Katherine L. Ziskind LMFT, RYT500, see my bio page.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, registered 500-Hour Yoga Therapist, Play Therapist, Gottman Level One Couple’s Therapist
License Number #0001996, My NPI 1316439995
Call/Text 860-451-9364.
Website: WisdomWithinCt.com
Email KatieZiskindMFT@gmail.com
WORK EXPERIENCE
Wisdom Within Counseling, LLC, Owner, Niantic, CT, February 2018-present
- Private Practice Holistic Marriage and Family Therapy
- Specialized support for anxious children, depressed teens, and distant young adults using art, yoga, music, outdoor, and animal therapies
- Group practice owner, management and supervision
- Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder specialist
MASTER’S AND GRADUATE DEGREE EDUCATION
Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, GPA 3.96
- Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT
- Graduation May 2017
- Board Exam of Licensure: Passed in 2017
MASTERS DEGREE ABROAD COURSE TO LIMA, PERU
- Topics in Counseling: Understanding Peruvian Families and Mental Health Services, Lima, Peru, March 2017
MASTERS CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY PRACTICUMS AND INTERNSHIPS
United Community and Family Services, Norwich CT, January 2016-May 2017
- Two years of clinical work with couples, individuals, families, and children supervised by Ashley Webb, LMFT and Diane Svenning, LCSW, LADC
- Advanced training on an experiential level in mental health and other disorders
- Evolved an innate ability to join and build trust easily and quickly with clients
- Developed, planned and organized treatment plans every 90 days for my client caseload of over 40 families, couples, and individuals
- Handled intense moments of anxiety with clarity and with leadership facilitated by the trusting-therapeutic bond and working the client-therapist relationship
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy group clients working in a team, formulated lesson plans and group topics
- Prepared complex clinical reports on clients, the family system, and highlighted dysfunctional intergenerational patterns that needed work
- Worked extensively with new mothers, toddlers, and school-age children and worked as a team with other clinicians
- Assessed child and family strengths and needs and developed of a comprehensive, coordinated family-focused treatment plan
- Focused specialities and therapies on attachment and healing developmental trauma
Waterford Country School, Waterford, CT, August 2015-December 2016
- Completed twelve hours per week shadowing a licensed clinical social worker. I worked with teenagers with histories of trauma, Reactive Attachment Disorder, and cultural adversity, as well as behavioral, mental and emotional issues in a residential school and living treatment facility
- Educated teenage girls about coping skills to foster and promote self-efficacy and successful integration back into their own homes.
MASTERS SCHOLARSHIPS APPLIED
- Graduate Association at CCSU November 2016- Awarded 2016
- Melanie O’Donnell February 2017
- Love Your Career February 2017
- AlcoRehab January 2017
- Car Insurance Co. December 2016
- Short Essay December 2016
PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE
MASTER’S LEVEL
Southeastern Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (SCADD), Norwich, CT, May 2017-February 2018
- Addiction Specialist and Substance Abuse Counselor with Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) including methadone, vivitrol, naltrexone, and suboxone.
- Completion of court ordered evaluations on clients referred by Federal Court, Probation, Parole, Department of Children and Family Services, and detoxes
- Traveling for work to multiple locations in the Southeastern Connecticut area i.e, New London Outpatient Office, Lebanon Pines 90-Day Residential Rehabilitation, Norwich Outpatient Office, and New London Detoxification Facility.
