Karla Akemann
Chicago,IL
Summary
Highly empathetic and knowledgeable Counselor with over twenty years of experience working as a Counselor in a variety of settings. I am also very creative and resourceful. I have proven results in assisting individuals with disabilities with improving their mental health and increasing their independence in the community.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Case Aide
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Kenmore Residential
Chicago, IL
12.2025 - 03.2026
- Facilitated Recreation Daily Recreation groups where residents played charades, Pictionary, watched movies and sang karaoke to participate in social interactions without using substances.
- Wrote daily group notes in my evolve
- Completed intakes for new clients entering the program
- Monitored clients overnight and spoke to them if they had any concerns.
- Provided clients with toiletries, detergent and shower soap when requested.
- Completed required trainings.
- Facilitated other groups as needed.
- Transported clients to Methadone Clinic or to the hospital or to their new place of residence.
- Worked overnight shift when short staffed.
- Completed discharge paperwork for clients who decided to leave the program early.
- Filled out grocery lists for the clients so supplies were available to them each week.
- Monitored smoke breaks between 3-5 times per day and passed out cigarettes to each client.
- Collaborated with other staff members to ensure that operations on the unit ran smoothly.
Case Manager Community Support Team
Lutheran Social Services of IL Portage Cragin Counseling Center
Chicago, IL
04.2025 - 11.2025
- Assisted Clients in transporting them to their medical appointments.
- Assisted Clients with grocery shopping.
- Completed Case Notes in Care Logic and My Evolv
- Collaborated with other team members using a weekly rotating case load.
- Attended Weekly Team Meetings on Monday Mornings.
- Completed weekly updates and sent them to the supervisor.
- Assisted Clients with Activities of daily Living
- Provided guidance on how clients could complete tasks more efficiently.
- Assisted clients by signing up for LIHEAP and other payment plans.
- Took clients to the movies and out to eat to get more involved in the community to improve their mental health.
- Completed 40 hours of domestic violence training.
- Completed Mental Health First Aide Certification.
- Completed quarterly training set forth by LSSI
- Assisted clients with interview prep and locating job leads.
Substance Use Counselor First Episode Psychosis Program
Lutheran Social Services of IL Portage Cragin Counseling Center
Chicago, IL
05.2024 - 04.2025
- Collaborated with team to generate interest in the program.
- Contacted prospective candidates and discussed the program with them.
- Collaborated with team and prospective patients to get them to sign up for the program.
- Attended weekly team and supervision meetings.
- Completed Outreach activities on a monthly basis at schools, libraries, hospitals, counseling centers and immediate care units to get people to sign up for the program.
- Completed required trainings.
Counselor
Comprehensive Treatment Center
Lebanon, PA
05.2023 - 12.2023
- Provided individual counseling to individuals with Opioid Use Disorders
- Facilitated Monthly Counseling groups over the phone on relapse prevention, stress management, dealing with Triggers, Spirituality and Anger Management.
- Wrote treatment plans with input from Patients
- Wrote Case Notes after each session.
- Attended weekly clinical meetings.
- Attended Weekly Med Team Meetings.
- Completed DDAP trainings such as addiction treatment, ASAM and Case Management.
- Attended weekly supervision sessions with clinical supervisor.
Behavioral Health Technician
White Deer Run
Lancaster, PA
03.2023 - 04.2023
- Checked on clients once on hour while they are sleeping
- Talked with clients if they have trouble sleeping
- Handed out supplies to clients
- Maintained up to date medical files
- Wrote shift reports
- Completed required trainings
- Searched belongings of any new client coming into the facility for treatment.
Enrollment Broker
PAIEB project
02.2023 - 03.2023
- Completed three weeks of virtual training regarding HCBS waivers
- Spent four days in the field shadowing an enrollment Broker learning to do intake visit assessments
Direct Support Professional
Typical Life Corp
York, PA
11.2022 - 12.2022
- Assisted individuals with Autism and IDD with Activities of Daily Living
- Accompanied individuals with Autism and IDD on community outings
Job Coach/ Behavior Services Coordinator
J.T. Mummert Consulting LLC
Hanover, PA
08.2022 - 10.2022
- Assisted clients with resume writing
- Accompanied clients on job interviews
- Provided Clients with potential job leads
- Became Acre Certified
- Completed trainings for Functional Behavioural Assessment Assisted clients with meaningful Behavioural changes.
- Coached clients while they are working to help them maintain their jobs.
Community Integration Specialist/ Systematic Skills Builder
Family Behavioural Resources
Lancaster, PA
11.2021 - 07.2022
- Assisted Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder with A variety of goals ranging from exploring hobbies, activities of daily living, developing appropriate social skills and looking for competitive employment.
- Wrote Case notes Daily
- Participated in Monthly training Activities
- Transported Consumers to places in the community such as , bowling alley, athletic club, grocery store, and violin lessons to work on their goals.
- Attended Monthly group supervision sessions.
- Attended weekly check-ins with my supervisor.
