Leah Robertson
Summary
Client-focused professional with training and expertise in helping individuals facing mental, emotional, and substance abuse challenges. Excels in counseling, group facilitation, personalized support, and crisis intervention. Works collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to establish robust support networks tailored to client needs. Demonstrates proven capability in crisis intervention, emotional support, active listening, conflict resolution, and maintaining composure under pressure. Strong team collaborator adapting to changing needs and prioritizing achieving positive outcomes. Recognized for empathy, resilience, and effective communication skills.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Intake/Crisis Counselor
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre
07.2025 - Current
- Provide initial contact to all new clients of the WOCRC, establish rapport, assist in identifying needs and provide information about services.
- Provide crisis intervention services through telephone contacts and on a walk-in basis.
- Provide brief intervention counseling.
- Provide short term counseling using evidence-based techniques.
- Connect clients with appropriate internal and community resources.
- Assist clients in accessing desired services. May include facilitating concrete services such as child care, transportation, etc.
- Assess level of risk and provide follow-up as required.
- Act as a consultant to colleagues, agencies and the community regarding crisis services in the Ottawa area.
- Participate as a direct intervention team member at internal and external meetings.
- Advocate for coordinated planning of services.
- Establish and maintain links with community groups and agencies to facilitate referrals and positive working relationships.
- Coordinate inter-agency referrals.
- Provide support and training to students and volunteers as required.
- Prepare and maintain all necessary documentation and statistics related to crisis intake activities on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis.
- Familiarity with Data Management Systems (WISH) as well as Microsoft 365.
- Clinical note taking and documentation.
Addictions Counsellor
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre
12.2023 - Current
- Primary clinical contact for live-in clients on a daily basis.
- Facilitate group therapy sessions to discuss addiction and mental health related topics.
- Model and teach essential life skills.
- Responsible for following, and implementing, the contingency management program.
- Crisis Intervention.
- Retention Planning.
- Thorough understanding and application of relapse prevention and safety planning.
- Familiarity with Data Management Systems (BestNotes, EMHware) as well as Microsoft 365.
- Clinical note taking and documentation.
Clinical/Program Staff
Vesta Recovery Program for Women
04.2024 - 09.2024
- Provide individual counseling to clients with addiction and mental health issues.
- Facilitation and development of group therapy sessions, with a focus on addiction-related topics.
- Develop, monitor, and adjust treatment plans tailored to each client's needs and goals.
- Educate and support clients in developing healthy coping strategies
- Collaboration with other professionals, such as psychiatrists or social workers, to ensure comprehensive care for clients.
- Crisis Intervention
- Retention Planning
- Actively participate in professional development activities to stay up to date on latest research findings related to addictions counseling.
Summer Student Auditor
Toronto District School Board (Sustainability Office)
04.2021 - 08.2021
- Collaborate with EcoSchools Canada.
- Performing environmental audits on schools, involving an analysis of environmental ranking
- Collect and input data from audits using Microsoft Excel software.
- Develop and implement new policies and regulations for EcoSchools.
- Assist upper-level coworkers by performing assigned tasks.
- Hosting and organizing digital webinars and events.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Forensic Science & Psychology with a Specialization in Law & Policing
Trent University
Peterborough, ON04.2023
Skills
- Individual counseling
- Group counseling
- Experience with EHR Software and Client Management Software (BestNotes, EMHware,
- Experienced in Microsoft Office
- Group facilitation
- Communication skills
- Organizational skills
- Administrative experience
- Goal setting
- Case management
- Clinical documentation
- Crisis intervention and planning
- Substance use counseling and addiction recovery
- Patient advocacy
- Youth engagement
- Anger management
- Crisis handling
- Relapse prevention
- Nonviolent communication and resolutions
- Reflective and active listening
- Suicide prevention
- De-escalation techniques
- Intellectual, cognitive, and developmental disability awareness
- Mental health assessment and support
- Safety planning
- Empathy display
- Boundary setting
- Grief counseling
- Family dynamics
- Referral coordination
- Assertiveness training
- Eating disorders
- Peer support
- Social skills teacher
- Trauma-informed care
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving abilities and conflict resolution
- Safety protocols and procedures
- Effective communication
- Counseling techniques
- Goal setting
- Motivational interviewing
- Crisis intervention
- Patient intake
- Cognitive behavioural therapy
- Dialectical behavioural therapy
Certification
- G Class Drivers License - July 2017
- Level C First Aid & CPR - December 2024 to December 2026
- Scholarship Recipient September 2019 to April 2023
- Dean's List Honour Roll - 2020, 2021
Timeline
Intake/Crisis Counselor
Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre
07.2025 - Current
Clinical/Program Staff
Vesta Recovery Program for Women
04.2024 - 09.2024
Addictions Counsellor
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre
12.2023 - Current
Summer Student Auditor
Toronto District School Board (Sustainability Office)
04.2021 - 08.2021
Bachelor of Science - Forensic Science & Psychology with a Specialization in Law & Policing
Trent University
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