Alexandra Gentile
Montréal
Summary
Dedicated and passionate social worker focused on empowering individuals to overcome challenges and achieve emotional well-being. Committed to delivering empathetic psychosocial support and advocating for personal welfare and access to care. Utilizes a trauma-informed, compassionate, and intersectional approach to provide personalized support services that honor and reflect each individual's unique lived experiences.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Clinical Social Worker
Montreal General Hospital
Montréal, QC
02.2023 - Current
- Experience in both Internal Medicine and the Traumatic Brain Injury Program.
- Provide emotional support and counseling to patients and their families facing illness, trauma, or difficult medical decisions.
- Conduct psychosocial assessments to identify patient needs and develop comprehensive care plans, collaborating with healthcare teams for effective treatment.
- Advocate for patients' rights and coordinate discharge planning, ensuring access to necessary resources and support services post-hospitalization.
- Offer guidance on healthcare options, financial assistance, and community resources available to patients to enhance their overall well-being.
- Facilitate communication between patients, medical staff, and external agencies to ensure continuity of care and smooth transitions during hospital stays.
- Provide crisis intervention, addressing psychosocial issues, and providing referrals to mental health professionals or support groups, as needed.
- Work on rotation in the emergency department to offer psychosocial support and assist in discharge planning.
- Maintain comprehensive patient records, encompassing psychosocial assessments, progress notes, and closing notes, ensuring accuracy and compliance with OTSTCFQ standards.
Bilingual Texting Supervisor
Kids Help Phone
Montréal, QC
09.2020 - 02.2023
- Supervised and supported volunteer crisis responders during live texting shifts, ensuring quality and safety in conversations with youth and adult texters.
- Provided real-time coaching and de-escalation guidance for high-risk situations.
- Assessed risk levels and contacted emergency services when texters were at imminent risk of suicide, homicide, or experiencing a medical emergency.
- Filed reports with Child Protective Services in cases involving suspected abuse or neglect.
- Delivered ongoing training and mentorship to foster responder confidence, crisis intervention skills, and adherence to organizational protocols.
Social Work Intern
Marianopolis College
Montréal, QC
09.2021 - 04.2022
- Conducted intake assessments for students seeking counseling services and provided appropriate internal or external referrals.
- Authored detailed intake reports and maintained accurate client records throughout the intervention process.
- Offered short-term (3 sessions) and longer-term (up to 10 sessions) psychosocial support tailored to individual student needs.
- Opened and closed client files in accordance with organizational procedures and confidentiality standards.
- Collaborated with departments such as Student Accessibility and Student Affairs to ensure coordinated and holistic support.
- Designed and distributed psychoeducational materials on topics including sex and gender diversity, healthy relationships, and mental health.
- Acted as a club advisor for student-led initiatives connected to the counseling department.
Social Worker
Shield of Athena Family Services
Montréal, QC
04.2020 - 07.2021
- Conducted crisis intervention assessments to support women escaping situations of domestic violence.
- Provided psychosocial support and psychoeducation on the dynamics of abuse and trauma recovery.
- Advocated for clients and accompanied them through key systems, including legal proceedings, housing, and social assistance, ensuring trauma-informed and culturally responsive care.
- Collaborated with cultural intermediaries to overcome language barriers and ensure accessible, client-centered support.
- Managed client documentation, including opening and closing case files in accordance with organizational and confidentiality standards.
Social Work Stagiaire
Athena's House
Montréal, QC
09.2019 - 04.2020
- Conducted crisis intervention assessments, employing screening methodologies to evaluate and identify potential new clients in urgent need of immediate support and intervention.
- Provided individual consultations with clients who are escaping emergency situations of conjugal, family, and honor-based violence.
- Provided advocacy and psychosocial support for clients and their children.
- Facilitated support groups to provide information surrounding conjugal violence.
Summer Intern
Shield of Athena Family Services
Montréal, QC
06.2019 - 08.2019
- Conducted individual consultations with clients to provide active listening services and psychosocial support surrounding the cycle of violence.
- Screened possible new clients.
- Assisted social workers with daily administrative tasks, accompanied patients to appointments, and organized activities for women and children living at the shelter.
Social Work Stagiaire
CLSC de Benny Farm
Montréal, QC
09.2018 - 04.2019
- Handled renewals of social and health respite services with clients.
- Provided psychosocial support, counseling, and advocacy.
- Assisted clients in navigating community resources to find the most suitable options.
- Documented progress notes and compiled statistics for each consultation.
Summer Intern
The Friendship Circle
Montréal, QC
07.2018 - 09.2018
- Facilitated community outreach by connecting the organization with schools and student societies.
- Brainstormed and planned new fundraising activities.
- Recruited volunteers for Fall programs as well as Summer and Winter camps.
Summer Intern
Athena's House
Montréal
06.2017 - 08.2017
- Screen possible new clients who are seeking emergency refuge from situations of violence.
- Open and close clients' files.
- Organize activities with women and children.
- Respond to the needs of children dealing with difficult family circumstances by offering emotional support.
Education
Master of Social Work - Children & Families Stream
McGill University
Montréal, QC10-2022
Bachelor of Social Work -
McGill University
Montréal, QC06-2020
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
Concordia University
Montréal, QC12.2016
Diplome d'Études Collegial (DEC) - Social Sciences - Commerce
Dawson College
Montréal, QC12.2015
Skills
- Crisis intervention
- De-escalation strategies and safety planning
- Suicide risk assessment and suicide prevention strategies
- Survivor-centered approach
- Trauma-informed care
- Offering compassionate care and support
- Multidisciplinary teamwork and interdepartmental coordination
- Conflict resolution
Certification
- Member of OTSTCFQ since 2020, permit number: GENA20/06/060TS
- Languages: French & English (fluent)
- Nonviolent crisis intervention 2nd Edition, June 2024
- Increasing Awareness on Gender Identity in Healthcare, June 2024
- Consentement, confidentialité et protection des personnes vulnérables, March 2024
- Évaluation psychosociale de la personne majeure dans le contexte des mesures de représentation et des autres mesures de protection, January 2024
- Certified First Aider, First Aid in the Workplace, February 2020
Accomplishments
- Participated in the Miami Marathon representing Team Friendship Circle; Montreal, January 2017 and January 2018
- Participated in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative; won 1st place, 2012
- Chosen to attend the CAIS Leadership Conference, 2012
Timeline
Clinical Social Worker
Montreal General Hospital
02.2023 - Current
Social Work Intern
Marianopolis College
09.2021 - 04.2022
Bilingual Texting Supervisor
Kids Help Phone
09.2020 - 02.2023
Social Worker
Shield of Athena Family Services
04.2020 - 07.2021
Social Work Stagiaire
Athena's House
09.2019 - 04.2020
Summer Intern
Shield of Athena Family Services
06.2019 - 08.2019
Social Work Stagiaire
CLSC de Benny Farm
09.2018 - 04.2019
Summer Intern
The Friendship Circle
07.2018 - 09.2018
Summer Intern
Athena's House
06.2017 - 08.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
Concordia University
Master of Social Work - Children & Families Stream
McGill University
Bachelor of Social Work -
McGill University
Diplome d'Études Collegial (DEC) - Social Sciences - Commerce
Dawson College