Hi, I’m
STACY RIES
Mount Pleasant,United States
Summary
Over twenty five years of work experience, including over sixteen years in counseling, with four years in supervisory positions. Possess a Master of Science in Behavioral Science / Psychology; Member of Psi Chi National Honor Society. Knowledge & understanding of military culture & the dynamics of & challenges faced by veterans & their families. Skilled in counseling soldiers & veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, and/or other psychological disorders. Experience utilizing psychosocial & educational test batteries such as the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Adult Basic and Literacy Education (ABLE) Evaluation, & the Career Occupational Preference Scale. HIPAA Certified. Awarded for outstanding performance while counseling Soldiers suffering from mental illness and/or physical injury. Excellent written and oral communication skills, and extensive experience in public speaking & instructing classroom events for groups of up to 300 individuals. Proficient in Automated Progress Tracking Systems, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook & Internet Explorer. Experienced in the preparation for and conducting of major activities such as informational workshops & briefings designed to educate individuals on the benefits available to them as veterans. Able to apply administrative program management skills to effectively administer and coordinate various community-based programs.
Skilled Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist offering 19 years of demonstrated success in vocational and career planning. Strong dedication to client advocacy with proven history of implementing resources to meet individual objectives.
Demonstrates strong analytical, communication, and teamwork skills, with proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments. Eager to contribute to team success and further develop professional skills. Brings positive attitude and commitment to continuous learning and growth.
Equipped with strong problem-solving abilities, willingness to learn, and excellent communication skills. Poised to contribute to team success and achieve positive results. Ready to tackle new challenges and advance organizational objectives with dedication and enthusiasm.
Results-oriented achiever with proven ability to exceed targets and drive success in fast-paced environments. Combines strategic thinking with hands-on experience to deliver impactful solutions and enhance organizational performance.
Overview
19
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Work History
Veterans Health Administration
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist – GS 1715-11
11.2011 - Current
Job overview
- Provide therapeutic services to Veterans whose employability or job adjustment is impaired by severe physical, mental, emotional or other disability, or by lack of basic education or job skills.
- Independently carry out a wide range of difficult cases involving special procedures.
- Work closely with members of the interdisciplinary team including physicians, state vocational rehabilitation counselors, therapists, social workers, peer specialists, and other care providers within the facility, training centers, and placement services throughout the community.
- Determine the vocational goals and objectives of the Veteran based on referral from a professional staff member or by interviewing the Veteran.
- Determines the areas of vocational interests, and decides what services such as job seeking skills training, resume development, or interview skills training the Veteran may require to successfully obtain suitable employment or providing exploratory training programs to determine the individual's work capacity.
- Utilize the practices of the Evidence Based Models, such as measured base care (MBC), to provide individualized job finding and job retention services to patients with significant barriers to employment.
- Conduct vocational assessments using observational and interviewing techniques to evaluate vocational problems associated with psychiatric and substance abuse patients.
- Assess each participant’s skills and limitations, and match these to the best placement fit that is available.
- Analyze mental and physical disabilities of each veteran to identify how those barriers affect motivation, adjustment to training and difficulty in employment placement.
- Assess each individual veteran’s training needs to meet the client's vocational goals and objectives.
- Administer the placement of all transitional employment positions in the Compensated Work Therapy (CWT) Transitional Work Experience (TWE) program.
- Act as the primary contact with transitional employment supervisors and present a positive image, requiring clear and consistent communication skills, negotiation skills, and conflict resolution of immediate and impending issues that could jeopardize the therapeutic goals of the participant and the program.
- Provide case management for all veterans participating in CWT/TWE; monitor the aspects of care relating to abstinence from drugs and alcohol through random urine drug screens (UDS) and aftercare participation compliance.
- Note participant progress, record attendance and participation, and write progress notes in the participant’s clinical records.
- Develop and implement individualized vocational treatment plans designed to address areas of need such as legal or financial issues, computer skills training, resume development, interview preparation, & assistance with work search.
- Coordinate and oversee the day-to-day activities of all patients that are participating in the CWT/TWE program; this involves assessment of patient’s strengths and barriers to any transitional placement and the insight to provide accommodations as needed to assist in the transitional employment placement process.
