Michelle Selby MSW, LSCSW, LCSW
Summary
Dynamic and interactive school social worker with over 30 years of experience in schools and mental health. Extensive classroom, group and individual session experiences; helping adolescents, schools, families and communities in developing techniques to enhance their capacity to deal with daily challenges amidst social and emotional challenges. Expert at teaching strategies to maintain dignity and agency for self and others while tackling problems constructively.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Independent Therapist and Consultant
Integrative Mental Health
05.1996 - Current
- Provides integrative, trauma informed therapy and embodiment coaching for adolescents and families incorporating evidenced based practices of EMDR, TF-CBT, CBT, DBT, MBSRT, FLASH, expressive arts and somato-sensory interventions.
- Provides trauma informed trainings to schools for enhanced mental wellness with student and staff populations.
- Assists adolescents with gaining insights, self awareness and communication; establishing and implement clear goals for wellness.
- Maintains detailed case notes and HIPAA compliant documentation effectively tracking progress and continuity of care and interfacing with medical providers, psychiatrists, DHHS, schools, psychological testing facilities, inpatient treatment facilities.
- Establishes clear boundaries with clients, maintaining ethical practice standards while preserving the therapeutic relationship.
- Continuously updates professional knowledge through ongoing research, training, and participation in industry conferences and workshops.
- Provides individual and group therapy sessions to adolescents and families to support mental wellness.
- Works closely with families to educate them on mental health issues, facilitate open dialogue, and foster a supportive home environment for client recovery.
- Conducts psychoeducational presentations withing the community and nationally, raising awareness about mental health topics while broadening outreach efforts.
- Promotes self-care practices among colleagues by organizing wellness events such as stress-reduction workshops or yoga classes at the workplace.
General Education Social Worker
MSAD 75 Mount Ararat High School
09.2018 - 06.2020
- Advocated and promoted activities and programs to enhance mental wellness of individual students and general school culture including Sources of Strength, Youth Mental Health First Aid and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Training.
- Actively co-taught and participated in classroom education to incorporate SEL content and psychoeducational strategies to develop self application and practice. Includes lessons for Health, Psychology, Behavior and Alternative Education classes around self-awareness, self reflection and communication as well as compassion and awareness of others.
- Organized and facilitated school wide assemblies to promote increase in mental wellness including awareness of bias-based language, and supporting peers.
- Organized and facilitated all staff presentations promoting mental wellness for self and students including resetting stress reactions, awareness of connection to depression/anxiety and anger, reducing reactivity with students.
- Actively participated in many community mental health and wellness committees including MSAD 75 Mental Health Task Force and Facilitated high school subcommittee.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams including Student At Risk, Student Assistance, 504 planning and Student re-entry meetings.
- Assessed adolescents and families for barriers to academic performance, peer issues, teacher/student conflict, academic stress or failure, disabilities, behavior management, bullying, chronic absenteeism, substance use and safety issues.
- Conducted bio-psychosocial assessments.
- Developed and implement treatment plans and discharge plans that supported student self-determination.
- Interviewed clients, families, or groups to assess situations, limitations and issues and implement services to address needs.
- De-escalated stressful situations through individual and family crisis interventions.
- Supported clients and families with empathy and compassion during difficult times.
- Provided consultation with students, parents, school counselors, special education services, social workers, teachers and administrators.
- Educated families on available community resources, connecting them with essential services such as housing assistance, financial aid, or healthcare providers.
School Based Clinician Mount Ararat High School
Sweetser
08.2016 - 08.2018
- Improved student emotional and behavioral outcomes by conducting individual and group counseling sessions.
- Developed comprehensive assessments, diagnosis, treatment planning and psychotherapy to students and families.
- Participated in school-wide events promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma surrounding mental illness, encouraging open dialogue among students, staff, and parents.
- Implemented evidence-based interventions ( TF-CBT, MBSRT, CBT, DBT to support students'' mental health growth and development.
- Acted as liaison between Sweetser, students, families and schools as well as other service providers including primary care doctors, occupational therapists, physical therapists psychiatrists, behavioral home health coordinators, DHHS, crisis interventions services, psychiatric hospitals and other intensive mental health providers.
- Participation in program development, maintained extensive clinical records, connected families to funding including small grant applications and applications for Katie Beckett.
- Assisted in growth of school-based health center.
- Nominated by colleagues on 2 different occasions for recognition fo work exceeding standards.
Education
No Degree - School Social Work Post Graduate Training
The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare
Lawrence, KS05.1994
Masters of Social Work - Children, Families And Mental Health
The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare
Lawrence, KS05.1991
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
The University of Kansas
Lawrence05.1988
Skills
- Extensive awareness of and ability to navigate school systems and cultural climate
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Relationship Building - individual, classroom and community levels
- Creativity and confidence in teaching and sharing applications of mental wellness strategies
- Excellent Communication
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Self-Care Promotion
- Strong skills in managing challenging crisis situations
- Multicultural Competence
- Emotional awareness
- Family therapy
Timeline
General Education Social Worker
MSAD 75 Mount Ararat High School
09.2018 - 06.2020
School Based Clinician Mount Ararat High School
Sweetser
08.2016 - 08.2018
Independent Therapist and Consultant
Integrative Mental Health
05.1996 - Current
No Degree - School Social Work Post Graduate Training
The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare
Masters of Social Work - Children, Families And Mental Health
The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
The University of Kansas