Lara Montoya
Burlingame,CA
Summary
Over 10 years working with elementary, middle school, and high school youth and families in school-based, community, and agency settings helping youth manage and work through challenges such as anxiety, ADHD, trauma, depression, divorce, and parent-child relationships. Approaches work with cultural humility and a passion for providing services to underserved and marginalized populations. Engages clients by utilizing client-centered, solution-focused, and strength-based interventions through play, humor, and art.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Mental Health/Wellness Counselor
San Mateo Union High School District
03.2018 - Current
- Serve and support the most marginalized students and families of the district through counseling, consultation, mental health assessments, treatment and case management
- Work closely with the counseling and administrative team to promote a positive school climate through professional development training in trauma-informed care
- Presentations for classroom and school-wide assemblies, parent resource evenings, staff professional development
- Awarded employee of the month in November, 2022 in recognition of outreach and community building success.
Clinician
Edgewood Center for Children and Families
09.2016 - 03.2018
- Provided individual and family therapy for children who are separated from their parents and who are under the care of relatives
- Provided therapy for youth and families referred by Child Protective Services
- Completed assessments, treatment planning and charting for billing requirements
- Serviced families throughout the San Mateo County at Edgewood offices, at their homes and various other community locations
- Awarded employee of the month in October, 2017.
School Safety Advocate & Clinician
YMCA of San Francisco
08.2015 - 08.2016
- On-campus crisis intervention and assessment, case management, individual and group therapy, conflict resolution/mediation and mental health counseling for at-risk adolescents at middle schools in the South San Francisco Unified School District and San Mateo-Foster City School District
- Provided psychotherapy for youth, families and adults
- Provided individual and group probation diversion counseling for first-time youth offenders at the agency’s clinic
- Facilitated Victim Impact Awareness program funded by the San Mateo County Probation Department
Marriage Family Therapist Trainee
Youth Services Bureau
08.2014 - 08.2015
- Provided school-based, individual and group counseling for elementary students
- Provided psychotherapy at the agency’s clinic for at-risk youth, couples and individuals of varying ages
- Addressed issues such academic stress, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, self-esteem, impulse control/anger management, emotional regulation, family and peer conflict.
Education
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor -
Notre Dame De Namur University
Belmont, CA05.2016
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies -
Notre Dame De Namur University
Belmont, CA12.2012
Skills
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Trauma-Informed Practices
- Individual and Group Therapy
Certification
- Behavioral Board of Science Clinical Supervisor, June 2023
- Palo Alto University Forensic and Correctional Psychology, June 2014
Affiliations
- American Psychological Association, Member
- Northern California Society for Psychoanalytic Psychology, Member
- Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology, Member
- California Marriage and Family Therapist, Member
Npi
NPI #1952855678
Programskills
- CIRCE
- Medi-Cal billing
- CANS assessment
- Aeries
- CANVAS
- HealthMaster
License
LMFT #124095
Volunteer Experience
- Our Lady of Angels School of Religion, September 2012 - present, Religious Education Teacher
- Our Lady of Angels Church Mental Health Ministry, January 2017 – December 2017, Member and Advisor
- Our Lady of Angels Church Grief Counseling Group, January 2017 – December 2017, Group Co-facilitator
- San Mateo Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, January 2015 – December 2016, Commissioner
- Women’s Recovery Center, June 2014 – August 2014, Receptionist & Group Co-facilitator
Timeline
Mental Health/Wellness Counselor
San Mateo Union High School District
03.2018 - Current
Clinician
Edgewood Center for Children and Families
09.2016 - 03.2018
School Safety Advocate & Clinician
YMCA of San Francisco
08.2015 - 08.2016
Marriage Family Therapist Trainee
Youth Services Bureau
08.2014 - 08.2015
Master of Science in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor -
Notre Dame De Namur University
Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies -
Notre Dame De Namur University
- Behavioral Board of Science Clinical Supervisor, June 2023
- Palo Alto University Forensic and Correctional Psychology, June 2014
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