Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Susanna L. PRENSNER

Colorado Springs,CO

Summary

Professional with robust background in directing and managing private practice, consistently driving success through strategic planning, therapeutic interventions and execution. Adept at implementing innovative solutions and use of evidence based practices to educate parents, families and help youth heal from trauma. Known for fostering teamwork and adapting to evolving business needs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and community connection. Providing services that yield positive outcomes.

Overview

24
24
years of professional experience

Work History

Director/Owner of Private Practice

Health Healing Hope Ministries LLC
12.2018 - Current
  • Provide clinical therapy for 30 youth, young adults ages 5-25 and support families:
  • Identification of emotional trauma.
  • Talk and equine therapy.
  • Strategies used:
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Right to Right brain therapy prevention
  • Equine assisted therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral therapy
  • Grounding techniques/sensory play
  • Family intervention and strategy planning
  • Direct care and support for youth in community, family, peer and school related issues.
  • Oversee and collaborate with CU Colorado Springs University and other Universities, training and assisting interns to work as mentors, life skills workers, and therapists at HHH Ministries.
  • Use Equine Therapy/Ministry to work with youth.
  • Collaborate with community teams to include, Guardian Ad Litem, Department of Human Services, CASA, Wrap Around.
  • Supervision of unlicensed Social Workers and mental health degree program employees.
  • Use of medical EHR system, note documentation, supervision forms/reviewing of notes, and regular submission of insurance billing. Strong understanding of therapeutic codes.
  • Diagnosis
  • Mental Health Assessments to include:
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Trauma
  • Drug and alcohol
  • Collaborate with other local faith-based organizations committed to working on Legislation State by State on topics such as pornography and social media.
  • Contracted with the Department of Human Services to provide therapeutic intervention to youth under the direct care of the State.
  • December 2018-Current (Full Time)

Medical Social Worker, Case manager/Social Worker, NICU/PEDIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER

Penrose St Francis
10.2015 - 05.2018
  • Assess any pediatric related child abuse/drug exposed/domestic violence situations on unit.
  • Assist families in need of community resources.
  • Support families in difficult situations.
  • Work closely with all state affiliated agencies that may be involved such as Dept of Human Services, Foster care and adoption organizations, Long Term Care, SSI application assistance, and APS (Adult Protection Services).
  • Collaborate with in hospital and outer hospital medical staff such as physicians, neonatologists, nursing staff and other important medical providers.
  • Provide case management and discharge services to differing units to assist with discharge planning.
  • Drug and alcohol assessments and resourcing
  • Evaluate medical charts, diagnoses, icd-10 codes, skilled facility discharges, knowledge and referral for insurance options, primary care
  • Medicaid/Medicare/SSDI

Family Social Worker (Therapist)/Family Preservation Specialist

Four Feathers Counseling Inc.
11.2012 - 10.2014
  • Provided community based treatment for youth and families with complex clinical, social, and educational problems. Services delivered in the home, neighborhoods, schools, and communities.
  • Practiced engagement, assessment, prioritizing, planning and following up on specific plans developed, and documentation.
  • Provides family reunification and preservation services
  • Develop appropriate and specific parenting skills.
  • Crisis evaluation, safety planning, and child abuse evaluations
  • Individual therapy with children and adolescents. CBT, DBT, Brief Strategic Family Therapy, Systems Therapy, Motivational Interviewing.

School Social Worker Internship

Discovery Canyon Middle school
08.2013 - 05.2014
  • Worked with middle school aged children provided emotional support and counseling when needed.
  • Ran groups with special needs and in mainstream classrooms on behaviors and development of resiliency skills.
  • Worked on IEPs’, regularly assessed students; met with parents and team in accordance with IEP development and development and reaching goals.

MST CRISIS Therapist/Family Preservation Worker

Chins Up Youth and Family Services
06.2001 - 08.2011
  • Provided crisis intervention for very serious adolescent offenders. Male and female, between the ages of 12 and 17, who have extensive arrest histories.
  • MST clinicians go on site, often where the child lives. On call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Intensive in-home therapy-focused on collaborating with all relevant systems (school, community, family, individual and peer systems) and key participants within each system to ensure their buy-in and cooperation throughout MST treatment by:
  • Keeping kids in their home, reducing out-of-home placements up to 50%
  • Keeping kids in school and increasing pro-social activities
  • Improving family relations, decreased adolescent psychiatric symptoms
  • Decreased adolescent, parent drug and alcohol use
  • Maintain clear and concise documentation.
  • Facilitated group therapy sessions for diverse populations, fostering a supportive environment conducive to healing.
  • Provided emergency mental health services for clients in crisis, stabilizing their emotional state and preventing potential harm.
  • Evaluated program effectiveness by tracking client outcomes and identifying areas for improvement, contributing to overall agency performance and reputation.
  • Led de-escalation efforts during high-risk situations involving violent or aggressive behavior from clients in distress.
  • Enhanced community support by collaborating with local agencies and resources to address clients'' needs effectively.
  • Conducted home visits to provide ongoing support for clients experiencing chronic crises situations or requiring additional assistance beyond office-based therapy settings.
  • Leveraged strong critical thinking skills to manage complex psychiatric cases.
  • Utilized trauma-informed care principles when working with crisis-affected populations, promoting psychological safety for all involved parties.
  • Assessed substance abuse issues among clients in crisis, facilitating appropriate referrals to treatment programs when indicated.
  • Trained new staff members on crisis intervention protocols and best practices in order to maintain consistency across the agency''s response efforts.
  • Implemented evidence-based interventions, promoting positive coping strategies and fostering resilience among clients.
  • Assessed patients for level of care determinations.
  • Adapted counseling techniques to best suit individual needs of each client.
  • Provided education on mental health topics and resources to clients.
  • Collaborated with other professionals to coordinate comprehensive care for clients.
  • Designed safe and supportive environment for clients to discuss issues.
  • Assisted clients in exploring feelings and understanding behaviors.
  • Displayed sensitivity to cultural and linguistic needs of clients and families served.
  • Provided comprehensive case management services, created treatment plans, and connected clients and families to appropriate resources.
  • Assessed clients' needs to provide appropriate therapeutic interventions.
  • Determined clients' risk of self-harm or other dangerous behaviors.
  • Developed treatment plans to help clients build self-confidence and resilience.
  • Facilitated group counseling sessions to support and encourage client growth.

Education

M.S.W. -

Metropolitan State College of Denver
Denver, CO
05.2014

B.S.W. -

Metropolitan State College of Denver
Denver, CO
05.2002

LCSW - Active LCSW CSW.09925805 in Good Standing

Licensed
01.2018

Skills

  • 25 years experience working with high risk youth with childhood trauma
  • Use of evidenced based practices
  • Solution Focused
  • Supervision of undergraduates and graduates
  • State licensed/good standing
  • Multiple agency/job exposure experience

Timeline

Director/Owner of Private Practice

Health Healing Hope Ministries LLC
12.2018 - Current

Medical Social Worker, Case manager/Social Worker, NICU/PEDIATRIC SOCIAL WORKER

Penrose St Francis
10.2015 - 05.2018

School Social Worker Internship

Discovery Canyon Middle school
08.2013 - 05.2014

Family Social Worker (Therapist)/Family Preservation Specialist

Four Feathers Counseling Inc.
11.2012 - 10.2014

MST CRISIS Therapist/Family Preservation Worker

Chins Up Youth and Family Services
06.2001 - 08.2011

M.S.W. -

Metropolitan State College of Denver

B.S.W. -

Metropolitan State College of Denver

LCSW - Active LCSW CSW.09925805 in Good Standing

Licensed

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