Pacies Hodges
Portsmouth,VA
Summary
Certified counseling professional with strong background in education as well as substance abuse treatment and client care. Skilled in developing personalized treatment plans, individualized educational (IEP), and behavioral plans (504), conducting individual and group therapy sessions, and providing crisis intervention. Focused on team collaboration, adaptable to changing needs, and committed to achieving impactful results. Known for empathy, active listening, and effective communication.
Knowledgeable educator with solid foundation in instructing and substance abuse. Successfully guided clients through recovery processes and contributed to developing effective treatment plans. Demonstrated compassion and effective communication in client interactions, and applied critical thinking to address complex cases.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
CSAC/Certified Substance Abuse Counselor
Trinity
04.2025 - Current
- Increased client retention in treatment programs by building strong therapeutic relationships and promoting personal accountability.
- Maintained accurate documentation of client progress, contributing to continuous improvement in service delivery and outcomes measurement.
- Educate/teach individuals and their family members about addiction and recovery processes, enhancing their ability to provide effective support for their loved ones.
- Improved client engagement by utilizing motivational interviewing techniques during counseling sessions.
- Conducted thorough assessments to accurately identify clients'' substance abuse issues and determine appropriate levels of care.
- Participated in quality improvement initiatives, contributing to the ongoing refinement of program offerings and ensuring the delivery of top-tier services to clients.
Mental Health Clinician Co-occurring
Western Tidewater Community Services Board
01.2015 - 09.2022
- Participated actively in weekly case conferences discussing progress/needs of clients to inform overall treatment approach.
- Trained new clinicians in agency policies and procedures, ensuring consistent service delivery across the organization.
- Contributed to ongoing professional development programs for staff members, sharing knowledge of current best practices in the field of mental health counseling.
- Enhanced patient well-being by implementing evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
- Educated children, adults, families regarding substance use in lieu of managing mental health symptoms per presenting mental health disorders
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary team members for comprehensive mental health care plans.
- Coordinated referrals to community resources, addressing clients'' social determinants of health needs effectively.
- Improved client engagement in therapy sessions by incorporating culturally-sensitive approaches into practice.
- Adhered to ethical and legal standards for confidentiality, protecting clients' privacy.
- Completed one-on-one counseling with broad range of clients suffering from various diseases and issues.
- Documented clients' progress to keep detailed notes on each client's treatment progress and changes in mental health status.
- Assessed mental health needs to determine nature and extent of clients' emotional, behavioral or mental health issues.
- Facilitated support groups, fostering peer connections and promoting open communication among participants.
- Encouraged patients to discuss experiences in group and individual settings.
- Guided clients in effective therapeutic exercises integrated from Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Special Education Teacher
Henrico Public Schools
08.2009 - 06.2013
- Redirected students using Positive Behavior Support (PBS).
- Taught students across multiple classifications and degrees of special needs.
- Coordinated special education students and teacher assistant schedules with master schedule.
- Enhanced students'' communication skills by implementing group activities and collaborative projects.
- Evaluated student progress regularly using various assessment methods, ensuring accurate measurement of skill development and areas requiring additional support.
- Partnered with standard education teachers from across academic departments.
- Coordinated with general education teachers to develop accommodations or modifications necessary for successful inclusion of students with special needs in mainstream classrooms.
- Improved student behavior management by implementing consistent routines, clear expectations, and positive reinforcement strategies.
- Participated in ongoing professional development opportunities focused on evidence-based practices in special education teaching methodologies.
- Served as a mentor to new teachers, sharing best practices in special education instruction and classroom management techniques.
- Modified general education curriculum for special-needs students using various instructional techniques and technologies.
- Streamlined classroom processes by integrating technology tools such as interactive whiteboards and assistive devices designed for students with disabilities.
- Organized field trips and community-based experiences that enriched students'' understanding of real-world applications for their skills.
- Delivered effective and differentiated classroom instruction to range of neurodiverse students.
- Cultivated connections and strong student rapport to foster classroom engagement, in addition to recording student progress to inform parents and school administration.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
- Enhanced students' understanding of complex topics by incorporating interactive technologies and hands-on learning experiences.
- Assisted struggling students to maintain progress levels by designing individualized lesson plans focused on areas for improvement.
- Implemented individualized education plans for students with diverse learning needs, ensuring personalized support.
- Created culturally responsive classroom environment, acknowledging and celebrating diversity among students.
- Developed and executed behavioral intervention plans, leading to decrease in disruptive behaviors and increase in classroom participation.
- Utilized data from student assessments to tailor instruction, resulting in more effective learning outcomes.
- Organized and led professional development sessions for colleagues on inclusive education strategies, improving school-wide support for students with disabilities.
Special Education Teacher
Richmond Public Schools
08.2005 - 06.2008
- Fostered strong relationships with parents and guardians, maintaining open lines of communication to ensure student progress.
- Developed IEPs tailored to individual student needs, ensuring their academic success and personal growth.
- Created and managed IEPs to define student learning objectives and educational strategies, in addition to applying instructional knowledge and methods to support goals.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive support for students with special needs.
- Provided targeted instructional support to struggling learners, identifying specific areas for improvement and designing effective intervention plans.
- Taught multiple subjects to students with intellectual or emotional disabilities.
- Promoted a positive learning environment through the use of differentiated instruction and individualized support for diverse learners.
Education
Master of Public Health - Policy Track
Virginia Union University
Richmond, VA12-2024
Skills
- Psychoeducation
- Motivational interviewing
- Intervention planning
- Individual counseling
- Confidentiality practices
- Professional networking
- Harm reduction
- Substance abuse education
- Addiction assessment
- Co-occurring disorders
Affiliations
National Notary Association
American Counseling Association
National Certified Addictions Counselor
American Society of Addiction Medicine
Certification
- CSAC - Certified Substance Abuse Counselor
- QMHP - Qualified Mental Health Professional
Timeline
CSAC/Certified Substance Abuse Counselor
Trinity
04.2025 - Current
Mental Health Clinician Co-occurring
Western Tidewater Community Services Board
01.2015 - 09.2022
Special Education Teacher
Henrico Public Schools
08.2009 - 06.2013
Special Education Teacher
Richmond Public Schools
08.2005 - 06.2008
Master of Public Health - Policy Track
Virginia Union University
Similar Profiles
Michelle PorterMichelle Porter
School Bus Driver at TrinitySchool Bus Driver at Trinity
Mikko ShadowstarMikko Shadowstar
Armed Security Guard/School Resource Officer at TrinityArmed Security Guard/School Resource Officer at Trinity
Eleni SamiotiEleni Samioti
Resident Healthcare Assistant at TRINITYResident Healthcare Assistant at TRINITY
Adazia WrightAdazia Wright
IT Specialist at U.S. Army ReserveIT Specialist at U.S. Army Reserve
Lynden BaboolalLynden Baboolal
Network Administrator at U.S. Marine CorpsNetwork Administrator at U.S. Marine Corps