Alexis B.

About Alexis B.

I am a motivated and detail-oriented student with strong leadership, interpersonal, and analytical skills. My experience spans crisis intervention, psychoeducational group work, and mental health advocacy, with hands-on involvement supporting individuals navigating substance use recovery and contributing to research initiatives. On campus, I take an active role in fostering mental wellness, suicide prevention, and bystander intervention through collaborative events, peer education, and leadership positions. As a trained Crisis Counselor with Crisis Text Line, I provide empathetic, judgment-free support using active listening and safety planning strategies. In my internship at a therapeutic shelter, I facilitate group sessions for men recovering from substance use and co-occurring disorders, tailoring interventions to support their individual recovery processes. I am passionate about advancing culturally responsive, trauma-informed care and de-stigmatizing mental health across the lifespan for underserved and marginalized communities. My research and clinical interests include emotional regulation and contagion, maladaptive coping, trauma, and the intersection of mental and physical health, especially as it relates to chronic illness and stress through a biopsychosocial lens. I’m especially interested in how early emotional development, adversity, and systemic inequities shape mental health outcomes over time. I aspire to become a Clinical Psychologist who delivers inclusive, evidence-based care and contributes to research that promotes emotional and physical well-being through a decolonized lens that respects and affirms cultural diversity, identity, and lived experiences. My goal is to bridge science and practice in ways that empower individuals and families, support emotional growth, and foster healing across diverse contexts.

Experience

1. Crisis Counselor

   Crisis Text Line

   Jun 2023 — Present

   Complete minimum of 200 hours of texts from people in crisis, bringing them from a moment of intensity to a calm state of ease through active listening, collaborative problem-solving, and safety planning.I focus on using various techniques like reflection, risk assessment, reframing, strength identification, and goal setting to provide effective crisis intervention via text. My main goal is to create a safe and empathetic space through active listening. By building rapport and trust, I can explore the issues at hand and collaboratively problem-solve with the texter to develop a plan to support their safety- Assess the situation to understand the individual\'s needs- Provide appropriate interventions and coping strategies - Work together to create a safety plan that helps return to a stable state - Collect data to make informed decisions- Offer appropriate interventions and healthy coping mechanisms

Education

• UConn College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

  Bachelor of Arts - BA