Valerie J. Borja PhD CRC LPC

• Provide Work Readiness Vocational Adjustment Training Services, Job Consulting, Job Matching Services, Job Placement Services, Job Coaching, Life Care Planning, Vocational Damage Estimates, & Vocational Rehabilitation Services

• Provide individual and family counseling services to adults and children to assist clients in identifying personal, relational, psychosocial, and other maladaptive challenges to achieve effective development and adjustment
• Maintained accurate and timely documentation, adhering to ethical standards and guidelines for professional practice.
• Developed strong rapport with clients, fostering a supportive and safe environment for self-exploration and growth.
• Enhanced client well-being by utilizing evidence-based therapy techniques and individualized treatment plans.
• Collaborated with interdisciplinary team members, ensuring comprehensive care for clients.
• Improved client outcomes through the implementation of effective crisis intervention strategies during high-risk situations.
• Advanced professional development by attending workshops, seminars, and conferences related to mental health counseling practices.
• Managed caseload of diverse clients, tailoring interventions to meet their unique needs and goals.
• Served as an advocate for clients'' rights ensuring they were treated fairly and appropriately by various systems, organizations, and agencies.
• Increased client satisfaction by providing solution-focused counseling sessions addressing specific concerns.
• Utilized creative therapeutic modalities such as art therapy or play therapy to engage clients and facilitate a deeper understanding of their emotions and experiences.
• Used cognitive behavior therapy to assist clients in recognizing and redirecting poor habits.
• Engaged clients in conversation to determine feelings and apprehensions.
• Listened to clients' concerns and provided encouragement and support.
• Adapted counseling techniques to best suit individual needs of each client.
• Assessed patient behavior, moods, and other responses to determine correct diagnosis and devise treatment plans.

• Developed and implemented new methods of teaching to reflect changes in research regarding Vocational Rehabilitation/Rehabilitative Services;
• Designed, prepared, and developed teaching materials;
• Delivered lectures, seminars and tutorials; Assessed students’ coursework;
• Developed examinations;
• Supported students through a mentoring/advisory role;
• Undertook personal research projects and actively contributed to the institution’s research profile;
• Conducted research and prepared it for publication;
• Represented the institution at professional conferences and seminars;
• Implemented my personally developed Adlerian-based mentoring model
• Utilized BlackBoard Learning Systems and TopHat for enhanced pedagogical experience;
• Courses taught: Introduction to Rehabilitation, Case Management, Job Placement, and Family & Disability (Undergraduate and Graduate Level Courses)

• Supervised certified and non-certified Master’s Level Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ranging from Counselor I to Counselor IV in tenure & job classification
• Supervised counselors handling multiple programs, subject matter expertise, and specializations to include but not limited to: Deaf specialization, Adult Blindness & Visual Impairments, Transition Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (working primarily in their corresponding high school settings), Transition Blindness and Visual Impairments, Worker’s Compensation, Hearing Loss, Mental Health, & Social Security (SMURFS)
• Administered the daily operations and activities related to VR work, to include supervising VR Counselors and Transition VRC;
• Involved in establishing caseload goals and objectives for achieving division goals in VR;
• Conduct and oversee counselor mentoring and training activities including employment readiness training activities as well as monitoring these activities;
• Provided technical assistance to staff, other agencies, community programs, and the general public regarding division programs;
• Oversaw the day-to-day VR programmatic operations such as: case management, caseload budget management; conducted case readings, partial, and full case reviews in TXROCS to determine compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures;
• Resolved customer complaints and legislative inquiries;
• Assisted in quality assurance and implementing continuous improvement processes;
• Performed and monitored community outreach efforts, including business development;
• Conducted and facilitated the hiring process for new employees;
• Addressed staff personnel issues;
• Led and facilitated staff and counselor meetings regularly;
• Led and facilitated unit team building activities, end of year functions, and other unit gatherings;
• Conducted case reviews and approvals in accordance with VRSM Policy Manual;
• Approved customer services policy exceptions and conducting analyses using TWS data systems for unit quality improvement efforts and reporting requirements;
• Successfully lead my team to meet and exceed successful closure goals; &
• Led the VRCs to achieve performance outcomes while utilizing a servant leadership approach to supervision
• During tenure as a supervisor, I was awarded the 2019 Texas Workforce Commission Exceptional VR Leader Award for my performance as a supervisor
• Handled customer complaints, resolved issues, and adjusted policies to meet changing needs.
• Improved customer satisfaction with timely response to inquiries, addressing concerns, and finding effective solutions.
• Maintained compliance with company policies, objectives, and communication goals.
• Evaluated employee performance and coached and trained to improve weak areas.
• Increased team productivity by implementing efficient workflows and setting clear expectations for staff members.
• Mentored newly hired employees on operating equipment and safety and developed training manual to use for reference.
• Achieved results by working with staff to meet established targets.
• Resolved conflicts among team members promptly, maintaining a harmonious working environment conducive to productivity.
• Championed continuous improvement efforts within the organization by promoting best practices for processes, tools, or technologies.
• Managed budgets effectively, ensuring optimal allocation of resources and adherence to financial guidelines.
• Led major initiatives within the department that drove innovation or addressed critical business challenges.
• Evaluated staff performance and provided coaching to address inefficiencies.
• Collected, arranged, and input information into database system.
• Educated staff on organizational mission and goals to help employees achieve success.

