Shanti Balam Belaustegui Pockell

I am a bilingual (English/Spanish) Associate Therapist candidate who values a client-centered, trauma-informed, and collaborative approach. My experience in education, social justice, and community work informs how I engage diverse perspectives and create spaces where clients feel seen, supported, and empowered. I emphasize building clients’ strengths while navigating challenges with compassion, flexibility, and cultural awareness.

BILINGUAL SCHOOL-BASED THERAPIST TRAINEE | 2024-2025

Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) - Placement at Dover Elementary, San Pablo, CA

• Delivered trauma-informed, client-centered, and developmentally appropriate individual, group, and family therapy in English and Spanish.
• Conducted biopsychosocial assessments and created treatment plans addressing trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, peer conflict, and neurodivergence.
• Provided crisis intervention, including risk assessments, safety planning, and de-escalation.
• Collaborated with caregivers, teachers, specialists, mental health staff, and administrators to ensure coordinated, multidisciplinary care.
• Facilitated caregiver and staff involvement in assessment, treatment planning, and progress reviews.
• Offered strengths-based coaching and consultation to caregivers and school staff to enhance student support.
• Delivered case management services to connect families with community resources and supports.
• Maintained timely clinical documentation and complied with mandated reporting requirements.

• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) – Completed training to strengthen trauma-informed interventions.
• Mandated Reporter Training – Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County; compliant with California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act.
• BACR Weekly School-Based Therapy Training – Bay Area Community Resources, San Pablo, CA; weekly training in family systems, collaterals, trauma-informed care, neurodiversity, and risk assessment/safety planning.
• Narrative Therapy Workshop – Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA; expanded knowledge and application of narrative therapy techniques.
• Expressive Arts Therapy Workshop: Poetry Therapy – Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA; explored expressive arts modalities to enhance clinical practice.