Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Master of Social Work May 2011
Grambling State University
Grambling, Louisiana

Bachelor of Science in Psychology December 2008
Louisiana State University in Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana

Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice May 1988
Bossier Parish Community College
Bossier City, Louisiana

Overton Brooks VA Medical Center Sep 2017 – Present
Senior Social Worker (GS-12)
Mental Health
510 East Stoner Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101

· Rely on clinical experience to guide initial and ongoing evaluation, for veterans self-presenting or in response to consultation requests
· Initiate recommendations for treatment or referral in cases where consequences for the Veteran may have serious effects on current and future life circumstances. Communication with Courts and/or Probation/Parole Officers for patient’s best treatment outcome
· Develop individualized treatment plans for assigned patient cases
· Initiating Cognitive Behavioral therapy evidence-based treatment, documenting patient progress, amending treatment plans, as response indicates need and in accordance with Medical Center policy and/or accrediting body standards.
· Provide clinical case management services to assigned caseload, using extensive clinical experience to guide care integration to a course most probable to produce stable recovery
· Update client’s treatment and progress towards rehabilitation to third parties with jurisdiction, remaining unbiased in the presentation even though consequences are far-reaching and potentially consequential for the Veteran
· Provide recovery-oriented continuing care treatment services to assigned cases with the goal of establishing the Veteran in the recovery process and ultimately engaging independently with community supports
· Work effectively with patients who tend to have frequent and severe crises, lack family or an adequate community support network, poor at self-monitoring, who frequently fail to comply with instructions and treatment, or have significant deficits in coping skills and require continuing professional psychosocial support.
· In the performance of clinical treatment and case management duties, interacts not only with the patient but also family, significant others, community agencies, and other mental health service line staff.
Cognitive Processing Therapy Provider September 2014 – Present

• Evidence Based Therapy provider for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for combat and non-combat Veterans, Sexual Trauma, Childhood Trauma, Natural Disasters, as well as other traumatic events.
• Provide 12-week manualized sessions for individual or group formats.
• Topics typically covered include: The meaning of the event(s), identification of thoughts and feelings, trust issues, safety issues, issues of power and control, esteem issues, intimacy issues.

Overton Brooks VA Medical Center Dec 2013 – Sep 2017
Addiction Therapist (GS-09)
Mental Health
510 East Stoner Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101
Overton Brooks VA Medical Center
Addiction Therapist cont.

• Provide counseling services to combat and non-combat Veterans in a substance use disorder treatment setting (SUDS).
• Provide direct addiction therapy services for the Service Line and Medical Center
• Participate in training for other members of the multidisciplinary treatment team (MDT) in areas related to assessment and treatment of substance use disorders and complications related to trauma and/or co-existing mental disorders. Provide assessment or treatment services to inpatient and/or outpatient Veterans presenting for SUDS assessment and/or treatment.
• Collate all necessary assessment functions, e.g. interviewing, psychosocial histories, nursing and medical assessments, spiritual and psychological assessments into a coherent diagnostic summary that guides development of the Veteran’s treatment plan.
• Organize and conduct individual and group therapy sessions.
• Serve as a primary or co-therapist with other professional staff.
• Serve as a member of a Multi-Disciplinary Team providing psychosocial rehabilitation to Veterans engaged in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).
• Serve as a treatment case manager for an assigned group of Veterans in the psychosocial rehabilitation component SUDS.
• Provide consultative services to Primary Care Teams and other areas of the Medical Center as needed.
• Participate in policy making, goal setting, and treatment service planning discussions with members of SUDS and other Service Line staff.
• Serve on special task force groups, committees, and teams as directed by the SUDS Coordinator.

26th Judicial Drug Court December 2014 – Oct 2017
Social Worker
1022 Old Minden Road, Suite 218
Bossier City, LA 71112

Provide therapy and support for adults who are struggling with addiction and have been charged with felony drug crimes.
• Counsel adults through both individual and group therapy sessions.
• Advocate both legally and educationally for clients.
• Promote client sobriety by educating clients on topics such as relapse prevention, trigger identification, stress management, defense mechanisms, anger management, building healthy support systems,12 Step Support Groups, and refusal techniques
• Document therapy sessions and communications in both written and electronic form for uploading on the DCCM Supreme Court Server
• Collaborate with various state, private, and non-profit agencies to provide services and resources to clients as needed including, but not limited to, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Families in Need of Services (FINS), Salvation Army, and Volunteers of America.
• Assist in client admission to rehab facilities and halfway houses when more extensive treatment is required
• Create and maintain treatment plans for clients within caseload to ensure therapeutic goals are reached.
Brentwood Behavioral Hospital March 2012 – August 2015
Social Worker
1006 Highland Avenue
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318)678-7500

• Provide Individual, Group, and Family therapy pertaining to trauma and/or Substance Use Disorder
• Develop Treatment Plans/Chemical Dependency Assessments/Spiritual Assessments/Relapse Prevention Plans/Discharge Plans
• Coordinating and providing community-based interventions and therapy to Adults, Adolescents, Geriatric patients, and their Families
• Provide individual, group, and family therapy sessions to clients and their families
• Provide case management to patients and maintain appropriate documentation of activities
• Collaboration with an interdisciplinary team and promote a holistic approach to the treatment of patients
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Department of Children & Family Services August 2010 – December 2013
Child Welfare Protection Investigator
1525 Fairfield Avenue #440
Shreveport, LA 71101
(318)676-7323
Supervisor: Rae Byrd, LPC

• Investigate allegations of Abuse and/or Neglect involving Children.
• Recognizing and responding appropriately to the communication styles and capabilities of people in different situations
• Provide therapeutic intervention services to children, adolescents, and adults using crisis, individual, family, and group interventions as it relates to Abuse and/or Neglect
• Testifying in court pertaining to abuse and neglect of children
• Removal of and placing children into foster care
• Working closely with Victims, Perpetrators, Law Enforcement, District Attorneys, Judges, and the Juvenile Judicial System pertaining to abuse and neglect of children
• Graduate Internship August 2010 to May 2011

• • Ability to adapt to unanticipated problems, stress, or conflicts
• • Team player and ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• • Ability to develop, motivate, and inspire others
• • Ability to multi-task assignments
• • Ability to meet deadlines
• • Problem Solving Skills
• • Excellent verbal and written skills
• • Flexible/Adaptable to changing situations

English