Samantha Balducci
Lawrenceville,NJ
Summary
Experienced mental health and research professional holding a BA in Psychology and an MA in Counseling, with extensive knowledge in up-to-date therapeutic practices. Also authored two journal publications focusing on the adoption triad and unique challenges faced within this population. Looking to pursue a PhD to further advance knowledge in the field.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Mental Health Therapist
LifeBack
01.2022 - Current
- Conduct thorough intake assessments & ensure individuals are appropriate for outpatient level of care by conducting risk screenings.
- Provide individualized, culturally aware treatment in both individual & group settings with a CBT & solution-focused lens, while also incorporating other modalities that are informed by current research.
- Create safety plans and navigate risk management with high risk clients, & help provide referrals & other resources when higher level of care is needed.
- Work with individuals & families with a variety of diagnoses, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism, I/DDS, SUDS & co-occurring diagnoses.
- Oversee weekly quality assurance projects & audits to ensure protocol is being followed from both clients & clinicians.
Intake Specialist & Supervisor
Lifeback
10.2021 - Current
- Screen individuals prior to beginning intake process to ensure appropriateness for program & assess for initial risk.
- Calmly handle crisis situations & deescalate any altercations that may occur, both in person & over the phone.
- Check insurances & work with billing team to provide out-of-network fees to potential new clients & advocate for clients when needed.
- Orient new clients to facility & policies, & answer any questions they may while representing the leadership team.
- Oversee intake department consisting of 3 intake specialists and voice needs or concerns to other leadership team members.
- Take part in quarterly meetings as part of the company's leadership team and work together to ensure best practice at the company.
Graduate Assistant
Montclair State University (MSU)
08.2019 - 06.2021
- Worked as a graduate assistant under the supervision of Dr. Amanda Baden, conducing research relating to adoption and the adoption triad.
- Was responsible for writing annotated bibliographies and literature reviews, as well as staying up to date on current trends/developments in the field by reading empirical articles and meta-analyses.
- Participated in quantitative and qualitative research, & was part of the publishing of 2 journal articles.
- Helped coordinate weekly research team meetings, and navigated the transition of being virtual during COVID.
Research Assistant
TCNJ's Alcohol Lab
08.2018 - 05.2019
- Regularly participated in over 100 lab hours involving research around alcohol abuse, addiction, behavioral economics, and binge drinking.
- Helped create and execute an experiment on binge drinking in Long Evan rats.
- Trained in ethanol and sucrose solution preparation, animal handling, and loading and unloading operant chambers and home cages.
- Worked with 10 other lab members to ensure the animals and selves were safe and working efficiently in potentially dangerous environments.
- Completed multiple Synthesis & Analysis papers on topics mentioned above.
Research Assistant
TCNJ's Political Psychology Lab
08.2017 - 12.2017
- Created research proposals and ran experiments on different topics, such as on moral framing and climate change.
- Used Qualtrics to create surveys for online distribution, generated literature reviews, searched for proper measures/scales to fit our research, and used SPSS to analyze data.
- Worked with a team to develop papers and presentations on the found results.
Graduate Intern
Lifeback
01.2021 - 12.2021
- Facilitated a 3-hour relapse prevention group with 8-10 clients once a week at intense outpatient level.
- Had individual caseload of 5 clients, both adolescents and adults, with co-occurring mental health and SUD diagnoses
- Conducted intake assessments weekly and completed case management tasks when needed.
- Developed treatment plans for clients and input diagnoses into Nextstep and NJSAMS.
Undergraduate Intern
Lifeback
08.2017 - 05.2019
- Sat in on a preteen/young teen therapy group and an addiction relapse prevention group once a week
- Completed up to 25 treatment plans a week and input diagnoses into Nextstep and NJSAMS
- Completed case management when needed
Education
Master of Arts - Counseling; Addictions Concentration
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ12.2021
Bachelor of Arts - Clinical & Counseling Psychology
The College of New Jersey
Ewing, NJ05.2019
Skills
- Communication & Public Speaking Skills
- Leadership Skills
- Active Listener
- Compassionate
- SPSS
- Qualtrics
- Microsoft
- NJSAMS
- Canvas
- Canva
Certification
- National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. (NBCC)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), NJ State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy
Volunteer & Other Work Experience
- Head Swim Coach, Special Olympics NJ, 2020-2021
- Special Needs Aid, State of NJ, 2020-2021
- VP Community Service, Kappa Delta Sorority, 2016-2017
- Recovery Advocate, Collegiate Recovery Community, 2018-2019
- Tutor, TCNJ, 2016-2017
- Swim Instructor, Caldwell Community Center, 2015-2020
Professional Publications & Presentations
Publications:
- Baden, A. L., Sharma, S. M., Balducci, S., Ellis, L., Randall, R., Kwon, D., & Harrington, E. S. (2022). A trauma-informed substance use disorder prevention program for transracially adopted children and adolescents. Child Abuse & Neglect, 130, 105598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105598
- Baden, A. L., Sharma, S. M., Adams, L. M., Randall, R., Agrusti, M. L., Harrington, E. S., Kobus, A. M., Jasmin, M., Kwon, D., Nsenkyire, K., Carias, R., & Balducci, S. (2024). “How could you give your child away?” Birth parents’ experiences of microaggressions. The Counseling Psychologist, 52(6), 960–990. https://doi.org/10.1177/00110000241265012
Posters:
- Sharma, S. M., Baden, A. L., Shand-Lubbers, R., Kwon, D., & Balducci, S. (2020, February 1). Cross-cultural counseling: The graduate student perspective [Poster presentation]. 37th Columbia University Teachers College Winter Roundtable, New York City, NY.
Honor & Professional Societies
- Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, 2019
- Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society, 2020 - Present
- MSU Psi Chi International Honor Society, 2017 - Present
References
Available Upon Request
Timeline
Mental Health Therapist
LifeBack
01.2022 - Current
Intake Specialist & Supervisor
Lifeback
10.2021 - Current
Graduate Intern
Lifeback
01.2021 - 12.2021
Graduate Assistant
Montclair State University (MSU)
08.2019 - 06.2021
Research Assistant
TCNJ's Alcohol Lab
08.2018 - 05.2019
Research Assistant
TCNJ's Political Psychology Lab
08.2017 - 12.2017
Undergraduate Intern
Lifeback
08.2017 - 05.2019
Master of Arts - Counseling; Addictions Concentration
Montclair State University
Bachelor of Arts - Clinical & Counseling Psychology
The College of New Jersey
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