Counseling Experience

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  MY EDUCATION

      I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1988.   My major was Psychology with an emphasis in Adjustment, Industrial-Organizational, Humanistic, and Developmental Psychology. 

      In 1991 I graduated from Lakeside School of Natural Therapeutics in Massage Therapy.  I am a member of the American Massage Council where Insurance is maintained. 

      Completed Firefighter 1 training and served as a Volunteer Fireman at Reeseville Fire Department for 6 years until I got injured in R.I.T. training.  

      I worked at Charter Behavioral Health System for 8 years where I specialized working with children and adolescents who were explosive, impulsive, have ADHD,  developmentally delayed, and with histories of physical and sexual abuse.  My responsibilities were teaching art group, classroom education teaching, run various issues groups, participate in staffing's, plan outings, leadership role on the unit, one on one counseling, orient new staff to the unit, van certification and completed training of non-violent Crisis Intervention.

      At First Hospital Milwaukee I worked as a Psychiatric Counselor for Adolescents for 3 years.  I  worked with adolescents between the ages of 12-17 who were extremely aggressive, impulsive and with features of ADHD.  My responsibilities were to maintain safety on the unit, respond to codes,  lead special groups such as: social skills, community and facilitate art therapy,  participated in treatment planning, one on one counseling, organized outings, specialized training with telephone crisis intervention which included calls to handle suicide, depression and set-up for admissions.  

      I also worked at Belwood, Ltd. as a Adolescent Counselor/Case Manager where I carried a case load of 6 adolescent boys between the ages of 12-15 with developmental and emotional disabilities.  Here, I  worked closely with families and out-of-state social workers, prepared monthly reviews and bi-yearly staffing's, involvement with admissions, treatment planning, crisis intervention, group facilitator and discharge planning.  During this time, I tutored an eight-year-old autistic boy using learning and behavior modifications techniques.  I helped him to maintain safety and other basic skills such as: eating, personal hygiene and communicating.  Also, I was a Telephone Crisis Intervention Counselor at the Underground Switchboard.  I was In charge of the office, I handled crisis calls such as: suicide, drug information, drug overdose, physical abuse, sexual abuse, suicide, and STD information.

    With my life experiences, Degree in Psychology, 12 years working in a psychiatric hospital and raising five children, I would like to share some of my learning and observations to help others in their struggles and their progress towards being a better person.  I would like to help children, adolescents and adults with simple problems or problems that are difficult for them to work through alone.  I strongly believe in the healing power of just talking and listening.   I would like to help you with your goals so you can achieve them.   I am not a Psychiatrist or Psychologist but I do offer a Psychology Degree and 12 years working on at Psychiatric Hospital along with life experiences.