environment for healing.
- Implemented motivational interviewing techniques to support clients'' readiness for change and facilitate their commitment to treatment goals.
Expanded Learning Coordinator
Children’s Home Society
02.2023 - 09.2023
- Coordinate and oversee the collaborative process for Community Partnership Schools related to extended learning and enrichment programs; facilitate meetings with community partners with programming under the scope of extended learning and enrichment programs; develop new programs to introduce to Webster Elementary; Coordinate evaluation processes, including surveys of students, parent, and staff; maintain program statistics and prepare reports; recruit and coordinate volunteers to assist in after school programming; maintain sign-in logs and participant files with all required paperwork; coordinate academic, cultural and recreational programming; maintain accurate distribution and accounting of the feeding/snack program; and develop and maintain partnerships with community based organizations, school staff and other collaborators
- Implemented a mentorship program that paired experienced employees with new hires to foster collaboration and knowledge transfer.
- Conducted thorough evaluations of training effectiveness through surveys, feedback sessions, and performance metrics analysis.
- Managed relationships with external training vendors, ensuring cost-effective solutions for continued professional development opportunities.
- Implemented a recognition program to acknowledge employees who demonstrated exceptional commitment to their professional development and growth within the organization.
- Designed course materials and supported implementation.
- Created curricula, research topics and conceptualized course format, subject matter and presentation.
- Collaborated with administrators to determine course objectives.
Clinical Counseling Intern
Children’s Home Society of Florida
08.2022 - 02.2023
- Conducting intakes sessions for Therapists, evaluating Child Behavior Checklists and Parental Stress Scales; observing family group support and post-adoption meetings; attending Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education classes; and observing therapy sessions
- Facilitated psychoeducational groups on topics such as stress management, coping skills, and emotional regulation.
- Promoted family involvement in the therapeutic process through facilitating family therapy sessions or providing psychoeducation on mental health issues affecting their loved ones.
Part Time Victim Advocate
Women’s Center of Jacksonville
01.2022 - 02.2023
- Responsible for providing crisis intervention, response to forensic exams, advocacy, emotional support, support groups, and case coordination to sexual assault and sex trafficking survivors, and their loved ones, at any stage of their recovery process, as well as effectively communicate with law enforcement, community agencies, and diverse populations
- Served as a liaison between crime victims and relevant legal professionals, ensuring clear communication and understanding of the victim''s needs throughout the process.
- Supported victims, family members and witnesses through law enforcement, healthcare and social services.
- Enhanced community awareness of available resources by organizing outreach events and presentations on victim advocacy programs.
- Offered guidance on navigating complex systems by providing information about available resources and assisting with paperwork completion when necessary.
- Improved victim support services by establishing a strong rapport and providing emotional assistance to crime victims.
- Developed safety plans to meet victims' assessment of need.
Student Clinical Rotations
UF Health/St. Vincent’s Riverside/St. Vincent’s
01.2019 - 05.2019
- Performed patient assessments, respiratory care equipment changes, chest physical therapy, Flutter Valve/Acapella treatments, MDI/DPI treatments, oxygen therapy, and small volume nebulizer therapy
Student Clinical Rotations
St. Vincent’s/UF Health
09.2018 - 12.2018
- Performed patient assessments, respiratory care equipment changes, and Incentive Spirometry education
Group Exercise Instructor
YMCA of East Tennessee
01.2003 - 12.2014
- Responsible for providing motivation to individuals with all types of different personalities and fitness levels to assist them in achieving their personal fitness/lifestyle goals; staying current with newest fitness information; staying current with all required certifications, as well as additional training; creating and teaching choreography for both large and small classes for many different class formats
- Enhanced participant satisfaction by tailoring exercise routines to suit individual needs and preferences.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge on fitness trends and industry advancements by attending workshops, conferences, and webinars.
- Interacted with individual participants in group fitness settings to cultivate and maintain positive relationships.
- Collaborated with fellow instructors to design new, innovative fitness programs for diverse clientele.
- Developed lasting relationships with participants, resulting in a loyal following of clients who frequently attended classes.
Human Resources/Administrative Assistant
Harmony Family Center
03.2012 - 06.2013
- Responsible for managing all insurance policies for the agency; managing employee benefits; creating and maintaining systems for all areas of Administration Department; working directly with the CAO scheduling, drafting policies, maintaining current licensing requirements, gathering, and providing required documentation for State contract renewals
- Provided ongoing administrative support to the HR department by managing schedules, coordinating meetings, preparing documentation, and maintaining organized filing systems.
- Organized successful company events that promoted team building and boosted morale among staff members.
- Served as a reliable point of contact for employee inquiries on various topics including benefits, leave policies, and workplace issues.
- Efficiently delivered personnel information to management for speedy corrective action.
Legal Assistant
Allen E. Schwartz & Associates
01.2002 - 01.2012
Education
Master of Social Work -
Walden University
11.2024
Bachelor of Science -
Florida State College At Jacksonville
01.2021
Associate in Arts -
Florida State College At Jacksonville
01.2019
Respiratory Care -
Florida State College At Jacksonville
01.2019
Skills
- Planning and Organization
- Treatment Planning
- Building rapport
- Crisis Intervention
- One-on-one sessions
- Motivational Interviewing
- CBT Techniques
- Referral Coordination
Community Service
- Coach, Girls on the Run Northeast Florida, 2023
- Member of Planning/Implementation Team, Webster Elementary, 2023
- Member, Code Enforcement Committee, Stonefield HOA, 2020
- Director, Stonefield Board of Directors, HOA, 2015-2016
- Head Coach, Girls on the Run Greater Knoxville, 2013-2014
- Volunteer, YMCA Strong Communities, 2003-2013
- Volunteer, St. Mary’s Convalescent Center, 1995-2002
- Advisory Support, B’nai B’rith Youth Organization Girl’s Chapter, 2002-2005
- Sigma Kappa, Alpha Delta
Timeline
Clinical Counseling Intern
Children’s Home Society of Florida
05.2024 - 11.2024
Expanded Learning Coordinator
Children’s Home Society
02.2023 - 09.2023
Clinical Counseling Intern
Children’s Home Society of Florida
08.2022 - 02.2023
Part Time Victim Advocate
Women’s Center of Jacksonville
01.2022 - 02.2023
Student Clinical Rotations
UF Health/St. Vincent’s Riverside/St. Vincent’s
01.2019 - 05.2019
Student Clinical Rotations
St. Vincent’s/UF Health
09.2018 - 12.2018
Human Resources/Administrative Assistant
Harmony Family Center
03.2012 - 06.2013
Group Exercise Instructor
YMCA of East Tennessee
01.2003 - 12.2014
Legal Assistant
Allen E. Schwartz & Associates
01.2002 - 01.2012
Master of Social Work -
Walden University
Bachelor of Science -
Florida State College At Jacksonville
Associate in Arts -
Florida State College At Jacksonville
Respiratory Care -
Florida State College At Jacksonville
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