Career Profile: Extensive experience with the homeless and chronically mentally ill populations in direct practice settings. Strong program management background within non-profit and government agencies. Considerable experience with DMH documentation, HMIS and CPRS databases. Consistent engagement in multi-cultural settings and populations. Supervisory experience with BSW trainees.

Area of Interest and Trainings: Dedicated practitioner of mindfulness and body-based practices, trainings include MBSR, Mindful Self-Compassion, 5 Rhythms Mindful Movement Dance, Breathing/Stretching/Relaxation for Veterans, Mindfulness Based-Interventions. 85 days of residential retreat practice (Spirit Rock, Goenka, Against the Stream, Thich Naht Hahn).
Education
PhD Candidate in Depth Psychology Pacifica Graduate Institute- Carpinteria, CA
Concentration in Community, October 2013-Current
Liberation and Eco-psychology

Master of Social Welfare University of California- Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Concentration in Organizations September 2005-July 2007
Communities and Public Policy

Bachelor of Arts in University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Psychology September 2001-December 2004
& Social Welfare

Social Service, Program Management and Clinical Experience

August 2011-August 2013 Community Care Clinical Social Worker, Los Angeles
Veteran's Administration, Homeless Program

• Clinical Task Force Co-Chair, designed and implemented self care programs for staff in an effort to increase quality of work wellness and prevention of vicarious trauma
• Promoted relationship between Center of Innovation and Community Care by implementing Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Breathing Stretching Relaxation to staff
• Developed Psychotherapy Process Group for Community Care staff
• Provided mindful crisis oriented assessment, case management and supportive therapy within a rapid paced environment, the Homeless Screening Clinic
• Developed, implemented, coordinated and provided case management of Recuperative Care Pilot Program with partner agency The Salvation Army
• Emergency Shelter Coordination and contract oversight of Bell Emergency Shelter
• Coordination of Post Surgical and Inpatient Psychiatric shelter beds
• Created Standard Operating Procedures for VA System-wide use

August 2009-June 2011 Case Manager/Therapist, Los Angeles, CA
Jewish Family Service-Gramercy Place Shelter

• Case managed up to 13 homeless families
• Provided compassionate short term counseling from a strength-based, cognitive behavioral and problem oriented approach
• Served as interium Volunteer Coordinator and expanded life skills program by outreaching and assembling community service partners for volunteer services
• Provided supportive clinical supervision to BSW intern
• Re-developed and implemented new safety protocols
• Maintained and updated documentation according to the standards of the Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS)

March 2009-August 2009 Social Worker, North Hollywood, CA,
Jewish Family Services-Multipurpose Senior Services Program

• Provided caring case management and counseling to older adults in field based settings
• Assisted in navigating and co-creating systems of support for clients
• Supported clients in promoting more wholeness in their lives

July 2007-January 2009 Linkages Project Coordinator, Los Angeles, CA
Joint Position with Psychiatric Social Worker
Special Service for Groups-Older Adults Program (SSG-OAP)

• Presided over the Los Angeles Department of Older Adults Linkages and Caregiver Respite contract
• Monitored contract compliance, development and analysis of subcontract agreements along with monitoring subcontractors performance
• Assisted case managers and subcontract agencies with technical support pertaining to project contracts, budgets, funding, and case management related concerns
• Responsible for facilitating communications between SSG and family members, service providers, co-workers, adult protective service workers, and local Department On Aging
• Developed and maintained community relationships with public and private service organizations and coordinated regular program outreach, publicity, and promotions
• Prepared all monthly paperwork including data gathering and project billing specific to own client caseload along with coordination and oversight of all care managers and subcontract agency paperwork for up to 150 clients
• Engaged and maintained up to 25 clients by providing direct case management in the Linkages Program

July 2007-January 2009 Psychiatric Social Worker
Special Service for Groups- Older Adults Program (SSG-OAP)

• Provided psychotherapy to older adults from the APIA community, with severe mental illness and physical disabilities in the Department of Mental Health (DMH) contract Field Capable Clinical Services (FCCS)
• Conducted initial intake, assessment and formulated diagnoses based on DSM IV criteria and promoted inclusivity by seeking wholeness through a strength based perspective
• Developed and maintained continuity of the client’s care, coordinated with local agencies and community resources to maximize healing and ensured effective delivery of services
• Maintained and updated documentation according to the standards of DMH
• Provided clinical consultation in the inter-disciplinary clinical team within SSG, and with other community agencies, for the purposes of treatment and discharge planning
• Conducted community education and promotional outreach

Other experiences and areas of interest
• Advisory committee member for the non-profit Compassion LA
• Plum Village Monastery, Extended retreat practitioner for the months of January/July/December 2014
• Publication “That Never Would Have Occurred To Me”: Published in 2006 BioMed Central, Medical Education, Shapiro J, Lie DA Gutierrez D, Zhuang G
• Veteran's Administration Award for Innovation March 2013
• Some Mandarin and Conversational Shanghainese
• NASW & Asian American Psychological Association Member
• Vicarious Trauma & Compassion Fatigue
• Advanced Scuba Diver Certified