María Rodríguez Garófalo
Harlingen
Summary
Seasoned leader with 14 years in psychology and counseling, licensed as a mental health counselor in Florida, professional counselor in Texas, and psychologist in Puerto Rico. Supervised diverse teams, conducted assessments, and implemented mental health policies. Specialized in trauma-informed care and dialectical behavioral therapy, driving community development and enhancing patient resilience.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Licensed Professional Counselor
Elevate Medical Health Clinics
Dallas
2025.02 - Current
- Conduct telehealth mental health services for patients who have survived trauma.
- Conduct intake assessments and trauma-focused psychosocial evaluations for different populations.
- Diagnose trauma-related disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
- Provided trauma-informed individual therapy tailored to client needs.
- Monitor client progress, document clinical notes, and revise treatment plans per clinical guidelines.
- Deliver mental health services that are culturally responsive and client-centered.
- Conduct counseling sessions focused on stress and anxiety management, grounding techniques, emotional freedom techniques, and emotional regulation.
Licensed Professional Counselor
New Horizon Medical Center
Brownsville
2023.03 - 2025.01
- Conduct mental health services based on therapeutic modalities, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-Informed Care, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, to people from the community through individual, couple, and family therapy.
- Conducted assessments and therapy for juveniles and children, implementing behavioral interventions to promote emotional and psychological well-being.
- Interviewed patients, provided counseling services, and recommended tailored treatment plans to support individual mental health needs.
- Administers and interprets testing/assessment instruments, including PHQ-9 and GAD-7.
- Collaborated in developing and implementing mental health policies aligned with legal standards and institutional mission to enhance service delivery.
Mental Health Counselor
Cameron County
Olmito
2020.05 - 2023.03
- Perform suicide risk assessments, manage crises, and implement safety plans and emergency interventions.
- Administers and interprets psychological evaluations of inmates at risk of suicide or in need of specialized treatment services.
- Counseled inmates under seclusion or mental health classification.
- Delivered individual and crisis counseling addressing anger management, substance abuse, trauma, and reentry planning to enhance inmate support.
- Implemented general rehabilitation mental health services based on therapeutic modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma-informed care, and dialectical behavioral therapy.
- Develop individualized treatment plans with clear goals, interventions, and discharge criteria.
- Recommended court actions based on inmate assessment results to support judicial decision-making.
- Facilitated court processes for inmate admissions to State Hospital, ensuring timely access to rehabilitation services.
Clinician – Casa Padre and Casa Presidente
Southwest Key Programs
Brownsville
2018.03 - 2019.01
- Provided assessment, screening, and counseling services to immigrants in shelters in the United States.
- Conducted intake and diagnostic assessments of children and youth, identifying needs to inform treatment plans.
- Provide individual and family counseling to facilitate the reunification process.
- Provide trauma-informed care therapy and crisis intervention to children.
- Collaborate with treatment team meetings and develop treatment and safety plans.
- Facilitated psycho-educational and therapeutic groups, enhancing coping skills and emotional resilience among participants.
- Collaborate in staffing cases to comply with ORR requirements.
- Provided consultation and documented children's functioning and mental health status to guide treatment decisions.
Executive Director
San Gabriel School for the Deaf
San Juan
2016.03 - 2018.03
- Experience as an executive director in a non-profit organization providing mental health and academic services to deaf children from the Special Education Program.
- Implementing a program to provide mental health services to deaf children.
- Led and guided staff to achieve targeted goals in team performance.
- Supervised and assessed employees in academic, clinical, and general services to ensure quality and compliance.
- Oversaw the administration of institutional grants for effective resource allocation.
- Researched and identified potential financial resources and donors to support programs.
- Development of a volunteer program to maximize the organization's resources.
- Elaborate on the operational budget according to the strategic plan.
- Mediate between parents and teachers to facilitate communication about students' academic performance and socio-emotional development.
- Coordinate services for the deaf population, including children and adults.
Psychologist
The University of Sacred Heart
San Juan
2010.10 - 2016.08
- Provided individual and group counseling for students with different diagnoses and emotional needs.
- Assessed and treated clients with mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges in an academic setting.
- Supervised students from the Bachelor of Psychology Program in their practice, guiding them to develop their clinical skills and professional competencies.
- Collaborated in implementing mental health policies, aligning them with the laws and institutional mission, vision, and philosophy, to ensure comprehensive and effective support for students.
- Compiled monthly reports on service utilization and population needs to guide resource allocation decisions.
- Facilitated accommodations for students with functional diversity, promoting their academic success.
- Collaborated with prevention activities to promote healthy lifestyles.
- Conducted investigations of professors due to allegations of institutional abuse.
Mental Health Paraprofessional
Juvenile Probation Department
San Benito
- Prepares reports, interviews clients, provides counseling services, and recommends treatment.
- Delivered trauma-informed care therapy to juveniles to address emotional needs.
- Facilitated counseling for juveniles and families to support community reintegration.
- Coordinated crisis screenings and specialized mental health service delivery.
- Assist in the assessment of juvenile residents and provide behavioral interventions for juveniles who are under seclusion or mental health classification.
- Administered and interpreted testing and assessment instruments to evaluate client needs.
- Provided rehabilitation therapy, including group and individual counseling, to Boot Camp cadets.
- Work with the juvenile population, their families, probation officers, and the court system.
Professor
The University of Sacred Heart
San Juan
- Teach Social Sciences, Psychology, and Group Dynamics courses to diverse college students in a classroom setting.
- Managed course operations, including lesson planning, student assessment, and curriculum development.
- Designed educational modules for professors on mental health and common diagnoses affecting student learning.
- Collaborated in the assessment process to comply with the standards and expectations of the Institution.
- Led workshops for students, parents, faculty, and administration to enhance engagement and support.
Education
Ph.D. - Health Psychology
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN2015-01
Ph.D. - Psychology
University of Turabo
Gurabo, Puerto Rico2010-01
MPsych. - Psychology
University of Turabo
Gurabo, Puerto Rico2009-01
B.S. - Psychology
University of Turabo
Gurabo, Puerto Rico2005-01
Skills
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Individual psychotherapy
- Group therapy facilitation
- Crisis intervention
- Risk assessment
- Clinical assessment
- Clinical formulation
- Assessment administration
- Treatment planning
- Care coordination
- Case management
- Motivational interviewing
- Referral and community resource linkage
- Clinical supervision
- Program evaluation
- Team leadership
- Conflict resolution
- Collaborative communication
- Trauma-informed care
References
Available upon request.
Languages
English
Professional
Spanish
Professional
Certification
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling - State of Florida - Department of Health - Received in 07/08/2025
- Licensed Professional Counselor - Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors - State of Texas - Received in 02/23/2022
Timeline
Licensed Professional Counselor
Elevate Medical Health Clinics
2025.02 - Current
Licensed Professional Counselor
New Horizon Medical Center
2023.03 - 2025.01
Mental Health Counselor
Cameron County
2020.05 - 2023.03
Clinician – Casa Padre and Casa Presidente
Southwest Key Programs
2018.03 - 2019.01
Executive Director
San Gabriel School for the Deaf
2016.03 - 2018.03
Psychologist
The University of Sacred Heart
2010.10 - 2016.08
Mental Health Paraprofessional
Juvenile Probation Department
Professor
The University of Sacred Heart
Ph.D. - Health Psychology
Walden University
Ph.D. - Psychology
University of Turabo
MPsych. - Psychology
University of Turabo
B.S. - Psychology
University of Turabo