CURRICULUM VITAE

Ph.D.      North Carolina State University, ABD 

               Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development

               Concentration: Counselor Education

               Dissertation Title: End-of-Life Counseling

M.A.     Regent University, 2012

             Clinical Mental Health Counseling

B.S.      Regent University, 2010

             Psychology (with honors)

PROFESSIONAL LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

North Carolina Licensed Practicing Counselor (LPC) License #11315, 2014-present. Expires 2020.
National Certified Counselor (NCC) License #311437, 2013-present. Expires 2019.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Thanatology (End-of-Life Counseling)                                              

• Counselor Education (Clinical Mental Health Counseling)

• Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

• Loss/Hardship Theoretical Orientations

• Interdisciplinary Research on the End of Life

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2019-present. Licensed Professional Counselor/LPC Supervisor/Owner. Serenity Place Counseling Services. Williamsburg, VA.

Provides professional counseling services using evidence-based approaches to children, adolescents, adults and couples. Conducts assessments, creates treatment plans, manages billing, website and business development. Provides pro bono services for those who qualify. Develops and provides educational resources/presentations on grief, loss, death, dying and bereavement for the surrounding community. Provides individual and group licensure supervision. 

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2015-2019. Mental Health Counselor/Owner. Sea Change Therapy, PLLC and Live UP Groups. Raleigh, NC. Provides mental health counseling using evidence-based approaches to children, adolescents, adults and couples. Client base primarily consists of individuals with low income. Conducts assessments, creates treatment plans, manages billing, website and business development. Provides pro bono services for those who qualify. Develops and provides educational resources/presentations on grief, loss, death, dying and bereavement for the surrounding community. Provides group counseling to children, adolescents and adults. Group counseling topics include navigating divorce, aging, troubled teens, children of divorced parents and career transition.

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2015-2019. Licensed Professional Counselor. Triangle Counseling Agency. Provides mental health counseling to children, adolescents, adults and couples. Conducts assessments, creates treatment plans, and provides counseling sessions.

2016-2017. Graduate Assistant. North Carolina State University Counselor Education Program. Directly participated in the mission of the counselor education program. Provided general support to the program director, collected program data, and prepared reports for faculty meetings. Responsibilities included CACREP research, completing necessary forms and the collection of data required for reaccreditation. Additionally, assisted in the collection and review of applicants to the counselor education program. Provided direct support to the clinical coordinator and assisted with annual practicum/internship student and supervisor training program. Promoted counseling study abroad programs through study abroad fairs and disseminating information to interested students.

2012-2015. End of Life Counselor/Bereavement Program Manager. Heartland Hospice. Developed and managed a Bereavement Care Program serving a caseload of 500 individuals/families experiencing profound grief and loss. Provided innovative end of life counseling for patients and grief counseling for family members. Actively Participated in the hospice interdisciplinary team and coordinated care for patients. Provided training for staff about grief/loss, crisis response/management and how to better serve these populations. Facilitated an 8-week grief and loss counseling group to meet the needs of individuals participating in the bereavement care program along with the surrounding community. Planned and facilitated memorial services for hospice staff and the families of patients. Organized and facilitated grief and loss camps for children, adolescents and adults.

2012-2015. First Responder/Counselor Volunteer. Virginia Beach Police Department. Responded to requests from VBPD to offer emotional support and counseling immediately after the report of a tragic death. Comforted and offered ongoing support to families who experienced the loss of loved ones in automobile accidents, suicides, accidental suicides and homicides.

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2012-2013. In-Home Individual and Family Counselor. Compass Youth & Family Services. Worked part-time providing individual and family counseling within the home for children, adolescents and adults in crisis. Worked collaboratively with community-based services and treatment teams to facilitate positive change.

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2011-2012. Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Virginia Beach Psychiatric Center; Center for Intensive Evaluation (CIE). Provided Individual/family counseling and acute treatment for patients with psychiatric illnesses in a 100-bed inpatient facility. Provided group therapy for patients focusing on enhancing self-esteem, educating about mental illness and chemical dependency, improving coping skills, improving social interaction, addressing grief and loss, encouraging emotional expression and more. 

2011-2012. Internship in School Counseling. Moyock Elementary School. Worked under the supervision of the School Counselor providing individual and group counseling to students with mild to moderate emotional and behavioral disorders.