1. INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEW 2/26/2013 MARIA T.PEREZ- NUNEZ MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST TRI- CITIES COMMUNITY HEALTH

2. AN AVERAGE DAY  Providing individual therapy and diagnosis  Assessment either in the office or at the clients home  Reporting to C.P.S, and the courts regarding compliance  Consulting with colleagues  Staffing meetings  Phone calls  Computer work and documentation  Connecting with other agencies: School District, Three Rivers Wrap Around

3. ORGANIZATION AND JOB DESCRIPTION  Tri Cities Community Health. (Trina’s employer)  Located in Pasco, Washington  Mental Health counseling  Medical appointments  Dental Program  Caters to low-income individuals

4. TRI-CITIES COMMUNITY HEALTH  Operates Nueva Esperanza Detox Facility  Employs many Doctors nurses and therapists  Caters to large Hispanic Population

5. JOB DESCRIPTION  Mental Health Therapist  Involved in individual and family counseling  Variety of mental health clients with many diagnosis including depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia  Trina has a caseload of 75 clients

6. EDUCATION BACKGROUND  Masters degree in social work  Licensed Mental Health Professional  Instructor at Heritage University

7. TRINA’S ATTITUDES  Loves helping others, learning new skills  Advocating for clients  Loves teaching  Enjoys the moral in the workplace  The inevitable paperwork is her least favorite task

8. TRINA’S OBSERVATIONS  Attributes stress in families to poverty, learned behaviors, child abuse, neglect, and domestic violence  Essential elements of intervention:  Safety, education, support systems, available resources

9. ADVICE TO NEW SOCIAL WORKERS  When dealing with abused children help them to feel safe and secure  Be aware of budgets  Remember that stress levels are often related to the economy  Child abuse and domestic violence are a constant in society  Providing accurate Information about abuse is critical

10. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS What is your first line of approach with children in abusive situations?  When working with children Trina always considers the child’s safety first  She gathers information from the caregiver who brings in the child  She assesses the severity of the situation

11. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS  What in your mind is an effective method of therapy?  Trina has bee trained in TF-CBT therapy: (Trauma focused cognitive behavioral therapy)  Psycho education therapy helps children and parents learn about trauma and it’s effects

12. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS How do you gain the confidence of the children so that they will open up?  Children may struggle with not wanting to verbalize their feelings  Create a warm environment so they feel comfortable discussing their experience  Not a fast process  Engage child by playing with toys and games