Ariana Briones
San José
Summary
Empathetic professional with extensive experience supporting children, teens, transitional age youth, and adults diagnosed with ASD, trauma, substance use disorders and depression and anxiety. Proven ability to collaborate with families, educators, and community organizations to foster healthier relationships and personal growth. Skilled in conducting comprehensive assessments and developing tailored treatment plans to address client needs. Committed to empowering clients through goal-setting and supportive therapeutic practices.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Peer Partner at the Hope Drop-in Center
Pacific Clinics
Campbell and San Jose
09.2018 - Current
- Developed and implemented lesson plans for weekly self-help/psychoeducation groups for clients. Topics of groups included but were not limited to Job readiness skills, role-play interviews, social skills, building emotional intelligence, coping skills, communication skills, building and keeping healthy relationships, perspective-taking, conflict resolution, money management, Premack principle, developing daily routines, the importance of good hygiene, responding over reacting, as well as art and physical activity groups.
- Assessed clients for risk levels for substance use using tools such as TAPS, CRAFT, and GPRA.
- Utilized Motivational Interviewing skills to gauge the client's level of interest in committing to joining groups such as Addiction Recovery and Relapse Prevention.
- Connect clients to additional resources, such as housing, food services, DV and other protective services, health resources (such as Planned Parenthood), education and learning opportunities, and LGBTQ+ safe spaces and services.
Registered Behavioral Specialist
Pacific Clinics
San Jose
09.2018 - Current
- Developed materials (such as visual aids and social stories) to assist clients in increasing their social skills by giving them tools to help them access their executive functioning skills in moments of heightened emotional arousal, significantly decreasing the frequency of engagement in maladaptive behaviors (such as aggression, property destruction, and elopement).
- Assisted clients in reducing maladaptive behaviors (such as non-compliance, elopement, and aggression) by implementing positive reinforcement schedules and teaching coping strategies in order to help them access their educational resources and navigate their social-emotional needs, which resulted in a significant increase in functional communication with peers and adults.
- Trained parents and school staff in the implementation of interventions that align with the client’s functions of behavior to increase the frequency of class participation, positive social interactions, and functional communication skills, which resulted in a significant increase in positive relational experiences between the client and adults.
- Taught clients, school staff, and parents the basics of psychoeducation, such as the functions of behavior, trauma responses of 'fight, flight, and freeze' in the amygdala portion of the brain, and how stress affects the executive functioning process in the prefrontal cortex area of the brain.
- Modeled and practiced appropriate responses to high-stress situations, effective functional communication skills, and open, honest, and compassionate conversations to demonstrate patience and empathy when working with clients experiencing severe behavioral struggles, including self-harm and verbal/physical aggression toward others, which significantly increased rapport with clients, families, and school staff.
MFT Trainee Intern
Gardner Family Health Services
San Jose
08.2024 - 06.2025
- Documented behavior patterns and relationship dynamics to create accurate and effective treatment plan.
- Encouraged clients to share details, thoughts and emotions in safe, conducive environment.
- Educated clients and community members about mental or physical illness, substance abuse, medication-assisted treatment and available community resources.
- Utilized motivational interviewing techniques to explore behaviors that impede progress towards desired goals.
- Conducted assessments of client's presenting problems and collaborated with other professionals to develop treatment plans.
- Adhered to strict privacy laws and procedures, keeping client data anonymous when needed.
- Constructed progress notes, assessments, TSR to maintain individual case files.
- Helped individuals develop proper communication techniques.
- Developed an understanding of the dynamics of various family systems and cultures while providing culturally competent care.
- Demonstrated empathy while guiding clients toward meaningful solutions that can be used outside of the therapeutic setting.
- Incorporated mindfulness exercises into therapeutic sessions when appropriate to help promote relaxation and stress reduction.
- Conducted individual counseling sessions as clinically indicated to provide psychotherapeutic interventions and establish and assess treatment goals.
Education
Master of Arts - Counseling Psychology
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA06-2025
Bachelor of Arts - Behavioral Science, Mexican American Studies
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA05.2018
Skills
- Applied Behavioral Analysis
- Positive reinforcement
- Token Economy
- Premack Principle
- TAPS/CRAFT/CAGE Assessments
- GPRA Assessment
- Motivational interviewing
- Psychoeducational group facilitation
- Social Skills Building
- Substance Use Awareness
- Mindfulness
- Intakes
- Assessments
- Individual therapy
- CBT
- Lesson Planning
References
- Jorge Mota, Program Manager for Hope Drop-in Center, Pacific Clinics, Jorge.mota@pacificclinics.org, 408-335-9256
- Patrick Nedderson, LMFT #112818 and Clinical Program Manager for SBIT, Pacific Clinics, Patrick.nedderson@pacificclinics.org, (408) 355-0347
Skills - Clinical
- Implementation of interventions based on Applied Behavioral Analysis, including Positive Reinforcement, token economy, shaping, and Premack principle.
- Experience administering assessments such as TAPS CRAFT and GPRA to analyze client risk of developing SUDs.
- Application of Motivational Interviewing techniques.
- Experience running psycho-educational groups for mental health and social skills building, including on topics such as: Healthy Relationships, Substance use awareness, and mindfulness.
- Experience performing intakes, assessments, and individual therapy with a CBT modality for adults on probation and court mandated to treatment.
Affiliations
- I have been a part of an Aztec dance group for the past 9 years, and this not only helps me stay healthy and to decompress after work, but it also connects me with my culture and community.
Timeline
MFT Trainee Intern
Gardner Family Health Services
08.2024 - 06.2025
Peer Partner at the Hope Drop-in Center
Pacific Clinics
09.2018 - Current
Registered Behavioral Specialist
Pacific Clinics
09.2018 - Current
Master of Arts - Counseling Psychology
Santa Clara University
Bachelor of Arts - Behavioral Science, Mexican American Studies
San Jose State University
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