NJ Department of Health – Ann Klein Forensic Center/Special Treatment Unit
03.2014 - Current
Provides individual and group therapy to individuals who have committed sexual offenses
Conducts psychoeducational sessions offering education, skill-building, and support for a range of issues including but not limited to self-regulation, relapse prevention, personal trauma, and relationship skills
Utilizes various assessment methods, including interviews, case histories, psychological tests, and observations, to identify underlying issues and determine appropriate therapeutic methods
Intervenes with emergency care techniques and protocols when clients are in crisis
Collaborates with multidisciplinary team, including other therapists and professional staff, to ensure a holistic and comprehensive approach to client care
Leads and coordinates training sessions and workshops to enhance the skills of fellow therapists and team members
Remains apprised of contemporary research and actively engages in ongoing professional development activities to stay up to date with industry best practices and standards.
Clinical Mental Health Counselor
IEP Youth Services INC
05.2021 - 04.2022
Conducted thorough assessments of adolescents' mental health, emotional well-being, and behavioral issues
Provided individual counseling sessions to adolescents using evidence-based therapeutic techniques
Collaborated with parents, guardians, and other family members to involve them in the therapeutic process and provide support
Coordinated with schools, social services, and other community resources to create a comprehensive support network for adolescents
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Intern
IEP Youth Services INC
09.2017 - 07.2018
Provided therapeutic support to juveniles with justice involvement, focusing on addressing sexually inappropriate behaviors through individual and group therapy
Completed risk assessments utilizing empirically validated instruments such as the Juvenile Risk Assessment Scale (JRAS) and the Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sex Offense Recidivism (ERASOR)
Offered educational resources and assistance for the parents of our clients
Collaborated with multidisciplinary agencies to ensure comprehensive care and effective case management
Contributed to the enhancement of programs through the creation of group curriculums addressing issues such as healthy masculinity and bullying.
Program Director
The Center for Vocational Rehabilitation
05.2013 - 02.2014
Led the development and implementation of mental health programs and services, aligning them with the needs of the community and organizational goals
Supervised, trained, and evaluated program staff, including clinicians, counselors, case managers, and administrative personnel
Established and oversaw quality assurance processes to ensure the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based mental health services
Built and maintained strong collaborative relationships with community partners, government agencies, and other stakeholders to enhance program effectiveness and outreach
Ensured that all mental health programs operated in compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and accreditation standards
Facilitated training sessions and workshops for staff to enhance their skills and knowledge in the field of mental health
Intake Coordinator – Behavioral Health Services
Easter Seals New Jersey
01.2011 - 08.2012
Conducted comprehensive assessments of individuals seeking residential services to determine their specific needs and eligibility
Collaborated with state agencies, county hospitals, community organizations, and other referral sources to receive and process client referrals
Managed the referral process, ensuring timely communication with referring entities, and coordinating the admission process for new residents
Provided recommendations for appropriate levels of supervision and support based on the individual needs identified during the intake assessment
Stayed informed about and adhering to state and federal regulations, including Medicaid and other funding sources, to ensure compliance with assessment requirements
Mental Health Clinician
Ocean County Jail
09.2011 - 02.2012
Conducted comprehensive intake assessments for new inmates, screening for psychiatric and substance abuse disorders, evaluating safety concerns, and identifying other emotional needs
Managed a caseload of inmates requiring weekly individual counseling services and provided ongoing support
Led a women's group that incorporated both process and didactic elements, focusing on addressing a range of issues including substance abuse, domestic violence, trauma, and relationship dynamics
Program Coordinator
Easter Seals New Jersey
06.2009 - 01.2011
Supervised a team of four site managers overseeing operations across ten residential sites, dedicated to delivering support and advocacy services for individuals with mental health challenges
Provided leadership in staff supervision, encompassing coaching and counseling, conducting performance evaluations, developing quarterly Accountability and Standards plans, overseeing performance improvement initiatives, implementing corrective action plans, and, when necessary, managing termination processes
