Hi, I’m
Paula Andrea Matthews
Boynton Beach,USA
Summary
Varied experience in multiple professional fields due to permanent change of station moves as a military spouse. Licensed Mental Health Counselor/CIT Instructor/Co-Responder Program Manager Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) Certified (12 Step for addiction) Two years of Child Protective Service experience which included investigations, case management and placing children in foster care. Two years of teaching experience for children K-12 grade as well as adults through the University of Kansas. Thirty years of bilingual customer service and technical support to include interpretation and translations of billing, questions, and services; Spanish and English, Six years of varied Security/Armed Security/Federal Security experience while working for the Department of Homeland Security, Department of the Navy, Pulaski County Sheriff Department and in the Private Security sector which included screening passengers, property, access to Government facilities, vehicle inspections, prisoner supervision, and screening for explosives. Proficient in Zoom, AVATAR, Eview, WebEx, Valant IO, NICHQ Vanderbilt Assessments Scale (English and Spanish), Microsoft Office based computer applications to include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Able to use the internet for necessary research. Able to type 60 words per minute.
Overview
15
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Work History
Soul Ambition
License Mental Health Counselor
03.2025 - Current
Job overview
- Therapeutic services include but are not limited to assessment, treatment planning, direct service provision, person-centered services, and management of client risk and safety.
- Perform evaluations and intakes during the first counseling session to acquire information about the client’s mental stability, health and needs for services.
- Evaluate and treat the psychological and mental issues of couples, individuals, and entire families.
- Provide Mental Health Counseling to Spanish speaking clients.
- Create and update client's personal notes and progress within their therapy.
- Provide counseling for mental health during individual or group counseling sessions by addressing presented issues and working with the client to resolve their problems through meditation, psychoeducation, relaxation, and other approved behavioral health techniques and referral to the psychiatrist if necessary.
Lakeview Center
License Mental Health Counselor/Co-Responder Program Manager
06.2023 - Current
Job overview
- Therapeutic services include but are not limited to assessment, treatment planning, direct service provision, person-centered services, and management of client risk and safety.
- Perform evaluations and intakes during the first counseling session to acquire information about the client’s mental stability, health and needs for services.
- Evaluate and treat the psychological and mental issues of couples, individuals, and entire families.
- Provide Mental Health Counseling to Spanish speaking clients.
- Create and update client's personal notes and progress within their therapy.
- Provide counseling for mental health during individual or group counseling sessions by addressing presented issues and working with the client to resolve their problems through meditation, psychoeducation, relaxation, and other approved behavioral health techniques and referral to the psychiatrist if necessary.
- Create schedules for team members.
Victim Advocate/Outpatient Counselor II
02.2021 - 06.2023
Job overview
- As a Victim Advocate my role was to support the survivor and be their voice.
- Provide resources such as shelters or places where they can feel safe.
- Therapeutic services include but are not limited to, assessment, treatment planning, direct service provision, person-centered services, and management of client risk and safety.
- Perform evaluations and intakes during the first counseling session to acquire information about the client’s mental stability, health and needs for services.
- Evaluate and treat the psychological and mental issues of couples, individuals, and entire families.
- Work with Spanish speaking clients.
- Create and update client's personal notes and progress within their therapy.
- Provide counseling for mental health during individual or group counseling sessions by addressing presented issues and working with the client to resolve their problems through meditation, psychoeducation, relaxation, and other approved behavioral health techniques and referral to the psychiatrist if necessary.
- Create schedules for team members.
Key Bridge Treatment
Marriage, Couple and Family Counselor - Intern
02.2020 - 11.2020
Job overview
- Perform evaluations and intakes during the first counseling session to acquire information about the client’s mental stability, health and needs for services.
- Evaluate and treat the psychological and mental issues of couples, individuals, and entire families.
- Provide counseling for mental health and substance use disorders during individual or group counseling sessions by addressing presented issues and working with the client to resolve their problems through meditation, psychoeducation, relaxation, and other approved behavioral health techniques.
- Update electronic medical records via Valant, including psychosocial assessments, diagnostics, treatment, progress notes, follow up and referrals to the Psychiatrist or inpatient facilities.
- Obtained MRT certification and currently utilize the skills while facilitating the group session at the Monroe County Jail and Key Bridge office.
- Conducts counseling in Spanish and English as well as performs translation and interpretation for Spanish speaking clients.
