Mental Health Counselor
Resume:
Suzette Walker-Vega
Waterbury, CT 06708
***********@*****.***
Position: Mental Health Counselor
Summary: During these nine years, I have provided counseling services as well as academic support to those students that needed the extra push. I have taught undergraduate students as well as adult students during the past seven years. My Clinical supervision was at New York Presbyterian. I worked on an inpatient unit with approximately 25 women at any given time. On this unit most women were suffering from a wide range of mental illness. Some women suffered from post partum depression, major depression, or sometimes schizophrenia. I believed by interning at New York Presbyterian, it allowed me to see a wide range of different diagnosis and how they affect each individual. Throughout my career I have always been drawn to helping people discover their potential and working with them. I believe with my educational background, work experience, and empathetic nature that I possess all the qualities needed for the position.
Core Competencies: Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Power point and access. I have created various power point slides for events, slide shows and lectures.
I am a Team player and recognize the importance of collaboration. Our student leadership program is made of a committee from each department that holds student leaders. Together we implement and coordinate the student leader training program that is held at the end of August every year.
Work/Clinical Experience
New York Presbyterian Hospital September 2008-August 2009
At New York Presbyterian I was a student Intern. I worked on an in-patient women’s unit ranging from ages eighteen to fifty five. The women suffered from Depression to Schizophrenia. The unit was a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy unit which meant that the groups were focused on positive thinking and changing one’s own behavior. I was given the opportunity to co-facilitate group workshops. Along with facilitating groups, I met with individuals using a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy computer generated program that allowed the patient to start rethinking her negative thoughts.
• Completed Cognitive Behavioral Program on Computer
Safe Haven Services, Waterbury, CT 2006- Present
As a Sexual assault advocate I provide counseling and support to survivors of sexual assault. This could be counseling, or physical support during hospital, police and court visits. Each month the counselors are given additional training to the three months that are initially required.
The College of New Rochelle, NY
Assistant Director of Campus Ministry 2005-Present
As Assistant Director of Campus Ministry I am given the opportunity to train and supervise our Peer Ministers. Peer Ministers are student leaders that are trained to help the professional staff reach the college community. My job is to meet with the peer ministers, train and supervise them so that they feel competent enough to spread the good news about Campus Ministry. Part of the Peer Ministers formation includes an intensive training week called LEEP. LEEP stands for Leadership Education and Empowerment Program. I also coordinate all the volunteer opportunities for students on campus. Two of our most popular volunteer activities are Midnight Runs and The Lord’s Pantry. Midnight Runs consists of students and staff delivering food, clothing, and conversation to the homeless folks in Manhattan on three Runs each semester. The Runs are organized almost completely by a student leadership team under the direction of me. They are responsible for purchasing food and supplies; coordinating volunteers to prepare meals; sorting and organizing clothing; driving one of the vehicles on the Run; and facilitating the orientation that takes place before each Run. The Lord’s Pantry delivers meals to homebound patients who are living with HIV/AIDS.
• Planned, implemented and attended the Plunge experiences during winter and Spring Break. Some places I have coordinated service sites are: Mexico/ Texas, West Virginia, Harlem, Guatemala, and New Orleans.
• Each year with the collaboration of the staff and students we hold a Social Justice Event. This year the event will be on Human Trafficking. Last year the event was focused on homelessness and hunger. 150 people attended that event.
The College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY 2000-2005
As Assistant Director of Admissions my job was to travel and recruit students who lived in the New England area and the Bronx. I attended college fairs, high schools, and spoke to groups of students regarding their college choice. Upon returning from fall travel I would begin processing applications. This meant reading applications, conducting interviews and speaking to prospective students. I was also responsible for the Community Leadership program and the Honor’s Program. The Community Leadership program allowed students who were not academically sound but showed potential to interview and write a critical essay in order for a chance to be accepted. We only accepted twenty students each year so it was a very sought after program.
• Created entertainment for Overnight Program. Some examples of programming were magician night, Karaoke night, Casino and Game Night.
• Supervisor of Tour Guides/Ambassadors/Connector Program. As supervisor of Tour Guides I created a manual of fun facts and tested each TG before they gave prospective students tours. Ambassadors were students that volunteered for prospective students to stay in their room. This was an unpaid position so each semester I would hold an appreciation celebration.
The College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY Fall Semester
As an adjunct instructor I taught British Literature. I incorporated visual media as well. For example when we were studying Grendel and Beowulf I encourage the students to find movies that portrayed the story. They were then able to critique the movie compared to the text. Then they were given the assignment to recreate the text from their own words. It was a success.
The College Of New Rochelle, Co-Op City Campus 2004-2008
As an instructor I taught English courses always adding two books as well as the text for the class. Students were also encouraged to continue to study their grammar since most students in my class were lacking grammar skill. Some novels that were assigned in class were: Pride and Prejudice, Dinner at Homesick Restaurant, the Color Purple, and Sister Carrie.
The College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY 2003-2006
As an Adjunct professor of Critical Thinking and Writing the students studied the Harlem renaissance writers and poets. They also read The House on Mango Street. We studied critical thinking through movies, articles and short stories.
St. Ambrose Parish, Bridgeport, CT 2001-2005
As a CCD teacher I implemented games and other activities to explain the Old and New Testament. I taught students in grades first, second and third. Every Sunday we studied various Bible stories and linked them to Sunday’s scripture.
Education:
MS, The College of New Rochelle, New York August 2009
MA, Iona College, New Rochelle, New York May 2003
BA, The College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY: May 2000
Other Experience
Safe Haven Advocate and Counselor for Domestic and Sexual Assault
Other Awards
State of Connecticut Certified Sexual and Domestic Abuse Counselor
New England Association for College Admission Counseling Member
New York State Association for College Admission Counseling Member
Westchester/Putnam/Rockland Counseling Association
Metro Pax Christi
References
Upon Request
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