Work Experience

February 2009 – February 2019

Baue Funeral Homes

Grief Counselor

  • Provide counseling, education, bereavement and grief support services to individuals and families after the death of a loved one.
  • Develop, conduct and oversee grief educational seminars in the community and on site at the funeral home.
  • Network with various community organizations, churches, and counselors, to maintain a referral list for needs of the bereaved.
  • Specific case management and crisis management for individuals and families following a traumatic death such as the death of a soldier killed in the line of duty, suicide, or accident. Follow through with these families from the time of funeral arrangements and through the first year.
  • Hospice liaison for the funeral home. Ensuring communication, education and point of contact be provided to the hospices in our community.
  • Provide Memorial Services throughout the year to Veterans, Peace Officers, and other bereaved.

2014 – 2019

Center For Hope and Healing

Baue Funeral Homes

LPC and Director

  • Skill Highlights: Individual/Family Therapy, Grief Counseling, Trauma Therapy, Solution- Focused Counseling, EMDR, and Crisis Intervention with clients of all ages.
  • Clinical Documentation, Leading Successful Private Practice, Billing and Marketing Experience.

August 2008 – February 2009

Heartland Hospice

Bereavement Counselor

  • Responsibilities include maintaining detailed documentation of mailings, assist in accessing anticipatory grief for high risk family members.
  • Counseling by phone and in person to follow up with family members and friends regarding their bereavement process.
  • With the hospice chaplain team work to organize and schedule bereavement support groups.
  • Research bereavement materials to share with family, caregivers and hospice staff.

September 2005 – August 2008

Baue Funeral Homes

Grief Counselor

    [See above]

     

    August 2004 – September 2005

    Crossroads Regional Medical Center

    Intake Assessment Counselor

    • Provided psychiatric assessment & diagnosis, crisis intervention, and referrals to hospital staff.
    • Completed accurate and concise documentation.
    • Coordinated the intake and referral process for the geriatric psychiatric unit.
    • Completed monthly utilization reviews of charting for the hospital.

     

    March 2003 –      August 2004

    Baue Funeral Homes

    Funeral Director

    • Coordinated and carried out the logistics of funeral service.
    • Clearly communicated to families their options for funeral and disposition.
    • Administrative duties such as filing for the death certificate, DD-214 for Veterans, social security paperwork, and obituaries.

     

    September 2001 – December 2002

    Bridgeway Counseling Services

    Community Support Worker

    • Monitored participants’ involvement & progress in drug treatment program and participated in development of individualized treatment plan.
    • Assisted participants to access and utilize a variety of community agencies and resources.
    • Encouraged and promoted drug and alcohol recovery efforts, independence, and self care.
    • Completed all documentation required for successful reimbursement of services.
    • Worked with Law Enforcement to enforce and monitor the adherence to the requirements of the specific individuals’ treatment plan.

    August 1999 –     August 2001

    State of Missouri Division of Aging

    Social Worker

    • Investigated, as directed, reports of abuse, neglect, and/or exploitation; conducted home visits to observe surroundings and interview reported adults, caregivers, and alleged perpetrators.
    • Assessed living arrangements, physical capabilities, cognitive abilities, medical requirements, and financial resources to determine level of care required and eligibility for Medicaid-funded in-home services.
    • Developed protective service plans and provided on-going follow-up and monitoring to reduce risks and increase safety of reported adults.
    • Recommended legal interventions, such as guardianship, power of attorney, protective services, and/or placement, as necessary to ensure clients’ safety and well-being.
    • Interacted with health care providers, community organizations, law enforcement, and government agencies.

