Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Interests
Timeline
Generic

James Priester

Lakewood,OH

Summary

Dynamic mental health professional with over 20 years of experience, including impactful work at Euclid Guidance Associates. Skilled in EMDR and behavioral strategies, I foster trust and collaboration with clients and families, enhancing treatment outcomes. Known for a friendly demeanor and strong listening skills, I empower clients to achieve long-term wellness.

Dynamic individual with hands-on experience in mental health and behavioral strategies and talent for navigating challenges. Brings strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to new tasks. Known for adaptability, creativity, and a results-oriented mindset. Committed to making meaningful contributions and advancing organizational goals.

Equipped with strong problem-solving abilities, a willingness to learn, and excellent communication skills. Poised to contribute to team success and achieve positive results. Ready to tackle new challenges and advance organizational objectives with dedication and enthusiasm.

For the last three years, I have been looking for something to pursue to fulfill a desire to still contribute to the world I've found that contributing remains personally high, and the contributions and rewards, although challenging, do hold a high degree of value.

Overview

29
29
years of professional experience

Work History

Private Practice

Brook Wolfe & Associates
10.2004 - 08.2014
  • Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
  • Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
  • Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
  • Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
  • Utilized EMDR more thoroughly with continued training/education. Focused largely on panic disorder, Post-Traumatic Disorder and some Dissociative Disorders.

* Working with children ages 8 to 14 started with an

approach to include parental involvement to

address concerns/issues/behaviors that added to

child acting-out. Divorce and acting-out with

parents were often noted, trigger child's behavior

as a way of acting-out and calling for help. Often

other signs of "trying to help" were evaluated as

well,

* Transferred learning from EMDR to adults and

applied with children,

* Some aspects of ADHD were ruled out and

collaboration with school psychology approved

helpful,

* Integrative treatment sought more thoroughly with

child psychiatry,

* Home visits proved helpful n observing family

order and interaction, such as "splitting" within

dynamics of family activities,

* Behavioral strategies were used within Family

Therapy to augment and secure changes,


Private Practice Therapist

Euclid Guidance Associates/Humanistic Counseling
09.1993 - 08.2004
  • Enhanced the overall reputation of the practice by delivering exceptional client care and adhering to ethical guidelines set forth by professional organizations.
  • Increased referral rates by establishing strong relationships with local physicians, schools, and support groups.
  • Empowered clients by teaching self-help strategies that promoted long-term mental health wellness outside of therapy sessions.
  • Established rapport with clients, fostering an environment of trust and open communication to facilitate effective therapy sessions.
  • Increased client retention rates by consistently evaluating progress and adjusting treatment plans as needed.
  • Utilized assessment tools to accurately identify underlying issues contributing to client distress or dysfunction.
  • Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to ensure comprehensive treatment plans, addressing clients'' physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing.
  • Streamlined billing processes for increased efficiency, leading to faster payments from insurance providers.
  • Offered flexible appointment options to accommodate clients'' schedules, improving accessibility to therapeutic services.
  • Pursued additional education, such as Phd, Sexual Therapy Training/Treatment, EMDR and behavioral modalities to enhance skills and abilities
  • EMDR Training pursued as percentage of patients benefited rapidly with EMDR, behavioral strategies and paradoxical intervention,
  • Became certified in EMDR treatment,
  • Began to offer in-school visits with East Cleveland Schools,
  • Behavioral strategies developed for parents and teachers
  • Such visits were limited to 2 or 3 children per week,
  • Parent visitations were also scheduled and made part of treatment plan
  • Monitored progress and reflected children behaviors improved relative to intervention and parental involvement,

Adminstrator Social Work and Mental Health

Ashtabula County Medical Center
07.1991 - 09.1993
  • Handled sensitive information discreetly, maintaining strict confidentiality at all times as required by company policy or legal regulations.
  • Maintained personnel records and updated internal databases to support document management.
  • Organized workflow and delegated tasks effectively to ensure timely project completion without compromising quality.
  • Managed office inventory levels, ensuring adequate supplies were available while minimizing waste and unnecessary spending.
  • Established an organized filing system that streamlined document retrieval and reduced misplaced files.
  • Reduced overhead costs through careful budget management and resource allocation.
  • Oversaw maintenance of office equipment, minimizing downtime due to malfunctions or repairs.
  • Improved team productivity with introduction of shared online calendar for tracking deadlines and appointments.
  • Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to help employees achieve success.

