Marsha Akoto

A self-driven Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH) and Counseling Psychology PhD student with 8 years of experience employing knowledge of mental health awareness, therapeutic skills, research, and education to help clients overcome personal life issues, traumas, and varying disorders. Adept at communicating with people of all backgrounds and developing effective treatment plans and interventions. Knowledgeable in advanced research, social justice, multiculturalism, and therapeutic techniques. Uses a compassionate, strengths-based, empathetic, non-judgmental approach to help guide individuals. Therapeutic modalities include Psychodynamic, DBT, and Narrative therapy.

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Member, Jewish Family Services of Delaware, 07/2022, Present, Engaging staff and stakeholders in conversations and trainings about diversity, Designing trainings and presentations pertaining to social injustice awareness
• Diversity Committee Student Rep, Lehigh University, College Of Education, 09/2022, Present, Engaging staff and stakeholders in conversations and trainings about diversity, Designing trainings and presentations pertaining to social injustice awareness
• OSU PenPal, The Ohio State University, 01/2017, 05/2018, An outreach program which addresses the challenges faced in the Columbus City School District and similar low- income schools across the country while educating college students about these issues. Pen PALS aims to improve the writing skills of elementary school students by providing a personal connection to an Ohio State Student via a pen pal relationship, face to face meetings, and seminars which inform mentors about the problems their pen pals might face in his/ her daily life.

• Doctoral Extern, Georgetown University Hospital MedStar Health, 08/2024, 05/2025, Led individual treatment assessments, ensuring compliance with record-keeping standards, and conducting timely treatment planning in collaboration with clients., Provided counseling sessions aligned with treatment plan goals, using both telehealth and in-person methods., Conducted treatment plan reviews and modifications based on changes in client status., Facilitated ongoing Mental Health groups, contributing to program development and clinical interventions., Provide counseling services and group therapy to diverse populations
• Doctoral Practicum Counselor, Jewish Family Services Outpatient Behavioral Health Department, 08/2023, Present, Led individual treatment assessments, ensuring compliance with record-keeping standards, and conducting timely treatment planning in collaboration with clients., Provided counseling sessions aligned with treatment plan goals, using both telehealth and in-person methods., Conducted treatment plan reviews and modifications based on changes in client status., Facilitated ongoing Mental Health groups, contributing to program development and clinical interventions., Provide counseling services and group therapy to University of Delaware undergraduate and graduate Afghan women in ELI and WISE program., Angelica Santiago Montalvo, PhD
• Doctoral Practicum Trainee, Muhlenberg College Counseling Services, 08/2022, 05/2023, Conducted individual therapy sessions, providing support and interventions tailored to the unique needs of college students., Employed Psychodynamic, DBT, narrative therapy to students to address crisis situations, family dynamics, intrapersonal challenges, and academic concerns., Participated in team meetings, didactic training seminars, weekly case conferences, and professional development., Didactic Training Seminar topics covered: BioPsychosocial Model, Suicide Risk Assessment, Intro to Neurophysiology, History of Treatment Planning, Trauma, Performance, Bipolar Disorder, Relationships: Intimacy, Tim Silvestri, PhD
• Masters Practicum Intern, High Focus Centers Outpatient Behavioral Health, 09/2019, 05/2020, Provided individual and group counseling sessions using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Facilitated weekly group therapy with up to 25 participants in IOP and PHP program., Provided teletherapy for clients in wake of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, Intensively trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Adult psychopathology, Substance Abuse, Eating Disorder program, Mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, borderline personality., Meredith Gonzenbach, LCSW, Director of clinical training
• Doctoral-Student Supervisor, Lehigh University, College of education, CPSY 477: Supervision Apprenticeship, 09/2023, Present, Provided individual clinical supervision for domestic and international master’s students, fostering a collaborative environment for reflective practice and professional growth., Conducted insightful reviews of clinical tapes, delivering constructive feedback to enhance students' therapeutic techniques and interventions., Implemented a structured evaluation process, delivering timely and constructive feedback on students' performance and progress in the program., Guided students in navigating complex ethical dilemmas, ensuring adherence to ethical standards in counseling practice., Facilitated collaborative case consultations, assisting students in formulating effective treatment plans and interventions., Dr. Bethany P. Detwiler

• Graduate Assistant, Academic Support Coach, Office of Academic Transitions, Lehigh University, 08/2023, Present, Supports college students' academic and personal success through proactive outreach, ensuring awareness and utilization of campus resources., Provides academic mentoring and study skills assistance to college students on scholastic probation., Conducts 1:1 mentoring meetings to develop and review academic success plans, improving time management and study skills., Design workshops and programs for identified student populations (e.g., time management, study habits, procrastination etc.)., Works with Academic Life and Student Transitions staff, collaborating on outreach, research, and data analysis.
• Graduate Assistant, Lehigh University College of Education, 08/2021, 06/2023, Supported Program director, program coordinator, advisor with administrative and research tasks., Organized Educational Leadership program manual and ALIVE LAB website., Coordinated meetings with lab members and faculty.

