Heather Gisler M.S. LMFT #129694
Ventura,CA
Summary
Accomplished ERSES-Behavioral Health Clinician III at Ventura County Behavioral Health, adept in critical thinking and problem-solving, with extensive experience in therapeutic services and cultural awareness. Excelled in delivering comprehensive mental health services, achieving significant improvements in client well-being, while functioning well both independently and as a team. Demonstrated exceptional verbal communication and collaboration skills, enhancing student and family support systems.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
ERSES- Behavioral Health Clinician III
Ventura County Behavioral Health
02.2022 - Current
- Provide assessment and intervention, on-going therapeutic services and outside referrals to students and families for mental health services.
- Serve students identified by the IEP team for Educational Related Mental Health Services.
- Collaborated with IEP teams in determining appropriate services, supports and placement to address the mental health needs of eligible students.
- Increased access to other behavioral health services based on the identified needs and collaborative efforts for wrap around services.
- Delivered psychoeducation to clients, families, and school team personnel and community members on various mental health topics to increase awareness and understanding.
- Advocated for client within the larger system to ensure client’s educational and therapeutic needs are being met.
- Provided crisis intervention services, effectively deescalating situations and connecting individuals with appropriate resources.
- Collaborates with referral services, parents, teachers, administrators, law enforcement, and student assistance team members to identify and manage student crisis situations.
- Provides advisement on emotional, social, behavioral, mental health issues.
- Consults and participates with student assistance team to evaluate at-risk students.
- Conducts interviews, observations, and mental health health assessments with students, guardians, medical personnel and school psychologists, case managers and teachers
- Consult and cooperate with special education personnel and participate in department meetings.
- Complete all documentation in a timely manner, per both legal and ethical standards.
- Conduct comprehensive assessments and make recommendations for educationally related mental health services.
- Make recommendations to IEP teams for educationally related mental health counseling services.
- Provide clinical consultation and support to schools as necessary.
- Provide individual and group therapeutic services, meeting all IEP requirements.
- Provide collaborative social work service per IEP related requirements to families, community supports, various providers and the school based IEP team.
- Perform any other related duties as assigned.
- Worked independently providing clinical and social work services for a full time case load, while meeting both IEP requirements minutes and the needs of my clients, their school based teams and the families.
Director, Childcare Programs
Children's Haven After School Program And Camp
05.2006 - 06.2021
- Manage all aspects of becoming a Licensed Childcare provider as well as managing all state mandated requirements keeping the program in good, legal standing
- Focused staff on developing innovative and cutting-edge approaches at all levels with effective resource allocation and strategic planning.
- Built and Managed a program with the focus on the importance of healthy social and emotional development
- Managed care with appropriate responses to positive and negative behaviors with the knowledge of what is developmentally expected
- Educated care givers and parents when necessary and suitable in the areas of emotional development, child development, behavioral interventions, and shared community resources for children and families with specific needs, etc..
- Lead parent to program meetings to discuss areas of concern and possible solutions
- Directed staff and managed all activities, both on and off site
- Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
- Developed, implemented and managed a multi-age, multi-classroom childcare program inline with the developmental needs of school age children, as well as the specific requirements of working parents.
- Delegated assignments based on plans, project needs and knowledge of individual team members.
- Analyzed business needs while soliciting parent/guardian feedback for program improvements.
- Supervised childcare workers and oversaw facility to meet state requirements for education and training.
- Maintained childcare center schedule in alignment with parent needs.
- Developed and implemented programs for center-based childcare services.
- Earned Director qualifications to expand skills and gain better understanding of childcare field.
- Monitored students' progress and provided students and teachers with assistance in resolving problems.
- Developed teacher hiring and training program to inspire teachers and maintain performance levels.
- Recruited, interviewed, selected and retained quality administrators, teachers and support staff.
- Performed conflict resolution between student body, parents, teachers, and administration.
- Led parent-teacher conferences to develop behavioral goals for students.
- Supported teacher in development of individual learning strategies.
- Collaborated with students, teachers, administrators, parents and outside agencies.
- Developed advertising tactics and implemented new solutions for increased company awareness.
