SUSANNE SCHMIDT
BURLINGTON
Summary
Licensed clinical mental health counselor, consultant, and educator with a unique approach that integrates neuroscience and the transformative power of personal narrative. Dedicated to empowering individuals to find their voices through a supportive environment that encourages self-discovery and resilience.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
MothWorks Instructor
The Moth
Nationwide
01.2024 - Current
- Facilitate workshops, guiding students through personal storytelling techniques and performance strategies.
- Evaluate participant progress, providing constructive feedback to foster development and confidence in storytelling abilities.
Story Coach
WGBH Stories From the Stage
Boston, MA
02.2024 - Current
- Develop personalized coaching plans to enhance participant storytelling skills.
- Facilitate workshops focused on narrative structure and audience engagement techniques.
- Mentor emerging storytellers, providing constructive feedback to refine their performances.
- Collaborate with production teams to align storytelling content with program objectives.
Regional Producer / Host
The Moth
New York, NY, USA
09.2015 - Current
- Produce monthly live Story Slam and GrandSLAM events.
- Coordinate and manage volunteers, technical crew, event hosts and venue staff, pre- and post-production documentation.
- Liaison with corporate headquarters.
- Lead workshops to mentor emerging storytellers, fostering creativity and confidence in narrative delivery.
- Established partnerships with local organizations to amplify storytelling outreach and community involvement efforts.
Teaching Artist
The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Burlington, VT, USA
07.2015 - Current
- Develop and implement engaging arts curricula for diverse student populations.
- Facilitate workshops that enhanced creativity and artistic expression among participants.
- Collaborate with educators to integrate performing arts into interdisciplinary lesson plans.
- Mentor emerging artists through individualized feedback and skill-building sessions.
Corporate Trainer
Private, Public and Government Organizations – Nationwide
USA
01.2014 - Current
- Provide training and resources for private non-profit, public for-profit, and governmental organizations interested in improving communication and collaboration.
- Develop and deliver customized training programs for diverse audiences nationwide.
- Collaborate with stakeholders to align training initiatives with organizational goals and objectives.
- Enhance corporate culture by conducting team-building activities and workshops.
Graduate Faculty
University of Vermont, Vermont State University
Johnson, VT, USA
09.1998 - Current
- Direct instruction of graduate-level course work for students pursuing a Masters of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
- Areas of expertise include: working with children and families, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, organizational development, clinical supervision, creating diverse and culturally competent organizations, working with individuals with co-occurring addiction, mental health and legal issues.
Consultant
State of Vermont ~ Judiciary
VT, USA
03.2016 - 01.2019
- Technical assistance for the re-design of the Juvenile Court Improvement Project
- Collaborated with stakeholders to streamline administrative workflows.
- Facilitated communication between various departments and external agencies.
- Implemented strategic plans to improve service delivery within the judiciary.
Guardian Ad Litem Program Coordinator
State of Vermont ~ Judiciary
VT, USA
12.2012 - 01.2016
- Recruitment, training and supervision of Court Appointed Special Advocates overseeing the juvenile court process.
- Community collaboration between the court system and state-wide human services providers to promote best practice across all aspects of court process, participation in Bench Bar meetings with court staff, states attorneys and judges, and program development.
Children's Integrated Services Administrator and Field Services Director
State of Vermont ~ Agency of Human Services
VT, USA
01.2003 - 01.2008
- Statewide project director for the redesign of an integrated human service delivery system for children, adolescents, and families.
- Coordination of the statewide multidisciplinary Children's Integrated Services Team.
- Implemented data entry improvements, increasing accuracy in record-keeping systems utilized by the agency.
- Developed training materials and conducted workshops to improve staff knowledge of agency procedures.
- Led cross-departmental initiatives to optimize workflow and communication among staff members.
Child, Adolescent, and Family Unit
State of Vermont ~ Department of Mental Health
VT, USA
01.1998 - 01.2003
- Fiscal and clinical management of a statewide network of mental health programs for children and adolescents with disabilities.
- Consultant on compliance with state and federal Medicaid regulations.
- Technical assistance to the public mental health system concerning the provision of community based crisis treatment and prevention services.
First Call Children's Crisis Service Founding Director
Howard Center – Child Youth and Family Services
Burlington, VT, USA
01.1992 - 01.1998
- Design and implementation of an emergency system of care for children and families.
- Clinical, administrative, and operational supervision of all program components including collaboration and consultation with state and federal partners, law enforcement, emergency medical services, legal advocates, and the court system.
Education
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of Vermont
Burlington, VTMaster of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of Vermont
Burlington, VTSkills
- Strong communication skills
- Public speaking
- Class instruction
- Lesson planning
- Group and individual instruction
- Collaborative team player
Certification
- Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- Licensed School Counselor
Languages
American Sign Language
Timeline
Story Coach
WGBH Stories From the Stage
02.2024 - Current
MothWorks Instructor
The Moth
01.2024 - Current
Consultant
State of Vermont ~ Judiciary
03.2016 - 01.2019
Regional Producer / Host
The Moth
09.2015 - Current
Teaching Artist
The Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
07.2015 - Current
Corporate Trainer
Private, Public and Government Organizations – Nationwide
01.2014 - Current
Guardian Ad Litem Program Coordinator
State of Vermont ~ Judiciary
12.2012 - 01.2016
Children's Integrated Services Administrator and Field Services Director
State of Vermont ~ Agency of Human Services
01.2003 - 01.2008
Graduate Faculty
University of Vermont, Vermont State University
09.1998 - Current
Child, Adolescent, and Family Unit
State of Vermont ~ Department of Mental Health
01.1998 - 01.2003
First Call Children's Crisis Service Founding Director
Howard Center – Child Youth and Family Services
01.1992 - 01.1998
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of Vermont
Master of Science - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of Vermont