Gladys Palmer, Psy.D

• Provided wellbeing supervision to Foreign Commonwealth Officers of the British High Commission in Sierra Leone.
• Supported Officers in developing skills to mitigate the effects of occupational and personal stress.

• Delivered clinical and consultation services.
• Facilitated follow-up counseling and stress management sessions for USAID Staff
• Upon request, rolled out stress management and resilience workshops for CDC and Department of State, both located within the Embassy.
• Conducted a wellness survey for all 3 agency personnel and worked with Management on developing strategies to promote a healthy workforce.
• Supported families affected by mental illness through psychoeducation and skills training in coping strategies.
• Established strong rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds, fostering trust and open communication in therapy sessions.
• Utilized a variety of therapeutic approaches tailored to individual client needs, optimizing treatment effectiveness

• Established positive relationships with national and expat personnel and their dependents.

• Conducted Stress Management and Resilience workshops.

• Provided Individual, Group and Family Counseling.

First cost-shared Staff Counselor position, to support all UN agencies operative in Sierra Leone.

• Designed a safe and supportive environment for clients to discuss issues.
• Conducted evaluations to help patients develop measurable treatment goals.
• Facilitated Stress Management, Resilience and Team Building workshops.
• Used cognitive behavior therapy to assist clients in recognizing and redirecting poor habits.
• Arranged and facilitated therapy sessions for individuals, couples, and families.
• Collaborated with on-site Medical team to devise treatment plans and monitor patient progress.
• Provided education on mental health topics and resources to clients.

• Resumed private practice.
• Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated care and support for clients.
• Offered teletherapy services to expand access to mental health care for remote or homebound clients.

• This emergency consultancy overlapped with a pre- existing role at UNFPA, Sierra Leone
• Provided crisis intervention services as needed, assisting clients during difficult times and connecting them with appropriate resources for continued support.
• Developed strong partnerships with other UN Staff Counselors and the Ethiopia Medical Team of WFP, to address crisis in the Tigray region.
• Assisted clients in developing coping strategies for managing stressors, leading to increased resilience and improved daily functioning.
• Utilized culturally competent approaches when working with diverse populations, acknowledging individual differences while promoting understanding among all clients.
• Engaged in ongoing self-reflection and sought feedback from colleagues to continually improve counseling skills, maintaining a commitment to professional growth and excellence.
• Supervised Peer Support Volunteers
• Facilitated support groups and psychoeducational workshops, empowering clients with knowledge and tools to manage their mental health effectively.

• Counseling and coaching services for Management and Staff, during the restructuring of the Country Office
• Psychological Support to staff and dependents of UNCT Sierra Leone, affected by COVID-19
• Conducted the agency’s first stress management retreat.
• Evaluated client needs and expectations, establishing clear goals for each consulting engagement.
• Enhanced communication among team members, fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment.
• Enhanced client relationships by providing personalized counseling sessions tailored to individual needs.

Quarterly EAP Supervision: CIC Wellness program for Foreign Common Wealth Officers of British High Commissioner, Sierra Leone.

Providing on-site Resilience and Stress management workshops, coaching, crisis intervention, individual and group counseling for client organizations of The KonTerra Group.

• On-site quarterly support
• Provided psychological support to UNICEF staff, following critical incidents
• Promoted Staff welfare by mediating between Supervisors and Supervisees and collaborating with Human Resources, Heads of Units and the Management team
• Facilitated individual and group counseling for staff and dependents
• Supported Managers to improve the working environment in their units
• Supervised Peer Support Volunteers
• Conducted refresher trainings in Stress Management and Resilience Building

HIV Testing and Counseling - Training of Trainers

Leveraged expertise to develop highly effective instructional strategies and provide training in:

• Basic Counseling Skills
• Family and Group dynamics
• Parenting Skills
• Adolescent Behavioral Problems
• Stress Management
• Self Care

• Through grief counseling and psychoeducation, supported Staff and Clinicians of the Carter Center Mental Health Program in Montserrado and Margibi Counties, following the death of a colleague.

