Professional Skill Areas:

Mental Health Counseling Services:

Effective and resourceful provider of mental health counseling services for individuals with a range of disabilities and diagnoses. Highly experienced with the provision of effective individual and group counseling services in a variety of mental health settings, including rehabilitation programs, outpatient clinics, elder services, and psychiatric outreach programs.

Substance Abuse Counseling Services:

Effective and resourceful provider of substance abuse prevention services in a variety of clinical settings. Developed resource manuals and a range of group curriculum, and coordinated services with local clinics, shelters, and inpatient and outpatient programs.

Clinical Coordination and Case Management:

Diverse experience with coordinating client intakes, evaluations, treatment, and discharge planning with providers, inpatient clinical teams, the DMH, courts, and other agencies. Experienced with program evaluations, chart audits, and quality review, to promote best practices, enhance service delivery and team effectiveness, and increase client satisfaction.

Clinical Supervision and Mentoring:

Professional experience supervising teams of service providers and interns with developing the skills, strategies, and resources needed to help individuals attain their mental health and rehabilitation-related goals. NBCC Approved Clinical Supervisor.

College Teaching:

Professional experience teaching undergraduate psychology courses at the community college level, with additional experience of leading workshops with a psycho-educational focus at non-profit social services and rehabilitation agencies. Completed College Instructor Professional Development Program at NSCC and the University of California: San Diego.

Professional Experience:

Licensed Psychotherapist / Addictions Specialist 2013 - Current

Element Care / PACE Program, Lynn, Gloucester, Massachusetts

Provide individual and group-based mental health and addictions counseling to a caseload of 85 older adults with complex medical needs participating in the program

Provide clinical services to promote health and independence, including BH Intakes, Evaluations (MMSE, MOCA, PHQ-9, CAGE, DAST), Care Planning, and Referrals

Coordinate services with the Interdisciplinary Care Team, hospitals, nursing facilities, hospices, and community-based providers, with EHR documentation per CMS

Develop and provide in-house staff training to improve skills and service delivery

Mentor nursing students on how PACE delivers mental health and addiction services

Clinical Coordinator 2008 -2013

Vinfen, Community Based Flexible Support Program

Clinical services for individuals with chronic and persistent mental illness and Dual Dx

Coordination of services between clients and the DMH, local clinics and hospitals

Develop Crisis Intervention and Safety Plans for clients at risk for SI/HI, SA, and high risk

Coordinate psychiatric evaluations and court petitions (MGL Sec. 12 and 35)

Provide ongoing clinical supervision and education to the CBFS program team

Work with team to help clients avoid or minimize hospitalizations

Manage a small case load of clients with complex medical and psychiatric problems

Review and demonstrate clinical skills with CBFS team members

Case Coordinator 2006-2007

North Suffolk Mental Health Association, Chelsea, MA

Clinical services for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness

Coordinated services with the DMH, and local hospitals and clinics

Supervised a small team of mental health workers in the CRS program

Alcohol and Drug Counselor 2005-2006

North Charles Institute for the Addictions, Somerville, MA

Harvard Medical School (CHA) affiliated mental health clinic

Clinician: Individual and group counseling; Substance abuse counseling

Groups focused on Relapse Prevention Skills, MET, Stages of Change

Alcohol and Drug Counselor

Seaview Substance Abuse Services, West Vancouver, BC 2002-2004

Individual and couples counseling services in Dual-Dx Program

Substance abuse prevention services

Group counseling focused on relapse prevention

Case Manager/Rehabilitation Counselor 2000-2002

Carroll Center for the Blind, Newton, MA

Assisted in program development and liaison with rehabilitation agencies

Developed relationships with government and non-profit agencies

Assisted with planning and operation of summer youth program

Special Education Teacher Assistant 1997-1998

Burnaby School Board, Burnaby, BC

Counselor and teaching assistant in Special Education Program

Assisted in development and implementation of IEPs

Licensure:

