INFO

RMATIO

NAL

INTE

RVIEW

2/26/2

013

MARIA

T.P

EREZ- NUNEZ

MENTAL H

EALTH T

HERAPIST

TRI - C

ITIE

S CO

MM

UNITY

HEALTH

AN AVERAGE DAY Providing individual therapy and diagnosis Assessment either in the office or at the clients

home Reporting to C.P.S , and the courts regarding

compliance Consulting with colleagues Staffing meetings Phone calls Computer work and documentation Connecting with other agencies: School District,

Three Rivers Wrap Around

ORGANIZATION AND JOB DESCRIPTION

Tri Cities Community Health. (Trina’s employer) Located in Pasco, Washington Mental Health counseling Medical appointmentsDental ProgramCaters to low-income individuals

TRI-CITIES COMMUNITY HEALTH

Operates Nueva Esperanza Detox Facility

Employs many Doctors nurses and therapists

Caters to large Hispanic Population

JOB DESCRIPTION

Mental Health Therapist Involved in individual and family

counseling Variety of mental health clients

with many diagnosis including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia

Trina has a caseload of 75 clients

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

Masters degree in social workLicensed Mental Health

Professional Instructor at Heritage University

TRINA’S ATTITUDES

Loves helping others, learning new skills

Advocating for clientsLoves teachingEnjoys the moral in the workplaceThe inevitable paperwork is her

least favorite task

TRINA’S OBSERVATIONS

Attributes stress in families to poverty, learned behaviors, child abuse, neglect, and domestic violence

Essential elements of intervention:

Safety, education , support systems, available resources

ADVICE TO NEW SOCIAL WORKERS

When dealing with abused children help them to feel safe and secure

Be aware of budgets Remember that stress levels are often related

to the economy Child abuse and domestic violence are a

constant in society Providing accurate Information about abuse is

critical

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is your first line of approach with children in abusive situations?

When working with children Trina always considers the child’s safety first

She gathers information from the caregiver who brings in the child

She assesses the severity of the situation

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What in your mind is an effective method of therapy?

Trina has bee trained in TF-CBT therapy: (Trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy)

Psycho education therapy helps children and parents learn about trauma and it’s effects

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

How do you gain the confidence of the children so that they will open up?

Children may struggle with not wanting to verbalize their feelings

Create a warm environment so they feel comfortable discussing their experience

Not a fast process Engage child by playing with toys and

games