Sarah Holigan LCSW
Midlothian ,Texas
Summary
Compassionate and focused clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience, offering exceptional assessment, crisis intervention, and discharge planning skills. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage crises and provide appropriate therapeutic interventions, including grief counseling and crisis intervention therapy, in emotionally charged environments. Skilled in rapidly developing rapport with individuals from diverse cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. Prepared to deliver impactful support and counseling services as a clinical social work professional. Extensive experience in addressing complex needs and enhancing client well-being through a collaborative approach and adaptive problem-solving. Specialized expertise in crisis intervention and mental health support.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Social Worker on RIGHT Care Team
Parkland Heath & Hospital System
01.2018 - Current
- Inaugural member of the team that originated as a grant funded program to aid in a therapeutic disposition of crisis situations and foster improved relationships between law enforcement and the community with a focus on citizens living with mental illness
- Perform psychosocial assessments to ensure that patient needs are properly identified, and appropriate interventions are integrated into the plan of care
- Assesses patient's and family's psychosocial risk factors through evaluation of prior functioning levels, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction to illness and ability to cope, understanding of present circumstances and patient/family priorities/needs
- Diagnose and treat patients with mental health issues, dual-diagnoses and coexisting disorders using DSM-IV criteria
- Assist clients to develop new coping mechanisms and techniques to drive behavior modification
- Present at organized community outreach events aimed at increasing awareness about available mental health services and reducing the stigma associated with seeking help
- Establish and nurture key relationships with community members to form valuable partnerships
- Reduce hospital readmissions by implementing effective disposition planning and connecting clients to appropriate community resources
- Maintain organized clinical documentation, treatment plans, and referrals
Psychiatric Social Worker in Psychiatric ED
Parkland Health and Hospital Systems
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Conducted comprehensive psychosocial assessments to accurately identify client needs and strengths, informing appropriate interventions and services
- Developed and implemented detailed pre-discharge plans for clients soon to be reintegrated into community.
- Presented clinical documentation and observations to interdisciplinary team
- Discharge planning
- Community referrals
- Crisis intervention
- Supportive and compassionate counseling
Emergency Department Social Worker II
Baylor University Medical Center
02.2003 - 01.2017
- As a Social Worker II, I was a member of the multidisciplinary health care team whose role was to empower the patient to effectively utilize medical care in order to reach their optimal level of health
- Assess psychosocial and cultural needs of patients and their families to establish culturally appropriate plan of care and discharge planning
- Identified member of the trauma team to perform duties such as identifying patient, locating family and providing support to patient and/or families
- Provide direct, in-person crisis intervention to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and aggravated assault
- Collaborate and maintain relationships with various levels of law enforcement (Local Law Enforcement, Texas Rangers, DEA and FBI) as necessary on behalf of the victim
- Liasion with Dallas County Intimate Partner Violence Fatality Review Team and Dallas County Child Death Review Team
- Perform administrative tasks and duties related to services provided by the Comprehensive Care Management Department
- Work patiently with persons of various and diverse ethnicities, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds while maintaining an empathic and respectful demeanor
- Liaison between medical team and MAT on difficult behavioral health patients and their transitions to psychiatric settings
- Maintain proper documentation and confidentiality while acting in a professional clinical role
Education
Parenting Coordination/Facilitation: Interventions for High Conflict Families training -
Master of Science of Social Work -
University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, Texas01.2004
Bachelor of Social Work -
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas01.2002
Family Mediation Training -
Dispute Mediation Services Inc.
Dallas, Texas11.2010
Mediation Training -
Dispute Mediation Services Inc.
Dallas, Texas09.2010
Skills
- Clinical assessment skills for mental health and emergency psychiatric needs
- Ethical dilemmas
- Administrative & Caseload Management
- Family Dynamics
- Regulatory compliance
- Working on a multi-disciplinary team
- Crisis Intervention
- Effective Written and Oral Communication
- Problem Solving/Making Appropriate Recommendations
- Motivational Interviewing
- Conflict de-escalation
- HIPAA Regulations
- Trauma-informed care
- Suicide Risk Assessment
- High conflict resolution
- Organization and time management
Certification
- LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Texas, #37998
- CPR Heart Saver, expires 5/28/2026
- SAMA, expires 7/31/2025
- CJIS, expires 9/23/2025
- Motivational Interviewing
References
Available upon request
Training
- Mediation Training, 40 hours, Dispute Mediation Services Inc., Dallas, Texas, 09/01/10
- Family Mediation Training, 30 hours, Dispute Mediation Services Inc., Dallas, Texas, 11/01/10
- Parenting Coordination/Facilitation: Interventions for High Conflict Families training, Aaron Robb, M.Ed., NCC, LPC-S, Bradley S. Craig, LMSW-IPR, CFLE
Timeline
Clinical Social Worker on RIGHT Care Team
Parkland Heath & Hospital System
01.2018 - Current
Psychiatric Social Worker in Psychiatric ED
Parkland Health and Hospital Systems
01.2017 - 01.2018
Emergency Department Social Worker II
Baylor University Medical Center
02.2003 - 01.2017
Master of Science of Social Work -
University of Texas at Arlington
Bachelor of Social Work -
University of North Texas
Family Mediation Training -
Dispute Mediation Services Inc.
Mediation Training -
Dispute Mediation Services Inc.
- LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Texas, #37998
- CPR Heart Saver, expires 5/28/2026
- SAMA, expires 7/31/2025
- CJIS, expires 9/23/2025
- Motivational Interviewing
Parenting Coordination/Facilitation: Interventions for High Conflict Families training -
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