About Me
Serving Humanity Since 2004
My name is Alisa Spilkia “Gabbi”, a Native to Colombia South America. I have a BA from Hofstra University Long Island, NY where I majored in Mass Communications and continued a career in Audio Radio Broadcasting Medias. Having worked for some of the largest record labels in the music industry of that time including Arista, Polygram and Universal Records in NYC and Warner Brothers. Here I learned how to find talent and assist people with their dreams and be the liaison for artists and repertoire development while dealing with the large demands of the corporate record labels. This moved me into another career of social work upon moving to WNC.
I have been in the mental health substance abuse profession for the past twenty years in North Carolina. I have a BA from Hofstra University NYC and then graduated with an MSW, where I obtained my LCSW, LCAS, and MAC degrees. I have a range of experience in various settings in community mental health and private settings. In addition to my clinical training, I have expert training in holistic and ceremonial practices.
I've been working as a mental health professional for twenty years in North Carolina. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s degree from Western Carolina University as well as obtained a National Master’s Addictions in Counseling certification. In 2014 I also became a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist. My life’s passion is to empower others to find their own strength and way in the world using holistic interventions. I practice an outside-the-box craft while using strategies of non-judgment and unconditional positive reinforcement.
Being an orphan myself, my heart resides with the children which is why I made my area of expertise in working with their parents and adults with often co-occurring disorders. I am proficient in working with marginalized populations with co-morbidities, BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and SPMI populations. I establish trust and rapport by expressing empathy and compassion while exemplifying boundaries using an integrative approach for optimum wellness of mind, body, and spirit. I enjoy assisting people who are challenged by anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, and histories of abuse. I strive to be your guide on the side while helping you navigate your own way to achieving your goals to live a more fulfilling and rewarding life.
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LICENSING: NC LCSW C014750
My Credentials
Experience You Can Count On
October 2019 - October 2022
North Carlina State Managed Care Organization Vaya Health
Provided mental health and substance use complex care management. Provided intake health risk assessments and direct care for SPMI adult members of providers in Buncombe and Madison Counties. Worked with a caseload of 60 plus members adults in the WNC area bridging them to collateral resources for housing, MH and SA providers, and emerging needs within community contract and stake holders utilizing Medicaid funding.
February 2018 - September 2018
Strategic Interventions Assertive Community Treatment Team Lead
Team Lead and clinical supervision for a large ACTT team of clinical professionals. Mobile hospital team community medical health work in 4 counties serving approximately 85 SPMI clients. Responsible for personnel issues managing eight employees along with management duties including: Referrals, discharges, individual and group therapies. Quality management, staff’s schedule, clinical core functions, emerging client needs, and bridging with collateral networks: support systems, guardians and legal, and MCO’s. On call 24/7 for staff and clients for IVC’s and crises de-escalation.
2018
Maxim Alkon Counseling Services Consultant and Workshop Facilitator
Independent contractual assessment provided MH services while utilizing psychotherapy with individuals and groups of various backgrounds. Providing assessments, case management, and bio-psychoeducation of mindfulness coping skills and awareness strategies through individual counseling, gender specific trauma workshops, and organizational change. Evidenced based practice of workshops and conferences providing community advocacy, education, and awareness of family dynamics and individual mental health and wellness.
North Carolina Department of Public Safety LCAS
September 2013 - October 2015
Worked in Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Program 90-day Tx in the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women’s Prison. Provided mental health screenings, clinical assessments, intake, orientations and preformed the 12 core functions (LCAS) with co-occurring inmates referred by Raleigh for tx. Tasks included: screening, intake, orientation, treatment planning, client education, individual and large group counseling with a caseload of 15-20. Preformed referrals, record keeping, prison MH staff consultation and state documentation. Conducted psycho-education lectures of 30-60 inmates and therapeutic evidence-based practices using vast curriculums such as: RDAP, Hazelden, Stephanie Covington’s Gender specific treatment Beyond Trauma, Criminal Minded, and Seeking Safety models. In addition, help design and implement an aftercare night program for the first 10 months with relapse prevention interventions, grant documentation, research tracking, and case mgt for transitioning mates into the community.
2011 - 2012
Analenisgi MH/SU Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
672 hours of clinical supervision for a substance abuse and mental health provider, with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Co-facilitating intensive outpatient groups and providing assessments, crises intervention, case management and applying the 12 core functions of substance abuse professionals with opioid dependent adults. Assisted in Suboxone clinic and DWI classes. Community advocacy work while educating, marketing with production of a television media piece, research and data collection, and fundraising efforts applied with the Cherokee Healing.