The Honor of Helping our Heroes
Working with Law Enforcement Officers from a Mental Health perspective.
About our speaker:
After working for five years at Austin Oaks Hospital serving as the Director of Admissions, I decided to strictly go into private practice.
Since 2011 I have been a member of the Bastrop, Hays and Travis County Sheriff's Department Negotiations team. I have trained officers to be able to be hostage negotiators. Since 2010 I have continuously provided extensive training to law enforcement officers with a strict focus on Mental Health. I have volunteered for what was the PALS program with Austin Police Department.
I provide culturally sensitive short and long term counseling services to adults, couples and families and those who are in the LGBTQ community. I specialize in working with first responders, adults and couples in individual and group settings, to address and treat mental and emotional disorders, in order to promote optimum mental health. My specializations with a Focus: EMDR, Crisis, Trauma And a focused-CBT, to address trauma issues and other issues, such as anxiety (general anxiety, phobias and OCD), depression, trauma, stress management, self-esteem issues and body image.
I work to build a trusting relationship with my clients, where there is respect, acceptance, and understanding in a non-judgment and comfortable setting. Through the understanding of my client's individual story, my goal is to help to educate and aid my clients to use their own inner intelligence and creativity to create the life they want for themselves. I work to help my clients to learn new interpersonal skills and knowledge about themselves and their environment.
Previously, I was the Clinical Director for Bluebonnet Trails Community Services in Bastrop, Fayette and Lee Counties. I worked for Bluebonnet Trails Community Services for ten years. I hold a Doctoral Degree of Clinical Psychology degree from Argosy University and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor - Supervisor and I am Nationally Certified Professional Counselor. After the Bastrop fire I provided vital professional counseling to fire victims through a FEMA grant called Texas PRIDE (People Recovering In spite of Devastating Events). This organization provided short term stress management and crisis counseling to individuals and groups experiencing psychological reactions to the fire disaster. Thousands of fire victims received counseling with many referrals to other professionals for longer term care. All services were provided without charge. I coordinated the response of Bluebonnet Trails in the fire area and worked closely with other emergency services to help the people of Bastrop and surrounding counties recover. During this time I also taught at the University of Phoenix.
Prior to joining the mental health field I worked in the legal field for ten years. Prior to that, I worked in the criminal justice system as a detention officer and dispatcher for five years.
I received my Associates of Applied Science Degree with a concentration Legal Assistant from El Paso Community College in 1998, Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Saint Edwards University (2000) and my Master of Arts in Human Services (2003) and Counseling (2005) from Saint Edwards University. I completed my Masters of Clinical Psychology from Argosy University in 2008 and my PsyD. in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University in December. 2011.
On a personal note, I spend my free time spending time with my family. I love to run, complete half marathons and ride my bike (I even have my husband running and riding with me) and watching my son grow into an amazing adult.
Additional Professional Organization Affiliations and Memberships:
Texas Counseling Association (TCA)
Texas Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors(TACES)
Texas Mental Health Counselors Association (TMHCA) American Association of
Texas Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues in Counseling (TALGBTIC)
Agenda:
6:50am - Coffee & Networking
7:10am - Breakfast Buffet
7:25am - Introductions & Announcements
7:50am - Speaker Introduction
8:20am - Q&A
8:30am - Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Directions and Parking
Breakfast Fees & Policy
