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COUNSELORS :: CARRIE MERRICK
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Carrie Merrick was born and raised in Dubuque. She attended Loras College where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. She continued on to graduate school at Loras and received her Master's Degree in clinical counseling in 2001. She became a licensed mental health counselor in 2004.
During the course of her graduate study, Carrie began working at Hillcrest Family Services in a residential treatment facility for juvenile delinquent girls in 1998. This experience gave her a lot of insight into the dilemmas that adolescent girls face, such as substance abuse, sexual assault, self-esteem issues and depression. This experience was both challenging and rewarding.
After a year and a half, Carrie wanted to focus her role on helping families as a whole, and she took a position as a family caseworker for Lutheran Services in Iowa. During her seven years at LSI, Carrie performed many roles. As a family caseworker, she provided in-home therapy and skills training to at-risk children and families. She gained a lot of experience working with struggling individuals who needed help keeping their lives and families intact. She taught the skills of basic parenting, decision making, coping and anger management, among other essential life skills.
Carrie also became trained in administering psychological evaluations and conducting child custody evaluations. During this time, she also became trained as a Family Team Meeting Facilitator for the Department of Human Services. In 2004, Carrie took on the role of supervisor and had only limited contact with the children and families that the agency was serving.
In 2006, Carrie decided that she wanted to return to working directly with children and families and joined the team at Crossroads Counseling Center as a licensed mental health counselor.
Throughout the course of working with individuals and families from different circumstances and backgrounds, she has gained an understanding that no one is immune to the struggles that life can bring. Carrie has a passion and enthusiasm for helping individuals rebuild their lives and strengthen their families.
Carrie is married and has 3 children and one step-daughter. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and attending her children's sporting events.
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