Melissa Martinez
La Porte
Summary
Dedicated residential counselor with expertise in crisis intervention, active listening, and conflict resolution. Committed to fostering safe environments and building trusting relationships with clients to promote emotional well-being.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Residential Counselor
De Pelchin
La Porte
10.2024 - Current
- Responded to crisis situations quickly to maintain calm and immediately determine level of assistance needed.
- Created a safe environment that promotes self-expression, respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, empathy, and acceptance among residents.
- Completed daily resident welfare checks and coordinated with facility staff to meet resident needs.
- Developed therapeutic relationships by providing emotional support and positive reinforcement to clients.
- Responded promptly to any emergency situations that may arise within the residence.
- Made regular rounds to keep residents and areas safe and secure.
- Monitored client progress, documented observations, and reported changes in behavior to supervisors.
- Provided guidance and support to clients in need of assistance with daily living skills.
- Mediated interpersonal problems between residents.
- Provided transportation for clients as needed to appointments or other activities outside the residence.
- Implemented behavioral interventions designed to modify or reduce problematic behaviors.
- Fostered relationships with residents and worked with new residents to optimize acclimation and ease transition to new living environment.
- Conducted regular rounds to keep residents and areas safe and secure.
Direct Care Counselor
Houston House of Hope
Baytown
03.2024 - 09.2024
- Supported clients in crisis situations by employing de-escalation techniques and providing emotional support.
- Documented client progress and behavior changes in compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
- Developed and maintained positive relationships with clients to foster trust and open communication.
- Provided transportation assistance for clients to attend community events and appointments.
- Prepared meals and snacks to meet individual nutritional requirements.
- Organized and dispensed medications on schedule.
- Assisted clients with daily living activities such as hygiene, meal preparation, medication administration, and housekeeping.
- Attended trainings related to behavioral health topics such as trauma-informed care, positive behavior supports.
- Established a safe environment where clients are free from abuse or neglect while promoting their autonomy.
- Helped patients perform daily living tasks.
- Developed relationships based on trust and respect with clients while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Provided direct care to individuals with mental health and or developmental disabilities in residential settings.
- Maintained accurate documentation of services provided according to agency standards.
Bus Monitor/Driver in Training
La Porte Independent School District
La Porte
09.2023 - 02.2024
- Monitored student behavior to ensure compliance with safety protocols during bus rides.
- Facilitated communication between students and bus drivers to encourage respectful interactions.
- Assisted in the coordination of emergency drills to prepare students for unforeseen situations.
- Educated students on safety procedures and expectations while riding the bus.
- Documented incidents and communicated findings to school administration for appropriate follow-up.
- Encouraged positive interactions among students to foster a supportive environment.
- Provided immediate assistance to students with special needs during transport.
- Helped maintain a clean and organized bus environment for better student experiences.
- Promoted adherence to school policies regarding behavior on and around the bus.
- Identified potential safety hazards and reported them promptly to ensure student security.
- Supported drivers in managing on-board conflicts to maintain a safe atmosphere.
- Assisted in the training of new bus monitors to ensure consistency in safety standards.
- Protected students from physical and verbal bullying.
- Accompanied driver and children on bus route to keep students safe and protected.
- Helped drivers monitor and manage student actions to maintain bus safety.
- Communicated with bus drivers, teachers and guardians regarding problems or incidents impacting student riders.
- Supervised safe and orderly entry and exit of bus riders and physically assisted those with special needs.
- Spoke directly with each student to understand pressing needs, concerns or fears.
- Prevented loss of students' belongings on or adjacent to bus via visual monitoring and verbal reminders.
- Maintained familiarity with student restraint devices and methods for securing special seats.
- Complied with state, local, and federal laws regarding student confidentiality.
- Loaded, secured and unloaded wheelchairs, secured seatbelts and demonstrated knowledge of students' special needs.
- Performed inspections before and after each trip.
- Conducted emergency bus evacuations using main and emergency doors.
- Monitored behaviors for safety violations and took steps to prevent further violations.
- Maintained strong proficiency in CPR, First Aid, and rescue techniques to provide optimal support to individuals in distress.
- Managed difficult situations between passengers in a calm and professional manner while maintaining order on the bus.
- Monitored passenger behavior while enforcing rules against smoking, eating, drinking alcohol on board the bus.
- Conducted regular headcounts of all riders aboard the bus to verify that everyone had arrived at their destination safely.
- Assisted drivers in managing unruly behavior among children by speaking calmly yet firmly with them about acceptable behavior expectations while riding public transit vehicles.
- Helped passengers complete safe journeys by securing belts, locking down wheelchairs and stowing baggage in correct locations.
- Executed daily vehicle inspections, ensuring operational safety and compliance with regulations.
- Implemented safety protocols to minimize risks during student transportation.
- Conducted thorough pre-trip and post-trip vehicle inspections.
Education
High School Diploma -
La Porte High School
La Porte, TX05-1994
Skills
- Crisis intervention
- Documentation compliance
- Conflict resolution
- Safety protocol enforcement
- Active listening
- Emotional intelligence
- Residential treatment plans
- HIPAA protocols
- Multicultural sensitivity
- Boundaries establishment
Certification
CPR/First Aid/AED Certified
Timeline
Residential Counselor
De Pelchin
10.2024 - Current
Direct Care Counselor
Houston House of Hope
03.2024 - 09.2024
Bus Monitor/Driver in Training
La Porte Independent School District
09.2023 - 02.2024
High School Diploma -
La Porte High School