- Supervisor: Michael Rogers (305-923-1433)
- (Reason for leaving: Taking care of family matters in Louisiana. Military spouse is now retired.)
Department of the Army | Tripler Army Medical Center
Medical Support Assistant
08.2019 - 12.2019
Job overview
- My primary duty as a Medical Support Assistant was to work in the General Surgery wing at Tripler Army Medical Center registering patients, updating office records, ordering supplies, and discharging patients.
- My duties included but were not limited to transferring patient’s information from the Operating Room to the General Surgery department or to other departments.
- Daily processing of data updates in the patient’s records.
- Access to various medical systems.
- Assisted with the observation of patients with a mental disorder while at the General Surgery unit.
- Performed translation and interpretation for Spanish speaking patients.
- Supervisor: SSG Fouler (910-286-3713)
- (Reason for leaving: Spouse’s PCS orders to NAS Key West, FL)
Department of the Navy
Department of the Navy Security Officer
03.2019 - 08.2019
Job overview
- My primary mission as a security guard was to protect Federal property from hazards such as sabotage, espionage, trespass, theft, fire, and accidental or willful damage and destruction.
- Secure Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam by securing the gates and the surroundings by vehicle or foot. I am trained to apprehend and detain violators of laws, rules, and regulations and turn them over to Federal or civil police or other law enforcement officers for arrest and/or posting of collateral.
- I am trained to secure all entry gates by verifying individual’s credential and inspecting their vehicles.
- Evaluate a situation and write reports, if necessary, of any incident for court or the chain of command.
- Work as a team to communicate with other team members clearly and skillfully.
- Supervisor: Mr. Boyman (808-474-6267)
- (Reason for leaving: Line of duty injury)
Department of Homeland Security | Transportation Security Administration
Transportation Security Officer
09.2016 - 03.2019
Job overview
- My training and experience included operating various screening equipment such as AIT, WTMD, and other technology to identify dangerous objects or contraband in baggage or on passengers in order to keep aircraft, employees, and passengers safe for travel.
- Performed searches and screening, which included physical interaction with passengers to search them and their property; conducted personnel and baggage searches.
- Daily duties included experience that provided knowledge of basic laws and regulations to involve responsibility for maintaining order and protecting life and property.
- Interacted with the public, giving directions, and responding to inquiries to assist in controlling terminal entry and exit points.
- Maintained focus and awareness while performing daily duties in a stressful environment which included noise from alarms, machinery and people, crowd distractions, time pressure, and disruptive and angry passengers, to preserve the professional ability to identify and locate potentially life threatening or mass destruction devices. Was able to make effective decisions in both crisis and routine situations.
- Engaged in continuous development of critical thinking skills necessary to mitigate actual and potential security threats by identifying, evaluating, and applying appropriate situational options and approaches. This included the application of risk-based security screening protocols that vary based on program requirements.
- Retained and implemented knowledge of all applicable Standard Operating Procedures, to demonstrate responsible and dependable behavior to include being open to change and being able to adapt to new information or unexpected obstacles.
- Performed translation and interpretation for Spanish speaking passengers.
- (Reason for leaving: Line of duty injury)
Phelps County Children’s Division
Children’s Service Worker (CSW) Case Manager
11.2014 - 01.2016
Job overview
- Coordinated protective services involving neglect, abuse, and exploited children.
- Intake duties included accompanying sexually abused underage children to hospitals and other facilities for assistance.
- Assisted individuals on how to utilize available agency and community resources.
- Evaluated children’s needs and eligibility for social services through personal and collateral interviews.
- Conducted studies and provided treatment services as ordered by a court or after referral by agency staff.
- Continuously conducted updates of the client’s progress in both education and medical.
- Cooperated with other agencies in serving children and families in the community.
- Investigated, as directed, reports of neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children.
- Worked side by side with law enforcement and juvenile officers, other public officials, and community organizations regarding family and children’s needs.
- Assigned on-call duty to handle after hours and weekend child abuse and neglect investigations.
- Traveled throughout the state of Missouri performing site visits.
- (Reason for leaving: Spouse’s PCS orders to Schofield Barracks, HI)
University of Kansas
Teaching Assistant
01.2014 - 09.2015
Job overview
- Assisted in teaching a group of Marines the Spanish language.
- Provided instructional assistance with pronunciation, spelling and writing of the Spanish language.
- Aided via Skype with pronunciations, reading, writing, and testing.