- Managed and Maintained all financial responsibilities required to run a non-profit program.
- Actively collected fees and maintained up to date financial spreadsheets and invoices
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Community First Counseling Center
01.2006 - 01.2011
- Maintained accurate and thoroughly documented notes and client records in accordance with licensing standards.
- Delivered counseling services to individuals, families and couples dealing with all problematic areas of life requiring therapeutic interventions under appropriate supervision.
- Countered problematic behavior with healthy alternatives to enhance mental, emotional and physical wellness and increase energy.
- Conducted intake and needs assessments to set therapeutic goals and establish professional relationships with clients.
- Encouraged individuals and family members to develop and use skills and strategies for constructively confronting problems.
- Collaborated with social services, referral sources and other treatment professionals to meet patient care needs.
- Conducted intake and assessments to formulate treatment plan and manage client records.
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Jewish Family Services Of Ventura County
08.2007 - 06.2009
- Provided individual counseling services to students with various social, behavioral and familiar issues and partnered with the school to facilitate weekly support groups.
- Led treatment groups and therapeutic activities to teach functional social skills and address behavioral issues to children in Elementary, Middle and High School with in the Ventura and Oxnard area.
- Communicated closely with school counselors and teachers to devise programs and activities based on developmental and academic levels.
- Used cognitive behavior therapy to assist clients in recognizing and redirecting poor habits, as well as to teach new, underdeveloped social skills, often times to individuals diagnosed with or meeting the criteria for ADHD and Spectrum Disorder.
- Identified risk and resiliency factors within individual youth, peer group, family, school and community and developed strategies for intervention
- Assessed student issues pertaining to depression, anxiety and physical abuse to resolve conflicts between students, peers and teachers.
- Performed family sessions to provide psychoeducational insight into individual developmentally appropriate norms with regard to physical, emotional and mental growth
- Participated in group supervision to manage caseload and in order to provide the highest standard of ethical and legal care possible
- Conducted intake and needs assessments to set therapeutic goals and establish professional relationships with clients.
Director of Intake Services
Salvation Army Drug And Alcohol Program
01.2004 - 05.2007
- Worked with clinical and operations teams to facilitate client placement and obtain appropriate services for clients.
- Worked with community programs, as well as the community at large, to coordinate the intake and care of those needed placement.
- Collected, verified, recorded and processed client demographics and referral information.
- Answered phone calls and provided new clients with required paperwork to initiate service.
- Registered and verified patient records before triage with most up-to-date information.
- Organized and maintained patient chart filing system to promote quick data finding for staff.
- Managed office records: call logs, medication logs, running client list, community communications log, etc...
- Facilitated organized record retrieval and access by maintaining filing system for both in-house and discharged residents.
- Developed goal-oriented psychoeducational and activity therapy groups to improve clients' level of functioning.
- Led supportive group discussions and education sessions with alcohol and drug users and families.
- Provided comprehensive case management services, created treatment plans and connected clients and families to appropriate resources.
Education
Master of Science - Counseling, Marriage And Family Therapy
California State University - Northridge
Northridge, CA12.2005
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, Ca05.2003
Skills
- Years of experience working with children, families and community members both therapeutically and professionally
- Wonderful Verbal and Written Communication
- Therapeutic and Social Emotional Assessments
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Detail-Oriented
- Independent and self driven person who works well as a part of a team
- Determine and complete Therapeutic Plans
- Cultural awareness
- Training & Development
- Conflict resolution
- Student engagement
- Group and individual therapeutic services
- Ability to define and achieve therapeutic goals
- Psychoeducate cliental, families and school based teams
Certification
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, #129694
Timeline
ERSES- Behavioral Health Clinician III
Ventura County Behavioral Health
02.2022 - Current
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Jewish Family Services Of Ventura County
08.2007 - 06.2009
Director, Childcare Programs
Children's Haven After School Program And Camp
05.2006 - 06.2021
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Community First Counseling Center
01.2006 - 01.2011
Director of Intake Services
Salvation Army Drug And Alcohol Program
01.2004 - 05.2007
Master of Science - Counseling, Marriage And Family Therapy
California State University - Northridge
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology
California State University-Northridge
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