• Forensic Rehabilitation Consultant

• Conduct intake assessments, medical records summations, generated intake summary reports, comprehensive life care plan development, assess personal and worker injuries, vocational damage assessment, & determine injured worker earning capacity loss;

• Marini & Associate’s testimony has never been disqualified or Daubert challenged; Company involved in verdict decisions totaling over 175 million;

• Life care planners in largest malpractice verdict in AR tort history;

• Life care planners and vocational experts in one of the top 20 Texas jury verdict awards in 2009;

• Experience with cases involving head injury, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, low back injuries, amputation, blindness, and brachial plexus injuries

• Provide rehabilitation counselors and managers with information, policy consultation, and programmatic assistance related to best practices concerning Vocational Rehabilitation process and outcomes, quality service delivery and documentation, comparable services and benefits and other resources, local labor market data, quality job development and placement, and other areas;
• Subject matter expert for assistive technology, vehicle modifications, mental health, self-employment, supported self-employment, performance indicators, and programmatic compliance oversight
• Designated point of contact for Community Rehabilitation Providers for policy guidance and assistance;
• Develop and provide appropriate training in VR program areas to include Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Independent Living Services, and Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services;
• Locate, develop, disseminate, and interpret agency policy and procedure;
• Read client case records to provide appropriate guidance and assistance to staff;
• Identify programmatic trends through ongoing case reviews and case consultations;
• Review client purchases for appropriateness utilizing best business practices;
• Remain current in client case services and assist managers in developmental activities;
• Conduct liaison activities with regional field staff, community organizations, consumers, etc., regarding assigned programs as supported with written documentation;
• Develop regional technical assistance objectives through consultation with each area manager;
• Develop an annual regional placement strategy plan for employment initiatives with specific actions and implementation timetables;
• Provide mentor training, participate in special assignments, and provide technical supervision to assigned staff;
• Review self-employment plans and provide recommendation per policy;
• Assist with vacant caseload and/or specialty caseloads
• Design and facilitate the following trainings for vocational rehabilitation counselors, area managers, unit program specialists, and rehabilitation service technicians:
• Americans with Disabilities Act: Understanding the Basics & Beyond
• Approaching Employers about DARS Services
• Best Practices for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors
• Call of Duty: VR Case Reviews and MOSAIC Trends Training
• Case Mapping Training
• Case Review Training
• Caseload Management Training (Basic & Advanced)
• Community Rehabilitation Program Training: Policy & Best Practices
• Comparable Benefits & Community Services Training
• CORE Mid-Tenure Counselor Group Ongoing Training
• Counseling & Guidance Training
• Criminal Backgrounds and Employment
• Customer Service Training
• Extended Evaluations: How to Measure Work Potential & Employability through Trial Work Experience
• Hearing Loss: Implications in Vocational Rehabilitation
• How to Facilitate a Job Club (Rural & Urban Versions)
• How to Interpret Agency Policy: RPM
• How to Utilize O
• NET, CHOICES, BRIDGES, DOT, and OOC to Best Service DARS Consumers
• How to Work with Resistant Clients
• How to Work with Various Disability Groups
• Job Placement & Supported Employment Services Training
• Liaison Counselor Training
• Mental Health Training
• Mentoring Training
• Partnership Plus Program Training & Program Implementation
• Physical Restoration Services Training
• Query Training (Basic & Advanced), -Employment Training
• Understanding How to Interpret Psychological & Vocational Evaluations
• Understanding Local Labor Market Trends
• Vehicle Modifications: A Counselor Oriented Guide
• Worker’s Compensation Training (Basic & Advanced)
• Social Security Benefits: Incentives & Disincentives to Employment

