Monique Brando
Campbell,CA
Summary
To seek and maintain full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Self Employed
05.2022 - Current
- Utilized motivational interviewing techniques to help clients explore their readiness for change effectively.
- Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression for clients with tailored treatment plans addressing individual needs.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities to stay current on industry trends and advancements in counseling techniques.
- Conducted thorough assessments and diagnoses of clients, identifying appropriate treatment goals and strategies.
- Evaluated treatment effectiveness regularly, adjusting intervention strategies based on client feedback and clinical judgment as required.
- Provided clients with recommendations to community resources.
- Documented clients' progress to keep detailed notes on each client's treatment progress and changes in mental health status.
- Observed and monitored client behavior and responses to treatment.
- Assessed mental health needs to determine nature and extent of clients' emotional, behavioral or mental health issues.
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Cyti Psychological
09.2021 - 10.2023
- Maintained detailed documentation of client progress, effectively communicating with other healthcare providers as necessary.
- Evaluated treatment effectiveness regularly, adjusting intervention strategies based on client feedback and clinical judgment as required.
- Facilitated family therapy sessions to support communication, boundary setting, and healthy relationships among family members affected by mental health issues.
- Implemented behavioral modification techniques for clients struggling with unhealthy patterns of behavior or thought processes contributing to their mental health challenges.
- Reduced client symptoms of anxiety and depression with cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, mindfulness exercises, and psychodynamic approaches.
- Performed client assessments and developed treatment plans.
- Established strong rapport with clients by demonstrating empathy, active listening skills, and cultural sensitivity.
- Created safe environment that fostered open communication, trust building and vulnerability among clients.
- Promoted positive coping strategies among clients by teaching stress management techniques and self-care practices.
- Displayed sensitivity to cultural and linguistic needs of clients and families served.
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
YesToTherapy
06.2019 - 05.2020
- Provide therapeutic intervention services to children, adults and families in a private practice setting
- Obtain informed consent from clients, including confidentiality, risks and benefits of therapy, fees, cancellation policy
- Build rapport with clients
- Gather assessment information to understand presenting issue and diagnosis
- Assessed for SI/HI and self-harm when appropriate
- Enhanced client relationships by providing tailored therapy sessions based on individual needs and goals.
- Collaborate with client in developing a treatment goal
- Administered psychological assessments to inform diagnosis and guide treatment recommendations.
- Provide continuous treatment planning and reviewing of progress to ensure quality and effective treatment.
- Maintained accurate client records while adhering to confidentiality guidelines set forth by HIPAA regulations.
Mental Health Specialist II
Starlight Community Services, Inc.
11.2014 - 10.2018
- Provided short-term, empathetic, and client driven therapy to children, adolescents and their family with medical to improve areas of functioning and overall well being
- Engaged client's and their parent(s)/caregiver through a 30 day assessment process that included the Dangerous Behavior Screening, Pain, Health, and Nutrition Screening, Columbia-Suicide Severity Screening, CANS (Child, Adolescent Needs and Strength), LEC-5 Trauma Screening, Psychosocial history, MSE
- Collaborated with client and Parent(s)/caregiver to formulate and develop treatment plans with short-term objectives that were specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time limited
- Provided collateral services to parent(s)/caregivers, to psychoeducate on client's diagnosis, and teach them parenting skills to support improvement of client's functioning in the home
- Provided casemanagement and linkage to community resources to meet client and family's needs
- Consulted with teachers, social workers and other mental health care professionals in order to communicate and exchange information regarding client's needs, obstacles and progress
- Maintained client charts and progress notes in accordance with Santa Clara County Mental Health Services standards.
Therapist Trainee
John F. Kennedy Community Counseling Center
10.2013 - 06.2014
- 2Provided counseling to individual clients of various ages and ethnicities, as well as therapy in Spanish to children, and families
- Co-facilitated asocial skills group for kids aged 7-13
- Established Treatment Plan for clients including short and long term goals and treatment updates for individual clients
- Reported progress toward client goals to individual supervisor
- Maintained client files that included activities, progress notes, evaluations, and recommendations
- Conducted phone intake interviews for clients who were seeking counseling services.
Behavior Specialist
Tucci Learning Solutions, Inc.
07.2008 - 06.2011
- Worked with contracted learners carrying out behavioral and instructional programs
- Assisted in both group and individual activities with learners and carried out instructional and behavioral programs as instructed
- Recorded instructional and behavioral data on learners
- Assisted in preparing and organizing program materials (educational and social-emotional)
- Attended weekly staff meetings with Coach, Coordinator of Services, and Behavior Analyst to discuss concerns.
Education
Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy -
John F. Kennedy University
09.2014
Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies -
San Jose State University
12.2008
Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts -
West Valley College
05.2005
Skills
- Self-Esteem Building
- Anxiety Reduction
- Depression Treatment
- Child and Adolescent Therapy
- Suicide Prevention
- Empathy Development
- Post-traumatic stress therapy
- Clinical interventions
- Clinical Documentation
- Treatment Planning
- Psychological Assessment
Coursework
- Clinical Skills Training
- Theories of MFT Practices
- Ethics and the Law
- Diagnosis and Assessment Of Psychopathology
- Crisis and Trauma
- Aging and Long-Term Care
- Group Process
- Family Violence
- Multicultural Competence in Counseling and Community Practice
Clinical Skills And Expertise
- Assessment including CANS (Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths)
- Treatment planning
- Risk assessment
- Safety planning
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Family Systems Therapy
- Report Writing
- Mental Status Exam
Volunteer Experience
Future Families Volunteer Program, 2007 - 2008, Provided support to children of foster families who have been abused or neglected., Supervised visits between children and their birth parent(s) as ordered by a court., Provided transportation to children to visits and appointments., Provided tutoring, mentoring, and child watch services while parents attended appointments and classes.
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Self Employed
05.2022 - Current
Licensed Mental Health Therapist
Cyti Psychological
09.2021 - 10.2023
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
YesToTherapy
06.2019 - 05.2020
Mental Health Specialist II
Starlight Community Services, Inc.
11.2014 - 10.2018
Therapist Trainee
John F. Kennedy Community Counseling Center
10.2013 - 06.2014
Behavior Specialist
Tucci Learning Solutions, Inc.
07.2008 - 06.2011
Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy -
John F. Kennedy University
Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies -
San Jose State University
Associate of Arts Degree in Liberal Arts -
West Valley College