Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
Generic

Sara Chinchuck

Chatsworth,CA

Summary

Dynamic mental health professional with a strong foundation in care coordination and patient support, recognized for driving collaborative team efforts that yield impactful results. Expertise in crisis management and patient advocacy, complemented by a proven ability to navigate complex healthcare systems and enhance patient outcomes. Strong interpersonal skills and adaptability foster a commitment to continuous improvement in mental health services, particularly for the unhoused population. Consistently reliable and responsive to the evolving needs of high-pressure environments, ensuring effective support and care delivery.

Overview

9
9
years of professional experience

Work History

Lead Mental Health Care Coordinator

Hope the Mission
10.2022 - 09.2025
  • Provided mental health services to unhoused individuals with co-occurring diagnoses and unhoused families with children. Facilitated couples counseling and family reunification sessions.
  • Enhanced interdisciplinary communication by facilitating regular meetings for care team members.
  • Provided crisis intervention services, deescalating situations and connecting clients with necessary resources.
  • Designed and implemented a 10-week Housing Readiness program focused on daily living skills, coping strategies, and resource navigation. Program included a resource fair and graduation ceremony to promote participant pride and celebrate achievements.
  • Developed strong relationships with local service providers to create a robust referral network for clients in need.
  • Assessed client needs through thorough interviews and evaluations, creating individualized care plans accordingly.
  • Advocated on behalf of clients during treatment planning meetings, ensuring their voices were heard throughout the decision-making process.
  • Adhered to ethical and legal standards for confidentiality, protecting clients' privacy.
  • Attended regular supervision and continued education to maintain professional competence and ethical standards.
  • Conducted crisis interventions to assess immediate needs and provide support, resources, and referrals. Administered life-saving interventions, including but not limited to Narcan, during observed overdoses.
  • Developed goal-oriented psychoeducational and activity therapy groups to improve clients' level of functioning.

Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee

California Family Counseling Center
05.2021 - 07.2022
  • Conducted intake and assessments to formulate treatment plan and manage client records.
  • Rendered mental health and counseling services to adults and children clients, focusing on development of healthy relationships.
  • Collaborated with other mental health professionals to create comprehensive treatment plans.
  • Maintained accurate and thoroughly documented notes and client records in accordance with licensing standards.
  • Delivered counseling services to families and couples dealing with familial issues.
  • Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic.

Behavior Technician

Autism Spectrum Therapies
03.2019 - 03.2022
  • Observed, monitored and recorded problem behaviors through accurate behavior-consequence data collection.
  • Worked as part of collaborative team to address changing needs of children and families.
  • Conducted functional behavior assessments, functional analysis, preference assessments and assessments of basic learning and language skills to identify target behaviors and purpose of behaviors.
  • Exercised physical dexterity to safely implement crisis management interventions and therapeutic holds.
  • Promoted positive interactions of children with Autism by using visual supports, simplifying communication and utilizing stress scales to turn emotions into concrete concepts.
  • Observed and monitored client behavior and responses to treatment.

Behavior Technician

Autism Learning Partners
03.2017 - 03.2019
  • Observed, monitored and recorded problem behaviors through accurate behavior-consequence data collection.
  • Conducted functional behavior assessments, functional analysis, preference assessments and assessments of basic learning and language skills to identify target behaviors and purpose of behaviors.
  • Exercised physical dexterity to safely implement crisis management interventions and therapeutic holds.
  • Promoted positive interactions of children with Autism by using visual supports, simplifying communication and utilizing stress scales to turn emotions into concrete concepts.
  • Co-facilitated goal-oriented social skills group to improve clients' level of functioning.
  • Offered active guidance to families adjusting to life with loved one on autism spectrum.
  • Worked as part of collaborative team to address changing needs of children and families.

Education

Master of Arts - Marriage And Family Therapy

Philips Graduate Institute
Chatsworth, CA
05.2022

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

California State University Northridge
Northridge, CA
05.2020

Associate of Applied Science - Psychology

Los Angeles Pierce College
Woodland Hills, CA
05.2018

Skills

  • Crisis Intervention & De-escalation – Skilled in managing high-stress situations with a calm, solution-focused approach
  • Evidence-Based Therapeutic Techniques – Proficient in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused approaches
  • Clinical Assessment & Treatment Planning – Experienced in behavioral assessments, client goal setting, and developing individualized treatment plans
  • Substance Use & Mental Health Support – Knowledgeable in co-occurring disorders, substance use awareness, and harm reduction strategies
  • Adaptability & Reliability – Self-motivated, dependable, and flexible in dynamic environments
  • Team Collaboration & Problem-Solving – Works effectively in multidisciplinary teams; excels in identifying and implementing client-centered solutions
  • Technical Proficiency – Experienced with Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems and Microsoft Office Suite
  • Certifications – CPR, AED, and Narcan administration trained

Accomplishments

  • Developed a 10-week Housing Readiness course, successfully implemented across five consecutive cohorts before expansion to additional sites, each hosting two further cohorts.
  • Facilitated events and group sessions to promote community building, emotional regulation, social skills development, and rapport with clients.
  • Responded to emergency situations by administering life-saving measures, utilizing CPR certification and Narcan training.

Timeline

Lead Mental Health Care Coordinator

Hope the Mission
10.2022 - 09.2025

Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee

California Family Counseling Center
05.2021 - 07.2022

Behavior Technician

Autism Spectrum Therapies
03.2019 - 03.2022

Behavior Technician

Autism Learning Partners
03.2017 - 03.2019

Master of Arts - Marriage And Family Therapy

Philips Graduate Institute

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

California State University Northridge

Associate of Applied Science - Psychology

Los Angeles Pierce College

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE