Mental Health Counseling

ALEXA FERST

New York, New York ● *****.*****@*****.*** ● 609-***-****

EDUCATION

The City University of New York, College of Staten Island Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, expected January 16th, 2025 Cumulative Grade Point Average: 3.96; Over 1000 hours of fieldwork experience acquired under licensed supervisors; Eligible for Limited Permit in Licensed Mental Health Counseling in the state of New York Rutgers University

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, Minor in Art, Magna cum Laude, 2021 Cumulative Grade Point Average: 3.85; Major Grade Point Average: 3.89 Dean’s List 2019 - 2021

Pratt Institute

Coursework towards Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interior Design, Minor in Art History, 08/2017-01/2019 Presidential List, Dean’s List, 2017 -2019

University of Granada, Granada, Spain

Successfully completed Spanish Language and Culture course, 2016 RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

McGarril Mental Health Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counselor LP (02/25- current)

-Conduct individual therapy sessions using a wide range of modalities such as CBT, DBT, narrative therapy, person centered therapy and other evidence based techniques, through telehealth

-Conduct new patient assessment screenings and psychiatric intake evaluations

-Manage patient records and follow up reports

-Collaborate with physicians on patient case conceptualizations and treatment plans Crasmere Psychiatric Services

Clinical Mental Health Counselor Intern (05/2023- current)

-Conduct individual therapy sessions using a wide range of modalities such as CBT, DBT, narrative therapy, person centered therapy and other evidence based techniques, in person and through telehealth

-Conduct new patient assessment screenings and psychiatric intake evaluations

-Manage new patient records and follow up reports

-Collaborate with physicians on patient case conceptualizations and treatment plans

-Conduct group therapy sessions, in person and through telehealth The City University of New York, Graduate Center

Graduate Researcher, Child Development Lab, Cultural and Development (10/2021- present)

-Manage team of students working on various research projects and theses

-Collaborate with team on data analysis and code data and video information

-Present at Society for Research in Child Development conferences

-Present at Society for the Study of Human Development conferences

-Develop strong analysis skills using Datayvu, SPPS, and Atom coding and statistical programs

-Author academic theses and professional papers for publication The Uncommon Thread

Registered Behavioral Technician (11/2021 – 08/2022)

-Provide individualized daily applied behavioral analysis instruction to children diagnosed with spectrum disorders

-Conduct Applied Behavioral Analysis programs to teach daily living skill development Collaborate with BCBA supervisor on client needs and programs

-Assist clients with problem solving strategies

Step Up Family Services

Registered Behavioral Technician (06/ 2021-11/2021)

-Assessed behavior of adolescents diagnosed with spectrum disorders and generated treatment plans

-Collaborated with BCBA supervisors on developing treatment plans to improve school and at-home performance

-Set up and conducted ABA programs aimed at daily living skills goal achievement Rutgers University, Nicolas Lab

Lab Research Assistant (09/2020-06/2021)

-Reviewed and analyzed relevant literature for use in laboratory

-Performed data analysis on all current research projects

-Collaborated with Principal Investigator and team members to accomplish research goals SPECIAL ACADEMIC PROJECTS

Dr. Lana Karasik Lab Infant and Child Development, The College of Staten Island, 2021-present Paper on Tajik Infant Locomotor Exploration for Motor Learning (In-progress) Paper on Tajik Infant-Mother Structured and Exploratory Play (In-progress) Reader for Verrazano Honors Program Honors Thesis Fall 2023: Infant’s Emotions during the Mobile Conjugate Reinforcement Task

Poster Symposium for Society for the Study of Human Development Conference Fall 2023: How infants in Tajikistan learn to use novel objects (10/2023) Paper Symposium for Society for Research in Child Development Biennial Meeting Winter 2023: Broadening the Lens of Parent-Child Interaction as a Mechanism of Developmental Change in Children’s Skills; Infant-caregiver Interactions in Tajikistan: Social Information Seeking and Object Exploration During a Structured Task (03/2023)

Research Projects: How exploratory behaviors of Tajik infants can lead to greater learning; How child rearing practices of Tajik infant-caregiver dyads can affect learning and behaviors with novel objects and impact motor development or skill acquisition

Nicolas Lab’s How We Perceive Others Through Free Response – Rutgers University 2019 Literature Based Research Project: How Faces are Stereotyped in Western Cultures ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

-Hightstown High School National Honors Society Spring 2016 - 2017 (Nominated by faculty in recognition of academic achievement)

-Rutgers University Tau Sigma Honor Society - Inducted 2020 by Rutgers University Transfer Department PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS

-Member, American Counseling Association 2023

-Member, Society for Research in Child Development 2023

-Member, Society for the Study of Human Development, 2023

-Transfer Mentor, Rutgers University School of Arts and Sciences – led orientation sessions for new students, assisted students in navigating campus; served as role model, 2019 - 2021

-Panhellenic Team member, Pi Chi, Rutgers University - served as mentor for PanHellenic groups of students by offering support and assistance with general concerns or issues, 2020- 2021

-Member, Alpha Gamma Delta Fraternity (Lambda Delta Chapter, Rutgers University) 2019-2021

-Member, American Society of Interior Designers, (NY Metro Chapter) 2018

-Hightstown High School Stage Manager, Highschool level productions 2015-2017

-Hightstown High School Teen PEP Peer Educator, Highschool level 2016-2017 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

-Certificate, New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Mandated Reporter Training, 2024

-Certificate, Cognitive Behavioral Institute, Prolonged Exposure for PTSD, 2024

-Training, Motivational Interviewing, Alison Continuing Professional Development Certifications, 2023

-Training, HIPPA 101, Compliancy Group, 2023

-Training, LGBTQ+ Education and Clinical Training, The College of Staten Island Safe Space Ally, Pride Center, 2022

-Training, Trauma 101, Trauma Informed Care, Care for Caregiver and Preventing Secondary Traumatic Stress, Richmond University Medical Center, 2022

-Training, Gambling 101, New York City Gambling Resource Center, 2022

-Training, Telehealth in Clinical Practice, The College of Staten Island, 2022

-Training, Alcoholics Anonymous Information Session, Christian Pentecostal Church Staten Island, 2022

-Certificate, Naloxone Treatment, Community Health Action Staten Island, 2022

-Certificate, Graduate Researcher CITI, The College of Staten Island 2022

-Registered Behavioral Technician, Step Up Family Services 2021- 2022 SKILLS

-Master in Data analysis via Datavyu, SPSS, Atom softwares 2021-current

-Registered Behavioral Technician, Step Up Family Services 2021-2022

-Trained in Applied Behavioral Analysis treatment/services, The Uncommon Thread 2021

-Experience using Institutional Review Board New York, Child Development Lab 2021

-Master in New York University’s Datavyu data software, Child Development Lab 2021

-Master in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Premier)

-Master in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

-Extensive travel, learning, and living experiences throughout England, Spain, Cuba, Morocco, Mexico, France, Italy, and Israel

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

-EES New Jersey Department of Education Registered Substitute Teacher 2024-current

-Hallmark Store Sales Associate 2020-current

-Target Team Member 2019- 2020

-Volunteer Internship, Design Editor for the Daily Targum newspaper 2019

-Child Care Manager, Kid’s Club in Gold’s Gym 2014-2019

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