Mental Health Counselor, 01/2003 to 01/2004
Counseling and Psychotherapy Institute: Ken Wells, Clinical Director – 803 Tijeras Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102
My duties included all aspects of individual and family mental health therapy including conducting initial intake interviews and evaluating for substance abuse, seeing clients weekly for individual and family counseling sessions, completing all requisite paperwork including SOAP notes for each session and insurance billing documents, and finally organizing and facilitating discharge of clients post treatment. In addition I assisted clients as a case worker and in this capacity was responsible for organizing doctor visits, monitoring medication, and helping clients apply for a variety of housing, food, income assistance, and other social support programs.
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, 08/2008 to 05/2011
Aspen Center for Counseling: Timothy Weaver, Clinical Director – 714 Zuni St, Taos, NM 87571
Aspen Center For Counseling (ACC) was a private mental health practice focused on providing in-depth one on one counseling, case management, and group support for clients diagnosed with severe mental illness. Populations included individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, major depressive disorder, PTSD, and severe anxiety disorders. Services were primarily aimed at stabilizing and maintaining basic functionality of clients, and utilized extensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools to increase client competence with basic life skills, and teach clients to function independently with their support system. EMDR was the primary modality utilized for addressing deep seated psychological issues in this population, specifically focused on alleviating panic attacks, resolving PTSD symptoms, and addressing personal traumas. ACC also offered weekly support groups for clients to provide a sense of community and continuity, focused on individual life skill development (such as grocery shopping, paying bills, etc) within a therapeutic group context.