THOMAS A.

MERZ

PO BOX ***

ISLE OF PALMS, SC ***51

(V) 706-***-****

(F) 877-***-****

abppct@r.postjobfree.com

EDUCATION

M.Ed. Rehabilitation Counseling

University of Georgia, 1994

B.A.

Sociology

Minor:

Psychology

Magna

Cum Laude

Georgia State University, 1992

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONSGeorgia Licensed Professional Counselor # 2850Certified Rehabilitation Counselor # 31722 National Certified Counselor # 235810 Distance Credentialed Counselor # 685 Registered Custody Evaluator #10389Georgia Licensed Private Investigator (PDE) # 48127

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONSInternational Society for Mental Health Online Professional Academy of Custody EvaluatorsGeorgia Licensed Professional Counselor Association

SKILLS AND SPECIALTY AREASSpecializations include online counseling, forensic mental health, substance

abuse evaluation and crisis interventionAbility to manage several projects simultaneouslyExcellent managerial and clinical

supervisory skillsExcellent writing/editing skills Insight Facilitator; Insight Learning Foundation, Discovering your Personality Spectrum and Teaching in the Nexus

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, Menlo, GA/2008-Present

Evaluator/Therapist

– Provide clinical and forensic assessments

andevaluations for contracted government agencies, private businesses, attorneys and individuals; provide

online counseling services to individuals; provide online counseling training.

Merz Consulting, Inc.,

Adairsville, GA/1999-2008

Co-owner & Vice President – Supervised up to 70

staff people in management and field positions working with families involved with child protective services, private referrals

and EAP clients; provided oversight to bachelor and master level interns from local colleges and universities; provided online

counseling; provided workshops on such issues as online counseling, team-building, education and forensic mental health; provided

case consultation and clinical supervision; managed 1.8M budget and general operations; decided not to renew contracts after

several years of ongoing state funding cuts.

The Council on Quality and Leadership, Towson, MD/1999-2002

Quality Consultant - Provided monitoring, evaluation and technical assistance to state agencies

and providers of MR/DD services; participated in the development and/or revision of monitoring and evaluation methodologies;

developed and facilitated workshops as assigned.

Morningstar Family Resource Center, Rome, GA/2001-2002

Therapist - Provided Homestead/Wrap-Around therapy services,

in-home and case management supports and forensic First Placement Best Placement (FPBP) Family Assessments for Georgia Department

of Family & Children Services (DFCS).

Workforce Strategists, LLC, Chattanooga, TN/2000 -

2001

Counselor

- Made

primary contact with downsized and laid-off workers; provided intake, assessment and counseling services; made appropriate

referrals as needed; provided technical computer support; developed and maintained clinical components and services of the

company website; developed and provided EAP services.

UMRA, Inc., Gadsden, AL/1998-2000

Executive Director/QMRP - Supervised 50 employees in direct care and management positions for

an agency serving adults with developmental disabilities; provided clinical oversight for 27 resident/trainees in 9 homes

and a day-habilitation facility; wrote Individual Service Plans; facilitated staff trainings; developed behavior intervention

strategies; wrote and reviewed policies and procedures.

Mountain Lakes Behavioral Health Care, Guntersville, AL/1998 - 1999

Program Coordinator - Coordinated day treatment for approximately 50 clients

with psychiatric and substance abuse related disabilities; supervised 5 staff persons; performed client intakes and discharges;

provided crisis intervention and coordinated appropriate services; provided individual and group counseling; managed program’s

operating budget.

GrandView Behavioral Health Center, Fort Payne, AL/1997 - 1998

Therapist - Provided individual, group and family counseling to people with psychiatric

disabilities and substance abuse related disabilities; coordinated and documented intakes, assessments and discharges; provided

group therapy to geriatric individuals in a partial hospitalization setting; marketed programs and services.

Lifeline Healthcare Services, Inc.,

Guntersville, AL/1997

Primary Therapist - Provided individual, group and family counseling to people with psychiatric and substance abuse related

disabilities; coordinated and documented intakes, assessments and discharges; supervised nurse and technician regarding therapeutic

issues; provided 24 hour on-call emergency service; provided case management services; documented according to state specification

on all clients.

Marshall/Jackson Court Referral Program, Guntersville,

AL/1997

Contract

Group Facilitator -

Provided weekly domestic violence intervention through standardized curriculum to individuals referred through the court system;

provided oral and written reports to coordinator regarding progress.

Tailored Options for Personal Support (TOPS), Decatur, GA/1996

Executive Assistant - Assisted the Executive Director with program development

and policy review for an agency providing community living support to persons of all ages with developmental disabilities;

represented TOPS at Medicaid reform meetings; supervised 30 direct-care staff.

Mentor Clinical Care, Atlanta, GA/1994-1996

Foster Care Provider - Provided therapeutic foster care

to persons with developmental and physical disabilities; participated in ongoing training; participated in ongoing supervision

from a Licensed Professional Counselor; awarded Mentor of the Quarter, summer 1994.

Northside Hospital, Vistas Unlimited, South Location, Atlanta, GA/1994

Employment Trainer - Provided job development and job coaching to consumers with mental

illness; responsible for weekly and monthly documentation.

Skyland Trail, Atlanta, GA/1994 - 1995

PRN Supervisor - Facilitated groups, disbursed medications, coordinated client activities

and provided crisis intervention for people with mental illness in a residential rehabilitation setting.

RECENT/CURRENT

PROJECTS

Warren Shepell, Canada, E-Counselor for EAP contracts in Georgia

Riverside Publishing, Itasca, IL,

2003-4, examiner for the Battelle Developmental Inventory, 2nd Edition (BDI-2) Standardization Study

PUBLICATIONS

Book reviews have been provided for:

Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin

American Counseling Association Guidepost

Journal of Rehabilitation

Book chapters and articles:

Merz,

T. (in press). Therapeutic Use of SMS Text Messaging. In Anthony, K. & Nagel, D.M. (Eds.) Mental Health and the Impact

of Technological Development. Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, Springfield, IL.

Horne, S., Merz, T., & Merz, D. (2001). Disability and Emotional Abuse: Mental Health Consequences and

Social Implications. Journal of Emotional Abuse,2, 4, 39-60.

INTERNSHIP/PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE/1992-1994

Northside Hospital, Vistas Unlimited, South Location, Atlanta, GA

Psychiatric adult/geriatric day treatment

facility

Therapist/Job Coach

Northeast Georgia Medical Center, The Rehabilitation Institute, Gainesville, GA

Inpatient rehabilitation program

Case Manager/Stroke, TBI, SCI, Geriatric

Kelly Diversified, Athens, GA

Work training and employment center

Adjustment Counselor

VOLUNTEER SERVICE

The Center for Mental Health

and Human Development, Atlanta, GA

Advisory Board Member

Georgia Council on Child Abuse, Atlanta, GA

Post graduate clinical supervision

including group facilitation for survivors of abuse

Clifton Night Hospitality, Atlanta, GA

Provided bus transportation for 30

elderly homeless men; facilitated selection process when space was limited; facilitated discussion groups; assisted in the

development of a group home residence plan for elderly homeless men with disabilities.

Compeer Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

Provided support and mentoring for a person with a developmental disability

© Thomas A. Merz PO Box 193 Isle of Palms, SC 29451 Voice: 706-***-****

Fax: 877-***-****

© Thomas A. Merz PO Box 193 Isle of Palms, SC 29451 Voice: 706-***-****

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