Susan Sandoval
Burlington
Summary
Experienced with developing and implementing individualized treatment plans for addiction recovery. Utilizes motivational interviewing techniques to engage and support patients. Knowledge of evidence-based practices in addiction counseling and crisis intervention strategies.
Professional counselor with extensive experience in addiction treatment, delivering impactful care through personalized therapeutic approaches. Proven ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, ensuring holistic patient recovery. Renowned for adaptability and achieving meaningful results in dynamic environments.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Licensed Addictions Counselor
Behavioral Health Group
05.2024 - Current
- Led individual and group counseling sessions to meet variety of therapeutic needs for recovering individuals.
- Collaborated with physicians to determine effective combination of therapy and medical treatments for patients in recovery.
- Provided comprehensive case management services, created treatment plans, and connected clients and families to appropriate resources.
- Guided clients in effective therapeutic exercises integrated from Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Grant Writer
Colorado School for Family Therapy
02.2021 - Current
- Interacted with internal partners and obtained detailed information about organization's mission and goals to form solid foundation for grant applications.
- Supported capacity building initiatives within the organization by providing training on grant writing best practices to staff members.
- Maintained compliance with funder requirements by diligently monitoring project progress and submitting timely reports.
- Streamlined the grant application process by creating templates and tools for consistent proposal content.
- Tracked in-process and previously submitted grant applications to obtain status updates.
- Evaluated the success of funded projects through careful analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, informing future funding decisions.
Licensed Addictions Counselor
Wichita Comprehensive Treatment Center (Acadia)
02.2024 - 05.2024
- Individual and group addictions counseling, including intake and ongoing counseling
- Led individual and group counseling sessions to meet variety of therapeutic needs for recovering individuals.
- Collaborated with physicians to determine effective combination of therapy and medical treatments for patients in recovery.
- Developed patient care plans and documented progress toward goals.
- Assisted clients with developing essential life skills for successful reintegration into society after treatment completion.
Certified Addictions Counselor
Behavioral Health Group
08.2023 - 02.2024
- Facilitated life skills workshops, empowering clients to manage stressors effectively and make healthier choices in daily living.
- Improved client satisfaction through empathetic listening and tailored support for individual needs.
- Utilized motivational interviewing techniques when working with resistant clients which led to increased commitment in treatment.
- Assisted clients in identifying triggers and developing effective coping strategies to maintain sobriety.
- Developed strong therapeutic alliances with each client which contributed towards better engagement in the treatment process.
- Established rapport with diverse clientele through cultural competence training sessions attended regularly.
- Reduced relapse rates by implementing evidence-based counseling techniques and personalized treatment plans.
Chief Operating Officer/Certified Addictions Specialist/Licensed Addictions Counselor/Certified Prevention Specialist
Marriage & Family Institute of Colorado
04.2021 - 08.2023
- Manage the organization's daily operations, including Grant Writing, Operations, Training, and Group Therapy for addiction treatment
- Individual Addictions Therapy
- Oversaw day-to-day operations to keep organization running smoothly while meeting business goals.
- Mentored team members by sharing knowledge, offering guidance, and providing constructive feedback; fostering a culture of continuous learning and development within the organization.
- Negotiated contracts and agreements to secure favorable terms and maximize profits.
- Streamlined operations by implementing efficient processes and systems, leading to increased productivity and cost savings.
Grant Manager
Prairie Family Center
08.2019 - 07.2023
- Write and manage grant applications and reports
- Engage in community outreach and comprehensive case management
- Mentored junior staff members, sharing expertise in effective grant management strategies.
- Implemented innovative solutions to overcome obstacles faced during project execution, ensuring goals were met effectively.
- Increased funding opportunities by researching and identifying new grant sources, expanding organization's financial resources.
- Spearheaded transition to digital grant management systems, reducing paperwork and improving organizational efficiency.
- Facilitated cross-departmental meetings to align grant-seeking efforts with organizational strategies and priorities.
- Analyzed grant agreements to ensure compliance with financial and programmatic requirements, avoiding potential conflicts or issues.
- Managed grants efficiently, ensuring timely disbursement of funds and proper allocation to different departments.
- Ensured compliance with donor guidelines, minimizing errors in reporting and enhancing the organization''s reputation.
Proofreader
The Burlington Record
07.2021 - 06.2022
- Write and proofread articles, ads, and miscellaneous publications for the local paper
- Clerk duties
- Improved document accuracy by meticulously proofreading and editing various types of content.
- Checked and corrected grammatical and spelling errors in diverse documents.
- Revised work to identify missed mistakes before completing assigned assignments.
- Researched content and grammatical issues to check accuracy of information.
- Enhanced publication quality by identifying and correcting grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors.
Substance Abuse/Suicide Prevention Specialist
Centennial Mental Health Center
03.2018 - 05.2019
- Taught suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention, and life skills program to grades 3 through 12 in a 10-county catchment area
- Enhanced community awareness of drug-related issues through engaging presentations and workshops.
- Established strong relationships with schools and community groups, expanding the reach of prevention efforts.
- Organized community events promoting healthy lifestyles, leading to increased participation in prevention programs.
- Reduced substance abuse rates by implementing effective prevention strategies and educational programs.
- Provided crisis intervention services when necessary, connecting individuals with appropriate resources during critical moments.