- (Reason for leaving: Temporary position)
Allied Barton Security
Commissioned Security Officer
11.2011 - 07.2012
Job overview
- Responsible for the security and surveillance of Kelly Airfield, Randolph Air Force Base, Port San Antonio, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) complex, and the surrounding U.S. Air Force property to include the monitoring of 26 live feed cameras.
- Detected any security issues or emergencies and responded appropriately.
- Performed data entry of pertinent information into the blotter and instant email notification systems while maintaining communications via radio and telephone.
- (Reason for leaving: Spouse’s PCS orders to Fort Rucker AL.)
TW & Company
Commissioned Security Officer
02.2011 - 10.2011
Job overview
- Exemplified knowledge and application of operating requirements, methods, and procedures for enforcing specialized personnel access controls. This included preventing unauthorized access to areas where stringent security requirements are enforced on the Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) – Fort Sam Houston.
- Prevented unauthorized access to areas where stringent security requirements are enforced.
- Controlled surrounding perimeters to ensure all boundaries were always kept secured.
- Enforced local traffic laws and regulations. Conducted thorough searches of all vehicles accessing the commercial gates and random vehicle inspections at primary vehicular and foot entry gates.
- Detected, reported the presence of, and conducted preliminary investigations of unauthorized personnel attempting to gain access to the installation and criminal or suspicious activities, to include interviewing witnesses, securing crime scenes, and compiling and preserving evidence.
- Radioed rescue squads, operated vehicle arresting barriers, and performed crowd control during incidents at the entry control points.
- Performed over-watch duties as required by the force protection condition and executed anti-terrorism measures in accordance with applicable instructions.
- Served in the Visitor Control Center issuing installation entry passes for individuals and vehicles.
- Enforced standards of conduct and discipline, while adhering to standard operating procedures and military law.
- (Reason for leaving: TW & Co. contract with JBSA expired and guards were replaced by Department of Defense Civilians.)
Education
Walden UniversityMinneapolis, MN
Master's Degree from Marriage Couple, Family and Children Counseling
University Overview
- Credits Earned: 100 Semester hours
- Honors: The National Society of Leadership and Success, Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International
- Relevant Coursework, Licenses, and Certifications: Foundation in Counseling; Intro to Marriage; Techniques of Counseling; Counseling and Psychotherapy; Ethics and Legal Issues; Theories and Techniques; Lifespan Development; Multicultural Counseling; Group Process and Dynamics; Crisis, Trauma, and Response; Group Lab; Child and Adolescent; Research Methodology & Program Evaluation; Counseling Addictive Disorders; Career Counseling; Assessment in Counseling, Human Sexuality; Social Change in Action; Diagnosis and Assessment; Military Culture; Pre-Practicum 1; Pre-Practicum 2; Counseling Practicum; Counseling Internship A; Working with Military Spouses, Families, and Children; Counseling Internship B.
- GPA: 3.38 of a maximum 4.00
American Military UniversityCharles Town, WV
Bachelor's Degree from Criminal Justice
05.2013
University Overview
- Credits Earned: 121 Semester hours
- Honors: Cum Laude, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key International Honor Society.
- Relevant Coursework, Licenses, and Certifications: Ethics in Criminal Justice; Global Terrorism; Research Methods of Criminal Justice & Security; Principles and Theory of Security Issues; Criminal Justice Administration; U.S. Law Enforcement; Law Enforcement Intelligence Applications; Introduction to Human Ecology with Lab; Introduction to Psychology; Criminology; Crime and the Family; Criminal Investigation, Evidence and Procedures; Introduction to the Courts; Criminal Law; Senior Seminar in Criminal Justice; Criminal Legal Process; American Literature from The Civil War to Present; Human Relations; Communication; Proficiency in Writing; Effectiveness in Writing; American Government I.
- GPA: 3.46 of a maximum 4.00
Skills
- Self-esteem building
- Anxiety reduction
- Depression treatment
- Child and adolescent therapy
- Suicide prevention
- Sexual assault counseling
- Psychological evaluation
- Post-traumatic stress therapy
- Case documentation
- Personality disorder treatment
- Family therapy
- Relationship counseling
Accomplishments
- Currently Own and operate a successful private practice for 2 years in Pensacola Florida.
- Organized and led CIT (Crisis Intervention Team)training alongside NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) in Pensacola as we worked together to improve law enforcement's response to mental health crises,
- Organized and led Co-Responder Unit, which provided psychiatric outreach to homeless people and individuals suffering with mental health disorders in Florida.
