Brenda Villa

Emerging clinical social worker with hands-on experience providing crisis intervention and behavioral health support to individuals with diverse and complex needs. Skilled in crisis and suicide risk assessment, biopsychosocial interviewing, de-escalation, trauma-informed care, supportive counseling, and care coordination. Experienced working with individuals experiencing mental health crises, psychosis, substance use, homelessness, and co-occurring concerns.

Bilingual in English and Spanish, with strong skills in building rapport, clinical documentation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and connecting clients with appropriate services and resources.

Crisis Service Worker - Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency

(2023-10)

• Conduct crisis evaluations for individuals experiencing suicidality, psychosis, and acute psychiatric symptoms.
• Complete risk screening and gather biopsychosocial information to support clinical decision-making and determine appropriate level of care.
• Provide de-escalation, supportive counseling, psychoeducation, grounding techniques, and safety-focused interventions during behavioral health crises.
• Coordinate with clinicians, law enforcement, hospitals, psychiatric facilities, and community providers to support continuity of care.
• Assist with voluntary and involuntary hospitalization processes when criteria are met.
• Complete timely clinical documentation of assessments, interventions, referrals, and disposition planning.

Social Work Intern, Clinical Support & Group Facilitation - Visalia Navigation Center

(2025-04 - 2026-06)

• Conducted routine client check-ins and informal assessments to identify client needs, strengths, barriers, and service goals.
• Co-facilitated weekly psychoeducational groups focused on communication, emotional regulation, boundaries, coping skills, and interpersonal functioning.
• Provided supportive problem-solving, coping strategies, and referrals for individuals experiencing homelessness and other complex psychosocial needs.
• Collaborated with case managers and other staff to promote housing stability, service engagement, and progress toward client goals.
• Completed progress notes, group summaries, referral documentation, and other client-related records.

Master of Social Work - Social Work - University of Massachusetts Global (2026)

Bachelor of Science - Forensic Behavioral Sciences - California State University, Fresno (2022)

Associate Degree - Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts with an Area of emphasis in Social and Behavioral Science - College of the Sequoias (2017)

Associate Degree - Associate's in science in Administration of Justice- Criminal Justice - College of the Sequoias (2017)