Serena Houston

 Serena Houston

Serena Houston

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Biography

Richard J. Daley College - Psychology

Psychotherapist, Operations Manager, and HIPAA Compliance Officer at Wellington Counseling Group
Mental Health Care
Serena
Houston, LCPC, NCC
Chicago, Illinois
Are you looking to talk to someone that makes you feel comfortable and understood? In my experience, this has been proven to be one of my best attributes. I believe in the power of positive relationships and integrate this value in the work with my clients. This quality has helped me build strong relationships with people from all walks of life where significant progress on issues such as trauma, anxiety, grief, mood disturbances, and relationship difficulties were made possible. I have helped a variety of individuals become more self-aware, which has led them on the path to reach their full potential.

I have dedicated a lot of my career to researching the effects of trauma, which led to my interest in relaxation training. I have discovered that when a person is in a heightened state of emotion, talk alone may not alleviate stress. A person who feels relaxed is more able to work productively on deeper issues to develop perspective and clarity. He or she is also better able to function in life. For me, the most rewarding element of working with survivors is the amount of relief experienced from the use of holistic practices as an adjunct to psychotherapy.

The most successful therapy is collaborative. It is a joint process of discovery and growth between therapist and client. I aim to help my clients slow down, stay in the present, and take in the beauty of life. It is important to work through the past, but not dwell on it so that you can make good decisions for the future. My ultimate goal as a therapist is to support my clients and help them feel warm, cared-for, supported, and understood. Humor is important to me, as is creating a welcoming, thoughtful, and nonjudgmental environment that sets the stage for insight, growth, and joy.


Experience

  • Dominican University Wellness Center

    Graduate Intern

    Counseled 10 – 12 adults per week in individual therapy for stress management, depression management, adjustment concerns, grief, and career concerns; amongst other general health issues. Diagnosed and maintained appropriate documentation in the Medicat 10.7 electronic health recording system. Developed, marketed, and facilitated a six session workshop on relaxation training each semester. Developed, recorded, and distributed personalized relaxation sequences for individual clients. Updated and administered a two session anger management class. Engaged in outreach presentations. Consulted with psychological evaluator, interdisciplinary staff, and counseling staff. Conducted intake and crisis assessments. Engaged in weekly individual supervision, group supervision, and didactics training. Triaged from the receptionist’s desk.

  • Richard J. Daley College

    Adjunct Professor of Psychology

    Taught General Psychology (PSYC 201), Introduction to Social Science (SOC SCI 101), and Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 213).

  • Conner and Associates Psychotherapy Group

    Licensed Professional Counselor

    Counseled adults in a private practice setting by implementing self-constructed treatment plans. Maintained appropriate documentation in the Therapy Appointment electronic health recording
    system. Billed insurance and processes payments. Marketed for the practice. Taught seminar on preventing burn-out to a class of nursing students.

  • Dr. Sarah Williams, Psy D. (Private Practice)

    Assistant

    Transcribed session notes from dictation for a case load of approximately 50 adults and children with a variety of emotional and behavioral disturbances, verified eligibility of insurance benefits, billed insurance, processed insurance and client payments, logged sessions and payments in a database, dictated clients’ history to the psychologist based upon their completion of assessment, dictated reports from other professionals to psychologist, and trained the new assistant.

  • Wellington Counseling Group

    Psychotherapist in Private Practice

    Engages in psychotherapy adults in a private practice setting by implementing self-constructed treatment plans. Maintains appropriate documentation in the Therapy Appointment electronic health recording system. Markets for the practice. Researched, developed, and presented to the Chicago chapter of the Depression, Bipolar Support Alliance about treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Education

  • Northern Illinois University

    Bachelors of Arts

    Psychology with a Minor in Art

  • Roosevelt University

    Master's Degree

    Clinical Professional Psychology