- Conducted virtual sessions if a consumer had Covid.
Home Services Worker
Homestead Family Services
Lebanon, PA
08.2021 - 11.2021
- Assisted individuals in foster care and their families with obtaining employment.
- Assisted individuals in foster care and their families with accessing community supports.
- Transported Client to supervised visits appointments related to their goals.
- Met weekly with case managers from the Children and Youth Department.
- Supervised visits with clients and children in the home, community and or County Office.
- Taught parenting techniques to the parents to help them bond with their children during visits. Wrote Case Notes After each Visit
Paraprofessional/Café Proctor
SOS of Lancaster
Leola, PA
04.2019 - 10.2019
- Assisted students with reading, writing, math, social studies and music at Fritz Elementary School ina 5th and 6th grade life skills classroom
- Assisted students in developing study skills
- Monitored students at recess
- Assisted students in the cafeteria with opening up jars, snacks and beverages during lunch.
- Brownstown Elementary School
- Cleaned the tables in between lunch periods and at the end of lunch hour
- Participated in professional development courses
Driver/ Aide
Faithful Transport
Lancaster, PA
08.2017 - 01.2019
- Transported students with disabilities to and from school in a van
- Helped students get safely buckled in with appropriate belts, harnesses and buckles
- Kept students safe while the van was in motion
Driver
Justice Works Youth Care
Reading, PA
04.2017 - 07.2017
- Drove clients to and from visits to either their homes or foster homes in Berks, Dauphin, Lehigh and Lancaster Counties
- Established rapport with clients
- Input case notes into the system in Client Trax
Family Resource Specialist
Justice Works Youth Care
Reading, PA
03.2016 - 04.2017
- Conducted casework counselling sessions in homes of families whose children were in foster care.
- Established rapport efficiently with clients
- Conducted routine safety checks in the house and made sure that all electrical appliances were in goodworking order and made sure families had food in the house.
- Supervised visits parents had with their children in the home, office and the community
- Attended court hearings as needed
- Transported clients to medical appointments, supervised visits and to and from their foster homes.
- Input case notes into Client Trax on a weekly basis
- Took note of any behavioural changes children or parents exhibited while in the car
- Actively listened to clients while in the car
- Transported people to and from their appointments safely and efficiently
Peer Counselor
Abilities In Motion
Reading, PA
06.2014 - 06.2015
- Establish rapport with consumers on the phone and in person to assist them in being as independent as possible
- Advocated for accessibility in theatrical venues for people with disabilities
- Informed consumers of upcoming job readiness skills workshops via, mail, phone and Facebook
- Conducted job readiness skills workshops for consumers
- Prepared monthly workshop calendars using Microsoft publisher
- Facilitated consumer action group
- Wrote letters to law offices, state senators and representatives and local employers introducing Abilities in Motion and its services
- Networked with area business regarding services Abilities In Motion offers
Education
Master of Arts - Rehabilitation Counseling
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL05-2007
Bachelors of Science - Audiology and Speech Sciences
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN05-2004
Skills
- Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office applications including, Windows 7, MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Internet (12 years)
- Individual / Group Counselling
- Developmental Disabilities Experience
- Case Management
- Workforce Development
- Crisis Intervention
- Group Therapy
- Mental Health Counselling
- Behavioural Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Intake Experience
- Child & Family Counselling
- Motivational Interviewing
- Autism Experience
- Crisis Management
- Behavioural Health
- Behaviour Management
Certification
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor June 2007 to March 2027
Awards
Phi Beta Kappa Member April 2004
Timeline
Case Aide
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois Kenmore Residential
12.2025 - 03.2026
Case Manager Community Support Team
Lutheran Social Services of IL Portage Cragin Counseling Center
04.2025 - 11.2025
Substance Use Counselor First Episode Psychosis Program
Lutheran Social Services of IL Portage Cragin Counseling Center
05.2024 - 04.2025
Counselor
Comprehensive Treatment Center
05.2023 - 12.2023
Behavioral Health Technician
White Deer Run
03.2023 - 04.2023
Enrollment Broker
PAIEB project
02.2023 - 03.2023
Direct Support Professional
Typical Life Corp
11.2022 - 12.2022
Job Coach/ Behavior Services Coordinator
J.T. Mummert Consulting LLC
08.2022 - 10.2022
Community Integration Specialist/ Systematic Skills Builder
Family Behavioural Resources
11.2021 - 07.2022
Home Services Worker
Homestead Family Services
08.2021 - 11.2021
Paraprofessional/Café Proctor
SOS of Lancaster
04.2019 - 10.2019
Driver/ Aide
Faithful Transport
08.2017 - 01.2019
Driver
Justice Works Youth Care
04.2017 - 07.2017
Family Resource Specialist
Justice Works Youth Care
03.2016 - 04.2017
Peer Counselor
Abilities In Motion
06.2014 - 06.2015
Master of Arts - Rehabilitation Counseling
Northern Illinois University
Bachelors of Science - Audiology and Speech Sciences
Purdue University