Experienced Practitioner with a demonstrated history of working in Military Health Care, Acute Care, and Children and Family Welfare. Skilled in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Strength-Based Therapy and Crisis Intervention. Strong social services professional with a Master of Social Work (MSW) focused in Mental Health Counseling from USC.
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology at the California State University Long Beach. After I served in the U.S. Navy, I graduated from the University of Southern California with a Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in Mental Health and sub-concentration in Military Social Work. I worked with the DCFS San Bernardino County for many years. My position involved advanced professional social work providing diagnosis, assessment, intervention and case management support to individuals, groups, children, and families with complex health, psychosocial or economic problems. I was frequently involved in assisting clients with emergency situations and assessment of risk, safety, and bio-psycho-social welfare. I developed and implemented treatment goals and care plans and monitored progress toward such goals. I provided support and counseling to promote client self-sufficiency.
Since I obtained my LCSW license, I have been working at Corona Regional Medical Center. I coordinate the care and services of patients with complex medical needs. As an LCSW, I am responsible for helping those with chronic illness, mental health issues, or life-altering conditions to gain access to rehabilitation programs and other community services. My duties include meeting with clients and their families, connecting clients with professional services, and maintaining consistent communication with clients to assess their wellbeing and make changes to their treatment plan as needed. I deliver compassionate and high-quality health services. I stand in partnership with clients, employees, and other professionals to improve the health of the community while meeting the social and emotional comfort needs of the individual. I adopt a holistic perspective by recognizing the dynamic interplay of social, psychological, physical, and spiritual well-being.
I practice a strength-based approach which is a type of positive psychotherapy and counseling that focuses more on the client’s internal strengths and resourcefulness, and less on weaknesses, failures, and shortcomings. This focus sets up a positive mindset that helps the client build on their best qualities, find their strengths, improve resilience, and change worldview to one that is more positive. A positive attitude, in turn, can help your expectations of yourself and others become more reasonable. I use a motivational interviewing counseling method that helps people resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation they need to change their behavior. It is a practical, empathetic, and short-term process that takes into consideration how difficult it is to make life changes.