Jill Marie Akuna
Kailua Kona,Hawaii
Summary
Licensed therapist with thorough training and experience in marriage and family therapy. Skilled in conflict resolution, communication improvement, and emotional support. Strong emphasis on collaboration and adaptable to changing needs. Reliable and result-driven, focusing on positive outcomes for clients.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Youth Counselor, Administration Assistant
Bobby Benson Center
08.1997 - 08.1999
- Adolescent residential substance addiction treatment facility. Worked 45 hours a week, $11.50 per hour. Supervisor Eva Hillman, Director. Duties include: assessments, group and individual counseling, case review staff meetings, taught life skills and chemical dependency classes, supervised outings to develop sober support and activities, transport clients to doctor appointments, airport, and court hearings. Maintained files through progress notes and written reprimand intended to identify and change problem behavior. Monitored clients in breaks and in crisis reporting both positive and negative behavior including follow up and documentation. Intake and orientation to both female and male clients. Completed treatment progress reports for funding sources.
- Provided crisis intervention support, ensuring safety and well-being of participants.
- Monitored behavioral patterns, documenting observations for case management purposes.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Hooulu Counseling
07.2023 - Current
- Provided individual and couples therapy sessions to diverse client populations.
- Mentored junior therapists and interns, fostering professional development within the team.
- Rendered mental health and counseling services to Individuals and coupled clients, focusing on development of healthy relationships.
- Improved client outcomes by employing evidence-based therapeutic techniques in individual and group sessions.
- Developed personalized treatment plans based on client assessments and therapeutic goals.
- Utilized evidence-based practices to enhance client coping skills and emotional resilience.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate comprehensive care for clients.
- Continually updated professional knowledge by attending relevant workshops, conferences, and trainings in the field of marriage and family therapy.
Supervisor Pre-trial Services
Hawaii Intake Service Center
07.2015 - 12.2019
- Pretrial interviewing, risk assessment and bail studies for District, Circuit and Family courts. Supervision as ordered by courts for felony, misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor and violators and referrals made for treatment for substance abuse and mental health treatment and case management, Assisting defendants in navigating the legal system and to ensure the defendants appear in court and comply with court orders. Worked closely with Jail Diversion program (SPMI) and clients. Working supervisor.
- Kelcie Makaike, Branch Manager (808)933-8831
Behavioral Health Specialist IV
Department of Education, Central District, Mililani High School
07.2004 - 06.2015
- Student support for IDEA, 504, and Special education students. Develop behavioral support plans, goals and objectives for IEP’s, consult with school staff members, administer BASC-2, interpret results and integrate into individual education plan. Monitor student progress in the classroom through observation and in class assistance. Individual and groups to teach specific skills needed to succeed in school.
- Chaylinn Park, Clinical Psychologist (808)351-1871
Substance Abuse Treatment Counselor
CHAMP Methadone Clinic
04.2004 - 01.2014
- Provide treatment services for CHOW clientele. Treatment planning for detox or maintenance of methadone clients. Counseling, casemanagement, crisis intervention, documentation.
- Eddie Dunn, Program Director (808)426-4515
Substance Abuse Treatment Counselor
State of Hawaii, Dept. of Public Safety
09.1999 - 07.2004
- 9-21-99 to 9-19-00 Day Reporting Center, Oahu Community Correctional Center at Laumaka Work Furlough. Provided direct substance abuse counseling services for incarcerated males with a sentence of one year or less. Services performed to include: treatment planning, individual and group counseling, job referrals and vocational training, chemical education classes, monitoring of progress towards treatment goals through documentation, discharge planning, and crisis intervention. Facility duties included program hearings, weekly staff meetings, and written reports to identify and communicate inappropriate behavioral issues to inmate and staff members.
- 9-00 to 12-00 Crossroads at Waiawa Correctional Facility. Four to six month residential treatment program for male parole violators who have previously completed long term treatment. Duties performed: treatment planning, individual and group counseling, vocational training, chemical education classes, monitoring of progress towards treatment goals through documentation, discharge planning, and crisis intervention. Facility duties included program hearings, weekly staff meetings, and written reports to identify and communicate inappropriate behavioral issues to inmate and staff members, written reports to Hawaii Paroling Authority for recommendations regarding parole.