- Act as the liaison between the transitional employment supervisor, the patient, and the CWT/TWE program.
- Provide therapeutic interventions relating to job site and work behaviors, assess and determine at risk/safety issues in the work environment, and assist the patient in the coordination of his or her total care as it relates to the work environment.
- Familiar with other medical staff within the hospital, family members, and community resources that may be involved and utilized in the patients total treatment plan.
- Utilize Mental Health Suite to develop and update comprehensive interdisciplinary treatment plans for all patients participating in CWT/TWE.
Army Career & Alumni Program
Counselor
11.2006 - 10.2011
Job overview
- Provide employment transition counseling services to veterans, soldiers & dependants.
- Conduct intake Interviews with individuals preparing to separate from the Armed Forces to identify their goals & needs for transitioning into the civilian workforce.
- Facilitate skills assessments & the development of realistic career objectives.
- Develop individualized plans to overcome obstacles & achieve goals.
- Guide clients through self-exploration regarding their qualifications, skills, & experience to help them understand their worth to potential employers.
- Work one-on-one with clients to provide assistance and information on building a competitive resume, developing interview skills, obtaining career information and completing a successful job search.
- Through outreach efforts, link support services within the community with Soldiers, Veterans, & Family Members.
- Prepare needs assessments and service delivery reports.
- Chosen as the sole counselor assigned to the Soldier & Family Assistance Center (SFAC); Extensive experience working with Soldiers suffering from mental illness, with the most common diagnoses being PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, & Anxiety/Depression.
- Entered client-specific & workload data into an automated database to facilitate the active management of each client’s progression.
- Recorded detailed notes following counseling sessions, & monitored the progress of clients throughout their participation in the program to ensure all necessary services were provided.
- Protected the security of personal identifying & sensitive information; HIPAA certified.
- Made contacts within the community to research various services available to assist clients & increase their chances for success.
- Developed specialized spreadsheets designed to ensure that all Soldiers and family members were provided with mandatory ACAP services, resulting in a 50% increase in the rate of completion.
- Appointed by the Contract Installation Manager as the Counselor assigned to the Soldier & Family Assistance Center (SFAC) due to an extended knowledge of the Medical Evaluation Board (MEB) process and issues faced by disabled veterans and their families during the transition from military to civilian life.
- Wrote Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for ACAP operations at the Schofield Barracks SFAC.
- Collected, maintained, and analyzed data for planning and reporting purposes in accordance with governing program guidance.
- Conducted classes designed to inform US Army Soldiers, Veterans, & Family Members of various benefits & services available to them, and provided referral information for service providers; explained eligibility criterion & applicable regulations for available services.
- Developed course curriculum for specialized seminars, & instructed seminars for classes of up to 90 people.
Education
CAMERON UNIVERSITYLawton, OK
Master's Degree from Behavioral Science
05.2006
University Overview
- Studied a broad range of general Counseling techniques, theories and skills.
- GPA: 3.72 of a maximum 4
Sweet Briar CollegeSweet Briar, VA
Bachelor's Degree from Psychology
05.2004
University Overview
- Honors: Cum Laude
- Dean's List
- Psi Chi National Honor Society
- GPA: 3.57 of a maximum 4
Skills
- Expertise in counseling techniques
- Interview preparation coaching
- Integrity in professional conduct
- Job placement expertise
Certification
- Army Career & Alumni Program Counselor, Serco Inc., 2007
- HIPAA Certified, 2010
Affiliations
Psi Chi National Honor Society, 2004
Additional Information - Summary
Over twenty five years of work experience, including over sixteen years in counseling, with four years in supervisory positions. Possess a Master of Science in Behavioral Science / Psychology; Member of Psi Chi National Honor Society. Knowledge & understanding of military culture & the dynamics of & challenges faced by veterans & their families. Skilled in counseling soldiers & veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, and/or other psychological disorders.
Military Service
US Army, Fort Bragg, NC 1997 - 2000
Timeline
Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist – GS 1715-11
Veterans Health Administration
11.2011 - Current
Counselor
Army Career & Alumni Program
11.2006 - 10.2011
Sweet Briar College
Bachelor's Degree from Psychology
CAMERON UNIVERSITY
Master's Degree from Behavioral Science
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