Cecilia Fernandez
Therapist
Hawthorne,CA
Summary
Highly empathetic and compassionate, with natural ability to connect and build trust. Understanding of psychological theories and therapeutic techniques, paired with strong communication skills. Committed to fostering positive change and emotional well-being for clients.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
2
2
years of post-secondary education
Work History
Therapist
Children’s Institute
Los Angeles, California
06.2022 - Current
- Conduct individual sessions for children dealing with symptoms of acute trauma.
- Facilitate support groups and workshops to provide valuable services to clients.
- Work closely with families to educate them on mental health issues, facilitate open dialogue, and foster a supportive home environment for client recovery.
- Provide crisis intervention services, stabilizing clients in distress and connecting them with necessary resources.
- Improve patient outcomes by implementing evidence-based therapeutic techniques and interventions.
Psychiatric Social Work Intern
LAUSD
Los Angeles , California
05.2021 - 05.2022
- Provided individual and group treatment targeting students who were at risk of school failure due to social, behavioral, and emotional problems.
- Implemented evidenced-based interventions for individuals, groups, and families to address clinical symptoms of trauma, depression, anxiety, and grief with fidelity and measurable outcomes.
- Provided student and parent psychoeducation on topics that included mental health, trauma awareness, social skills, conflict mediation, grief, and other social emotional issues that impacted learning.
- Promoted mental health awareness within the broader community through participation in outreach events and educational presentations.
Health Homes Case Manager
UCLA Health
Venice, CA
11.2019 - 05.2021
- Provided intensive case management services to a caseload of 60 medically complex high-risk individuals.
- Conducted comprehensive intakes and assessments including demographic information and psychosocial history.
- Coordinated with healthcare providers to ensure clients had access to necessary medical services, enhancing their overall well-being.
- Referred clients to appropriate team members, community agencies and organizations to meet treatment needs.
TEFL Teacher
Municipal Hsinchu Elementary School
Hsinchu, Taiwan
08.2017 - 08.2019
- Increased student fluency in English by designing interactive speaking exercises focused on practical everyday situations.
- Developed and taught ESL curriculum to improve students' conversational abilities.
- Enhanced language learning by incorporating engaging activities and multimedia resources into lessons.
- Collaborated with fellow TEFL teachers to share best practices, improve instructional materials, and develop new curriculum ideas.
Education
Master of Social Work -
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA (3.85 GPA) 05.2020 - 05.2022
Honors and Awards
Dean's List -2021-2022
Primary Care Project Scholarship-2020
Virtual Academic Center Scholarship-2020
Publication
Palinkas, L.A.; De Leon, J.; Yu, K.; Salinas, E.; Fernandez, C.; Johnston, J.; Rahman, M.M.; Silva, S.J.; Hurlburt, M.; McConnell, R.S.; et al. Adaptation Resources and Responses to Wildfire Smoke and Other Forms of Air Pollution in Low-Income Urban Settings: A Mixed-Methods Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 5393. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph20075393
Professional Association
Phi Alpha Honor Society Member-2022
Fellowship
MHALA & CSUDH Jumpstart Fellowship-2013
Extracurricular Activities
YMCA Volunteer for Wildfire Relief-2025
Homeless Count Volunteer-2022
Registration
Associate Social Worker-2022
Technical Skills
Microsoft: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
Bilingual in English & Spanish
Timeline
Therapist
Children’s Institute
06.2022 - Current
Psychiatric Social Work Intern
LAUSD
05.2021 - 05.2022
Master of Social Work -
University of Southern California
05.2020 - 05.2022
Health Homes Case Manager
UCLA Health
11.2019 - 05.2021
TEFL Teacher
Municipal Hsinchu Elementary School
08.2017 - 08.2019
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