Zaira S. Rico LMFT
Burleson,TX
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Practice Owner and Therapist
MiMente Counseling Services
05.2022 - Current
- Manage day-to-day business operations including marketing, insurance contracts, tax paperwork, billing, and maintaining licensure requirements.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients, and community members resulting in referrals.
- Maintain detailed case notes and documentation, ensuring effective tracking of progress and continuity of care across providers.
- Assess clients' mental health needs, developed treatment plans and monitor progress.
- Counsel individuals, couples and families utilizing integrated therapy formats.
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Southwestern Adventist University
07.2021 - Current
- Psychology program director 2024-2025
- Taught the following courses.
- General Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Deviant Behavior, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Counseling Theories and Techniques
- Taught Habits for Success Fall 2023
- Collaborated in establishing partnerships with community organizations such as the Cleburne Family Advocacy Center, A Meaning of Life, Pecan Valley Centers, and Buckner International enhancing internship opportunities for students.
- Partnered in the creation and supervision of a departmental internship that provided students an opportunity to create and teach a psychoeducational curriculum for KAES and CTA.
- Sponsor for the Psyched club, encouraging extracurricular involvement and promoting a sense of community within our department.
- Updated the previous Courtship, Marriage and Family course into an upper division Marriage and Family Therapy course that introduced students to family therapy theory and profession.
- Provided advising to students to support their graduation goals.
- Served in the following committees, academic standards and practices, general education, and diversity.
- Supervised honors students research projects.
- Mentored and supervised SWAU graduate counseling students by providing them opportunities to design, observe, and facilitate group therapy sessions.
Behavior Support Specialist
A Meaning of Life
01.2019 - 12.2024
- Utilized variety of methods, skills and tools to provide direct behavior support to clients.
- Assess target behavior and develop a behavior support plan implementing evidence-based strategies to mange behaviors.
- Track behavior changes and adjust interventions based on data analysis.
Adjunct Professor of Psychology
Southwestern Adventist University
08.2019 - 07.2021
- Taught General Psychology, Parenting, and Deviant Behavior courses in person, online, and hybrid formats.
- Built relationships with students, mentoring on personal, professional and academic goals while providing coaching on effective study habits.
- Graded quizzes, tests, homework, and projects to provide students with timely academic progress information and feedback.
Therapist, Counseling and Testing Center
Southwestern Adventist University
08.2019 - 07.2021
- Provided crisis intervention services, stabilizing clients in distress and connecting them with necessary resources.
- Supported students' social-emotional well-being through the implementation of counseling services and referrals.
- Increased therapy accessibility during COVID by reviewing electronic health record platforms that could be utilized to provide telehealth counseling services.
- Assisted in the development of telehealth protocols and procedures, and digitizing documentation.
STAR Counselor
ACH Child and Family Services
01.2015 - 06.2021
- Implemented behavioral modification strategies to help clients develop healthier coping mechanisms.
- Assisted clients in setting realistic goals, developing action plans, and monitoring progress towards achievement.
- Maintained accurate documentation of client interactions, assessments, and progress notes for effective case management.
- Utilized motivational interviewing techniques to encourage positive change in clients'' lives.
- Implemented evidence-based therapeutic interventions to promote positive behavior change.
- Participated in ongoing professional development trainings to remain current on best practices within the counseling field.
- Led anger management, parenting, and school truancy psychoeducational groups.
Youth Care Specialist
ACH Child and Family Services
10.2013 - 12.2014
- Enhanced youth development by implementing engaging and interactive activities tailored to individual needs.
- Provided a safe and nurturing environment for at-risk youths, offering compassionate guidance during times of personal struggle.
- Supported youths transition back into their communities by connecting them with appropriate resources.
- Maintain necessary and required documentation for agency, grant and contract compliance and fiscal matters.
- Administer and document medication as directed by physician and supervisor and follow procedure for refilling medications.
Education
M.S. - Family Therapy
Texas Woman’s University
Denton, TX12-2017
B.S. - Psychology, Religion Minor
Southwestern Adventist University
Keene, TX05.2013
Certification
- Licensed Texas Marriage and Family Therapist
- License Number:203356
Presentations
- Suicide and Self-harm Presentation, Irving Family Advocacy Center-2017
- Family Therapy Training, ACH Child and Family Services-2019
- Rest QEP Assembly Panelist, SWAU- 2019
- Mental Health Training, SWAU CRAWL Retreat- 2021
- Intimate Partner Violence Assembly: coordinated and moderated an assembly for SWAU with the Family Crisis Center of Johnson County -2021
- Mental Health Assembly Panelist, SWAU-2021
- Mental Health Professionals Meet & Greet Panel: organized and assembled a group of mental health professionals for a panel discussion about various Psychology professions-2022
- Exploring COVID-19 and its Impact on Children and Families Experiencing Domestic Violence, Adventist Conference on Family Research and Practice-2022
- "What makes love last" The Record-2022
- 4 Horsemen of the apocalypse Gottman Training, Cleburne SDA Church- 2023
- Empathetic Communication Presentation, Cultivating Healthy Relationships Elders Encounter at Houston West SDA Church-2023
- Slow your scroll: collaborated with Enactus to moderate a mental health panel for the movie debut event- 2024
- Mexican Christmas Posada: assisted the diversity committee in planning and presenting a cultural Mexican Christmas event for the student body.
Affiliations
- American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
- Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Practice Owner and Therapist
MiMente Counseling Services
05.2022 - Current
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Southwestern Adventist University
07.2021 - Current
Adjunct Professor of Psychology
Southwestern Adventist University
08.2019 - 07.2021
Therapist, Counseling and Testing Center
Southwestern Adventist University
08.2019 - 07.2021
Behavior Support Specialist
A Meaning of Life
01.2019 - 12.2024
STAR Counselor
ACH Child and Family Services
01.2015 - 06.2021
Youth Care Specialist
ACH Child and Family Services
10.2013 - 12.2014
M.S. - Family Therapy
Texas Woman’s University
B.S. - Psychology, Religion Minor
Southwestern Adventist University
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