• Assisted Area Manager in carrying out unit operations and outreach initiatives;

• Provided research, analyzed recommendations for Area Manager decision making;

• Administered agency coaching and mentoring program for staff development while working closely with the Area Manager to ensure that all unit training /development activities were aligned to support agency and unit goals;

• Implemented the Quality Assurance Improvement Process while providing technical assistance to unit staff in interpreting and implementing policies and procedures for carrying out division programs;

• Related effectively with coworkers, providers, customers of Rehabilitation Services and other agencies;

• Ensured program effectiveness through optimal management of resources by managing a VR caseload, providing rehabilitation services for consumers to achieve successful outcomes;

• Determined, selected, approved, and monitored consumer service purchases and maintained community and advocacy relationships in accordance with RPM policy;

• Served as primary unit contact in resolving consumer complaints or legislative inquiries and served as primary back up Area Manager;

• Led unit initiatives such as annual employer symposiums, business luncheons, job fairs, and any other community and business outreach activities;

• Coordinated and co-lead counselor and staff meetings;

• Identified and facilitated unit training based on identified needs;

• Led unit wellness initiatives to assist/ promote employee morale and new counselor retention;

• Mentored and trained new counselors throughout their 9 month probationary period;

• DARSForce/SalesForce license holder-account manager for multiple business accounts to promote effective job matches for employers and DARS job seekers

• Assisted eligible consumers to prepare for, obtain, and maintain competitive employment based on their strengths, limitations, and interests;

• Managed a caseload of 20-40 eligible consumers, provided vocational rehabilitation services and vocational counseling & guidance to help clients address their disabilities and functional limitations, and directly assisted clients with obtaining and maintaining appropriate vocational goals

• Application & Eligibility-Met with numerous applicants and obtained preliminary assessment information, such as work history, transferrable work skills, residual functional limitations, disability history, medical records, and reports to determine program eligibility within 60 days after completion of an application for VR services;

• Assessment & Planning- If the applicant was determined eligible, would meet with consumer to discuss potential vocational objectives and services that were both reasonable and necessary to achieve each identified objective;

• Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)- developed Individualized Plans for Employment with consumers to document the consumer’s chosen vocational objective, chosen service providers based on principles of informed consumer choice, and established services required to support the achievement of the vocational objective;

• Arranged, provided, or purchased services to help consumers achieve their desired employment goals;

• Successful Closure- Consumers are considered to have met the minimum requirements for being successfully rehabilitated when they: have received the services identified on the IPE and the services have had a discernible impact on their employment outcome; have a job that is consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice; are employed at case closure; have remained employed for at least 90 days after substantial services have been completed; consider the employment outcome to be satisfactory, and are performing well on the job.

