Lernin Avigail Santos
Winter Haven
Summary
Experienced Group Therapist with 9 years in geriatric and youth mental health services, specializing in crisis intervention and group therapy. Expertise includes psychosocial assessments, crisis de-escalation, care coordination, and telehealth integration. Proven success in supervising clinical teams, implementing safety protocols, and standardizing documentation to enhance care continuity and patient engagement through evidence-based interventions.
Overview
1
1
Language
1
1
Certification
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Group Facilitator
Charlie Health
Remote
04.2026 - Current
- Organized and led group sessions to encourage active participation and meaningful discussions among attendees.
- Assessed client requirements and developed targeted therapeutic activities to promote individual growth and recovery.
- Conducted analysis of participant feedback to refine facilitation strategies and strengthen overall session impact.
- Developed and delivered workshops aimed at equipping participants with effective coping strategies and improving their interpersonal skills.
- Implemented structured group therapy interventions for adolescents and adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) focusing on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure and response prevention (ERP).
- Guided participants through exposure exercises and response prevention techniques in a safe, supportive therapeutic environment.
- Conducted assessments of participant engagement, emotional regulation, and symptom severity throughout each session to inform treatment strategies.
- Developed individualized exposure hierarchies and collaborated with participants to establish treatment goals.
- Monitored participants for safety concerns, risk factors, and symptom escalation, communicating clinically significant observations to the treatment team.
- Documented clinical interactions meticulously, encompassing group notes, engagement summaries, and progress assessments to enhance patient care quality.
- Fostered a supportive group environment that promoted peer feedback, accountability, and mutual encouragement.
Social Worker Supervisor
InnovaCare Health
USA
05.2023 - Current
- Implemented suicidal ideation screening protocols for geriatric patients and ensured immediate safety planning for high-risk cases.
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to manage geriatric mental health and reduced risk through safety plans and lethal means restriction.
- Supervised a clinical team delivering geriatric group therapy to increase patient engagement with measurable results.
- Coordinated with physicians and interdisciplinary staff to implement geriatric group therapy protocols that improved patient outcomes.
- Assessed and addressed psychosocial barriers in seniors via group interventions that improved care participation.
- Connected older adults to housing, transportation, and financial aid while integrating community resources to reduce service gaps.
- Coached social workers on crisis de-escalation and documentation best practices to enhance team confidence and improve case resolution.
- Implemented standardized documentation templates to reduce care coordination time and improve care transitions.
- Led interdepartmental case review meetings to address complex care gaps and expedite care plan development.
- Conducted targeted group therapy for hospice and end-of-life needs to improve support for patients and families.
- Designed a scalable group-therapy roadmap for geriatric populations to standardize interventions and maintain quality across sites.
- Standardized behavioral health screening and documentation across clinics to improve data clarity and expedite care decisions.
- Piloted a telehealth group program for homebound seniors incorporating virtual check-ins and caregiver coaching to maintain engagement.
- Identified patients with suicidal ideation and implemented protocol for timely risk mitigation and referral.
Social Worker
Dedicated Senior Medical Center
USA
10.2020 - 04.2023
- Led group therapy sessions for geriatric patients with suicidal ideation and implemented protocols to improve engagement and crisis coping skills.
- Conducted comprehensive needs assessments and arranged medical, social, and community services to close service gaps.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to create individualized care plans addressing medical, behavioral, and community supports.
- Coordinated case management for elderly and complex patients to improve care continuity and measurable outcomes.
- Evaluated cases to identify service gaps and implemented targeted referrals, enhancing resource access for patients.
- Developed patient-centered discharge education materials that facilitated treatment adherence and supported smoother home care transitions.
- Created caregiver-support pathway linking families to structured education and community partners, improving home care adherence and patient stability.
Case Manager – Youth Services
New London Youth Affairs
USA
11.2019 - 07.2020
- Advocated for youth and families in crisis, securing community resources and improving service engagement.
- Coordinated referrals to mental health, housing, education, and legal services to increase access to multi-agency supports.
- Designed individualized service plans integrating community resources to improve youth stability and progress toward independence.
- Maintained accurate case records and tracked outcome indicators to inform interventions and demonstrate client progress.
- Assessed client needs through structured interviews and risk screening, prioritizing interventions that produced noticeable improvements in safety and functioning.
- Delivered education sessions on drugs, alcohol, and vaping to enhance community awareness and mitigate risk behaviors.
- Led youth group sessions on substance use prevention, producing measurable behavior improvements.
- Managed case workflows and follow-ups to sustain engagement, ensuring continuity of care and facilitating steady progress on client goals.
Academic Assistant/ Social Work Intern
Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication
USA
08.2017 - 07.2020
- Identified students with suicidal ideation and followed protocols to connect youth to appropriate mental health resources promptly.
- Facilitated small-group sessions on identity, sexual identification, body awareness, and safe relationships to support social-emotional development.
- Liaised with teachers, counselors, and families to align support strategies and improve consistency of interventions and progress monitoring.
- Assisted teachers with tailored instruction and classroom management to maintain consistent learning environments and student outcomes.
- Delivered one-on-one coaching during transitions to reduce disruptions and preserve instructional time while boosting student confidence.
- Identified students with suicidal ideation and connected them to mental health resources by following established protocols, ensuring timely support.
- Coordinated small-group interventions targeting foundational skills to accelerate mastery and promote independent routines.
- Designed multi-sensory lesson segments aligned to standards, increasing student engagement and clarity of understanding.
- Delivered targeted coaching during classroom transitions and lessons to minimize disruptions, maintaining lesson continuity and supporting academic momentum.
- Coordinated transition plans with staff and families to streamline routines and reduce student anxiety, enhancing instructional time.
- Introduced hands-on sensory stations tied to IEP goals to reinforce skills through practice and increase student engagement.
- Delivered targeted coaching during classroom transitions and lessons to minimize disruptions, maintaining lesson continuity and supporting academic progress.
Education
Master of Social Work - Social Work
Ana G. Méndez University
Online12-2025
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work - Social Work
Brandman University
Online12-2020
Skills
- Psychosocial evaluation
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Anxiety treatment
- Crisis Intervention
- Suicide Risk Assessment
- Safety Planning
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Behavioral intervention
- Mindfulness interventions
- Emotional regulation
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- DBT skills
- Safety planning
- Psychoeducation
- Psychosocial evaluations
- Relapse Prevention
Certification
- Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern (RCSWI) – State of Florida- License number: SW23306
- CPR/ AED/ First Aid Certified- ID#: 72931791
- CNP - Certified Notary Public
LANGUAGES
English (Highly proficient), Spanish (Native).
COURSES
- SOCIAL WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES - AGMU - May 2024 – Aug 2024
- HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR - AGMU - May 2024 – Aug 2024
- DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE - AGMU - Jan 2025 – May 2025
- INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION - Brandman University - Aug 2018 – Sep 2018
- SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE GROUP SETTING - Brandman University - Jan 2019 – Mar 2019
- YOUTH AT RISK - Brandman University - Mar 2019 – May 2019
INTERNSHIPS
- SOCIAL WORK INTERN - Isaac Middle School - Jan 2019 – May 2020 - New London, Connecticut
- Developed and implemented a psychoeducational group program on resilience and healthy relationships for at-risk teens, increasing participant engagement by 20%
- Conducted psychoeducational and support groups for children and adolescents dealing with behavioral issues, utilizing trauma-informed care and CBT to improve emotional regulation
- Conducted comprehensive risk assessments for youth exhibiting suicidal ideation, evaluating intent, access to means, and protective factors to determine appropriate intervention levels.
- Collaborated with youth and families to develop individualized, evidence-based safety plans, identifying triggers and coping mechanisms instead of utilizing no-harm contracts.
- Provided immediate crisis intervention and stabilization for adolescents experiencing acute suicidal ideation, utilizing therapeutic rapport to de-escalate high-risk situations.
- Maintained detailed documentation of suicidal ideation assessments, including direct quotes, risk levels, and immediate action steps, ensuring compliance with safety protocols.
- Coordinated with clinical teams, schools, and families to increase protective factors and support systems for youth struggling with suicidal thoughts.
Timeline
Group Facilitator
Charlie Health
04.2026 - Current
Social Worker Supervisor
InnovaCare Health
05.2023 - Current
Social Worker
Dedicated Senior Medical Center
10.2020 - 04.2023
Case Manager – Youth Services
New London Youth Affairs
11.2019 - 07.2020
Academic Assistant/ Social Work Intern
Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication
08.2017 - 07.2020
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work - Social Work
Brandman University
Master of Social Work - Social Work
Ana G. Méndez University