Nivedita Thilagaraj
Walnut Creek
Summary
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist with extensive expertise in trauma-informed care, community, and behavioral health, specializing in therapy for children and families from diverse backgrounds. Proficient in developing treatment plans, case management, and supporting multidisciplinary teams in implementing support plans, safety plans, and individualized education plans, with a strong focus. Adept at building effective relationships within teams to enhance communication and coordination, with aspirations to further specialize in adolescence, trauma-informed care, and transitional-age youth.
Overview
2026
2026
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN
East Bay Agency for Children
Oakland
11.2018 - 08.2019
- Provided individual, group, and family therapy for children and families enrolled in the program.
- Practiced theoretical orientations such as strength-based, CBT, person-centered, behavioral, and existential.
- Confer with community agencies regarding school placement, collaborative casework, and other ancillary services.
- Communicate and process IEPs with school districts, and support families with the placement of children in suitable programs.
- Present case material and case summary reports for case conferences, supervision, and treatment team meetings.
- Consult with classroom and milieu staff on individual children's progress.
- Manage clinical charts, write treatment plans, and other reports as required, and complete all paperwork requirements in a timely manner.
- Lead the development of positive behavior intervention plans for each child, including documentation, and provide direct service in the milieu.
- Provided comprehensive therapy services for children and families, fostering emotional growth, and family involvement in treatment programs.
- Managed complex intake and discharge processes, collaborating with community agencies to ensure optimal school placements and ancillary services.
- Maintained meticulous clinical records, crafted treatment plans, and ensured the timely completion of all required documentation for effective case management.
- Presenting case formulations, progress notes, consent forms, and legal release of information if required
- Made legal reports to Child Protective Services when required.
- Spearheaded the development of positive behavior intervention plans, providing direct milieu services to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
- Conducted biweekly audits of Utilization Review files, ensuring compliance and quality in clinical documentation across the team.
- Developed and implemented tailored therapy programs for children and families, enhancing emotional growth and treatment engagement.
MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST
YMCA of the East Bay
Berkeley
11.2022 - Current
- Conducted behavioral observations to enhance classroom and family dynamics, and support social, emotional, and cognitive development.
- Developed Positive Behavior Support plans and safety plans for children with a history of/current trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, homelessness, etc.
- Worked on achieving the goals of replacing maladaptive behaviors with functional ones, both in an academic setting and at home.
- Collaborated with center staff and teaching teams to implement targeted strategies and interventions.
- Facilitated communication with parents through case consultations and workshops to create awareness, assess needs, and support other goals of families to sustain a healthy environment for their children.
- Provided monthly consultations for individuals, classrooms, and parents to address needs, follow up on support plan goals, IEPs, evaluations, and mental health referrals, and to determine further needs.
- Developed and conducted trainings for center staff, including teachers, specialists, center directors, and instructional assistants.
- Supported parents with mental health referrals and intakes to local agencies.
- Reviewed child screening assessments, such as ASQ and ASQ-SE, providing follow-up where necessary.
- Coordinated services with Inclusion, Health & Nutrition, and Family Services for comprehensive support.
- Maintained accurate records in Child Plus Head Start system for effective referrals and documentation.
- Made mandated CPS reports as needed.
TRAINEE- SCHOOL COUNSELOR
USF Center for Child and Family Development
San Francisco
08.2017 - 05.2018
- Provide crisis interventions and conflict resolution for clients.
- Conducting assessments based on the presenting problem.
- Diagnosis of anxiety and mood disorders, major depressive disorder, adjustment disorder, and treating the same.
- Formulating treatment plans.
- Presenting case formulations, progress notes, consent forms, and legal release of information if required.
- Made legal reports to Child Protective Services when required.
- Presenting case studies and treatment plans.
- Coordinating with faculty and parents to provide feedback and receive updates on clients' behavioral patterns.
- Mediating conflicts between clients, teachers, parents, and the school (principal) with high confidentiality.
- Counsel students on crisis situations such as bullying, peer pressure, friendship, and parental divorce.
- Facilitated counseling groups on self-esteem, anxiety, social skills, etc.
- Practiced theoretical orientations such as strength-based, person-centered, behavioral, and existential.
- Supporting clients by assisting them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development, and adjustment.
- Selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting psychological tests and assessments to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, and personalities.
- Offered counseling to clients and families, facilitating open communication, and promoting positive coping strategies.
- Implemented creative therapeutic techniques, enhancing client engagement and treatment efficacy in diverse clinical scenarios.
- Tracked client progress, adjusting interventions to optimize treatment outcomes, and support long-term mental health improvements.
PSYCHOLOGY INTERN
Schizophrenia Research Foundation, India
Chennai
- Supporting clients by assisting them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development, and adjustment.
- Selecting, administering, scoring, and interpreting psychological tests and assessments to obtain information on individuals' intelligence, achievements, interests, and personalities.
- Offered counseling to clients and families, facilitating open communication, and promoting positive coping strategies.
- Implemented creative therapeutic techniques, enhancing client engagement and treatment efficacy in diverse clinical scenarios.
- Tracked client progress, adjusting interventions to optimize treatment outcomes, and support long-term mental health improvements.