- 12-2000 to 12/2006 Women’s BRIDGE Program at the Women’s Correctional Facility. I was sent to the Women’s Facility to develop and implement a gender specific federal funded treatment program for dual diagnosis female offenders nearing parole. Duties included: research to determine needs of dual-Diagnosed female offenders, establish relationship with outside resources for referrals, set treatment schedule to fulfill grant requirements, facility restrictions, and female offenders’ needs. Develop process for thorough dependent on policies and procedures of WCCC and the Department of Public Safety, screening process, eligibility criteria and process, create program consents to include Criminal Justice and standard CFR forms. Maintained statistics on participants for data collection and prepared reports analyzing results in comparison of goals set in proposal for the Attorney General’s Office. Provided direct services through intense case management, individual counseling, group counseling, chemical education, coordinated services for vocational training, Psychological services, and family therapy. Supervised clerk typist and all daily operations coordinating with the facility security and warden. Maintained working files and treatment files. Reported progress to Hawaii Paroling Authority for parole or to the Warden to recommend extended furlough to help manage over population of women’s facility. Fulfilled clerk typist duties and Social Worker IV duties in their absence. Facility duties also included program hearings, weekly staff meetings, and written reports to identify and communicate inappropriate behavioral issues to inmate and staff members. Daily analysis to improve program function, program outcomes, and coordinated changes with security and facility personnel. Assessments to determine individual needs for treatment plan and discharge plan. 40-50 hours worked per week, Wages $2348 per month
- Tom Pule, Supervisor (40 hour week), Starting wages $2,886 pr month
- Jeffrey Morgan-Hermes, Supervisor (40 hour week)
- Bonnie Cordeiro, SASO, Supervisor (12-00 to 7-02), Richard Robinson Acting SASO (7-02 to4-03), Milton Kotsubo Acting SASO ( 4-03 to 12-03)
- Supervisors were not located at facility.
Therapeutic Aide, I Ka Pono Program
Child and Family Services
12.1997 - 07.1998
- Wages $14.85 per hour, (808) 681-1488, Bernie Kubo,Supervisor 20-25 hours a week providing services to at risk youth. Duties included assessing youth for strengths and weakness, developing a treatment plan, and implementing services based on that plan. Attended IEP meetings with Department of Education staff regarding working together toward the same goals. Activities used for intervention were intended to keep youth involved in his community in a positive way. Communication with parents to coordinate and transport youth for services. At risk youth included dual diagnosis individuals (Bi-polar disorder, ADHD, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome).
Education
Masters program - Marriage and Family Therapy
Argosy University
Honolulu, HI01.2005
Bachelors Degree - Psychology & Anthropology
UH West Oahu
Certificate of Completion - Substance Abuse Counseling
Leeward Community College
Associates of Arts Degree - Human Services
Leeward Community College
Pearl City, HI01.1997
Skills
- Individual therapy
- Couples therapy
- Treatment planning
- Evidence-based practices
- Crisis intervention
- Professional mentoring
- Emotional resilience training
- Self-care strategies
- Tactful communication
- Individual counseling
- Rapport building
- Parent and caregiver rapport
- Substance abuse prevention
- Suicide prevention
- Goal setting assistance
- Stress management techniques
- Emotional support
Certification
- CSAC - Certified Substance Abuse Counselor-1999
Timeline
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Hooulu Counseling
07.2023 - Current
Supervisor Pre-trial Services
Hawaii Intake Service Center
07.2015 - 12.2019
Behavioral Health Specialist IV
Department of Education, Central District, Mililani High School
07.2004 - 06.2015
Substance Abuse Treatment Counselor
CHAMP Methadone Clinic
04.2004 - 01.2014
Substance Abuse Treatment Counselor
State of Hawaii, Dept. of Public Safety
09.1999 - 07.2004
Therapeutic Aide, I Ka Pono Program
Child and Family Services
12.1997 - 07.1998
Youth Counselor, Administration Assistant
Bobby Benson Center
08.1997 - 08.1999
Certificate of Completion - Substance Abuse Counseling
Leeward Community College
Masters program - Marriage and Family Therapy
Argosy University
Bachelors Degree - Psychology & Anthropology
UH West Oahu
Associates of Arts Degree - Human Services
Leeward Community College