JD Jacobson, LPC-S, CCTP

Experience

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  Vanderbilt University

  Aug 2007 - May 2010

  Honors Research Fellow, Language Development Lab

  Spearheaded research on development of gesture intention understanding in infants, aged 9 months. Also, designed apparatus for collection of data and performed statistical analysis.

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  Upbring

  Jul 2010 - Nov 2010

  Paraprofessional, Krause Children's Center

  I helped teach art to 60 youths with emotional and behavioral difficulties in a residential treatment center as well as utilized harm-avoidance strategies to manage adolescent aggression and destructive behavior.

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  Easter Seals UCP North Carolina & Virginia

  Sept 2011 - Jul 2012

  Paraprofessional

  I offered respite and personal care services to 2 families with children with special needs.

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  CaroMont Health

  Jan 2012 - May 2012

  Inpatient Psychiatric Unit Practicum Student

  My primary responsibility was to counsel individuals with severe mood, personality, and psychotic disorders in an inpatient psychiatric setting. I also led twice daily mental health awareness groups focused on stress reduction and anger management. I closely worked as part of medical treatment team with psychiatrists, social workers, and nurses to plan treatments and the release of patients.

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  Safe Alliance

  Aug 2012 - May 2013

  Clinical Counseling Intern

  I counseled individuals, couples and families aged 4-70 in a community agency setting using Cognitive-Behavioral therapeutic techniques. Also, I conducted non-directive play therapy and guided parenting sessions for children aged 4-11 as well as demonstrated anxiety reduction techniques and created trauma narratives with children and adolescents using Trauma-Focused CBT. For 20 recurring clients, I provided case management at agency’s quality assurance standards.

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  Children's Aid Society

  Apr 2014 - Jul 2016

  Oversaw the implementation of service plans and case management for 49 families, establishing treatment goals to address each family’s needs and diagnoses. Also, counseled parents in building positive relationships with their children with severe developmental disorders and medical conditions. I supervised 5 workers, establishing compliance standards that brought the unit from 6 safety alerts to none within four months after being assigned Mediated crises and used de-escalation techniques for 10 teens with critical mental health diagnoses. Additionally, I provided in-home services, connecting families with domestic violence and substance abuse issues to community resources. Another portion of this position included representing the agency in family court hearings, testifying and writing reports to protect the best interests of the children.

  • Social Work Supervisor, Medical Foster Care

    Jun 2015 - Jul 2016

  • Social Worker, Therapeutic Family Foster Care

    Apr 2014 - May 2015
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  San Marcos Treatment Center

  Jul 2016 - Aug 2018

  Created developmentally appropriate programming for 125 teens with severe behavioral and emotional concerns across 7 milieus in a residential treatment setting. Also, assisted the Clinical Director in implementing a positive, therapeutic culture for an 18-therapist clinical department. I modeled compliance standards by remaining “survey ready” while balancing the duties of a full caseload therapist with programmatic responsibilities. Additionally, directed monthly supervision groups to maintain forward progress of executed programs and support therapists’ continuing education. Show less

  • Lead Adolescent Therapist

    Dec 2017 - Aug 2018

  • Clinical Therapist

    Jul 2016 - Dec 2017
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  The Bair Foundation

  Aug 2018 - Mar 2019

  Clinical Director

  Developed and assessed effectiveness of a state-wide strategy to recruit and train foster parents, increasing incoming inquiries by 300% and speed of foster parent verification by 50% within three months. Also, I orchestrated the onboarding process and training for new hires and foster parents to meet the needs of the company and the youths it serves. Built out a new program for the State of Texas for foster children, overseeing the staffing, recruitment of foster parents, and case management compliance for both. Additionally, streamlined recruitment and benefits counseling processes to maximize the bandwidth of team members and ensure proper paperwork was completed within one week of hire. Managed training, payroll, and personnel issues for a team of six, focusing on skill development to better service the population. I organized and run foster parent support groups and conduct regular trainings for foster parents. Additionally, mitigated crisis situations by using effective supervision tools to redirect staff and foster parents to the goal at hand. I collaborated with providers across the city, including state-funded and private organizations, to generate a network of services for the children and families in the program. Implemented compliance standards that the meet the criteria for Minimum Standards and the Council on Accreditation. Show less

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  Laurel Ridge Treatment Center

  Mar 2019 - Apr 2020

  Director Of Outpatient Services

  Managed three partial hospitalization programs across three locations, averaging 92 patients ranging in age from 5-90 years-old. Developed age-specific programming across developmental stages, implementing evidence-based practices to grow 25% in average daily census from previous three years. Supervised and supported three program managers and 40 additional clinical personnel in both clinical and administrative aspects of the individual programs. Lead efforts to decrease patients’ dependence on inpatient programs by increasing lengths of stay in outpatient programs by 30%. Built relationships with outpatient providers and spearheads marketing efforts within the community by twice monthly presentations on trauma, PTSD, and behavioral interventions. Trained and ensured compliance of documentation to both The Joint Commission and CMS standards, increasing the department’s compliance standards by 50%. Implemented evidenced-based assessments to determine suicidality and oversees interventions to plan for safety as well as step-ups to inpatient care. Improved relationships for interdepartmental coordination of services, including championing the Next Steps program to provide patients the full continuum of care. Show less

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  Green Mountain Counseling PLLC

  Apr 2020 - now

  Clinical Director