SUPPORTIVE LIVING

Donna Gleissner is licensed in Connecticut as a Professional Counselor and an Alcohol and Drug Counselor, as well as being Nationally Certified as a Board Certified Counselor. Born and raised in the Danbury, Conn., area she earned her BA in Psychology and a Masters in Counseling from Western Connecticut State University. She has been working in the field of mental health and substance abuse for many years in a variety of settings from residential to outpatient. She worked a a children’s facilitator for bereavement support groups for children who had a parent die and has facilitated NAMI Family to Family Educational Program. Trained through the ISSD (Institute for the Study of Study of Trauma and Dissociation) she has specialized training working with clients with chronic trauma and dissociative disorders. She has a diversified work experience working with those with substance abuse issues, anxiety, chronic mental illness and depression.

Mary received her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University, and her Bachelor’s in Social Work from Western Connecticut State University. Mary has served as a counselor at a domestic violence and sexual assault shelter, and as a case manager with both at-risk youth and at a substance abuse and mental health facility. She also volunteers with an organization to help feed and clothe the homeless, and is a co-pastor at a local church with her husband.

Jacqueline Sherling received her Master’s degree in clinical social work and urban leadership from Simmons College and her undergraduate degree in philosophy from Skidmore College. She specializes in helping clients gain insights and make connections, understand their internal dialog and core beliefs, and strengthen their sense of efficacy by empowering them with tools and skills to manage thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. She understands that individuals are part of other systems and has brought families together for therapy to assist in working towards these goals. Jacqueline facilitates the self-esteem, family relationship, anxiety skills, and DBT skills groups. Prior to coming to BlueSky Jacqueline was a supervisor at a domestic violence shelter, ran an Intensive Outpatient Program, and worked in a private practice.

Obadiah Muhammad is a Gulf War Veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who received his Master’s degree in Social Work, with a concentration of Veterans Services and a sub concentration of Health and Mental Health, from the University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford; and his Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, with a concentration in Social Work and Social Welfare from Albertus Magnus College. Obadiah’s diverse professional positions before coming to BlueSky, include working at Native American Treatment program in Gallup New Mexico as well as working in the acute psychiatric department at Yale New Haven Hospital. Obadiah’s most recent position was as a clinician at a Connecticut Department of Corrections/Federal Bureau of Prisons Half-Way House in New Haven CT, working with formerly incarcerated individuals that suffer from severe persistent mental illness. While working in the halfway house, Obadiah performed individual sessions based on EMDR and EFT therapeutic techniques, as well as facilitated ‘S.E.L.F.’ Trauma focused groups, CBT, DBT, IVP and psychoeducational focused groups. Obadiah is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing); CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy); DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy); EFT (Emotional Focus Therapy-Tapping) and IVP (Intimate Partner Violence).

Chelsea Hepburn received her Master’s degree in clinical social work through Fordham University and her undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology from Mount Saint Mary College. Chelsea uses a strengths-based approach with clients to help them identify strong attributes and qualities, to empower them to promote change and well-being in their own lives. Chelsea has worked for Blue Sky as a life skills coach and has experience with direct care, crisis intervention and case management. She has worked with Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, OCD and a wide range of personality and mood disorders. Trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Trauma Focused -Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Chelsea has experience in addiction as well and is working to become a (CAC) certified addictions counselor.