Imani T. Wagstaff
Rochester,NY
Summary
Compassionate Marriage and Family Therapist skilled in providing effective, efficient therapeutic support. Excel at managing time to prioritize client care, documentation, and case management. Specialize in conflict resolution, cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques, and developing personalized treatment plans. Strong in communication, empathy, and active listening skills, ensuring successful navigation of complex family dynamics and fostering meaningful change. Experienced and specialized training in conflict resolution, couple and family counseling, as well as child psychotherapy. Strengths include in-depth understanding of attachment theory, systemic therapy principles, and therapeutic communication skills. Previous work has led to improved communication within families, resolution of marital conflicts, and enhanced mental health for children and teens.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)/Clinician I
Hillside family of Agencies
Rochester, NY
04.2024 - Current
- Demonstrate ability to diagnose and treat children/youth and families
- Provide individual and group therapy, including structured and process groups, within a variety of settings, based on group/client needs and Clinician credentials depending on level of experience, provide clinical consultation and training to staff
- Act as the primary contact for the service plan with the ability to expertly and succinctly communicate at all levels both verbally and in writing
Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
Sankofa Family Counseling
Rochester, NY
05.2018 - Current
- Administer psychoeducation to individuals, families, and couples who have specific goals and are seeking change in their life
- Provide pre-material, relationship, children and family, and separation and divorce counseling
- Contribute psychotherapy to assess, diagnose and treat mental illness and psychological distress within the context of the marriage and family systems
Other Licensed Practitioner (OLP)
Hillside family of Agencies
Rochester, NY
07.2021 - 05.2022
- Contribute Community Psychiatric Support and Treatment (CPST), to maintain child in the home and community by helping to improve communication and interactions with family, friends, and others
- Provide Individual, group, and family therapy in the home or in the community
- Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR)-helping youth acquire or relearn skills to help support them in the home, school and community
- Deliver community base service options for children and youth with behavioral health needs
Community Base Treatment Provider II (CBTP)
05.2018 - 07.2021
- Recognized and differentiated children/youth/families’ behaviors, participated within designated treatment teams to develop service and behavior management plans, and, as appropriate based on skills and experience, executes such plans aimed at assisting children/youth/families to achieve their personal goals and objectives
- Supported, guided, mentored, coached and reinforced the child in successful functioning in the home or community
- Provided psycho-education and training to family/caregiver to address issues
- Administered planned short-term relief for family/caregivers, through direct care of the child, in order to support the family/caregivers in their capacity to nurture the child
- Proactively maintained current knowledge of the children/youth/families emotional/behavior status, assesses the effectiveness of service plans, and supports children/youth/families’ interactions with family and local community
- Generated reports on progress on goals and partners with the Care Coordinator
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Specialist
Hillside Family of Agencies
Rochester, NY
06.2009 - 09.2019
Waiver Service Provider II & III
08.2017 - 05.2018
- Taught non-specific job readiness skills including: time management, task completion, problem solving and appropriate work behavior
- Provided life skills and social skills training for children/youth/families
- Created detailed service plans for day habitation and supported employment for youth that are searching for employment
- Performed a wide variety of support task including transportation (as required)
- Delivered Crisis Avoidance Management Training, Immediate Crisis Response Services, and Intensive In-Home Support
Skill Builder I Part-Time
Pathways Inc.
Rochester, NY
05.2016 - 08.2017
- Addressed the treatment and care of youth in the community living with their families in need of life social skills, as well as teaching, monitoring and directing the youth and families with the best implementation of goals within their skill set
- Developed goals and treatment plans as part of multi-disciplinary team and ensures that objectives are met by youth and families
Skill Builder (PT)
Hillside family of Agencies
Rochester, NY
04.2014 - 05.2016
- Contacted and maintained relationships with care givers while being available by phone
- To be aware of day-to-day well-being emotional/behavioral status of each adolescent and family served
- Assessed the effectiveness of service plans and communicates changing needs or goals of each client to the team
Residential Supervisor
Hillside family of Agencies
Rochester, NY
08.2014 - 10.2015
- Responsible for the overall quality and care of youth in a therapeutic treatment setting
- Supervised, trained and assisted residential support staff and assistant supervisors with implementation of goals
- Communicated critical and specific information with the medical team, psych doctors, behavioral specialists, service coordinators, families, and administration
- Ensured compliance with state regulations and certifications in line with OCFS, OPWDD, OMH, JJS and the Justice Center
- Maintained accurate and complete documentation as directed with governing bodies
- Responsible for hiring, training, terminations, and performance evaluations
- Ensured that individual accounts and allowance funds of clients were secure and financial policy was adhered to
- Provided direct oversight to manage crisis situations and behavioral risk management including on call system 24 hrs
- A day
Youth Leader-Teacher
New Life Fellowship Church
Rochester, NY
01.2000 - 01.2015
Youth Care Professional 3 (Bausch)
01.2012 - 08.2014
- Worked as a part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide direct supervision to children and adolescents in a residential treatment facility
- Role includes providing supervision, role modeling, advocacy, thorough documentation, as well as maintaining the safety of the milieu
- Collaborated with various teams to form effective treatment plans based on individual needs and critical thinking
- Determined appropriate, attainable and measurable goals for clients in the facility
- Report monthly goals and achievements of the youth as well as any significant changes in the child’s behaviors and or day to day interactions
Education
Limited Permit - Marriage and Family Therapy
Sankofa Family Counseling
06.2025
Limited Permit - Clinical I
Hillside Family of Agencies
06.2024
MA - Marriage and Family Therapy
Medaille College
Buffalo, NY12.2020
BA - Human Services and Family Studies
Empire State College
Rochester, NY05.2017
AS - Human Services and Family Studies
Empire State College
Rochester, NY05.2015
Skills
- Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
- Team building
- Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Families
- Compliance
- Conflict Resolution
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Leadership
- Communication
- Training
- Interpersonal Skills
- Crisis Management
- Stress management techniques
- Adolescent Counseling
- Clinical Documentation
- Treatment Planning
- Behavioral therapy techniques
- Couples Counseling
Organizations
PSYCHOLOGY TODAY Verified
Volunteer Experience
- Hillside Family of Agencies, Rochester, NY, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Specialist, 06/01/09 - Present
- New Life Fellowship Church, Rochester, NY, Youth Leader-Teacher, 01/01/00 - 12/31/15
Timeline
Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)/Clinician I
Hillside family of Agencies
04.2024 - Current
Other Licensed Practitioner (OLP)
Hillside family of Agencies
07.2021 - 05.2022
Community Base Treatment Provider II (CBTP)
05.2018 - 07.2021
Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)
Sankofa Family Counseling
05.2018 - Current
Waiver Service Provider II & III
08.2017 - 05.2018
Skill Builder I Part-Time
Pathways Inc.
05.2016 - 08.2017
Residential Supervisor
Hillside family of Agencies
08.2014 - 10.2015
Skill Builder (PT)
Hillside family of Agencies
04.2014 - 05.2016
Youth Care Professional 3 (Bausch)
01.2012 - 08.2014
Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Specialist
Hillside Family of Agencies
06.2009 - 09.2019
Youth Leader-Teacher
New Life Fellowship Church
01.2000 - 01.2015
Limited Permit - Marriage and Family Therapy
Sankofa Family Counseling
Limited Permit - Clinical I
Hillside Family of Agencies
MA - Marriage and Family Therapy
Medaille College
BA - Human Services and Family Studies
Empire State College
AS - Human Services and Family Studies
Empire State College
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