- Supervised team of 4 staff members.
- Collaborated with team of 10+ in the development of Co-Responder Unit.
Certification
- MRT- Moral Reconation Therapy 12 Step How to Escape Your Prison 09/2020
- Counseling on Access to Lethal Means 03/2020
- Certificate of Graduation CNIC Navy Security Guard Training (S-540-1012) 08/2019
- CENSECFOR OPERATOR Qualification – M9 Service Pistol 08/2019
- CENSECFOR OPERATOR Qualification – M16/M4A1 Service Rifle 08/2019
- CENSECFOR OPERATOR Qualification – M500 Service Shotgun 08/2019
- Individual Managing Your risk (ORM) 07/2019
- Military Authority and Jurisdiction - Federal Acts 06/2019
- DC HAZMAT Spill Response Kit 06/2019
- Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Safety 06/2019
- Combating trafficking in Persons – CTIP General Awareness Training 06/2019
- CERTIFICATE OF CONTAMINATION – OLEORESIN CAPSICUM (OC) 05/2019
- Apprehension - Procedures 05/2019
- Antiterrorism Level I, II Awareness Training 04/2019
- FEMA National Response Framework 04/2019
- IS-00200.b An Introduction to the National Incident Management System 04/2019
- IS-00700.b An Introduction to the National Incident Management System 04/2019
- IS-00800.c National Response Framework, An Introduction 04/2019
- IS-00100.c An Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS-100 04/2019
- CENSECFOR OPERATOR Training – M16/M4A1 Service Rifle 04/2019
- CENSECFOR OPERATOR Training – M500 Service Shotgun 04/2019
- CENSECFOR OPERATOR Training – M9 Service Pistol 03/2019
- American Heart Association Trained by the American Heart Association in Heartsaver CPR AED for Adult, Child, and Infant 01/2019
- Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect 01/2014
- Taser Certified on Taser X26 Electronic Control Device 12/2013
- Level 2-3 Commissioned Security Officer License 03/2011
- Baton, Handcuffing, and Searching 03/2011
- Weapons Issue/Turn-in Weapons Safety, REF: AFI 31-207 03/2011
- M9 Air Force Qualification Firing Course, Camp Bullis, TX 03/2011
- Use of Force, REF: AFI 31-207 03/2011
- Defensive Fighting Positions Course 03/2011
- HazMat Awareness Course v2.1 03/2011
- Hazmat/Explosive Shipment 03/2011
- Self-Aid and Buddy Care (SABC) 03/2011
- Properly check IDs at the installation entry control points 03/2011
- Stand Guard Mount/Assume post, REF: AFMAN31-201v3 03/2011
- Policy and Procedures NCIC/TCIC 03/2011
- Military Law and Jurisdiction 03/2011
- Bomb Threat, REF: SF SOI 31-34 03/2011
- Security Activities Course 03/2011
- Security Awareness Protection Level Resources 03/2011
- Employ Communication Devices (phonetic), REF: AFMAN 31-201v3 03/2011
- DoD Information Assurance Awareness Course 03/2011
- Safe Haven, REF: AFMAN31-101 03/2011
- Victims/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP) 03/2011
- Sexual Assault Response 03/2011
- Communicable Diseases 03/2011
Languages
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
License Mental Health Counselor
Soul Ambition
03.2025 - Current
License Mental Health Counselor/Co-Responder Program Manager
Lakeview Center
06.2023 - Current
Victim Advocate/Outpatient Counselor II
02.2021 - 06.2023
Marriage, Couple and Family Counselor - Intern
Key Bridge Treatment
02.2020 - 11.2020
Medical Support Assistant
Department of the Army | Tripler Army Medical Center
08.2019 - 12.2019
Department of the Navy Security Officer
Department of the Navy
03.2019 - 08.2019
Transportation Security Officer
Department of Homeland Security | Transportation Security Administration
09.2016 - 03.2019
Children’s Service Worker (CSW) Case Manager
Phelps County Children’s Division
11.2014 - 01.2016
Teaching Assistant
University of Kansas
01.2014 - 09.2015
Commissioned Security Officer
Allied Barton Security
11.2011 - 07.2012
Commissioned Security Officer
TW & Company
02.2011 - 10.2011
American Military University
Bachelor's Degree from Criminal Justice
Walden University
Master's Degree from Marriage Couple, Family and Children Counseling