Holly Merchant

About Holly Merchant

Experienced in mental health and social services, I specialize in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and family advocacy. My passion lies in helping children, families, and caregivers navigate challenges, heal from trauma, and build lasting resilience.As a Home-Based Therapist, I provide therapeutic services, develop individualized treatment plans, and work closely with child welfare agencies to ensure comprehensive support for families. My role as a Human Service Specialist strengthened my ability to advocate for families in crisis, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, and facilitate psychoeducation for parents and caregivers.Beyond direct client care, I have led community engagement initiatives aimed at expanding access to resources underserved populations. I am deeply committed to bridging gaps in care, fostering strong partnerships, and empowering individuals to take control of their mental health journey. Core Areas of Expertise: Trauma-Informed Care & Family Therapy Case Management & Child Welfare Advocacy Crisis Intervention & Psychoeducation Community Outreach & Mental Health Awareness Collaboration with DCS & Social Services Let’s Connect! If you’re passionate about improving mental health services, advocating for children and families, or expanding trauma-informed practices, I would love to collaborate.

Experience

1. Home-based Therapist Trauma-informed Clinician Child Welfare & Family Systems

   Healing Solutions Counseling Services, Inc

   Sep 2022 — Present · Indianapolis, IN, US

   Provide trauma-informed mental health services to over 200 children, caregivers, and families involved in the child welfare system, utilizing evidence-based modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Motivational Interviewing, and play therapy to promote emotional healing, regulation, and family reunification.Conduct trauma-responsive clinical assessments and developed individualized treatment plans, contributing to a 50% increase in placement stability among children with histories of abuse, neglect, and complex trauma.Lead crisis intervention and family advocacy efforts, reducing family displacement and emergency placement disruptions by 30% through coordinated support and stabilization planning.Collaborate with foster parents, kinship providers, and Department of Child Services (DCS) teams to implement system-informed interventions, resulting in a 25% decrease in case disruptions and improved permanency outcomes.Contribute to program-level strategies that expanded access to community-based services, informed trauma-responsive care protocols, and strengthened interagency collaboration across systems of care.Provide clinical mentorship to new therapists and supported cross-functional training initiatives to promote fidelity to trauma-informed practices across care teams.

Education

• Purdue University

  Bachelor of Science, Organizational Leadership and Supervision

• Purdue Global

  Master of Science in Human Services