Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Training And Certificates
Generic

Melissa Clark

Grand Rapids,MI

Summary

Client-centered professional polished in identifying potential disorders in clients and developing successful treatment plans and therapeutic processes. Accommodating and warm individual possessing strong observational skills and in-depth understanding of mental health concerns and substance use disorders.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

Therapist/Utilization Review

West Michigan Harbor Light
05.2023 - 04.2025
  • Developed and implemented treatment plans addressing mental health concerns, substance use disorders, stages of change, unhealthy patterns of behavior and other psychosocial issues.
  • Maintain case records in accordance with Harbor Light standards and follow up to determine reliability and validity of individual client treatment plan
  • Complete discharge documentation on each client to include aftercare plan
  • Built strong rapport with clients, fostering trust and open communication for effective therapy sessions.
  • Established clear boundaries with clients, maintaining ethical practice standards while preserving the therapeutic relationship.
  • Evaluated medical guidelines and benefit coverage to determine appropriateness of services.
  • Performed authorization review of services requiring notification.

Access Center Clinician

Newaygo County Mental Health
01.2020 - 05.2023
  • Duties include providing a wide array of services to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, co-occurring disorders, and/or developmental disabilities
  • Screening, prioritization, and intake of clients seeking services at the agency
  • Other duties include screening for psychiatric inpatient placement, the completion of petitions and other necessary paperwork to facilitate admission, length of stay reviews, and service authorizations
  • Position also provides for utilization of motivational interviewing and crisis intervention skills
  • In addition, this staff monitored and tracked county probate court mental health orders and deferrals for individuals that do not receive CMH services or received only intermediate care services within the agency ( outpatient therapy)

ACT Therapist/ Intake Specialist

Interact of Michigan
10.2013 - 12.2020
  • Duties included the provision of direct services to individuals with a severe and persistent mental illness on several integrated dual diagnosis ACT teams
  • It also provided for the creation of a new position responsible for completing all agency intakes and producing initial psychosocial assessments
  • Necessary skills included counseling techniques, assessment and referral, and coordination of care with probation/parole officers, prisoner re-entry staff, and NGRI personnel
  • Other duties included providing crisis intervention during and after normal business hours including assessments for inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations
  • Position also provided for training in and practical experience running co-occurring groups.

Medication Assisted Treatment Program Therapist

Cherry Street Health Services - Southside Health Center
09.2012 - 10.2013
  • Duties included outpatient therapy/counseling to individuals with opioid dependence on agonist therapy (methadone/suboxone)
  • Necessary skills included use of various therapeutic techniques including CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and DBT
  • It also required group facilitation of Woman's DBT Skills Group and Psychoeducational Group.
  • Provided crisis intervention to support clients during times of urgent need.
  • Helped clients work through emotional and psychological issues in both individual and group therapy sessions.

Substance Use Specialist

Cherry Street Health
10.2011 - 09.2012
  • Duties included provision of direct services to individuals with a severe and persistent mental illness, substance use disorder, and chronic homelessness on an integrated dual diagnosis treatment team
  • Necessary skills included therapy, outreach interventions, inpatient assessments, and crisis intervention
  • Position also provided for the creation of substance use group curriculum and facilitation of group therapy.

Case Manager

Touchstone Innovare
04.2004 - 10.2011
  • Duties included providing direct services to individual with a severe and persistent mental illness on both traditional case management teams and integrated assertive community treatment teams
  • Assessed community needs and identified resources for social and community service programs.
  • Necessary skills included counseling techniques, assessments, and coordination of care with outside resources
  • Position also provided for training in and practical experience running family psychoeducation groups as well as obtaining supervision hours to become a fully licensed MSW.
  • Assisted clients in navigating housing, legal services and public benefits to gain access to valuable resources.

Education

MSW -

Western Michigan University
Grand Rapids, MI Campus
06.2004

Bachelor's Degree - Criminal Justice/Psychology

Grand Valley State University
Allendale, MI
08.1998

Skills

  • One-on-one support
  • Documentation requirements
  • One-on-one sessions
  • Group therapy facilitation
  • Service referral coordination
  • Group therapy coordination
  • Crisis intervention
  • Treatment Planning
  • Progress assessment
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Patient documentation
  • Client confidentiality
  • Diagnostic evaluation
  • Disorder diagnosis

Timeline

Therapist/Utilization Review

West Michigan Harbor Light
05.2023 - 04.2025

Access Center Clinician

Newaygo County Mental Health
01.2020 - 05.2023

ACT Therapist/ Intake Specialist

Interact of Michigan
10.2013 - 12.2020

Medication Assisted Treatment Program Therapist

Cherry Street Health Services - Southside Health Center
09.2012 - 10.2013

Substance Use Specialist

Cherry Street Health
10.2011 - 09.2012

Case Manager

Touchstone Innovare
04.2004 - 10.2011

MSW -

Western Michigan University

Bachelor's Degree - Criminal Justice/Psychology

Grand Valley State University

Training And Certificates

  • DBT
  • Seeking Safety
  • CBT
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Family Psychoeducation
  • Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor
  • LOCUS/PCFAS/CAFAS