Child & Adult Welfare Caseworker
Kit Carson County Dept. of Human Services
11.2016 - 10.2017
- Performed safety and risk assessments to determine the level of safety for children and vulnerable adults over 65 or with disabilities
- Provided ongoing casework, treatment plans, and court preparations and referrals
- Assessed needs of each client and recommended appropriate services and resources.
- Monitored case progress for timely completion and compliance with applicable regulations.
- Assessed and evaluated clients' needs, determined eligibility for services, and developed individualized plans.
- Established trusting relationships with clients, fostering open communication and rapport building.
- Prepared detailed reports for court proceedings that accurately reflected clients'' progress and recommended next steps.
- Maintained up-to-date records on all clients, enabling accurate monitoring of progress and appropriate case planning adjustments.
- Maintained high level of client confidentiality, following strict guidelines, and recommendations.
- Conducted home visits to assess living environment and provided appropriate referrals.
- Facilitated client access to community resources, promoting self-sufficiency and independence.
Bank Teller/New Account Clerk
Frontier Bank
05.2008 - 06.2015
- Assisted customers with deposits, withdrawals, new accounts, etc
- Balanced the vault and ATM, ran daily and monthly non-sufficient funds reports and performed account maintenance
- Managed high-volume transactions during peak hours while maintaining attention to detail, ensuring seamless customer experience.
- Balanced cash drawers accurately at the end of each shift, minimizing discrepancies in financial records.
- Answered customer inquiries regarding account balances, transaction history, services charges, and interest rates.
- Established trust with clients by maintaining confidentiality and protecting sensitive financial information.
- Processed customer transactions promptly, minimizing wait times.
- Learned about customer's financial needs, established trust, and optimized sales opportunities resulting in quality customer service.
- Counted and packaged currency and coins.
- Reconciled cash drawer and resolved discrepancies.
Education
PhD - PSYCHOLOGY
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Lynchburg, Virginia02.2025
COLORADO SCHOOL OF FAMILY THERAPY - Coursework to Become Certified as an Addictions Technician and Specialist(CAT and CAS), Licensed Addictions Counselor (Colorado), Licensed Addictions Counselor (Kansas), Completed coursework to work in sand play therapy, Certified In DUI group Treatment through IDEP Odyssey, Certified in Clinical Supervision through CSFT, Certified in Sand play Therapy through CSFT, Certified in Parental Responsibility Evaluation through CSFT
COLORADO SCHOOL OF FAMILY THERAPY
Denver, CO09.2021
MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.) - Leadership in Criminal Justice
COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Lakewood, Colorado12.2020
bachelor of arts - Social and Criminal Justice, Behavioral Sciences
ashford university
San Diego, California05.2016
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - Accounting
Allen County Community College
Iola, Kansas05.2000
Skills
- Clinical documentation
- Contract administration
- Self-awareness
- Operations management
Specialized Training Certification
- Mental health first aid
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
- QPR (Question, Persuade, Respond)
- Completed Child Welfare Academy
- Sand play Therapy Certified
- Trained PRE for Colorado
- BHA approved trainer for addiction counseling core classes.
Degrees
- BA
- MS
- PhD(c)
Leadership Experience
- Golden Key Award Recipient for obtaining a 3.8 GPA or higher throughout my academic career.
- Who’s who among American College Students
- Inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda Honor Society.
Certification
LAC Licensed Addiction Counselor- Colorado
LCAC Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor- Kansas
CCPS Colorado Certified Prevention Specialist
Timeline
Licensed Addictions Counselor
Behavioral Health Group
05.2024 - Current
Licensed Addictions Counselor
Wichita Comprehensive Treatment Center (Acadia)
02.2024 - 05.2024
Certified Addictions Counselor
Behavioral Health Group
08.2023 - 02.2024
Proofreader
The Burlington Record
07.2021 - 06.2022
Chief Operating Officer/Certified Addictions Specialist/Licensed Addictions Counselor/Certified Prevention Specialist
Marriage & Family Institute of Colorado
04.2021 - 08.2023
Grant Writer
Colorado School for Family Therapy
02.2021 - Current
Grant Manager
Prairie Family Center
08.2019 - 07.2023
Substance Abuse/Suicide Prevention Specialist
Centennial Mental Health Center
03.2018 - 05.2019
Child & Adult Welfare Caseworker
Kit Carson County Dept. of Human Services
11.2016 - 10.2017
Bank Teller/New Account Clerk
Frontier Bank
05.2008 - 06.2015
COLORADO SCHOOL OF FAMILY THERAPY - Coursework to Become Certified as an Addictions Technician and Specialist(CAT and CAS), Licensed Addictions Counselor (Colorado), Licensed Addictions Counselor (Kansas), Completed coursework to work in sand play therapy, Certified In DUI group Treatment through IDEP Odyssey, Certified in Clinical Supervision through CSFT, Certified in Sand play Therapy through CSFT, Certified in Parental Responsibility Evaluation through CSFT
COLORADO SCHOOL OF FAMILY THERAPY
MASTER OF SCIENCE (M.S.) - Leadership in Criminal Justice
COLORADO CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
bachelor of arts - Social and Criminal Justice, Behavioral Sciences
ashford university
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - Accounting
Allen County Community College
LAC Licensed Addiction Counselor- Colorado
LCAC Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor- Kansas
CCPS Colorado Certified Prevention Specialist
PhD - PSYCHOLOGY
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
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