Natalie Stevens, LCSW

EDUCATION

Master of Social Work, Indiana University, Indianapolis, 2005

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Indiana University, Bloomington, 2001

LICENSES

License in Clinical Social Work (LCSW) 

EMPLOYMENT

Innovative Interventions and Private Practice through Pathways to Peace

Home-Based Therapist (March 2014 – Current)

Provide home-based therapy to clients ranging in age from 18 months to 65 years.  Work with clients with diagnoses of Oppositional Defiant Disorder, ADHD, Depression, Anxiety and Adjustment Disorders, among others, providing consistent and professional counseling services to children, families and adults.  Ensure coordination of care with family members and schools as needed as well as limited advocacy and case management duties.  Work utilizing CBT methods and other relevant treatment modalities from most evidenced-based practices to assist clients.

Midtown Mental Health Center, Wishard-Eskenasi Health

School-Based Clinician Indianapolis Public Schools (June 2012 -Mar. 2014)

Provide mental health therapy to elementary students and their families in a public school-based setting.  Facilitate group therapy sessions with youth focusing on social skills, anxiety, ADHD, and ODD management.  Coordinate a caseload of 30 clients in two IPS schools while also engaging students’ families in family therapy.  Complete intakes, initial assessments, diagnoses and treatment plans.  Work closely with educators, school social workers, and special education providers to ensure full spectrum care of clients.

Adoptions of Indiana

Coordinator of Birthparent Services, Adoption Specialist (Nov. 2005 – Mar. 2012)

Counseled and advocated for birthparents and their families by providing support and education before, during, and after the adoption experience. Facilitated birthparent support groups and annual activities.  Created and implemented resources and workbooks for birthparents.  Provided intensive grief counseling post-placement.  Appeared in court regularly to facilitate adoptions.  Developed and taught educational seminars on birthparent issues to prospective adoptive parents and at adoption conferences to educate the public about the birthparent experience. Utilized an intensive interviewing process to prepare prospective adoptive families for adoption by facilitating and completing detailed home studies.  Worked closely with adoption attorneys, other adoption agencies, and state adoption officials.  Provided support and education to families on adoption-related issues throughout the adoption process.  Facilitated Interstate adoptions as an agency representative.  Provided counseling to child adoptees.  Linked adoptive families and birthparents to resources in the community on an ongoing basis.  Investigated and prepared reports on prospective gestational carriers to provide requested information for intended parents.

Gallahue Mental Health Center, Choices, Inc., The Dawn Project

Case Manager (Feb. 2002 – Jun. 2003)

Advocated for children with severe emotional disturbances and their families in a strengths-based, wraparound agency.  Provided support to children with mental illnesses and emotional handicaps.  Referred to community agencies, assisted with daily living skills, social skills, and community integration activities.  Advocated for clients in the juvenile court system.  Prepared court reports, treatment plans, strength-based assessments, discharge summaries, and progress reports. Worked alongside an ACSW supervisor and a clinical consulting psychiatrist, child welfare agencies, schools, and mental health centers.

New Alternatives, Inc. Community Intensive Treatment for Youth (C.I.T.Y. Program)

Community Treatment Specialist (Oct. 2000 – Dec. 2001)

Managed an intensive caseload of 5 adolescents with severe emotional disorders in a “wraparound” treatment program. Facilitated community-based treatment activities to provide clients with normalizing experiences while incorporating life skills.  Worked closely with residential facilities, county social workers, therapists, psychiatrists, and families to provide clients with the most effective treatment.  Assisted in facilitation of community treatment planning meetings and case conferencing.  Participated in Individual Education Planning meetings through school districts and gained a rudimentary knowledge of special education requirements.

Adult and Child Mental Health Center, Special Needs Program

Case Manager (Apr. – Aug. 2000)

Managed a caseload of 10 severely mentally ill clients living in a PACT-model program.  Assisted those with dual diagnoses including developmental disabilities and substance abuse.   Provided initial diagnoses, counsel and support, and prepared treatment plan goals and objectives.  Worked with clients to maintain healthy and functional lives, and assisted with activities of daily living.  Gained knowledge of psychotropic medications and diagnoses through intensive training.

 Crisis and Suicide Intervention Service, Marion County Mental Health Association

Program Coordinator (Dec. 1998 – Apr. 2000)

Coordinated, supervised, and scheduled 60-70 volunteer Clinical Associates for a 24-hour crisis hotline.  Provided crisis counseling to clients as needed.  Assessed life-threatening and high-risk situations and provided support while maintaining strict professional standards.  Recruited volunteers and developed and taught agency training courses.  Worked with community agencies and advocated for clients for over 3,000 hours.  Assisted in grant writing.  Promotion to Director offered.

INTERNSHIPS

Riley Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Christian-Sarkine Autism Clinic, Mood Disorders Clinic

Intern Therapist (Aug. 2004 – May 2005)

Provided therapy to children ages 3-13 under supervision of a staff therapist.  Facilitated individual, family and play therapy sessions addressing domestic violence, critical illness, sexual abuse, family relations, parenting, and mental illness.  Advocated for the educational rights of children by educating caregivers on the IEP process and educational rights.  Mastered use of the DSMIV-TR, treatment planning, and strengths assessments.  Diagnosed clients during initial assessments. Explored creative interventions and reward systems.  Co-facilitated workshop for siblings of children with autism.  Applied accumulated knowledge and techniques.  Utilized narrative therapy, strengths, and solution-focused therapies.  Consulted with psychiatrists, medical students, psychologists, and social workers regularly.

Indianapolis Public Schools, Broad Ripple High School, Social Work Department

Intern Social Worker (Aug. 2004 – May 2005)

Managed a caseload of 8 students.  Provided support and guidance to adolescents dealing with depression, eating disorders, drug abuse, self-esteem issues, family concerns, peer conflict and teen pregnancy.  Created school treatment plans and strengths assessments. Gained knowledge of IPS special education rights and procedures, while working with emotionally handicapped students.  Participated in teen mother’s workshops and groups.  Worked closely with Midtown therapist, guidance counselors, and school social workers.

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Stonebelt Center for the Developmentally Disabled

Volunteered in group homes for the developmentally disabled.  Helped clients with everyday life and social skills, house chores, and job searching.  Encouraged clients as a peer to develop a sense of social connectedness.

Mental Health Association

Clinical Associate telephone counselor for a crisis hotline. Participated in intensive training to develop crisis intervention skills.  Position required serious long-term commitment, and ability to handle situations such as domestic violence, rape, and suicide.

ACCESS (Aircraft Casualty Emotional Support Services)

Trauma telephone counselor and mentor to individuals affected by air tragedies.  Attended intensive training in San Francisco to gain specific therapeutic techniques for situations encountered.  Supported and empathized with individuals who lost a loved one in an air disaster.