Mariana Harms
When did you begin working at CALM/ How long have you been at CALM?
I began working at CALM in March of 2014, making it almost 3 years since I started.
What is your role at CALM?
I wear many different hats at CALM! I am on the Great Beginnings team, where I work with children 0-5 and parents looking for developmental, behavioral, and emotional support. On this team, I also conduct assessments for children who have open cases with Child Welfare Services. Additionally, I serve on the Child Abuse Treatment team, where I work with children aged 6-18 who have experienced trauma. At any given time, I may also hold 1-2 cases in our Intensive In-Home program as well. I mainly utilize the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy modality, but I am also certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). As a matter of fact, I will soon be taking over the PCIT trainer role!
Please share one of your best CALM experiences (a time you felt like you really made a difference).
It’s difficult to pick a single best experience at CALM, but those that are most salient in my mind involve cases where family therapy was the main component in treatment. It’s an indescribable feeling to have a role in repairing a broken relationship between parent and child.
Finish the sentence, “If I could do one thing to make kids’ lives better, I would….”
If I could do one thing to make kids’ lives better, I would make sure every child feels loved by at least one adult.
What is one thing you wish people knew about CALM?
I wish more people knew that CALM has a very wide variety of services (see my answer to question 2 above!). Many families who come through here often say that they believed CALM only helped children who had been abused. CALM is much more than that!