Professional Experience

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINIOS, Chicago, IL

Clinical Social Worker. June, 1997 - Present.
· Provide individual and family therapy to children and adolescent in the out patient Child Psychiatry Clinic.
· Member of the Pediatric Mood Disorders multi-disciplinary team.
· Complete diagnostic assessments of children and provide treatment planning.
· Assisted in the development of the group cognitive behavioral therapy manual.
· Group leader of the Hidden Treasures Group (group for depressed children and their parents).
· Group leader of the Rainbow Group (group for Bipolar children and their parents).
· Provide case management services.

BEACON THERAPEUTIC DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT CENTER, Chicago, IL

Clinical Therapist. August, 1994 - May, 1997.
· Provide individual, group and milieu therapy to severely emotionally disturbed and behavior-disordered high school adolescents.
· Handle caseloads of 13-15 students.
· Responsible for leading 6 group therapy sessions per week.
· Consult with families and provide family therapy.
· Complete comprehensive assessments for new students.
· Advocate for students involved in the juvenile court system.
· Provide case management services.
· Develop individual education plans in conjunction with instructors.
· Develop individual treatment plans for students accessing outpatient services.
· Participate in multi-disciplinary conferences and annual Individual Educational Plan (IEP) meetings in conjunction with the Chicago Public School District.
· Consult with staff Psychiatrist on a weekly basis in addition to weekly supervision and collaborative therapist meetings.
· Member of the Intensive Outpatient Program during school breaks.
· Member of the Staff Validation Team.
THE DOYLE CENTER OF LOYOLA UNIVERSITY, Chicago, Illinois
Student Internship. September, 1993 - May, 1994.
· Conducted individual therapy with children, adolescents and adults.
· Prepared treatment plans and summaries on all assigned clients.
· Administered psychological tests to children as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
· Led a children's therapy group.
· Prepared assessments for Eugene Field Elementary School in Rogers Park, Chicago.
· Member of the training review committee, a liaison committee to discuss and evaluate the quality of program and communication between students and senior staff.

HOUSE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD, Chicago, Illinois

Student Internship. May, 1993 - August, 1993.
· Performed crisis intervention and short-term counseling.
· Conducted clinical assessments of children and adults.
· Co-facilitated a parent support/informational group.
· Arranged referrals for clients.
· Conducted play therapy sessions with children ages 4-11.
· Led two children's groups focusing on family matters, self-image and motivation.

METHODIST HOSPITAL, Gary and Merrillville, Indiana

Student Internship. August, 1990 - May, 1991.
· Conducted discharge planning; assessed patient's resource needs.
· Nursing home placements.
· Provided informational and supportive services to expectant mothers in the OB clinic.
· Completed paternity affidavits with mothers of newborns.
· Led two therapy groups: Living After Loss and Reaching Out (cancer patients).

YOUTH SERVICE BUREAU OF PORTER COUNTY, Valparaiso, Indiana
Student Internship. January, 1990 - May, 1990.

· Co-facilitated a therapeutic group with juvenile offenders at the Juvenile Detention Center.
· Collaborated with multi-disciplinary diagnostic team in screenings of juvenile offenders.
· Conducted group therapy with middle school children diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Education

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY, Chicago, Illinois
Master of Social Work, May, 1994.

VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY, Valparaiso, Indiana
Bachelor of Social Work, December, 1991.