Sara Kestell
Silverton
Summary
To obtain a job in the mental health field, to further my experience towards my pursuit to become a licensed professional clinical counselor.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
QMHP in the Co-occurring Disorder Program
Oregon Department of Corrections, Columbia River Correctional Institution
07.2024 - Current
- Member of the clinical team of the Co-Occurring Disorder Unit at CRCI.
- Initial assessment and ASAM upon entry into program.
- Develop individualized treatment plans.
- Weekly/biweekly individual counseling sessions.
- Managing a caseload of up to 25 AICs. -group facilitation.
- Help develop curriculum for a pilot group teaching about auditory hallucinations.
- Weekly clinical meetings to collaborate on care.
- Diagnostic clarification.
- Identify and coordinate services and resources client's need for their release.
- Developing relapse prevention plans with the clients.
- Develop a Release Plan with clients, to communicate the client's level of functioning to the release counselors and Parole and Probation.
- Develop a transition/discharge summary that is sent to Parole and Probation.
Forensic Chemical Dependency Counselor and Therapist
Golden Legacy Care Center
02.2023 - 06.2024
- Assess new intakes for chemical dependency issues
- Provide counseling services to those found Guilty, Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity of major crimes, who are also diagnosed with severe mental illness like schizophrenia and personality disorders
- Wrote curriculum for the chemical dependency module of a conditional release program
- Group facilitation
- Develop individualized treatment plans
- Write court reports to provide information on the status of the patients
- Work with an interdisciplinary clinical treatment team to collaborate on patients
Utilization Review Specialist
AM Healthcare/Inneractions IOP
02.2022 - 11.2023
- Audit client charts
- Determine medical necessity for substance use and mental health treatment
- Ensure proper insurance authorization for clients to receive services
- Schedule necessary assessments and reviews with therapists and case managers
- Confirm that client charts are in compliance with all ASAM criteria
- Coach clinical staff of deficits in client charts
Counselor
Safety Consultant Specialist, Newhall, CA
Newhall, CA
01.2022 - 01.2023
- Facilitate group counseling sessions
- Facilitate education courses
- Admit new clients
- Case management
- Build treatment plans for new clients
- One on one sessions with clients
- Discharge clients
Recovery Worker
Action Family Counseling, Santa Clarita, CA
Santa Clarita, CA
10.2021 - 02.2022
- Conducted intake interviews for new clients
- Facilitated adult and adolescent intensive outpatient program sessions
- Built treatment plans for clients
- Case management
- Conducted utilization reviews for clients
- Held one on one counseling sessions for clients
- Recorded progress notes for all clients
- Prepared discharge paperwork for clients, also finding referrals for clients who stepped down their level of care
- Facilitated conflict resolution between clients
General Manager
Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewing Co., Valencia, CA
Valencia, CA
01.2018 - 10.2021
- Oversee whole house operations
- Manage a staff of 60+ employees
- Increased moral, by opening communication between employees and management
- Develop and implement new menus, every three months
- Interviewed and trained all new employees
- Transformed team from marginal to high profitability
- Acted as liaison between ownership and team execution
- Developed and implemented brand new training program
Recovery Worker
Action Family Counseling, Piru, CA
Piru, CA
01.2020 - 03.2020
- Conducted intake interviews for new clients
- Case management
- Lead group counseling sessions
- Built treatment plans for clients
- Conducted utilization reviews for clients
- Held one on one counseling sessions for clients
- Recorded progress notes for all clients
- Prepared discharge paperwork for clients, also finding referrals for clients who stepped down their level of care
- Facilitated conflict resolution between residential clients
General Manager
Red Robin, Palmdale, Oxnard, Valencia, Topanga, Glendale, and Pembroke Pines
01.2012 - 01.2018
- Managed entire restaurant operations
- Oversaw hiring and training of all position
- P&L and budget analysis
- Weekly inventory and troubleshooting all costs of goods
- Budgeting and executing all repair and maintenance
- Training and developing new managers
- Testing corporate initiatives including new service models, menu items, and training programs
Education
Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling -
Grand Canyon University
05-2024
Substance Abuse Counselor Certificate Program - undefined
University of the Pacific
StocktonB.S. - Psychology
Cal State Northridge
undefined
Institute of Culinary Education at College of the Canyons
Skills
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Building rapport
- Great communicator
- Empathy
- Compassion
- Passionate about people
- Collaborating with a team
Certification
- Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor I- MHACBO
- Qualified Mental Health Professional-MHACBO
- Associate Professional Counselor-OBLPCT
Timeline
QMHP in the Co-occurring Disorder Program
Oregon Department of Corrections, Columbia River Correctional Institution
07.2024 - Current
Forensic Chemical Dependency Counselor and Therapist
Golden Legacy Care Center
02.2023 - 06.2024
Utilization Review Specialist
AM Healthcare/Inneractions IOP
02.2022 - 11.2023
Counselor
Safety Consultant Specialist, Newhall, CA
01.2022 - 01.2023
Recovery Worker
Action Family Counseling, Santa Clarita, CA
10.2021 - 02.2022
Recovery Worker
Action Family Counseling, Piru, CA
01.2020 - 03.2020
General Manager
Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewing Co., Valencia, CA
01.2018 - 10.2021
General Manager
Red Robin, Palmdale, Oxnard, Valencia, Topanga, Glendale, and Pembroke Pines
01.2012 - 01.2018
Substance Abuse Counselor Certificate Program - undefined
University of the Pacific
B.S. - Psychology
Cal State Northridge
undefined
Institute of Culinary Education at College of the Canyons
Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling -
Grand Canyon University