Linda Flynn Lengal
Lexington,KY
Summary
Experienced Licensed Clinical Social Worker and critical care nurse with 25 years of experience in child/adolescent/adult substance abuse, mental health, trauma, and crisis intervention. Excellent reputation for clinical management, collaborative leadership, and improving therapeutic outcomes through implementating and evaluating policy effectiveness.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Counselor/Therapist
BetterHelp
Lexington, KY
11.2022 - Current
- Coached clients on how to manage emotions effectively while also teaching them how to recognize warning signs of distress before it becomes overwhelming.
- Implemented therapeutic techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness training., into practice.
- Conducted mental health assessments with clients in order to determine appropriate interventions.
Trauma Counselor
Refuge For Women
Lexington, KY
07.2020 - Current
- Working with victims of sexual abuse and trafficking to understand therapeutic needs relating to providing trauma therapy
- Delivering innovative therapeutic interventions related to client's recovery from trauma, substance abuse, codependency, and PTSD
Assistant Campaign Manager
Shirley Mitchell For Kentucky
Lexington, KY
01.2020 - Current
- Creating grassroots campaign initiatives mobilizing voters support
- Attending required meetings and training sessions on women's leadership in politics
- Utilizing social media advantageously for free and persuasive media
Operating Room Registered Nurse
University Of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
06.2019 - 12.2019
- Prepped operating rooms by utilizing Sterile technique and supervising staff to comply with environmental asepsis standards
- Verified patient information to make licensed staff aware of relevant health factors, including risks associated with substance abuse
- Performed ongoing assessments to evaluate neurological functioning
- Performed ongoing assessment of mental health needs, working with multidisciplinary team to develop, initiate, manage and modify individualized plans of care
- Offered exceptional care and support to individuals recovering from acute traumatic incidents
- Verified patient information to make licensed staff aware of relevant health factors
Registered Nurse, Progressive Care Unit
Trustaff Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
05.2018 - 02.2019
- Informed patients and families of effective treatment options and at-home care strategies, enhancing long-term outcomes
- Monitored patient condition, including interpreting and tracking EKG readings, identifying irregular telemetry readings and updating team members on changes in stability or acuity
- Provided detailed neurological assessments and monitoring for neurological changes
- Equipped patients with tools and knowledge needed for safety and sustained addiction recovery
- Communicated signs and symptoms of abuse and addiction to attending physicians, psychiatrist, case managers
- Collaborated with healthcare team regarding appropriate discharge referrals
Clinical Manager/Charge Nurse
Saint Joseph Hospital
Lexington, KY
05.2006 - 05.2018
- Managed 26 bed critical care unit while providing bedside care to patients with a variety of conditions including heart failure, post procedure care for cardiac ablation, pacemakers, open heart surgeries
- Additional care included alcohol and drug withdrawal, neurological monitoring, and administration of necessary medications
- Collaborated with neurologists, neurosurgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, electrophysiologists, and cardiologists
- Performed ongoing neurological assessments per the National Institute of Health
- Provided life saving stroke evaluation, implemented Code Stroke protocols, and assisted in Rapid Response interventions
- Assessed patient's with history of traumatic brain injury, stroke, seizures while monitoring for changes from baseline
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Bluegrass Driver School
Lexington, Kentucky
01.2002 - 05.2006
- Developed Functional Behavioral Assessment and provided group therapy to DUI clients with multiple convictions
- Identified previous trauma which contributed to addiction development and behaviors
- Formulated therapeutic group process interventions to address compulsive addictive behaviors
- Diagnosed each client utilizing DSM
- Utilized Prime for Life addiction education throughout the group therapy process
Addiction Prevention Specialist,Intake Coordinator
Bluegrass Mental Health
Lexington, KY
02.2002 - 01.2005
- Provided LCSW supervision to counselors pursuing independent licensure
- Presented substance abuse education to schools, health department, and other community programs such as DCBS
- Collaborated with community partners in alcohol/drug prevention, tobacco free public areas
- Provided education to teenage mothers concerning Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and Pediatric Head Abuse Trauma
Mental Health Utilization Reviewer
Mental Health Network
Lexington, KY
07.2000 - 02.2002
- Assessed clients symptomatology and recommended appropriate level of care
- Participated in concurrent reviews
- Communicated client’s treatment needs and progress to Psychiatrists for authorization and optimal care
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Cumberland River Comprehensive Care
Mount Vernon, KY
05.1997 - 07.2000
- Attended over 300 hours of meetings, conferences and training courses to advance professional knowledge of clinical social work
- Delivered comprehensive mental health and substance abuse therapeutic services to children, adolescents and adults
- Facilitated family therapy sessions between children, caregivers and siblings to remediate conflict and build healthy relationships
- Assessed clients for abuse and neglect and assisted in compiling documentation for family court custody determination
- Offered therapeutic services and crises assessment for suicidal/homicidal individuals. This included referral and admission to appropriate level of care
- Educated community partners on addiction assessment and developing signs/symptoms
- Completed PASRR evaluations and recommendations for SMI population
- Collaborated with psychiatrists, psychologists, social services, probation/parole officers, and school family resource coordinators
Education
Associate of Science - Nursing
Bluegrass Community And Technical College
Lexington, KY4 2006
Masters of Social Work -
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY4 1997
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY4 1993
Skills
- Intake coordination and utilization review involving clinical judgement concerning appropriate level of care
- Collaborating with community partners in relation to policy changes, implementation, and compliance
- Providing substance abuse education in school systems
- Providing substance abuse education to community partners
- Managing and leading professionals for clinical excellence and building cohesiveness among clinicians
- LCSW clinical supervision
- Trauma, complicated grief, and substance abuse assessments
- Trauma, grief, addiction, depression, divorce recovery
- Neuroscientific knowledge and intervention skills targeting rewiring the brain's maladaptive default settings
- Expressive therapeutic approaches such as art, music, narrative, and psychodynamic modalities
- Substance Abuse Counseling
- Mental Health Support
- Counseling
Accomplishments
Fall 2013 Nominated for prestigious nursing Daisy Award
Fall 2016 Contributed to Psychiatric Times publication concerning Mindfulness Meditation benefits for adolescents and young adults, in relation to prevention of depression throughout one's life cycle
Fall 2016 Public Relations Coordinator for Midwest Antiochian Orthodox Women's Organization
Certification
2000 Licensed Clinical Social Worker
2006 Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification
2007 National Institute of Health Stroke Certification
Timeline
Counselor/Therapist
BetterHelp
11.2022 - Current
Trauma Counselor
Refuge For Women
07.2020 - Current
Assistant Campaign Manager
Shirley Mitchell For Kentucky
01.2020 - Current
Operating Room Registered Nurse
University Of Kentucky
06.2019 - 12.2019
Registered Nurse, Progressive Care Unit
Trustaff Inc.
05.2018 - 02.2019
Clinical Manager/Charge Nurse
Saint Joseph Hospital
05.2006 - 05.2018
Addiction Prevention Specialist,Intake Coordinator
Bluegrass Mental Health
02.2002 - 01.2005
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Bluegrass Driver School
01.2002 - 05.2006
Mental Health Utilization Reviewer
Mental Health Network
07.2000 - 02.2002
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Cumberland River Comprehensive Care
05.1997 - 07.2000
2000 Licensed Clinical Social Worker
2006 Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certification
2007 National Institute of Health Stroke Certification
Associate of Science - Nursing
Bluegrass Community And Technical College
Masters of Social Work -
University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
University of Kentucky
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