Kendra A. Vargas, LCPC, PMH-C
Oak Park,IL
Summary
Private Practice Owner, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Certified Perinatal Mental Health Specialist, Supervisor, and Consultant with 10+ years of clinical experience in hospital, outpatient, and private practice settings. Extensive experience with the perinatal mental health population including individual and group therapies. Compassionately committed to working with diverse client populations, with expertise in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Private Practice Owner & Psychotherapist
Authentically You Psychotherapy, PLLC
10.2022 - Current
- Provides individual and group counseling services for adults
- Conducts trainings for counselors, social workers, and psychologists.
- Supervises therapists to enhance their clinical skills.
- Offers consultation services for therapists looking to add groups and/or grow their private practice.
- Creates and employs marketing strategies to advertise and produce successful referral processes.
Psychotherapist/Supervisor
Affiliates In Counseling
03.2019 - 10.2022
- Provided direct clinical services including individual, family, and group psychotherapy in a group practice setting.
- Supervised Master's level graduate students, first year clinicians, and clinicians working towards full licensure.
- Participated in group and individual supervision.
- Attended biweekly Diversity Committee meetings to ensure that diversity and inclusion are relating to practice mission, values, and objectives.
Clinical Therapist
North Shore Family Services
02.2017 - 03.2019
- Provided individual, child, adolescent, and family therapy services in a group practice setting.
- Coordinated care by initiating and participating in consultation with external providers involved in care, including inpatient and partial hospital staff, psychiatrists, school social workers/teachers.
- Attended Individualized Educational Plan and 504 meetings to advocate for clients' needs.
- Assisted children, teens, and adults with anxiety, depression, learning/executive-functioning difficulties, behavioral, and relationship struggles.
- Participated in weekly individual supervision, group team meetings, and case consultations.
- Wrote monthly blogs to address parenting questions and concerns to empower their children and teens to cope with a variety of social, behavioral, academic, and emotional challenges.
Therapist
Amita Health, Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health
12.2014 - 01.2017
- Conducted weekly, individual, family, and group therapy sessions to a variety of clients with various mental health disorders utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Therapy, and Person-Centered approaches.
- Provided brief screenings and offer referrals for children ages 4-17 for ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, and Bipolar Disorders for families.
- Managed a full caseload of clients through comprehensive mental health assessments, treatment planning, coordinating care, and completing all required paperwork in a timely manner.
- Facilitated a quarterly eight-week psychoeducational Teen Introduction to DBT group for adolescents ages 13-17 teaching DBT, eight-week Impulse Control Group for 1st-5th graders, and ongoing assistance with facilitating PHP groups.
Behavioral Health Intern
Presence Health, St. Elizabeth Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic
07.2013 - 06.2014
- Provided individual, group, couples, and family therapy to a diverse load of clients dealing with a wide range of mental health disorders, chronic mental illness, and substance abuse disorders in an outpatient setting.
- Collaborated with a team of Social Workers, Clinical Therapists, Psychiatrists and Clerical Staff on an interdisciplinary care team.
- Efficient in Electronic Medical Records (EPIC) through ongoing training. Completed mental health assessments, treatment planning, individual and group Medicaid, court reports, along with all other necessary paperwork in a timely and efficient manner.
- Created and co-facilitated a weekly Young Adults Group.
Education
Master of Arts - Counseling Psychology
THE CHICAGO SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Chicago06.2014
Bachelor of Arts -
COLUMBIA COLLEGE OF CHICAGO
Chicago06.2004
Skills
- Certified Perinatal Mental Health Professional through Postpartum Support International
- Building and developing a successful private practice
- Mental Health Evaluations
- Provides training for therapists in perinatal mental health and facilitating groups
- Works well independently and in team settings
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Proficient in MS office programs and Electronic Health Records software
- Competent in utilizing ACT, CBT, DBT, solution focused, and strength-based therapies
Accomplishments
- Ongoing mentorship through the HEAR Scholarship Foundation.
- Provided trainings for the HEAR Scholarship Foundation, North Shore University Health System, Chicago Minds, and TGOC, LLC.
- Advised a Master's level student from the Counseling Psychology program including academic guidance, career advice, and professional development.
- Created a fertility journal for people utilizing Assisted Reproductive Technologies sold on Amazon and Etsy.
Timeline
Private Practice Owner & Psychotherapist
Authentically You Psychotherapy, PLLC
10.2022 - Current
Psychotherapist/Supervisor
Affiliates In Counseling
03.2019 - 10.2022
Clinical Therapist
North Shore Family Services
02.2017 - 03.2019
Therapist
Amita Health, Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health
12.2014 - 01.2017
Behavioral Health Intern
Presence Health, St. Elizabeth Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic
07.2013 - 06.2014
Master of Arts - Counseling Psychology
THE CHICAGO SCHOOL OF PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Bachelor of Arts -
COLUMBIA COLLEGE OF CHICAGO
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