Deirdre J.

Wright, LICSW, ACSW

P.O. Box 11302
Washington, DC, 20008
202-684-1218
Email: djwrightnikken@hotmail.com

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

Experienced independent clinical social worker in private practice providing contract

services, consulting services and private psychotherapy services to agencies and
individuals within the Washington, DC metropolitan area. AREA OF
SPECIALIZATION: Staff training and development, program evaluation, strategic
management development and implementation, clinical report writing, long and short-
term interpersonal psychodynamic psychotherapy, program management and service
delivery to difficult and high risk populations.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Masters of Science in Social Work with concentration in Mental Health

Howard University, Washington, D.C., 1981

Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a concentration in Sociology

Morgan State University, Baltimore Maryland, 1975

Certificate in Training of Trainers for Mental Health Providers with concentration in

HIV/AIDS, Aids administration and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene, Baltimore Maryland, 20001

Certificate in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

Washington School of Psychiatry, Washington, DC, 1993

Certificate in Clinical Hypnosis, Erickson Ian Approaches to Hypnosis and

Psychotherapy
American Hypnosis Training Academy, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, 1989

Certificate in Nurolinguistic Programming

American Hypnosis Training Academy, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland, 1989

Certificate in Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy

The American Institute of Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy, Washington, DC, 1987
Certificate in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
National Crisis Prevention Institute, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1983

Continuing education courses in Group Psychotherapy, Substance Abuse, Strategic

Management, Family Therapy, Child Abuse, Trauma and Ethics.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), Washington, D.C. Present

Diplomate in Clinical Social Work, National Association of Social Workers, 1993
Qualified Clinical Social Worker, National Association of Social Workers, 1989
Academy of Certified Social Workers, National Association of Social Workers, 1984

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Deirdre J. Wright, LICSW, ACSW

Washington, D.C., 1987-present

Owner of and independent private consulting and psychotherapy practice. Services

provided to a variety of public and private agencies in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan
area. Agencies serviced include D.C. Public School and Charter Schools, Youth Services
Administration of the D.C. Government, Howard University, associated Catholic
Charities of D.C., Homeless Shelter Programs in Washington, D.C., Vista Volunteers of
America, D.C. Superior Court, residential group homes in the DC and Baltimore area,
U.S Post Office and the Department of Human Development in Fairfax, VA.

Clinical Services: Clinical reports, home studies, casework, crisis intervention,

diagnostic assessment, treatment planning, individual and group staff consultation and
individual, group and family therapy. Services provided in office setting, school and
home based. In rear instances will see referral in non-traditional settings.

Management Services: Strategic management services provided to private sector

organizations and corporations. Program evaluations facilitated by use of the
management tool SWOT. A written report of findings provided to organization. Staff
training and development designed around strengthening the weakness identified by staff
participating in the evaluation process.
Washington Assessment and Therapy Service
Washington, D.C., 1985-present

Associate clinical social worker in private independent community mental health center.
Provide services to medicade and private insurance clients seeking mental health
services. Developed own referral base with D.C. Public Schools and various agencies
providing services to youth, families, women and the homeless. In addition,
responsibilities included maintaining up to date clinical charts, participating in clinical
supervision and quality reviews.

Community Health Care, Inc.

Washington, D.C., 1986-1989

The agency is known by its community designation of the Upper Cardozo Health Center.
Responsibilities included developing and implementing a supportive Independent Living
Program for 104 newly deinstitutionalized chronically mentally ill with a history of
homelessness.

Administrative Responsibilities: Proposal writing, budget development and

implementation, supervision of clinical staff, liaison between D.C. Commission on
Mental Health Services and Community Health Care, Inc., coordination of program
components, and staff training. Additional responsibilities included facilitating staff
meetings, staff performance appraisals, and development of program policy and
procedure manual.

Clinical Responsibilities: Supervision of project case managers, mental health

professionals, crisis workers and housing coordinator, volunteers and administrative
assistants. Acted as liaison between the clinic medical staff the project. Establish
relationship with various community groups private and public, facilitate staff clinical
conference, and implement quality assurance reviews and monitoring intake and
community placement of clients.

ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Psychiatric Social Worker, Medical clinic for High Risk Adolescence, Howard
Hospital, Washington, D.C., 1981-1987
Psychiatric Social Worker, Forensic Psychiatry, D.C. Government, Washington,
D.C., 1985-1987
 Project Director, Project Triangles: Third Party Custody Program, Lutheran
Social Services, Washington, D.C., 1984-1985
Psychiatric Social Worker, Mental Health Services for the Homeless, Lutheran Social
Services, Washington, D.C. 1981-1984

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

National Association of Social Workers

Politics and Prose Book Group on Race-Facilitator
Washington School of Psychiatry Diversity Committee
Springwater Fiber Workshop
Special Projects with the Art Division of the Martin L. King, Jr. Library
• Hook, Yarn & Needles
• The National Afghan Memorial Project for Child Victims of Murder
“Wrapped In Love”