    Lindenwood University

    Master of Arts in Professional Counseling

    2002

    Lindenwood University

    Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

    1998

    Professional Credentials

    Professional Licensed Counselor
    Licensed Funeral Director
    Certified Thanatologist

    Professional Affiliations

    American Counseling Association (ACA)
    Association of Death Education and Counseling

    Community Activities

    Alzheimer Association Support Group Facilitator 2004-2005
    Member St. Charles County Community Council 2005-Present
    Board Member of St. Charles Community Council 2009 – 2015
    Critical Incident Stress Management Team of Greater St. Louis, September 2009- 2014
    Gateway Alliance for Compassionate Care at End-of-Life Board Member2013-2018
    Athena Leadership Foundation of St. Charles Board Member 2017-Present

    Presentations and Support Groups Facilitated

    Understanding Grief   2006-2019
    Grief and Your Health    2006-2019
    Living with Memories    2006-2019
    Helping Children Cope With Grief    2006-2019
    Moving Forward From Grief    2006-2018
    Coping With Traumatic Loss    2011-2018
    Coping With Grief During the Holiday Season    2005-2019
    Young Widows and Grief    2019
    Caring for the Caregiver    2011-2018
    Grief Resources in St. Charles County    2006-2018
    Companioning Families after the Loss of a Pet    2013

    Professional Development Attended

    Alzheimer’s Support Group Facilitator Training, May 2005
    Comprehensive Bereavement Skills Training, October 17-20, 2005
    Grief Counseling, ACA Web Class, September 27, 2005
    Grief Counseling Revisited, November 16, 2005
    Advanced Bereavement Facilitator Training Program, March 6-8, 2006
    Traumatic Stress, PTSD, and Grief: Multi Dimensional Approach to Assessment and Intervention, May 10, 2006
    Bereaved Parents Conference, July 2006
    Anger, Stress, and Suicide, September 25, 2006
    Motivate and Adhere to Life Enhancing Choices, October 13, 2006
    Living in the Shadows of the Ghosts of Grief, October 18, 2006
    Living with Grief Before and After Death, March 22, 2007
    Harassment: Serious Business, October 10, 2007
    The Balanced Funeral Arrangement, September 12, 2007
    How to Use Crisis Debriefing When Responding to Crisis and Trauma, September 13, 2007
    Companioning vs. Treating, The medical model of Grief Counseling, October 17, 2007
    Current Trend in Innovative Marketing, March 18, 2008
    Understanding and Relating to Complicated Mourning, March 3-6, 2008
    The Pursuit of Balancing Work and Family, April 10, 2008
    International Death, Grief, and Bereavement Conference, June 2-4, 2008
    Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, June 16 & 17, 2008
    Helping Children and Teens Cope with Grief: A Companioning Philosophy of Care Giving October 2008
    Simplifying the Challenges of Leadership, March 12, 2009
    Emotions: Using Them to Your Advantage, May 14, 2009
    Trauma, PTSD and Grief, May 20, 2009
    Don’t Just Give a Speech, Make an Impact, June 9, 2009
    Art Therapy for Grief and Loss, June 24, 2009
    Exploring Complicated Mourning: Sudden death, Suicide Grief, and Trauma Loss, September 3, 2009
    Critical Incident Stress management: Group Crisis intervention, September 9, 10, 11, 2009
    Critical Incident Stress Management: Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support, September 9, 10, 11, 2009
    Safetalk, Suicide Alertness for Everyone, September 28, 2009
    Building Customer loyalty Through Effective Social Networking, October 8, 2009
    Pet Loss Companioning Certification Program, February1-4, 2010
    The Supervision of LPCs, Fri. Sept. 10, 2010, at Crider Center
    Exploring the Spiritual Dimensions of Death, Grief, and Mourning, February 24, 2011
    Association for Death Education and Counseling; Making Connections: Death, Dying and Bereavement in the Global Community June 21-25, 2011
    7 Mindfulness Habits of Highly Effective Brains December 8, 2011
    Advanced Mindfulness Techniques for Clients January 31, 2012
    The 10 Core Competencies of Trauma, PTSD, Grief and Loss Evidence Based Trauma and Interventions February 13 & 14, 2013
    Depression Treatment for Girls and Women, ACA March 14, 2013
    CBT Strategies for Children and Teens November 18, 2016
    Counseling Grief Clients: Practical Interventions from New Theoretical Insights January 28, 2016
    Basic 50 hr. EMDR Therapy Training Course July 18, 2016
    Healing the Mind Through the Body: An Introduction to Somatic Experiencing Techniques May 24, 2017