Ensured adherence to care standards set by Easter Seals, Medicaid, and DMHS regulations by conducting routine inspections. Facilitated timely remediation of any identified discrepancies to maintain compliance
Collaborated with the management team to formulate annual budgets and actively monitored expenditures to ensure alignment with goals and targets
Participated in treatment planning and coordination of consumers’ services and provided support and advocacy for consumers in crisis
Recognized areas for improvement in new hire training, collaborated with management and various committees to redesign training procedures, and contributed to the development of new materials and presentations
Supervisor/Mental Health Screener
Jersey City Medical Center – Psychiatric Emergency Services
01.2007 - 05.2009
Responsible for working with management to conduct interviews for open positions and selection of new hires, provided new hire training, completed quarterly performance evaluations, provided coaching and counseling to staff during supervision and as needed
Provided direct clinical services including on/off-site assessment and crisis stabilization and outreached individuals who were unable or unwilling to seek treatment
Completed biopsychosocial assessments and obtained collateral information from family, friends and referral sources; developed short term treatment planning, made referrals to services, and provided psychoeducation to both the patient and their family
Screened individuals who met the standard for psychiatric civil commitment including assessment of current level of functioning and potential for dangerousness
Maintained overall over organization of the unit including prioritizing all pending serve requests from other emergency rooms, in-house referrals and mobile outreach requests.
Supervisor/Quality Assurance Specialist
Advanced Behavioral Care, LLC
08.2004 - 01.2007
Collaborated with program director to develop, implement and oversee the daily operation of the adult psychiatric partial care program
Assisted with new client admissions including conducting referral interviews and intake assessments to determinate appropriate treatment modality
Designed and implemented a more intensive and in-depth training protocol for new staff
Supervised clinical staff in quality, accuracy and timeliness of documentation
Monitored aspects of resource allocation, service delivery and consumer efficacy within the agency including creating and implementing methods for measuring identified quality assurance issues; collected, processed and analyzed data and generated quarterly assessments
Primary Care Coordinator
Advanced Behavioral Care, LLC
11.2003 - 08.2004
Managed a diverse caseload of 12-15 adults with a range of mental health and substance use challenges , providing coordination and provision of needed services
Acted as liaison to all external service providers such as DYFS, probation/parole officers, attorneys, physicians, etc
Maintained client’s chart, adhering to agency/State/Medicaid timeframes and policies, tracking client’s progress and developing comprehensive treatment plans to address their needs
Facilitated therapeutic and didactic groups such as anger management, conflict resolution, symptom identification, social/relationship skills, etc.
Education
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ
08.2018
Master of Arts - Forensic Psychology
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY
01.2007
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
Monmouth University
West Long Branch, NJ
01.2003
Licensure & Certifications
NJ Licensed Professional Counselor (License No. 37PC00908000)
National Certified Counselor (NCC No. 1377949)
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (Certification No. 986568)
NJ Disaster Response and Crisis Counselor
Affiliations
American Counseling Association
International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors
Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse
New Jersey Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse
Association for Humanistic Counseling
International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling
Timeline
Clinical Mental Health Counselor
IEP Youth Services INC
05.2021 - 04.2022
Clinical Mental Health Counselor Intern
IEP Youth Services INC
09.2017 - 07.2018
Staff Clinical Psychologist III
NJ Department of Health – Ann Klein Forensic Center/Special Treatment Unit
03.2014 - Current
Program Director
The Center for Vocational Rehabilitation
05.2013 - 02.2014
Mental Health Clinician
Ocean County Jail
09.2011 - 02.2012
Intake Coordinator – Behavioral Health Services
Easter Seals New Jersey
01.2011 - 08.2012
Program Coordinator
Easter Seals New Jersey
06.2009 - 01.2011
Supervisor/Mental Health Screener
Jersey City Medical Center – Psychiatric Emergency Services
01.2007 - 05.2009
Supervisor/Quality Assurance Specialist
Advanced Behavioral Care, LLC
08.2004 - 01.2007
Primary Care Coordinator
Advanced Behavioral Care, LLC
11.2003 - 08.2004
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling