Peer Support Specialist & Case Manager
Philosophy and Approach: Philosophy and Approach: No matter your background, your ideology, or your story, we all share one thing in common: the trauma we have experienced has shaped us. Everyone carries the weight of their grief and pain differently. What may be heavy for some may be debilitating for others. Asking for support can be difficult, but carrying the full weight of your burdens alone is not sustainable. As a Peer Support Specialist with ONN, it is my job to provide support where I can. My mission is to help offload some of your stressors so you may focus on your mental health treatment with your ONN counselor.
As a Peer Support Specialist and Case Manager, I am able to offer a wide array of support from emotional to systemic. If clients require crisis intervention, I am able to provide de-escalation techniques and assist with creative problem-solving to intervene when triggers arise. Some clients do not feel empowered in their voice and may request an advocate to help navigate complex systems and services. I am also able to provide financial, social, and resource assistance, such as budgeting, life skills training, and getting you connected with housing, food, and other assistance programs.
Peer Support is a unique experience for each and every client. Some clients may need assistance with navigating social service benefits, while others may benefit from social skill-building or emotional regulation techniques. Often, people just want someone there to listen and care. Our relationship will be built on mutual respect, collaboration, and transparency. Together, we will find an approach that works best for you and your mental health journey.
Sliding Scale Fee Structure: Owls’ Nest North is committed to making services accessible to everyone regardless of ability to pay. We seek to catch those who fall through the cracks of care in our current system. My sliding scale is determined by the current fee schedule of Owls’ Nest North. If you are un- or under-insured and therefore forced to pay out-of-pocket, please let me know prior to our first session, so we can determine your eligibility for a sliding scale fee. If you are experiencing difficulty navigating the new healthcare system, we are also happy to support and advocate for you in becoming insured.
At this time, I am only available to see OHP or Medicare subscribers, and cash/out-of-pocket payers. ONN only accepts cash as payment (no checks or cards). To receive peer services, you must be enrolled in ONN Mental Health services. Cash-pay fees for all of my services are $20 per 15 minutes, rounded up to the nearest 15 minute interval.
Cancellations: Occasionally life intervenes and prevents us from following through with our commitments. I trust our mutual respect of one another’s time. As such, it is our policy to collect my full session fee for no-shows and sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours notice.
If you are an OHP client, our contract does not allow us to charge for missed appointments and we would not want to, but we are unable to hold a regular appointment space after two missed/late cancelled appointments. You can, however, schedule into cancellation spots on your clinician’s schedule.
Bio: I am a queer, multicultural woman with lived experience overcoming generational trauma and mental illness. I am the oldest daughter of a single mother and a first-generation graduate with a degree from the University of Central Florida, currently holding a Bachelor’s in Clinical Psychology. I have plans to pursue higher education to one day practice therapy. I also possess a background in nonprofit work, working with BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ individuals struggling with mental illness and addiction. My career and education aside, I am a creative, an advocate, and a friend, with a strong desire to see the world heal. I understand the complexities this life has to offer, and the many ways in which it impacts us daily. I hold an array of perspectives and experiences that allow me to approach sessions with compassion, empathy, and cultural understanding.
Every day, I encounter people filled with potential but lacking resources or support, making behavioral change less accessible. People who are capable of moving mountains but settle for kicking rocks because they fear they aren’t strong enough. I want to empower those individuals to discover their motivation and kickstart their pursuit of happiness by providing support and connecting them with viable resources and opportunities. Healing is not a linear process, nor is it an easy endeavor. The fact that you choose to be here shows you are heading in the right direction, and that should be celebrated!
Credentials/Certifications: I am a graduate of the BA in Clinical Psychology program at the University of Central Florida. At ONN, I am under the clinical supervision of Kristi G. Erlich, LMFT. I am recognized as a Peer Support Specialist (PSS) and Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA) in the state of Oregon. I abide by the code of ethics set forth by the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (https://mhacbo.org/media/filer_public/43/a6/43a690ba-5c15-4517-8d83-9fc2da4085ba/mhacbo_ethics_agreement.pdf).
Contact: PSS-CM@owlsnestnorth.com * (855) ONN-P2Ps (855-666-7277)
Please be advised that email is not a secure form of communication, and while it is unlikely that your email communications would be of interest to nefarious pursuits, it is your risk to take. Owls’ Nest and I accept no responsibility for misuse or abuse of your communications. In an effort to minimize exposure/risk, we ask that you do not include any sensitive or process-oriented information in email, and utilize it solely for the purpose of logistical issues.
Disclosure: In order to receive peer support services at ONN, you must be enrolled in and actively receiving mental health treatment with one of our registered clinicians. If you are interested in signing up for mental health services, please complete and submit an ONN Intake form found at the provided link: Intake | Owls’ Nest North Therapy Joint