Licensed Mental Health Counselor (MA #5930) Current

Massachusetts Board of Allied Mental Health Professionals

Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor- Level 1 (MA #2362) Current

Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services

Certifications:

Fellow: American Psychotherapy Association Current

American Psychotherapy Association

American Psychological Association: (Member #4602-5171 Current

Professional and educational association for psychologists and candidates

National Certified Counselor (#255647) Current

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (#255647) Current

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS #00877) Current

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC

Certified Relationship Specialist Current

American Psychotherapy Association

Education:

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology 2001 - 2006

Northcentral University, Graduate School of Behavioral Health, Prescott, Arizona

Concentration: Clinical and Rehabilitation Psychology

Research focused on how barriers in the social and built environment delay recovery, social inclusion, and a return to previous baseline levels of functioning.

Dissertation: ‘The Influence of Environmental Factors on the Social Inclusion and

Well-Being of Persons with Disabilities’. A survey study to examine the impact of social and environmental barriers/facilitators in the lives of persons with recent SCI.

Postgraduate Certificate in Addictions Counseling 2000 - 2001

Boston University: Graduate School of Social Work

Thesis: ‘Disability and Substance Abuse - Reducing Maladaptive Coping’

A review of SAMSA Best Practices and current research and treatment

Panel discussions with academic and professional experts in the field

Program met education requirements for state licensure as a LADC-1

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology 1994-1998

The Adler School of Professional Psychology, Chicago, Illinois

Thesis: ‘The Influence of Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy on Career Decision Making’

Practicum: Student Services Department, Capilano College, Canada

Bachelor of Architecture 1983-1985

Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalhousie University)

Thesis: ‘Nonprofit housing initiatives for those overlooked in the market – Single Parents, Single Working People, and Persons with Disabilities’

Research in affordable and accessible housing based on studies of successful prototypes in London, Cambridge, Amsterdam, Cologne, and Berlin

Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies 1981-1983

Technical University of Nova Scotia (now Dalhousie University)

Bachelor of Science in Psychology 1978-1981

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Professional Development:

Professional Certificate in Palliative Care Chaplaincy 2015

California State University – San Marcos, Palliative Care Institute

Professional Certificate in Adult Learning and Online Teaching

University of California, San Diego, Online Professional Development 2013 - Current

Professional Certificate: Nonprofit Management and Leadership 2009-2010

Michigan State University: The Learning Institute for Nonprofits Online Program

Certificate in Trauma Counseling 2011

Green Cross Institute for Trauma Counseling Training

Psychopharmacology: A Master Class 2009

Harvard Medical School/Cambridge Health Alliance CE program

Teaching Experience:

North Shore Community College: Adjunct Faculty 2013-Present

Part-time instructor of Introductory Psychology courses

Boston Architectural College 1986-88, 2000-02

Taught Design Studio Courses; Graduate program Thesis Advisor

Carroll Center for the Blind 2000-2002

Facilitated workshops and support groups for adolescents and adults adjusting to blindness

Adler School of Professional Psychology 1997

Co-facilitated Parent Study Group using the STEP program for Adolescents

Capilano College: College Counseling Center 1996-1997

MA Practicum placement focused on counseling and teaching student success workshops

Research:

The Influence of Environmental Factors on the Social Inclusion and Psychological Well-being of Persons with Spinal Cord Injury, by Falconer, Paul Ph.D., Northcentral University, 2006, 199 pages; #AAT 3235719

This study evaluated the influence of environmental factors (e.g., accessibility, accommodation, social supports, resources, equality) on the social inclusion and psychological well-being of 108 persons with spinal cord injury. The findings showed the connections between environmental (e.g., accessibility, accommodation) and social (e.g., attitudes, public policy) factors and well-being, supporting the need to eliminate barriers to environmental interaction and social integration for persons with Spinal Cord Injury.

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