Medical Social Worker, Outreach and Rehabilitation

Euclid General Hospital
07.1985 - 06.1991
  • Completed psychosocial evaluations and needs assessments.
  • Connected patients with community resources, ensuring access to essential services such as housing, healthcare, and financial assistance.
  • Offered crisis intervention services to address urgent concerns related to mental health, substance abuse, or domestic violence issues.
  • Developed cultural competence through ongoing professional development opportunities, providing culturally sensitive services to diverse patient populations.
  • Maintained detailed documentation of client progress, adhering to strict confidentiality guidelines in compliance with HIPAA regulations.
  • Coordinated individualized discharge plans to manage safe transition back into community and home environments.
  • Explained medical care options to help families make informed healthcare decisions.
  • Helped clients develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to drive behavior modification.
  • Organized clinical documentation, treatment plans, and referrals.
  • Enhanced interdisciplinary team collaboration for optimal patient care through regular case conferences and communication.
  • Supported ethical decision-making processes among healthcare teams by providing guidance on complex cases involving end-of-life care or medical ethics dilemmas.
  • Promoted effective communication between patients, families, and medical staff through skilled mediation techniques during challenging conversations.
  • Provided ongoing counseling to help patients deal with conditions and processes
  • Streamlined patient intake procedures, reducing wait times for accessing social work services.
  • Increased patient satisfaction by providing emotional support and counseling to patients and their families.
  • Assessed risk factors of patients and made referrals for further services.
  • Managed caseload to satisfy multiple patients with diverse needs.

Education

Sex Therapy

University Hospitals - Sexual Therapy
University Circle, Triangle Building, Cleveland
06-1993

Ph.D. - Counseling Psychology

Union Institute
Cincinnati, Ohio
05-1992

Master's in Social Work

Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio
05-1982

Social Work And Undeclared Minor in Education

Kent State University, Kent, OH
Kent, Ohio
04-1978

Skills

  • Friendly, positive attitude,
  • Familiarity with substitute teaching during graduate school years Cleveland School Board impacted with a several month teacher's strike,
  • Listening skills highly tuned due to training and 20 years of practice
  • Behavioral strategies familiar and utilized extensively working with children
  • utilizing parent interaction as needed in future work
  • Emphasizing positive reinforcement with children, having worked with 8 year old
  • * Flexible and adaptable

  • Dependable and responsible, so very significant in private practice and with children

Languages

Spanish
Limited Working

Interests

Recently, I've found it odd that America is a country comprised of many nationalities, peoples, and languages; however, the later is not endorsed in our country I've decided to pursue Spanish, which has taken more work than expected So, for the interim, it is being self taught with plans to enroll at CSU after passing a level 1 exam Learning is a life-long endeavor - - - if we allow it Other interests are less scholarly

A few of those include para-gliding and downhill skiing which are both being left behind, something less impactful on one's bones In the last three years, time has been given to Lakewood Historical Society, which a school-program is being developed to first take to the nearest school, The Catholic Academy

Another endeavor being sought is Habitat for Humanity I was surprised to learn Cleveland's facility is the largest and successful

Besides reading, bicycling is another enjoyment

Timeline

Private Practice

Brook Wolfe & Associates
10.2004 - 08.2014

Private Practice Therapist

Euclid Guidance Associates/Humanistic Counseling
09.1993 - 08.2004

Adminstrator Social Work and Mental Health

Ashtabula County Medical Center
07.1991 - 09.1993

Medical Social Worker, Outreach and Rehabilitation

Euclid General Hospital
07.1985 - 06.1991

Sex Therapy

University Hospitals - Sexual Therapy

Ph.D. - Counseling Psychology

Union Institute

Master's in Social Work

Case Western Reserve University

Social Work And Undeclared Minor in Education

Kent State University, Kent, OH