DAINA NORUSIS, LCSW

502 W Roscoe St., Apt 2N | c: 708-212-6767 | daina.norusis@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Licensed Social Worker who is committed to helping individuals tell their stories by forming trusting relationships & advocating for
their best interests. Experience predominantly working with individuals with severe & persistent mental illness.

SKILL HIGHLIGHTS
Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker Nonviolent Crisis Intervention certified by CPI
Illinois Licensed Social Worker National Association of Social Workers (NASW) member
Illinois Licensed Certified Recovery Support Specialist Partner Abuse Intervention Program Training
Illinois Licensed Certified Alcohol & Other Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Drug Abuse Counselor Group leader for National Alliance on Mental Illness
Peer Support Specialist Question, Persuade, Refer suicide prevention training
First Aid & CPR Certified American Counseling Association (ACA) member
Mindfulness Stress Reduction Training American Art Therapy Association (AATA) member
Speaker for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Illinois Art Therapy Association (IATA) member
Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) member Smoking Cessation training

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
10/18 — current Therapist, BetterHelp.com — online
Provided counseling services on a contract basis for a caseload of 30+ clients

07/18 — 09/18 Youth & Adolescent Therapist, Thrive Counseling Centers — Oak Park, IL
Conducted Mental Health Assessments (MHA) & Individual Recovery Plans (IRP) for individuals ages 8-80
Updated MHA and IRPs for patients who slipped through the cracks of the system
Worked on putting together a more concise and effective DBT curriculum for the agency

11/17 — 01/18 Seasonal Sales Associate, Target — Chicago, IL

09/14 — 01/17 Community Recovery Support Specialist – Intern & Full-time Thresholds — Chicago, IL
Started as interned and was hired on as a full-time employee before even finishing
Developed treatment plans, conducted mental health assessments & biopsychosocial assessments for a
shared case load of 40-50 members with severe & persistent mental illness
Met with 4-8 members, mostly of the Williams & Colbert consent decrees, each day for routine, therapeutic
visits, helping them secure housing, get medical care, obtain necessary resources in the community, &
conducting crisis assessments when necessary.
Met one-on-one with members for the evidence based practice of Wellness-Management & Recovery;
provided psychoeducation, worked on goal setting, & empowered members to advocate for themselves

02/13 — 07/13 Family Advocate - Intern, Proviso Children’s Advocacy Center — Broadview, IL
Worked in crisis situations with children & families who were survivors in sexual allegation cases.
Conducted biopsychosocial assessments & home visits, & provided referrals for various services.
Collaborated with court officials, law enforcement & community providers & provided advocacy in
criminal cases.

10/10 — 04/11 Apprentice in Admissions, Adventures in Admissions — Gainesville, GA

Conducted interviews, made acceptance calls, & provided information to mission trip participants.
Promoted to working the high school age program, Ambassadors. Reviewed applications & interviews for
this program, as well as locking up the building.
Coached 60+ individuals through the process of fundraising for the World Race program.

08/09 — 06/10 World Race participant, Adventures in Admissions — Gainesville, GA

Partnered with established ministries providing a variety of work, such as leading English, running kids’
camps, sex work ministry, & visiting orphanages
Lived & worked with a small group, participating in daily feedback & debrief sessions
Used skills to seek out opportunities to teach & volunteer in many countries, including teaching guitar,
being the translator, & using photography to gain the trust of the locals

EDUCATION
Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL
Master’s of Social Work, 2015
Concentration in Mental Health
Clinical Focus in Children & Families
Lewis University, Romeoville, IL
Bachelor of Arts: Psychology, 2009
Minor in Theology

Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute, IN

Master’s of Arts in Art Therapy, anticipated 2020