Experience

Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, Chicago, IL           
Field Placement    
2007-2008   

• Developed groundbreaking anti-bullying program matching introverted and extroverted students to improve interpersonal interactions, and develop bullying themed video vignettes. Result: Reduction in school-wide bullying and school administration’s long-term program implementation.
• Co-led unique “banana split” divorce support groups discussing personal challenges facing students during parents’ divorces. Result: Students formed bonds, developed healthy reliance on the group’s support, increased confidence, self-esteem and coping skills.
• Counseled students in individual sessions addressing personal and academic challenges, trauma and family issues, including one student apathetic toward school with poor grades. Result: Increase in student confidence and coping mechanisms. Student with serious issues improved grades, developed healthy relationships with classmates and a more positive attitude.
• Received high praise from administrators, parents and students who asked me to continue working and supporting them beyond the conclusion of my placement.

Sonia Shankman Orthogenic School, Chicago, IL           
Field Placement
 2006 – 2007

• Designed placement to provide bi-weekly individual counseling to students suffering from severe emotional and physical abuse and facilitate group therapy.
• Relied on extensive personal knowledge of individual students’ needs to advocate for more effective treatment and support during quarterly review of independent educational plans (IEPs). Result: Colleagues responded to my knowledge of each child’s needs, recognized my extraordinary ability to contribute to the process, and implemented many of my suggestions and observations into student’s IEPs and progress notes.
• Leveraged educational background and individual experience to facilitate and interpret complex bio-psycho-social assessments for students. Result: Effective clinical diagnoses within short timeframe and supervisor’s praise for ability to conduct complex assessments so early in my career.

• Developed strong understanding of the fundamental importance of group therapy and its differences from individual therapy. Sheparded individual development of students with severe disorders within intensive and dynamic group setting.

 

Make-A-Wish Foundation, Ann Arbor, MI          
Intern
 Summer 2006

• Facilitated the wishes of children with a life-threatening illness or medical condition while providing emotional support to the children and their families during the most emotionally challenging periods of their lives.
• Reached beyond ordinary methods of planning children’s’ wishes to ensure exceptional experiences, such as providing physically disabled child seeking personal basketball court with both court and basketball signed by Detroit Pistons team.
• Leveraged personal experiences with loss and grief to forge strong interpersonal relationships with struggling families through active listening and compassion. Result: Eased emotional burdens facing families and developed lasting personal interest in family dynamics.
• Rose above position demands by providing emotional support for families and raising monetary and in-kind donations for the organization outside of normal work hours.

 

Holt Early Childhood Development Center, Holt, MI           
Pre-school Teacher
 Fall 2004

• Collaborated with colleagues to develop science and math lesson plans and followed through to implement these plans in the classroom.
• Addressed student behavioral issues such as aggression, and interacted with parents to explain difficult situations while providing potential solutions. Result: Parents commented on how motivated and passionate I was about caring for their children.