Curriculum Vitale

Karen B. Garland, MA., LPC.

163 Royal Oak Drive, White Oak, PA. 15131  

(412) 896-5081; (412) 245-0433 ▪ justkbg@msn.com ▪ pastorkgarland@outlook.com

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Areas of Specialty  

  Substance Use Disorders                    Group Facilitation

                                    Maternal Addiction                              Team Building

                                    Parent Education                                  Volunteer Programs

                                    Family Systems                                       Pastoral Care and Services

                                    Crisis Intervention

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License and Credentialing

                                    Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania, #PC012523

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Education                   

Ph.D. Counseling Education and Clinical Supervision               Presently Enrolled

                                           Waynesburg University                        

                                    Waynesburg, Pennsylvania (Southpointe Campus)

                                    Chi Sigma Iota (CSI), Counseling’s International Honor Society

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health                                    May, 2015

                                    Indiana University of Pennsylvania

                                    Indiana, Pennsylvania (Monroeville Campus)

                                    Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Bachelor of Science in Community Ministries                       January, 2010

                                    Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania

                                    Graduated Magna Cum Laude

Associates of Science in General Studies                                   May, 2005

                                    (Concentration: social work)                             

Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Professional Experience                     

Just-in Time Counseling Services, LLC                                   August, 2020-present                           Private Practice

Licensed Professional Counselor 

Provide services to adults, couples and families      

CLEAR DAY TREATMENT OF WESTMORELAND           July, 2018 – present

1037 Compass Circle, Greensburg, PA 15601

Lead Counselor to Assistant Clinical Director

Medical Assisted Treatment (MAT) short term inpatient and detox facility. 

Coordinate and provide services for detox and/or rehab to patients with a substance use disorder.  Provide one-on-one counseling to patients.  Assist in staff management, supervision and training.  Review staff documentation, charting (for compliance with intraoffice, county and state protocols) and collaborate with interoffice agencies. 

UPMC – Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic    November, 2016 – July, 2018

3501 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213

Research Principal

Provide testing and support for the Connectome Pilot Study, Ages 3-5, examining neuropsychological outcomes for children with congenital heart disease.  Provide testing and support for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) Mattress Study (studies funded through NIH).  This position is grant funded.

ZION APOSTOLIC ASSEMBLY OF MCKEESPORT, Inc.  March, 2006 - Present

2117 Jenny Lind Street, McKeesport, PA 15132

Senior Pastor

Zion Apostolic Assembly is a religious institution and affiliated with the International Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.  This church was founded in McKeesport, PA to serve this economically challenged area, as well as surrounding areas.  After serving as senior pastor and meeting the needs of the people spiritually through all facets of pastoral services, it was evident that there was a need for more.  In an effort to add clinical knowledge to spiritual concepts when counseling, giving advice and/or gaining insight into behaviors, I went back to school to get a master’s degree in counseling.  Obtaining a degree specializing in counseling would also better protect the church from negative ramifications of “counseling/advising” without having expertise in this field.  I have always been in the position to give advice to parishioners; however, with this degree and supervision to confer about more difficult matters, I now believe that I am better suited to understand and service the whole person. 

Through our counseling center, I continue to counsel individuals – both adult and children, couples and families. 

PhD candidate - North Carolina Theological Seminary where I will receive a Ph.D. Biblical Counseling.

SOJOURNER HOUSE, INC.                             October, 2000-January, 2016

5907 Penn Avenue, Suite 220, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Substance Abuse Counselor/Assistant Clinical Supervisor (2009 – January,2019)

Coordinate and provide residential substance abuse prevention counseling to inpatient residents.  Coordinate services to clients through referrals and linkage to medical services, mental health, domestic violence and other services deemed in the client’s best interest.  Responsible for conducting utilization reviews with managed care to assure insurance coverage remains uninterrupted (PCPC proficient).  Responsible for reporting clinical progress through following documents:  progress notes, treatment plans, assessments, and screening. Ensure timely discharge planning for continued addiction/mental health/behavioral health and medical services.

Family Education Support Service Coordinator (2004-2009)

Member of Administrative Staff, provide supervision to parent educators, daycare staff and team of agency volunteers.  Assist families with accessing community resources.  Special focus given to reunification and/or retention of families separated as result of maternal addiction.  Responsible for therapeutic group facilitation, as well as the supervision of five weekly parenting groups/support interventions.

Parent Educator (2000-2004)

Coordinate family assessments, develop treatment plans and update progress in meeting past and current treatment goals.  Provide case management services to clients through referrals and linkage to family support services, youth serving agencies and agents involved with family reunification and permanency planning.  Facilitated groups weekly.  Provided expert witness in parent-child interactions for Allegheny County Children, Youth and Families permanency planning meetings and court hearings.

THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN AFRICAN HEARITAGE ASSOCIATION

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Coordinator of Auxiliary Services

Responsible for coordinating youth camp for children ages 6-13 years old.  Supervised staff of twenty-one people.  Maintained accurate records of activities, attendance, payroll and services contributors.  As a recruiter for the North Shore Foster Care component, responsibilities included recruiting and training prospective families having an interest in becoming foster care homes.

(BAYER) MOBAY CORPORATION, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Administrative Assistant

Member of support staff to the Executive Committee.

Professional Goals

It has been a long-term goal to assist people in reaching their stated potential. I am a fourth- generation in a family that has dedicated their lives to helping others. As a pastor I am aware of people’s need for spiritual guidance and hope for their situations, both now and futuristically. To that end, I endeavor to be fully transparent, admit my dark places, humanness, strive to be empathic and live my life as a role model that others can both trust and believe.

I recognized that spiritual guidance only addresses part of an individual; therefore, I am getting education in the mental health field so that I can offer a more rounded approach to assisting individuals’ goal towards mental/emotional well-being.

It is my goal to establish a family business in honor of my deceased son, Justin, who died due to complications associated with his mental health. This business is called Just-In Time Counseling Services, LLC. I want to help others with unaddressed/under addressed mental illness, so that they have the opportunity to thrive. As a community leader, I understand the apprehension of becoming transparent. Providing empathic counseling and supportive services in a safe environment can be a path towards healing for all who need such a forum.

 Supporting Documents

My work and projects are community-based

I am a co-founder of a faith-based substance use disorder support group called, “Courage to Change.”

I am the host of a yearly women’s empowerment conference that meets in the Pocono Mountains.  The meeting is in its 15th year of meetings (currently suspended due to COVID); however, is already scheduled to resume 2022.

Twice yearly, I supervise a community give-away in McKeesport where clothes and household items are distributed to those in need.

(Have not participated in class projects or presentations beyond requirements)