• First Staff Counselor for the South Sudan Country Office
• Provided group counseling for UNWFP staff, during and in the aftermath of the July 2016 insurgence
• Delivered training in Stress Management and Resilience Building to staff in the Country and Sub - offices
• Facilitated both pre-deployment briefings and debriefings to new and separating staff
• Offered culturally sensitive individual and family counseling
• Fostered healthy working environment by providing mediation between Supervisors and Supervisees
• Advocated for improved staff welfare by engaging with Management and Human Resources
• Collaborated with UN Staff Counselors for crisis intervention and promotion of best practices
• Responded to critical incidents with adequate psychological support
• Supervised Peer Support Volunteers
• Provided group counseling for staff as needed
• Participated in WFP Staff Counsellors’ Meetings to promote cohesive staff support

• Established the 1st Staff Counselor’s office; offering confidential psychological support to UNICEF personnel and dependents; with referrals to external service providers as needed
• Provided individual counseling, coaching, pre and post deployment briefiings
• Created a family support group and facilitated monthly group counseling and psycho- education
• Trained 106 staff in stress management and resilience building
• Co-facilitated well-being activities at a retreat for staff in the Child Protection unit
• Liaised with Human Resources and the Staff Association to address staff needs
• Promoted staff welfare through advocacy and participation in the Country Management team meetings
• Visited sub offices monthly to render support to staff and national dependents
• Through coaching, counseling and stress management trainings, offered psychological support to staff in all districts of Sierra Leone and facilitated network with District Mental Health Nurses in the distant regions of Bonthe, Kailahun and Koinadugu
• Responded to referrals from the UN Joint Medical Services and collaborated with Occupational health nurses of UN agencies to provide psychological support to their staff.

• Provided lectures for senior year students in Psychology and Crisis Counseling.

• Developed a multi-disciplinary outpatient mental health practice, a unique alternative to inpatient treatment in Sierra Leone
• Facilitated Employee Assistance Programs for non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Provided psychotherapy and substance abuse treatment to adults and adolescents
• Served as Placement Host for certificate and diploma mental health students from the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), Sierra Leone
• Conducted Stress Management Seminars and training in public and private sectors
• Co-facilitated internship programs and providing supervision for international students
• Offered on-call psychological interventions to patients at private hospitals
• Participated in curricula development for Mental Health certificate, diploma and degree programs
• Raised awareness on mental health issues by engaging stakeholders and Government officials, to promote improved legislation and service development in Sierra Leone Ebola Crisis Intervention:
• Facilitated individual and group therapy for humanitarian workers and their families
• Offered psychological support via Skype to clients under quarantine
• Trained Peer Counselors of international non-governmental organizations such as the International Rescue Committee, on Psychological First Aid
• Client Institutions: Catholic Relief Service, DFID, Davidson Nicol Medical Centre, Aureol Insurance Company, U.N
• Joint Medical Clinic, Rokel Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Peace Corps Sierra Leone, Save the Children International, UNICEF, World Bank and World Hope International.

• Worked in collaboration with the Medical Unit to provide counseling and psycho-education to Peace Corps Volunteers
• Co-facilitated Peer Support Network trainings.

• Contributed to the creation of a Facilitators’ Manual, to offer group therapy to various cadres of health workers, traumatized by the Rebel War in 12 Chiefdoms within Kono District
• Designed culturally relevant tools to assess the psycho-social needs of the target group
• Trained and supervised 14 psycho-social counselors in applying psychological tools and processes efficiently
• Served as a co-therapist with CAPS Clinical Supervisor
• Provided individual and group clinical supervision to project clinical staff
• Submitted regular reports regarding clinical and training activities
• Facilitated weekly treatment team meetings
• Collaborated with local partners to raise community awareness on the effects of stress

• Facilitated group psychotherapy for adults in the inpatient, intensive outpatient, and partial hospitalization units
• Administered Crisis Respond, Psycho-Social, Alcohol and Drug Assessments
• Collaborated treatment and aftercare initiatives with referral sources
• Conducted assessments for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Coordinated focus and process groups for adult clients in the inpatient Addictive Disorders and Psychiatric Units
• Developed treatment and discharge plans
• Facilitated process groups and behavioral therapy in the adolescent Intensive Outpatient program (IOP)
• Increased parent participation in treatment and aftercare planning by 25%
• Managed adolescent substance abuse groups
• Contributed to a 10% decrease in relapse and re-admission rates
• Introduced music therapy to the Adolescent behavioral group
• Participated in in-patient and Intensive Outpatient multi-disciplinary staffing
• Provided psychoeducation for adults and adolescents, to promote healthy coping skills
• Rendered intensive outpatient individual, family and marital therapy to clients with dual diagnoses
• Established family education and family therapy groups at Cleveland IOP
• Submitted utilization and concurrent reviews to health insurance companies

• Critical Incident Response and 3 weeks counseling for affected staff.