Meet Katia

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I use a cognitive-behavioral and mindfulness-based approach to help clients navigate life's obstacles. I am eager to provide a non-judgmental space for self-exploration, believing everyone deserves the opportunity and tools to become their best selves. My dedication is expressed in my counseling work, where I utilize the power of trust-building and a person-centered approach to build strong therapeutic relationships. Solution-focused communication, active listening, fostering rich descriptions of perception, and sharing empathy are the foundations of my therapeutic style.

My life work is dedicated to the holistic wellness and growth of others. I began as a general education teacher and advanced to a special education teacher. I then served as a school counselor, tutor, and, most recently, chair of the Committee of Special Education. I am a passionate advocate for differently-abled children and their families.

As a counselor, I pull from my 15 years of experience working with children, adults, and families. When working with children, I focus on their navigation of complex emotions to assist them in self-expression and awareness. I encourage patience, vulnerability, and minimizing life-work dissonance with adults to achieve contentment.

• ADHD
• Adolescent Grief and Loss Counseling 
• Career Counseling 
• Parent Training 
• Christian Based Therapy
• RBT- Registered Behavior Therapy 
• Stress
• Peer Relationships 
• Goal Planning 

CBT Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy

Faith-Based Christian Counseling

Play Therapy 

Person-Centered

Strength-Based

Jacqueline Baer Mental Health Counseling Intern

• Conduct individual counseling sessions
• Monitor and evaluate client progress
• Provide crisis intervention services
• Maintain accurate up-to-date client records
• Collaborate and consult with full time clinician staff regarding crisis intervention and resource referrals
• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans for clients based on their mental health needs
• Assisted clients with case management issues such as creating treatment plans, finding housing, job placement
• Compete literature reviews and edit curriculum vitae, articles, and transcriptions
• Participate in continuing education and professional development activities

School Counselor

• Advocate for students in various settings
• Deliver mandated counseling to students with autism in the NYU DOE Nest ASD program
• Co-Facilitated Therapy Groups: Symptom Management for Anxiety Disorders, Support Group for Women, and Support Group for Teenaged Parents
• Provide consultation services to school base personal
• Member of the school-wide SEL Social Emotional Learning Lead Team
• Participated in regular faculty development, reflective practice, and professional organizations
• Guide students and parents through the high school articulation process
• Plan career fair and college tour trips

School Counseling Internship
Academic and Socioemotional Counseling

• Met with students who were “promotion-in-doubt” and collaborated with students to develop plans to improve academic success
• Practiced counseling to facilitate professional growth and collaboration that supports overall learning environment for students
• Monitored and supported students’ academic and personal/socioemotional goals throughout internship
• Co-chaired an all-girls group of seniors that concentrated on self-esteem/body image through forming healthy relationships, knowing and accepting who you are, and accepting the differences of others
• Met with 3-5 groups per week that focused on academic/college and career readiness and social/emotional needs: controlling impulses, anger management, trauma and loss, conflict resolution, and how to cope with stress and anxiety
• Assisted in applying students to High Schools via the Student Enrollment Managing System (SEMS) and observed IEP changes and meetings

High School, College and Career Readiness Counseling

• Provided individual and group counseling and served as a faculty advisor to students to explore college readiness and other post-secondary options
• Contacted and arranged strategic high school representatives to visit the middle school prior to the application season
• Organized students to attend high school tours and fairs
• Collaborated with students on how to apply to middle schools - created checklists to ensure every qualification was met and contacted parents to help complete the college application process
• Provided one on one counseling to seniors through the admissions cycle included, but not limited to writing and revising the personal statement and sitting for the specialized school exam

IEP Coordinator and Chair 6 years

Atlantic Union College

B.A. Liberal Arts Elem. Education & Psychology minor, 2007

Andrews University

M.A Educational Leadership, 2013

Alfred University

M.S.Ed. School Counseling, 2018

C.A.S. Mental Health Counseling, (pending) 2024

Michigan State School Administrator Certificate

New York State School Counseling, Provisional Certificate  

New York State Childhood 1-6 Professional

New York State Student with Disabilities 1-6 Professional

New York State School Attendance Teacher

Chair of Special Education

• Lead of the Special Education Department
• Construct special education resource binder
• Active member of the Instructional Leadership Team (ILT), Attendance Team, school Cabinet, and Nest Leadership Team Meeting (LTM)
• Teach Self-Contained Special Education ELA for 7th & 8th grade bridge class in 12:1:1 setting
• NYS Questar story finder and question reviewer for the NYS ELA and Math 3-5 State Exams
• Special Education Liaison- Monitor special education school compliance
• Designated District Representative- chair all schoolwide IEP meetings
• Conduct special education parent and teacher trainings on Specially Designed Instruction (SDI), writing quality IEPs, teaching students with autism
• 504 coordinator
• SIT School Implementation Chair- monitor referrals and AIS

ICT /Self-Contained Teacher

• Co-teach ICT for 7th & 8th grade Math, Science, and Social Studies; planning, modifying, and assessing, students
• Self-Contained Humanities bridge teacher
• Measure of Student Learning (MOSL) Committee Member
• Perform Student Progress Monitoring
• Write IEPs using data and classroom observations in Special Education Information System (SESIS)
• Design standard base instruction utilizing creative classroom techniques
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of the individual students

• Bilingual, Haitian Creole/English Speaker
• Instruct using differentiated learning techniques with individualized instruction and services
• Mentor and coach students to help boost confidence and competencies, as evidenced by scores and overall personal growth
• Provide instructional and administrative leadership for after-school mentoring and tutoring
• Presented Integrating Standards in the First and Second Grade Curriculum/Social Studies Mapping Workshops for Northeastern Conference Board of Education
• Former member of the Northeastern Board of Education Social Studies Curriculum Committee
• Completed MA with 4.0 GPA in Educational Leadership from Andrews University

General Ed Teacher 9 years

Special Education teacher 5 years

School Counselor 3 years

Association for Play Therapy (APT)

American Counseling Association (ACA)

Western Suffolk Counselors Association (WSCA)

English, Haitian Creole