AchieveCE

A love of people and problem solving led Shirley to her career in behavioral health care.  With two decades of experience in both direct services and program management roles, she has worked in most major realms of the industry – private practice, hospital-based care, community mental health, managed care and chemical dependency inpatient treatment.Shirley was the recipient of the ‘most outstanding employee’ award at both SandyPines Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents and at Hanley Center at Origins.  One of the highlights of her career included managing Palm Beach County, Florida’s largest external employee assistance program (EAP) with over 40K covered employee lives, plus their dependents. She was in charge of Hanley Center’s Outpatient, Family and Adolescent treatment programs.  As Director of the Behavioral Health Network, she devised innovative and individualized programs for mental ill children and adolescents ages 5 through 19, supervising a network of field-based licensed clinicians. As Liaison of the Child Abuse Pilot Project, Shirley oversaw licensed personnel providing assessment and intervention for children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect.  In addition, she maintained a private practice at the office of Mark Agresti, M.D., and worked for several years at Cigna Insurance Company’s behavioral health care office in West Palm Beach, Florida providing managed care outpatient counseling and speaking before large employee groups as part of Cigna’s wellness program.Shirley holds two master’s degrees from Florida Atlantic University: one in Mental Health Counseling and another in History.  Her history thesis explored the Freudianism, Marxism, Romanticism and Catholicism of the artists known as the Surrealists.  She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida since 1994, a Certified Addictions Counselor since 1997, and a State of Florida Qualified Supervisor for Mental Health Counselor interns.  She has supervised numerous registered interns toward their licensure, a process she thoroughly enjoys.Shirley is happily married and has two grown children, four grandchildren, and a Schnoodle (aka a schnauzer/poodle mix) named Suzi.