Substance Abuse Counselor/DTEF Counselor Resume Example

I started off at Adult Probation as a Substance Abuse Counselor for Drug Court. While working with the Drug Court case load I would:

• Work closely with Drug Court staff in designing treatment plans specific to client needs.
• Case manage individuals while they were incarcerated or in need of services (such as residential treatment, Catholic Community Services referrals, legal counseling referrals etc.).
• Staff clients with not only local Judges; but probation officers, counselors and outside agencies.
• Facilitate individual counseling sessions specific to each clients' needs.
• Work closely with probation officers to ensure client was not only compliant with probation, but doing well in all aspects of their life.
• Counsel people with severe substance using disorders on addiction, coping skills, relapse prevention, life skills, goal setting, personal issues as well as mental health issues.
• Maintained thorough clinical treatment notes and completed paperwork in a timely fashion.
• Educated clients on detox and withdrawal, medications, addiction, recovery, coping skills and community resources.
• Helped to hold clients accountable for their decisions and provided them with tools needed to be successful after graduating Drug Court.
• Proficient with intake assessments, including Addiction Severity Index (ASI) assessments and Adult Substance Use Survey (Revised) (ASUS-R) questionnaires.

After working the Drug Court case load, there was a need for someone to spear head all of Adult Probations' Prop cases which I started. At this point my case load transitioned from Drug Court participants to Prop cases only. While working with the Prop case load I:

• Utilized both CBT/EBT to teach diversion style classes to individuals on my case load.
• Became certified through Correctional Counseling Inc. in Moral Reconation Therapy.
• Created a tracking system through Excel for Prop cases in Yuma County.
• Have knowledge on the opioid epidemic, including extensive knowledge on Fentanyl.
• Have knowledge on medically assisted treatment including use of Methadone, Suboxone and Vivitrol.

• Completed routine safety training and instructed all patrons to follow safety rules.
• Consistently complied with pool regulations and policies while encouraging staff to adhere to guidelines.
• Kept watch over swimmers to respond quickly to distress situations.
• Contacted emergency personnel and provided aid while waiting for further assistance.
• Monitored behaviors for safety violations and took steps to prevent further violations.
• Performed basic life support, including CPR to stabilize individuals prior to ambulance arrival (as needed).
• Optimized customer service by resolving issues quickly and with courteous demeanor.
• Taught swim lessons to a variety of age groups including: Mommy and Me Classes (Ages 0-4), 5-7 year olds, 7-9 year olds and 10-15 year olds.
• Worked with family members to ensure they felt their child was safe and to learn which teaching styles worked best for each child.

• Helped developed appropriate treatment and rehabilitation plans for dually diagnosed patients.
• Referred clients to other programs and community agencies to enhance treatment processes.
• Conducted outreach, advocacy and rehabilitative services for regular cases and crisis intervention.
• Put together the annual HIV/AIDs Christmas dinner.
• Helped to educate clients on the importance of remaining medically compliant.
• Educated clients on the risks of unsafe sex and sharing needles/using drugs.
• Created and handed out pamphlets geared toward educating both clients and the public on HIV/AIDs.
• Shadowed during home visits and conducted one visit without supervision.
• Created medical charts, prepared paperwork/charts for audits, completed and filed paperwork in a timely fashion.
• Worked with the food bank to provide client's with healthy food options weekly.

• Help children with their homework, projects and school work when needed.
• Worked with ages ranging from 3 years old-17 years old (both male and female) who were in the foster care system either temporarily or until a foster parent took them into their home.
• Prepared meals, walked with the children to school, helped the children to be autonomous and positive while they were living in a group home.
• Diffuse crisis situations including: children who would run away, discrepancies between children, talk down and calm a child during a psychotic break until a counselor arrived etc.
• Be there to support and give the children structure.
• Was exposed to lawyers, DCS, social workers and case managers regularly.

I was a Relief Staff at TMM, this means that I would take over when the House Parent needed a break or to go on vacation. This was a great place for me to start my path to counseling. Working at TMM, although challenging was extremely rewarding. I can not express my passion enough for helping youth who typically fall through the cracks, or do not have structure/stable home environment, to succeed.