Rhonda Septelka

Counseling Manager
Montgomery County Women’s Center | November 2023 – Present

• Provide individual and family counseling for survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking utilizing EMDR, Trauma Focused CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.
• Facilitate support and psycho-educational groups on topics such as parenting, personal empowerment, domestic violence, substance abuse, and suicide prevention..
• Provide quarterly in-service training to employees and volunteers; manage program and supervisory responsibilities including orientation of new staff, performance evaluations, and administrative oversight.
• Supervise counseling students on LPC or LMFT track during masters level practicum and internship providing guidance, feedback, and evaluation.
• Supervise a comprehensive clinical team comprised of therapists, interns, victim advocates, and case managers, providing guidance, training, and conducting employee evaluations to ensure high-quality care and adherence to ethical and professional standards.
• Ensured compliance with ethical standards by regularly reviewing case documentation and providing feedback to counselors.
• Developed and updated clinical policies, procedures, treatment manuals and training curriculum.
• Recruited, hired and trained all staff, providing direct supervision, ongoing staff development and continuing education to employees.
• Maintained working knowledge of cognitive behavioral therapy programs and situational applications.
• Built strong relationships with community partners, facilitating referrals and resource sharing for clients in need.

• Provide individual, Play Therapy, and Family Counseling for children, adolescents and adults, utilizing a variety evidence based treatments including, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Solution Focused Therapy; Motivational Interviewing; Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT); Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Sand tray and Art Therapy Modalities
• Complete intake assessment process; Maintain electronic files and documentation in compliance with corporate, state and federal standards and HIPAA laws and procedures including but not limited to case notes; continuous individualize treatment planning; and reviewing of progress to ensure quality and effective treatment
• Engage in monthly peer consultation with practice providers to address clinical and administrative processes and ethical standards
• Create and employ marketing strategies to advertise and produce successful referral process.

• Provide individual, Play Therapy, and Family Counseling for children, adolescents and adults, utilizing a variety of techniques including, EMDR; Trauma Focused CBT; Solution Focused Therapy; Motivational Interviewing
• Provided play therapy to children and adolescence using Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) approach and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Sand tray and Art Therapy; EMDR
• Developed individual treatment plans and conducted psychosocial, danger, and abuse assessments; suicidal assessments; and maintained client files and case notes for a case load of 25-30 clients.

• Provided Individual Substance Abuse Counseling CBT; Solution Focused Therapy; Motivational Interviewing; Case Management for TDCJ clients and CPS referrals
• Facilitated support and psycho-educational groups; including parenting education, financial literacy, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS prevention education
• Maintained up to date client files and documentation for a case load of 30-45 clients
• Conducted initial intake assessment to determine individual treatment needs from clients seeking substance abuse treatment as required per program
• Maintains documentation of treatment in CMBHS (DSHS) and other client files as required by funding sources
• Monitors and notifies Director of potential psychological crises with individual clients that may affect the operation of the program or the facility, or may necessitate further intervention.

• Provided individual and family counseling for survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and human trafficking, utilizing a variety of techniques including, EMDR; Trauma Focused CBT; Solution Focused Therapy; Motivational Interviewing
• Provided play therapy to children and adolescence using Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) approach and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT); Sand tray and Art Therapy; EMDR
• Facilitated a variety of support and psycho-educational groups including topics such as: parenting, personal empowerment program curriculum (PEP), domestic violence and sexual abuse education and prevention, substance abuse, suicide, and divorce recovery
• Developed individual treatment plans and conducted psychosocial, danger, and abuse assessments; maintained client files and case notes for a case load of 25-30 clients
• Provided quarterly in-service training to employees and volunteers to develop professional skills
• Provided case management, financial education and coaching, and life skills groups for women and children abuse survivors in a transitional housing program
• Program management and ensure the timely completion of all supervisory responsibilities including, but not limited to, orientation of new staff and interns; volunteers; and Children's Activities Coordinator; performance evaluations of program staff; reviewing and approving time sheets, leave requests, and expenses.