Desiree Sierra
Playa Del Rey,California
Summary
Caring Therapist with 12 years of experience helping clients with social and emotional issues develop techniques to deal with daily challenges. Flexible clinician comfortable administering individual therapy sessions and providing case management.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Behavioral Health Counselor
Counseling And Psychological Services, UCLA
10.2022 - Current
- Provide mental health services, case management assistance and coordination of care
- Responsible for immediate crisis intervention and facilitating psychiatric hospitalizations
- Conduct brief/triage appointments, including risk/suicide and safety assessments
- Create effective treatment plans for students based on individual needs, coordinate aftercare plans for students transitions from CAPS treatment and offer emergency resources as needed
- Work with Athletics department to help facilitate mental health services for athletes, work with case managers and trainers
- Assist Undocumented Services Program to help link undocumented students to needed mental health, legal services and case management services
- Assist ADHD clinic to help schedule students with ADHD evaluations and medication management
- Prioritize culturally-competent, client centered space for clients of all cultural backgrounds and, sexual and gender orientations
- Conduct ongoing risk assessment for students of concern and consult with leadership and other departments as needed
- Participated in interdisciplinary staff meetings to implement research-based changes and assess treatment plans.
Psychotherapist
Clear Skies Psychology, Group Practice
09.2019 - Current
- Provide therapeutic services to children, adolescents and adults with variety of clinical and diagnostic presentations including but not limited to depression, anxiety, PTSD, mood disorder and personality disorders
- Continually assess for suicidal ideation and/or self-harm behavior among clients to engage them in safety planning and refer to higher level of care as needed
- Utilize cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic and mindfulness therapy to reduce client symptoms
- Collaborate with psychiatrists, psychologists and school personnel for continuity of care
- Document treatment and diagnose clients using DSM V for progress notes, treatment plans, assessments, and discharge.
Adult Behavioral Health Specialist
Pediatric, Providence St Johns
02.2022 - 10.2022
- Provided short term therapy for children and adults with depression, anxiety, PTSD and ADHD disorders using the collaborative care model
- Assisted patients with medication management and linking them with aftercare services
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary treatment team of primary care physicians, psychiatrist, school staff in an integrative, client centered environment
- Responsible for monthly billing, triage for patients and maintaining database for patients records
- Created power point presentations for collaborative care program, legal/ethical concerns with minors and participated in LGBTQ+ workgroup
- Managed caseload of 60-65 clients for individual and family therapy
Service Partnership (FSP)
Stars Behavioral Health Group
09.2018 - 02.2022
- Supervised FSP team that were working with clients by providing clinical consultation to determine appropriate individualized diagnoses and interventions to best meet client’s needs
- Served as primary contact for internal and external providers in order to identify and obtain necessary resources and support clients mental health
- Maintained relationships with county agencies, healthcare facilities, placement centers and schools
- Provided 24/7 services for high acuity clients and assessed clients when they were displaying suicidal ideation, were gravely disabled or danger to others by safety planning and writing LPS holds
- Signed BBS hours for ASW’s and MFT’s who were working towards licensure
- Conducted team weekly meeting to discuss high risk clients, review community resources and support staff needs
- Maintained clear, accurate, and timely documentation in client files, in accordance with HIPPA/DMH compliant Medical Record policies and procedures as well as CA laws and ethics
- Worked with various school districts to assist children and families with IEP’s and residential placement
- Utilized evidence-based risk assessment, screening tools to continually assess for suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation or self-harm behavior among clients to engage them and their families as needed
Psychiatric Social Worker
College Medical Center
10.2017 - 09.2018
- Provided individual and group therapy to patients who were placed on psychiatric hold due to being danger to self, danger to others or gravely disabled
- Completed psychosocial assessments, formulated treatment plans and developed aftercare plans with patients
- Participated in Probable Cause Hearings (PCH) with patients’ rights advocate and mental health hearing referee to determine if there was probable cause to continue patient’s hold at hospital
- Assisted in documentation for patients who were being conserved, found placement for patients in IMDs and board and cares
- Worked with DMH agencies to help assist patients in aftercare placement, housing and services
- Collaborated with treatment team consisting of nurses, psychiatrist, behavioral health workers and discharge planners
Lead/MHSII
Stars Behavioral Health Group
10.2011 - 10.2017
- Provided individual therapy and family therapy to minors on probation ages 14-18 with dual diagnosis in outpatient setting
- Worked with probation and DCFS to support clients, linked them to community services and independent living programs (ILP)
- Provided care to commercially trafficked teens (CSEC) who were sexually trafficked by using Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy (TFCBT), worked with local police, schools and community agencies to provide appropriate level of care for minors and their families
- Provided supervision to support counselors and parent partner
- Documented treatment utilizing DSM IV/V under Department of Mental Health standards for progress notes, treatment plans, assessments, diagnosis and discharge
- Assessed minors for immediate crisis intervention and facilitated psychiatric hospitalizations
Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee
Tarzana Treatment Center
02.2011 - 09.2011
- Provided individual therapy to women in inpatient facility for substance abuse
- Facilitated anger management group and parenting group to provide safe space to discuss concerns over children in foster care and how to reunite with children
- Collaborated with substance abuse counselors, psychiatrist, social workers and provided case management
- Wrote recommendation letters for clients who were attending court or were on probation/parole
Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee
Locke High School
09.2010 - 06.2011
- Provided individual therapy to adolescents ages 14-19 who were diagnosed with depression, anxiety, PTSD, grief and loss and were also in need of community linkage services
- Completed assessments and treatment plans with students to help them reach goals
- Co-facilitated grief group for teens
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations
Education
Master of Arts - Clinical Psychology and Marriage and Family
Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education & Psychology
Los Angeles, CA 2011
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and Chicano/a Studies
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA2003
Associate of Arts -
Santa Monica Community College
Santa Monica, CA2000
Skills
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Managing Adaptive Practices (MAP)
- Written Exposure Therapy (WET)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Affiliations
- Lanternman-Petris-Short (LPS) Authorization within LA County Department of Mental Health (in order to write holds for hospitalizations)
- Spanish Speaking
- Worked with various electronic health records such as Avatar, EPIC and point/click.
- Work with underrepresented groups, CSEC, unaccompanied minors, Queer + (LGBTQ+) community, undocumented population, foster youth, first generation students and diverse ethnic groups.
- Treatment Plans
- Mental Health Support
- Community Involvement
- California Association of Marriage and Family Therapist September 2015 – Present
Timeline
Behavioral Health Counselor
Counseling And Psychological Services, UCLA
10.2022 - Current
Adult Behavioral Health Specialist
Pediatric, Providence St Johns
02.2022 - 10.2022
Psychotherapist
Clear Skies Psychology, Group Practice
09.2019 - Current
Service Partnership (FSP)
Stars Behavioral Health Group
09.2018 - 02.2022
Psychiatric Social Worker
College Medical Center
10.2017 - 09.2018
Lead/MHSII
Stars Behavioral Health Group
10.2011 - 10.2017
Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee
Tarzana Treatment Center
02.2011 - 09.2011
Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee
Locke High School
09.2010 - 06.2011
Master of Arts - Clinical Psychology and Marriage and Family
Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education & Psychology
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and Chicano/a Studies
University of California Los Angeles
Associate of Arts -
Santa Monica Community College
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