• Involved in the overall management of the journal under the Editor, including the selection of staff (associate editors, review board members, advisors, etc.), and for timely and relevant content from issue to issue;
• Developed procedures for managing the influx of articles, the peer review process, deciding the relevancy of manuscripts and what will be included in the final copy for each issue;
• Developed a plan for future issues as a primary mechanism to insure that the journal will be delivered on a timely basis (four times per year);
• Insured that the journal will remain timely and relevant;
• Solicited, invited, and developed articles and content for current and future issues;
• Strictly adhered to APA standards in manuscript development (style, tables, references, format, etc.);
• Took charge of peer review and management of articles and content;
• Worked with current and prospective authors throughout development of a manuscript for publication;
• Proofread and edited all manuscripts for technical and scientific content and accuracy, style, form, and clarity in accordance with the peer-reviewers’ comments and established publication guidelines;
• Coordinated and lead periodic Editorial Board meetings and initiated communications with Editorial Board members;
• Provided ongoing promotion and positive representation of the journal;
• Marketed journal at professional meetings & conferences

• Performed Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor duties in support of the DARS mission, goals, vision, and core values; Applied E3 principle to Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) service delivery: Excellent service, every customer, every time;
• Applied critical thinking skills and sound decision making in performance of routine VR work in the following program area: Vocational Rehabilitation, including transition from high school to adult VR services;
• Developed and maintained relationships with community referral sources, community rehabilitation providers, businesses, employers, and schools;
• Worked jointly with consumers to develop plans of services designed to reach the consumers’ identified employment goals based on their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities and interests, and matching based on current local job market;
• Ensured timely, cost-effective provision of services and consumer progress toward achievement of their goals while utilizing a best-value approach to service delivery and utilizing informed consumer choice as a theoretical framework to allow for optimal consumer-driven advocacy;
• Performed other duties as assigned and required to meet the mission and goals of local DARS agency needs to include, but not limited to: Co-Chair for AADA Job Fair; Participation in various committees to include 2009 EOY event; Specialty backup counselor to Deaf and hard of hearing caseload; Subject matter expert for mental health cases;
• Assisted eligible consumers to prepare for, obtain, and maintain competitive employment based on their strengths, limitations, and interests;
• Managed a caseload of 80-100 eligible consumers and provided Vocational Rehabilitation Services and vocational counseling & guidance to help them address their disabilities and functional limitations and obtaining/maintaining their career of choice
• Application & Eligibility-Met with numerous applicants and obtained preliminary assessment information such as work history, transferrable work skills, residual functional limitations, disability history, medical records, and reports to determine program eligibility within 60 days after completion of an application for VR services;
• Assessment & Planning- If the applicant was determined eligible, met with consumer to discuss potential vocational objectives and services that were both reasonable and necessary to achieve each identified objective;
• Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)- developed Individualized Plans for Employment with consumers to document the consumer’s chosen vocational objective, required services to support the objective, and other relevant information;
• Arranged, provided, or purchased services that would help the consumer achieve their desired employment goal;
• Successful Closure- Consumers are considered to have met the minimum requirements for being rehabilitated when they have received services stated on the IPE and the services have had a discernible impact on their employment outcome; have a job that is consistent with their strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice; are employed at case closure; have remained employed for at least 90 days after substantial services have been completed; and consider the employment outcome to be satisfactory, and are performing well on the job.

• Provided mental health counseling & coping strategies for individuals of all ages with various mental health issues and physical disabilities including, but not limited to: Blindness, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Personality Disorders, Back Impairments, and Substance Abuse;
• Conducted individual play therapy sessions with children ages 3 to 12;
• Involved the use of children’s toys and leisure activities to symbolize the child’s thoughts and feelings via Play Therapy sessions;
• Helped children, teens, and adults to understand the issues that were preventing them from full functioning and contributing to internal conflict;
• Conducted individual as well as family counseling, specializing in the unique youth-parent relationship
• Certified

• Tutored & mentored individuals in the Special Education Content Mastery Program with all problem subject area coursework;
• Compiled and kept thorough record of all students’ allotted Content Mastery time based on pertinent information necessary for state documentation;
• Created word documents and spread sheets to implement new filing system for the Content Mastery program;
• Created weekly, mid-week, and monthly spreadsheets for each of the 140 students’ corresponding teacher, team leader, and administrator

• Assisted clients with Intellectual & Development Disabilities in applying for and maintaining various government and community supports;
• Organized weekly staff/client meetings
• Developed an organizational system for client records;
• Assisted with counseling and guidance for clients;
• Made client contacts;
• Organized company parties;
• Formatted and developed client forms with Microsoft & Excel programs;
• Organized and filed client records