SOCIAL WORK INTERN
Nethrodaya, Center for visually challenged
Chennai
- Conducted home visits to evaluate family dynamics and provide necessary resources.
- Maintained communication with guardians or caregivers of minors receiving agency services.
- Assessed safety risks in home environments and recommended improvements for conditions.
- Collaborated with therapists and medical personnel to coordinate client services.
- Facilitated individual and group counseling sessions for clients.
- Executed crisis interventions, responding to emergencies related to potential suicide or domestic violence.
- Promoted healthy lifestyle choices through nutrition and physical activity education.
- Organized case records according to agency policies and procedures.
HR INTERN
CavinKare Private Limited
Chennai
- Conducted research on employee attrition, identifying underlying causes and trends.
- Collaborated with payroll team to input Title and Total Compensation data efficiently.
- Partnered with recruitment and training teams to improve HR processes and candidate experience.
- Advertised job vacancies, contacted eligible candidates, and scheduled interviews for potential hires.
- Processed and reviewed candidate applications to evaluate qualifications effectively.
- Conducted initial phone interviews for selected candidates to assess fit.
- Developed onboarding manual and guided new recruits through orientation process.
- Coordinated exit interviews to collect insights on employee turnover issues.
HR INTERN
Brakes India, TVS Group, India
Chennai
- Worked with the employee union leaders in the factory and took part in labor discussions on union demands from the company.
- Prepared presentations on various demands of labors in the factory, analyzing and comparing them with the benefits they then received.
- Worked with the HR team in recruitment process and prepared a handout on basic requirements and qualifications expected from the HR team for various positions in the company.
- Built an excellent employee mentorship program.
- Promoted employee recognition programs by teaming with the employee union leaders in the factory.
HR INTERN
Indian Bank, Corporate Office
Chennai
- Executed project assessing effectiveness of new technology for branch managers at Indian Bank.
- Coordinated recruitment efforts by advertising vacancies and contacting eligible candidates.
- Scheduled interviews to streamline hiring process and enhance candidate experience.
- Reviewed and processed candidate applications to determine qualifications and suitability.
Education
MASTER OF ARTS - COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
Golden Gate University
San Francisco, CA08.2018
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK - HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Madras School of Social Work, University of Madras
Chennai, TN, India04.2015
BACHELORS - PSYCHOLOGY
Women's Christian College, University of Madras
Chennai, TN, India04.2013
Skills
- Behavioral assessment
- Crisis intervention
- Therapeutic techniques
- Family counseling
- Case management
- Individual therapy
- Training facilitation
- Community resource coordination
- Conflict resolution
- Treatment planning
- Multicultural competence
- Goal setting assistance
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Psychoeducation delivery
- Child and adolescent therapy
- Solution-focused brief therapy
- Psychological evaluation
- Motivational interviewing
- Clinical documentation
- Counseling and coaching
- Analytical skills
- Effective communication
- Trauma-informed care
- Mental health advocacy
- MS Office
Volunteer Experience
- Member of Finance Committee during the industrial visit across multiple states in India
- Head of Medical Committee in the rural camp organized across multiple villages in South India
- Organized a rally on sexual harassment of women in India by coordinating with Rotaract club of Women's Christian College, Chennai, TN, India
- Developed effective teaching and coping strategies for children and families with diagnosis of learning disabilities
Research Projects
- Research on Attrition of employees in the 2014 its Causes at Cavin Kare Pvt Ltd, India
- Research on Family Instability and its impact on adolescent children, San Francisco, CA
Certification
- Diploma in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program at Georgetown University
- Certified as Facilitator of Circle of Security Program (COSP), International- Early Intervention program for Parents and Children
- Certified in Montessori Education
- Certified in Graphology
Languages
Tamil
Native/ Bilingual
Telugu
Native/ Bilingual
Publications
- Nivedita Thilagaraj., January-July2015., Role of Counseling in the Family Courts in India, Indian Journal of Criminology,
Volume 43 (1) & (2), 124 - 130
Volunteer work
- Member of Finance Committee during the industrial visit across multiple states in India
• Head of Medical Committee in the rural camp organized across multiple villages in South India
• Organized a rally on sexual harassment of women in India by coordinating with Rotaract club of Women's Christian College, Chennai, TN, India
• Developed effective teaching and coping strategies for children and families with diagnosis of learning disabilities (Dyslexia)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST
YMCA of the East Bay
11.2022 - Current
MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN
East Bay Agency for Children
11.2018 - 08.2019
TRAINEE- SCHOOL COUNSELOR
USF Center for Child and Family Development
08.2017 - 05.2018
PSYCHOLOGY INTERN
Schizophrenia Research Foundation, India
HR INTERN
CavinKare Private Limited
SOCIAL WORK INTERN
Nethrodaya, Center for visually challenged
HR INTERN
Brakes India, TVS Group, India
HR INTERN
Indian Bank, Corporate Office
MASTER OF ARTS - COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
Golden Gate University
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK - HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Madras School of Social Work, University of Madras
BACHELORS - PSYCHOLOGY
Women's Christian College, University of Madras
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