Jacqueline Kapanakis
Cranston,RI
Summary
Compassionate recovery specialist with experience in client intake and recovery planning within recovery centers. Skilled in crisis intervention and group facilitation, delivering emotional support and guidance to clients. Fostered trust through active listening and empathetic communication, linking clients to essential resources. Collaborated with treatment teams to ensure comprehensive care and uphold ethical standards in peer support.
Overview
1
1
Certification
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Intern for peer specialist
East bay recovery
Warren, RI
06.2026 - Current
- Supported client intake and recovery center paperwork at East Bay Recovery.
- Documented client information in confidential records systems.
- Prepared materials for counseling sessions and group meetings.
- Observed treatment processes and followed confidentiality guidelines.
- Assisted with event planning, support and execution of virtual and in-person engagements.
- Maintained positive working relationship with fellow staff and management.
- Identified needs of customers promptly and efficiently.
- Implemented strategies to take advantage of new opportunities.
- Organized client meetings to provide project updates.
- Determined consumer needs to provide products and services appealing to larger market.
- Supported clients through recovery planning at East Bay Recovery.
- Shared lived experience to encourage hope during peer support meetings.
- Led one-on-one check-ins to discuss coping skills and recovery goals.
- Connected clients with housing, treatment, and community recovery resources.
- Communicated client needs to counselors and treatment team members.
- Modeled healthy boundaries and respectful behavior in recovery settings.
- Assisted with group sessions focused on relapse prevention and wellness.
- Provided emotional support to help clients cope with difficult emotions such as depression or anxiety.
- Supported clients in developing independent living skills such as budgeting, meal planning, medication management.
- Encouraged client engagement in recreational activities that promote physical activity and socialization.
- Conducted outreach activities to connect with potential clients in the local area.
- Educated clients on their rights under HIPAA regulations and other relevant laws.
- Facilitated group discussions regarding recovery topics such as relapse prevention, self-esteem, coping skills, and symptom management.
- Established trusting relationships with clients through active listening and empathetic responses.
- Created referrals for additional services such as psychiatric evaluation or substance abuse counseling.
- Provided individualized support to individuals with mental illness, including crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques.
- Collaborated with community partners to coordinate services for clients in need of housing or employment assistance.
- Assisted clients in navigating the mental health system and identifying available resources.
- Participated in weekly team meetings to discuss caseloads and program updates.
- Adhered to ethical standards outlined by professional organizations such as the National Association of Peer Specialists.
- Attended continuing education trainings related to peer specialist best practices.
- Participated in class meetings and study sessions to enhance learning.
- Assisted teachers with class instruction and activities.
- Met with clients to understand individual needs and develop personalized counseling plans.
- Counseled clients physical, mental factors impacting personal success.
- Encouraged development of relevant skills to help overcome specific concerns.
- Responded to crisis situations when severe mental health and behavioral issues arose.
- Referred individuals to outside resources and services for additional support.
- Collaborated to set goals and outline steps to achieve objectives.
Salon Owner/Operator
Self-employeed
Providence, Rhode Island
06.1996 - 03.2022
- Directed daily operations for self-employed salon business and client service standards.
- Managed appointment scheduling, walk-ins, and stylist calendars for efficient booking flow.
- Consulted with clients on haircare goals, services, and style selections.
- Supervised salon staff, assigned tasks, and coached service techniques.
- Provided excellent customer service to ensure repeat business from satisfied clients.
- Promoted independent salon services through client outreach and local marketing efforts.
- Developed service packages for customers seeking a variety of treatments.
- Promoted special offers through social media platforms to attract new customers.
- Drove impeccable customer service and inspired team members to cultivate loyal business relationships with clientele.
- Managed staff by recruiting, training and coaching employees.
- Recruited, hired, evaluated and disciplined service staff members.
- Organized and scheduled appointments for clients using software systems.
- Assessed inventory needs for hair care products, cosmetics. on an ongoing basis.
- Controlled product inventory, reordered supplies, and tracked retail stock levels.
- Monitored inventory of supplies, managed budget and requisitioned supplies, equipment, and services.
- Ordered supplies and equipment needed for daily operations.
- Maintained salon finances, including budgeting, payroll and bookkeeping.
- Processed payments, balanced cash drawers, and maintained accurate transaction records.
- Enforced sanitation procedures, tool cleaning, and workplace safety practices.
- Ensured that all safety protocols were followed in the salon at all times.
- Conducted regular meetings with staff members to discuss performance goals.
- Reviewed employee timecards on a weekly basis ensuring accuracy of hours worked.
- Inspected workstations regularly to ensure they are clean and organized.
- Inspected work areas and operating equipment and confirmed cleanliness and maintenance.
- Collaborated with other managers and supervisors and kept informed of changes affecting service operations.
- Analyzed and recorded personnel and operational data and wrote activity reports.
- Monitored competition in order to stay ahead of industry trends.
- Investigated new trends in beauty industry services to stay current with offerings available at the salon.
- Analyzed financial reports on a monthly basis to identify areas of improvement in the business.
- Supervised operations and planned work schedules for personal attendants, hairdressers and caddies.
- Resolved customer complaints regarding worker performance or services rendered.
- Understood operations of each service area, helped during busy times and stayed current with work processes.
- Performed administrative duties such as filing paperwork and responding to emails.
- Adhered to state laws and regulations regarding licensure, sanitation standards.
- Monitored competition in order to stay ahead of industry trends.
Education
Central Regional High School
Bayville, NjSkills
- Recovery strategy
- Crisis management
- Group leadership
- Confidential documentation
Certification
- HIV and tobacco addiction June 19, 2025
- The parent guide for parents July 2025
- DCYF strategic planning August 28, 2026
- Recovery capital training six weeks April 30, 2026 Ri Cares
- Motivational interviewing and stages of change
- , May 7, 2026
- Advocacy training May 19, 2026C4
- De-escalating training and safety care June 2, 2026protrax
- Dancing in the gray and ethics, February 16, 2026
- Professional development training for CPRS June 4, 2026Pro trax
- Three hour ethics training September 17, 2026 codac
- Two day training at the ACI Womens prison to be able to teach AA meetings October 5 ,6
About Jacquie
- Before I decided to come into this career, I own my own salon and spa on the east side of Providence for 20 years and I also taught hair color all around the world for some major manufacturers.I have volunteered for the tomorrow fund at Hasbro Hospital. I volunteered for Saint Jude. I’ve done a lot of fundraisers for both of them. When I was educating, I would be in front of 500 to 1000 people at a time on stage or as little as 10 people in a salon. I have taught CCD I have coached soccer, lacrosse. I’m very excited to start a new career.
Timeline
Intern for peer specialist
East bay recovery
06.2026 - Current
Salon Owner/Operator
Self-employeed
06.1996 - 03.2022
Central Regional High School