Cherie Spehar's Experience:
-
Certified Department Trainer, Lead Blogger, Weekly Columnist at The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children
2011 - Present*Serve as Lead Blogger for international clinical professionals on topics related to Trauma-Informed Practice. *Certified Department Trainer *Presenter of TLC Programs and various specialty topics. *Serve as Facebook Administrator, Moderator for organization's professional page. *Created and author the TLC Thursday Three - Practical Points for Parents and Professionals *Online Curriculum Author/Instructor *Provide revisions and updates of Trauma Intervention Programs. *Serve as Liaison for creation of partnerships with other organizations and trauma-related materials for therapeutic play. *Provide consultation and assistance as requested.
-
Topic Expert Contributor at GoodTherapy.org
2011 - PresentContribute monthly Topic Expert articles on Play Therapy, Trauma, and Child/Adolescent Issues.
-
Emotional Wellness Advisor at The Monsters in My Head, LLC
2010 - PresentServe as the company's Emotional Wellness Advisor Author of "A New Woo Lives With You" - A Guidebook on working and playing with the Worry Woo Monsters Provide consultation and information on child wellness and development, trauma, and emotional safety Involved in idea generation, direction for therapeutic concepts Provide consultation to customers seeking understanding or ideas Liaison role for connections to other organizations using the Worry Woo Monsters in their programs
-
Founder, Director, Lead Clinician at Smiling Spirit Pathways - The Apex Center for Trauma Healing LLC
September 2005 - PresentA trauma healing center providing child and family therapy, education, training and support for those involved in all life transitions. Play Therapy, Traumatic Stress, Developmental Trauma, Grief Adjustment Support, Women's Emotional Health & Wellness, Attachment, Child-Parent Relationships are my areas of interest and specialty.
-
Clinical Social Work Therapist at New Leaf Behavioral Health
June 2008 - October 2012Providing play therapy, child and family mental health therapy for children and adults. Group therapy.
-
Sr. Trainer, Training Coordinator & Curriculum Developer at North Carolina State University-Social Work Department
June 2002 - November 2007Professional Senior trainer and curriculum developer in pioneer model of Child and Family Team Meetings. Specialized in clinical care and inclusion of children, traumatized children, and abuse/neglect family dynamics. Coordinator of the Family-Centered Meetings Project. Trained 1000+ social workers, mental health clinicians and community service providers from all 100 NC counties, and nationally, in this highly specialized, acclaimed and family-driven model. Multi-systems liaison for model integration and coordination. Internal professional development for project staff. Supervisor of many, trainer of more, champion of family strengths throughout.
-
Volunteer Child Mental Health Therapist at St. Michael the Archangel
2002 - 2005Provided free mental health services for complex trauma and grieving children and families.
-
Executive Director at The Exchange Child Abuse Prevention Center
November 2000 - 2002Executive Director - Managed five clinical child abuse prevention programs. Supervised program clinicians and coordinators. Clinical Director/Supervisor. Fiscal responsibility for Center operations. Board of Directors liaison. Public relations speaker, Fundraising Coordinator and event chair.
-
Mental Health Therapist at Baker Victory Services
1997 - 2000Provided outpatient child and family therapy, play therapy for children ages 3 and up and their families.
-
Child and Family Therapist (Residential Units) at New Directions - Randolph Children's Home
1995 - 2000Sr. Clinical Social Worker, Clinical Team Leader for 3-4 units, including high-risk. Trained in and provided play therapy on a daily basis; trauma-focused care. Unique dual responsibility of therapist and county social worker. Social Work Intern Supervisor.
-
Mental Health Counselor at Olean General Hospital
1995 - 1997Provided emergency mental health evaluations and crisis counseling in Emergency Dept; provided mental health counseling on Psychiatric Unit
-
Examiner, Therapist Assistant at Cattaraugus County
1990 - 1996Worked with disadvantaged populations to secure assistance, provided assistance to mental health therapists, interfaced with child welfare unit.
-
Daily Living Counselor at Southern Tier Environments for Living
1991 - 1994Counseled and cared for consumers diagnosed with serious mental illness in a group home setting.