Josefina Montoya has over 22 years of experience in education and counseling. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor at Challenges and Change, PLLC, where she conducts assessments, develops treatment plans, and provides counseling services to clients. Previously, she has worked as a school counselor, program specialist, and academic counselor. She has a bachelor's degree in education, a master's in counseling and guidance, and is pursuing a doctorate. She is a licensed professional counselor and certified academic counselor with affiliations in several professional organizations.

1. Josefina Montoya
615 West 7th
Street Freeport, Texas 77541
Cell: (956) 341-3932---Email: jmontoya1964@gmail.com
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Objective:
Highly motivated and accomplished professional with 22 years of experience in all areas of education
including as a License Professional Counselor, Guidance and Counseling to all students at all grade levels,
District Migrant Counselor, and Postsecondary Adjunct Professor.
Additional Skills:
- Ability to make accurate immediate decisions.
- Perform under stress.
-Highly skilled in planning and implementing of policies and procedures.
-Conduct initial assessment interviews for various adult populations.
-Provide community resources to the general population.
-Accurately assess and evaluate mental health disorders.
- Develop Treatment plans
- Knowledgeable about Psychotic Medications
EXPERIENCE
07/2011 to Present--Licensed Professional Counselor at Challenges and Change, PLLC
Responsible for working with Child Protective Services (CPS) both children and adults
Conduct assessment interview and develop treatment plans to eligible Veterans and other general
population. The treatment plan is a therapeutic tool that will direct the evaluation and or direction of the
treatment modality to be utilized.
Direct clients to community resources to include other programs and professionals on a case by case basis.
Provide consultation to other team members and participate in conjoint emergency treatment with facility
mental center health staff. Staffing with other team members to establish the best treatment modalities for
patients.
Provide a full range of psycho-diagnostic services, which require advanced and expert skill in a range of
specialized interventions and treatment modalities used in specialty treatment programs or with special
patient populations. Upon assessment of the patient, a psycho-diagnostic evaluation is deemed necessary.
This allows a wide range of specialized intervention via utilizing the expert skills of other team members to
be used.

2. Provides psychological counseling services (individual, family, and group) for youth and families under.
Provides crisis intervention and assessment.
Participates in Monthly staffing with Multidisciplinary Team members to review youth rehabilitation progress.
Completes and maintains all expected documentation and submits monthly reports.
Conduct psychosocial evaluations or behavioral health assessments as needed.
May conduct clinical interview, collateral interviews, records review, write reports, consult with staff and court officials,
and may provide recommendations and court testimony when needed.
May assists in making referrals to Specialized Treatment Programs and community programs for youth and families.
Utilizing leadership skills for clinic program management such as initiating contact with community resources to
assist in directing clients to appropriate programs that are available. Advocate on behalf of the client should the
Veteran need expert testimony.
Ability to correct administrative errors and programmatic resources (Specialized and/Complex) which
significantly affect the assigned population.
Supervise staff and clinical programs in an efficient and organized manner to meet facility guidelines.
Liaison for administrative committees or work group for Mental Health Service Crisis Line.
Provides subject matter consultation to colleagues and students on the psychosocial treatment of patients
treated in the specialty area, and renders professional opinion based on experience and expertise.
Serve as mentor to staff and students in the specialty area of practice. (Internship)
Demonstrates innovation in the creation of new models of psychosocial assessment or intervention to identify
and address specialized clinical needs especially through the utilizing of continuing educational units (CEU).
Assisted committees in developing procedures and guidelines geared towards low-income families.
Familiar with medications utilized by clients
08/2010 to 06/2011 School Counselor South Texas Educational Technologies: Horizon Montessori Elementary
Schools in McAllen, Weslaco, and Harlingen, Texas
- Assisted students, parents, and teachers in providing a better educational environment
- Instructor Counseling Classes to the elementary children
- Provided individual Counseling for academic failures
- Identified mental health disorders in children and referred them to community resources
11/2009 to 07/2010 Program Specialist at Tropical Texas Behavior Health
- Assessed mental health disorders (moderate to severe) in children.
- Traveled to schools and homes of children and teenagers to implement treatment strategies
- Meet and assisted parents of the children with special needs to implement treatment strategies
08/2002 to 11/2009 Academic Counselor High School, Middle School, and Elementary
- High school (5 years) experience working with various student populations (at-risk, special education,

3. - 08/2002 to 11/2009 Academic Counselor High School, Middle School, and Elementary
- High school (5 years) experience working with various student populations (at-risk, special education, pregnant
teenagers)
- Liaison for students transitioning from the Alternative Center (DAEP).
- Designated Migrant Counselor who assisted Migrant students in obtaining secondary credit accrual - Geared up
to assist students in all areas (academic, social and emotional development).
- STC Adjunct Professor in Psychology (Introduction course).
-Designated as a Migrant. Counselor for two elementary schools (Progreso West and East),
RELATEDEXPERIENCE
08/1994 to 06/2002 La Joya Independent School District
- Memorial Middle School Teacher (Health and Physical Education, Life Skills Teacher) and Coach
- 8 years Volleyball, Basketball, and Track Coach
- District Champs Volleyball 8th
Grade Red and White Teams
06/1992 to 08/1994 United States Navy
- Maintained over 500 Service Records in the AV Maintenance Department
- Desert Storm Veteran.
08/1988 to 06/ 1992 Mercedes Independent School District
- 8th
Grade Mercedes Junior High Health Teacher
- 7TH
Grade Coach (Volleyball, Basketball, and Track)
Education
2014 to Present Southern California University Irvin, California
2004 to 2012 Doctoral Hours CapellaUniversity Minneapolis, Minnesota
01/2007 License Professional Counselor State of Texas Austin, Texas 08/2002
Masters Counseling and Guidance University of Texas Pan American Edinburg, Texas
12/1987 Bachelor’s Degree University of Texas Pan American Edinburg, Texas
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
Academic Counselor
Lifetime Certifications: Health and Physical Education
Licensed Professional Counselor
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4. PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
UTPA Alumni
US Navy and Texas National Guard Veteran
ATPE
RGV Psychological Association
RGV Play Therapy Association
OTHER RELATED EXPERIENCE
Volunteer Softball Coach St. Joseph the Worker Church 2009 to Present
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