• Research Apprentice, Lehigh University, College of Education, 02/2022, 05/2023, Supported research project examining mental health providers cultural competencies in working with immigrants., Cleaned SPSS data files totaling 1200 participants., Selected statistical tests/analyses used for study., Conducted and interpreted statistical analyses tests., Co-authored manuscript–methods, results, participants section, Created graphs and figures for manuscript.
• Research Consultant, ImmSchools inc., 08/2021, 05/2023, Provided knowledge, and recommendations to Immschool Co-Founders and Chief Program Officer, Collaborated with CPOs to understand community needs and develop plans for research projects., Gathered literature review and resources that align with organization's theory of change., Identified validated measures to evaluate and assess the impact of intervention and programming.
• Research Associate, University of Delaware, Sociology Department, 07/2020, 12/2021, Grant Funded Research project centered on exploring notions of resilience, substance abuse, structural violence, Black trauma, and psychological distress with Black and Brown Street-identified Americans., Qualitative data analysis: coding, cleaning data, analyzing over 400 pages of transcript., Examined structural violence, trauma, and mental health patterns in research participants., Conducted appropriate literature review on research focus.
• Graduate Research Assistant, William Paterson University of New Jersey, 09/2018, 06/2022, Culture and Trauma Lab, Recruited and Administered qualitative interviews to subjects., Assisted in research publication and conference presentations., Analyzed qualitative data using NVIVO software., Gathered, reviewed, and summarized literature from scientific journals., Culture & Resilience Lab, Lead research assistant on quantitative data entry (SPSS and ASEBA) and qualitative data analysis, Analyzed and wrote qualitative results for publication and conference presentations using CQR method., Assisted in design and implementation of school-based psychological intervention., Delivered professional presentations to audiences.
• Research Coordinator, William Paterson University of New Jersey, 06/2019, 08/2020, Oversaw project responsibilities for doctoral, master’s and undergrad research assistants, Designated and supervised tasks/projects among research assistants, Conducted administrative work- IRB proposals, keeping record of data, recording team minutes., Trained new undergrad and graduate research assistants.

• Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary findings of a school‐based intervention for recently arrived immigrant middle‐school students, Ma, P. W., Torres, A., & Akoto, M. A., Psychology in the Schools, 60, 6, 2072–2089, https://doi_org.libproxy.unl.edu/10.1002/pits.22861
• Social Capital in First-Generation College Students, Raghavan, S., Hu, D., Akoto, M., & Rendon, K., Journal of American College Health, revise and resubmit
• Is Experience the Best Teacher?, Cadenas, G. A., Akoto, M., Domenech Rodriguez, M., Garcini, L., Venta, A., Paris, M., Galvan, T., & Moreno, O., Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, under review
• United But Not Monolithic, Akoto, M., Ringle, V., Cadenas, G., Jeremie-Brink, J., Journal of Black Psychology, in progress
• Perceived Discrimination, Acculturative stress, and Mental health of Muslim Immigrant Adolescents, Ma, P-W., Akoto, M., Saleh, G., Ahmed, M., Sekinat, K. M., & Torres, A., Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, August 2020
• I am not an American!” The acculturative stress of recently arrived Latinx Immigrant youth, Briggs, A., Henao, M., Akoto, M., Torres, A., Billini, O., Cheron, S., Moura, F., Alava, B., & Ma, P-W., Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC, August 2020
• Mental Health, Social Capital & Academic Success in First Generation College Students, Akoto, M., Raghavan, S., Hu, D., Rendon, K., Annual Eastern Psychological Association Conference, June 2020
• A Cultural Adjustment Group for Recently Arrived Immigrant Youth: The Involvement of University Students, Akoto, M., Henao, M., Briggs, A., Torres, A., Ma, P-W., Billini, O., Bryan, A., William Paterson Explorations, Wayne, New Jersey, April 2020
• Mental Health, Social Capital & Academic Success in First Generation College Students, Akoto, M., Raghavan, S., Hu, D., Rendon, K., William Paterson University Explorations, Wayne, NJ, April 2020
• Clinical Symptoms, Family Separations and Acculturation in Recently Immigrated Latinx and Bangladeshi Middle School Youth, Henao, M., Briggs, A., Torres, A., Akoto, M., Ma, P-W., Billini, O., Alava, B., Latino/a Mental Health Association of NJ, Elizabeth, NJ, February 2020
• Development of a Cultural Adjustment Group for Latinx and Bangladeshi Recent Immigrant Students, Ma, P-W, Chowdhury, T., Chong, Y.K., Valera, R., Cardenas, M.D., Torres, A., Henao, M Akoto M., Annual American Psychological Association Conference, Chicago, Illinois, August 2019
• Mental Health, Social Capital & Academic Success in First Generation College Students: Early Findings from a Pilot Study, Akoto, M., Raghavan, S., Hu, D., Rendon, K., Annual William Paterson University Explorations, Wayne, NJ, April 2019
• Clinical symptoms, family separations and acculturation in recently immigrated Latinx middle school youth, Valera, R., Cardenas, M.D., Chong, Y.K., Ma, P-W, Torres, A., Akoto, M., & Billini, O., Annual William Paterson University Explorations, Wayne, NJ, April 2019
• Clinical symptoms, family separations and acculturation in recently immigrated Latinx middle school youth, Valera, R., Cardenas, M.D., Chong, Y.K., Ma, P-W, Torres, A., Akoto, M., & Billini, O., Latino Mental Health Association of New Jersey, Rutherford, NJ, February 2019
• Recognition-induced forgetting in real-time, Mann S., Hooks A., Akoto M., Korte E., and Roten B., The Ohio State University Psychology Department Social and Cognitive Research Laboratory Poster Session, Columbus, Ohio, 2017