Samantha Sheppard LCSW

• Connecticut, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, 013925

CLINICIAN | SOUL FRIENDS | WALLINGFORD, CT SEPT. 2023 - PRESENT ❖ Provides individual, family, and group therapy services to a caseload of 28 weekly clients and school groups. ❖ Facilitates nature therapy, art therapy, and equine assisted psychotherapy sessions using trauma informed psychodynamic talk and play therapy, somatic body awareness, DBT skills coaching, and attachment theory. ❖ Completes comprehensive assessments, treatment planning, and discharge summaries collaboratively with clients and families. JOURNEY GUIDE | HERO JOURNEY CLUB | ONLINE SEPT. 2023 - PRESENT ❖ Facilitates weekly online mental health support groups for adults with a wide range of clinical diagnoses and needs using a video game recreational therapy approach. ❖ Supports clients in engaging in psychoeducation, social connection, skills coaching, relationship building, and goal setting. ❖ Utilizes a relational group therapy model and informed practices to support and foster positive connection among group members dealing with trauma and neurodivergence. EDT CLINICIAN | THE VILLAGE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN |MANCHESTER CT JAN 2022 - OCT. 2023 ❖ Facilitate daily group therapy and weekly sports therapy groups for clients age 5 - 12 attending Extended Day Treatment (EDT) 15 hours per week ❖ Provides family therapy, individual therapy, and crisis management to a caseload of 10 clients. ❖ Completes comprehensive assessments, treatment planning, and discharge summaries collaboratively with clients and families ❖ Utilizes trauma informed practices and relational CARE model principles to effectively and safely manage client crises and behaviors throughout program hours CLINICIAN | CHD GOODWIN HOUSE | CHICOPEE, MA SEPT. 2021 - JAN 2022 ❖ Provided trauma informed individual, group, and family therapy services to adolescent males age 13 - 18 in a 90 day residential substance use treatment program ❖ Managed a caseload of six clients receiving individual therapy 2 - 3 times per week, and family therapy once per week ❖ Managed, de-escalated and processed crisis situations effectively prioritizing the physical and emotional safety of clients at all times TEACHERS ASSISTANT | GRACE WEBB SCHOOL | HARTFORD CT SEPT. 2018 - JUNE 2019 ❖ Provided trauma informed and relational support to students enrolled in the Grace S Webb therapeutic middle school program ❖ Processed crisis situations and social interactions with students and help students create coping strategies and plans to manage emotional distress in future situations PROGRAM COORDINATOR | NATURE CONNECTION | CONCORD, MA JUNE 2016 - JULY 2018 ❖ Planned and delivered nature- and animal- based therapeutic groups for day programs, residential treatment programs, and assisted living facilities ❖ Provided one-on-one sensory therapy and emotional support to adults with disabilities, elders with dementia, and at-risk youth ❖ Trained new volunteers and professional caregivers in Nature Connection methodology ❖ Aided with data collection and program tracking for research and development of the agency COMMUNITY RESIDENCE COUNSELOR | MCLEAN HOSPITAL | BELMONT, MA JUNE 2017 – JULY 2018 ❖ Provided emotional support, crisis de-escalation, and CBT/DBT skills coaching to adolescent girls age 13 – 19 enrolled in East House Adolescent Acute Residential Treatment (ART) Program ❖ Led therapeutic groups on healthy relationships, self esteem, and personal identity in the evenings and on weekends with residents Internship Experience Graduate Level YOUNG ADULT SERVICES IOP | THE INSTITUTE OF LIVING | 960 HOURS SEPT 2020 - MAY 2020 ❖ Preformed clinical work with an interdisciplinary team for young adults age 18 - 26 in an IOP group program setting ❖ Led 2 process and skills based groups per day; completed intake assessments, treatment planning, individual and family sessions ❖ Worked with a client load of 7 from intake to discharge, and assisted supervisor with a team of 12, completed daily documentation for group attendees and individual clients, approximately 60 - 85 notes per week IICAPS | THE VILLAGE FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN | 960 HOURS SEPT 2019 - APRIL 2020 ❖ Worked with the clinical team and engaged clients in the IICAPS treatment model developed by Yale University ❖ Facilitated family and individual sessions with clinician and mental health counselors, as well as independently ❖ Completed case management work and documentation for all clients