Valerie Surdi, MSW
Summary
Earnest individual with experience in human services field providing support and guidance to individuals in need. Strong understanding of effectively working with people from diverse backgrounds. Passionate about helping others access needed services.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Clinical Counseling
Community Counseling Services
09.2023 - Current
- Empower adults, teens, children, families, and couples (25 client case load) to navigate mood disorders , trauma, and life transitions .
- Collaborate with clients to develop personalized goals and strategies, enhancing self-awareness and resilience
- Administer standardized assessments to evaluate mental health functioning and risk factors
- Partnering with CPS to assess family situations and develop safety plans
- Prepared monthly reports, letters, and court statements, ensuring accurate communication with legal authorities.
Crisis Counselor
Crisis Text Line
11.2021 - Current
- De-escalated and stabilized clients experiencing acute distress, reducing crisis intensity by an average of 90% within 45 minutes.
- Identify and mitigate potential safety risks for 82% of clients, resulting in 86 successful referrals for additional support services
- Conduct thorough risk assessments for suicide, abuse, and self-harm, ensuring client safety and informing appropriate intervention strategies.
Intern Domestic Violence Counselor
L.I Against Domestic Violence
09.2022 - 05.2023
- Engage over 40 adults and children in impacted by domestic violence and/or sexual violence in trauma informed mental health counseling
- Conduct over 100 hotline calls, providing 25% of callers with immediate safety planning and 91% with successful referrals to relevant services
- Collaborate effectively with a multi-disciplinary team (legal advocates, shelter services, & vocational services) to ensure comprehensive support for clients.
- Maintained timely and efficient data entry in the empower DB system, contributing to agency data accuracy and reporting requirements.
International Drug and Alcohol Social Work Intern
Change, Grow, Live
10.2019 - 12.2019
- Advocate for over 100 adults with complex needs and substance dependency
- Facilitate support groups and psycho-education sessions 5 times a week
- Performed client screenings and accurately recorded data in case files to facilitate clinical case coordination services and case management duties.
- Problem solve with 10 team members to develop effective treatment plans for clients
- Offered community resource guidance to clients to meet family needs for assistance.
Education
Master of Social Work -
Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare
Stony Brook, NY05.2024
B.A - undefined
Marist College School of Social and Behavioral Science
Poughkeepsie, NY08.2020
Skills
- Intake Assessment
- Risk Assessment
- EmpowerDB
- TherapyNotes
- Patient Advocacy
- Care Coordination
- Building rapport
- Clinical Documentation
- Crisis Intervention
- Data Entry
Timeline
Clinical Counseling
Community Counseling Services
09.2023 - Current
Intern Domestic Violence Counselor
L.I Against Domestic Violence
09.2022 - 05.2023
Crisis Counselor
Crisis Text Line
11.2021 - Current
International Drug and Alcohol Social Work Intern
Change, Grow, Live
10.2019 - 12.2019
Master of Social Work -
Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare
B.A - undefined
Marist College School of Social and Behavioral Science
Similar Profiles
Bryana GarciaBryana Garcia
Student Therapist at Community Counseling ServicesStudent Therapist at Community Counseling Services
Kanyatta BrownKanyatta Brown
Peer Support Specialist; Medical Records at Community Counseling ServicesPeer Support Specialist; Medical Records at Community Counseling Services
Taunya TorresTaunya Torres
Patient Support Representative at Community Counseling ServicesPatient Support Representative at Community Counseling Services
Rubab ShahzadRubab Shahzad
Clinical Counseling Intern at University of Management and TechnologyClinical Counseling Intern at University of Management and Technology
Erin McCarthyErin McCarthy
Clinical Counseling Intern at Carolina Psychological AssociatesClinical Counseling Intern at Carolina Psychological Associates