- Conducting and leading intensive outpatient group (IOP) therapy for co-occurring substance and alcohol and mental health disorders three days a week, three hours a day, completing the paperwork
- Facilitating outpatient group (90 minutes weekly)
- Guiding individual therapy sessions with clients
- Coordinating care with a team effort with a network approach with social workers, Department of Children and Family Services, Probation in Norwich and Danielson, and other states
- Coordinating medication management for clients who had co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders
- Managing and balancing a client caseload of 50+ individuals with a co-occurring diagnosis of substance abuse and mental health disorders
- Completing three to four intake evaluation sessions per day
- Case management experience including aftercare planning and discharge preparation for clients i.e, food stamp applications, insurance coverage, finding places in detoxes or shelters, assisted housing, career-building, and leadership advocacy
- Teaching Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (D.B.T), mindfulness-based stress reductions techniques of yoga, breathing, and self-awareness to clients as coping skills
- Team-based, strength-based therapies with group members and shared coping skills for effective communication, lowering anxiety, promoting awareness and mindfulness
- Ensured daily progress notes, treatment plans, and other work were complete before leaving
- Coordinating, organizing, and transporting clients for equine and animal therapy at High Hopes in Old Lyme, CT and Maple Hill Farm in Hebron, CT
- Convey compassion with the tone and rate of my speech while conducting therapy
YOGA AND WORK BEFORE AND WHILE IN GRADUATE SCHOOL
Katie’s Goddess Line, Sole Proprietor, Creator and Owner, February 2017-2018
- Engineering and making handcrafted all-natural wellness products with luxurious formulas to address a variety of skin care, wellness, and stress-relief needs
- Sales, marketing, Instagram daily posts, Facebook page marketing, beautiful, snapshot and staged, organic product pictures
- Balancing business expenses with profit, ordering packing material, supplies, and doing inventory
- Website design, basic coding for website, writing detailed, precise, and elegant product descriptions, responding diligently to customers’ emails, dealing with feedback, and custom orders
- Researching ingredients, understanding ingredient compounds, taking safety measures, and educating clients about chemicals
- Packaging and shipping products in a timely manner, gift wrapping for shipment
- Products: Whipped Shea Creme 8oz and 2oz, Room Spray and Spritzes, Skin-Softening Sugar Scrubs, Lavender and Relaxing Rose Pillows, Surprise Bath Bombs, Toothpaste, Beard Oil, Sweet VanillaMint Lip Balm, Hair and Body Massage Oil, 100% Organic Fine Tea
JUL Yoga Studio, East Haddam, CT, February 2018-present
Teaching all levels, vinyasa flow yoga, as well as acro yoga, partner yoga
Zen and Now Yoga Studio and Wellness Center, Niantic, CT, February 2012-present
- As a Vinyasa flow-style yoga teacher, I correct alignment with my students, irrespective of ability, thus teach to all-levels.
- Modify difficult positions to conform to all abilities as well as teaching proper alignment.
- Instruct the safe use of props such as blankets, blocks and straps to create a safe practice, increase accessibility.
- Lead Yogic chants, breath work (Pranayama) and seated meditation.
- Keep students up to date with their own development as Yogis through daily practice off the mat.
- Create a peaceful, positive atmosphere.
David McIlhenney Fitness Studio, East Lyme, CT Fall 2014-Summer 2016
- Private yoga instructor for clients who survived breast cancer,
- Teaching yoga to sisters who all were post-operation of reconstructive mastectomy surgery, all with different types of surgery, and one who had axillary lymph nodes removed
- Modifying yoga for complications such as lymphedema
- Modify yoga to a client post-operation his hip replacement and who was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder
Personal Nutrition Coach, Southeastern, CT Summer 2014-2016
- Specifically meet medically advised dietary needs from post-cancer to gout including meal planning, food shopping, preparation, and cleaning
- Conducting talk and behavioral therapy about anything that surfaced such as the loss of my client’s mother at a young age, stress eating and the emotions behind them, how to remember to drink water through the day.
Recovery Yoga, Mystic, CT, PTSD-Informed Yoga at the Norwich Veterans Center, Norwich CT, Summer 2014-2016
- Therapeutic yoga teacher for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
The Yoga Shop of Old Saybrook, Old Saybrook, CT, November 2013-August 2015
- Hot Power Yoga Teacher
Get Bent Yoga Studio, Norwich, CT, June 2013-Dec 2013
- Baptiste Style Hot Yoga
Inner Peace Ct, Waterford, CT, January 2013-October 2013
- Clinical yoga therapist for anxiety, depression and stress management using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness
Private One-On-One Senior Home Care Aid, Norwich, CT, April 2012
- Picking up her prescriptions, cooking her dinner, helping her eat, putting her walker in and out of my car, taking her to hair appointments
Eastern Community Development Corporation, Niantic, CT, December 2012-December 2014
- Taught yoga to a young man with diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Severe
- Learned to understand stepping and his behavior cues, as he was nonverbal
Pradipika Yoga Studio, Clinton, CT, February 2012-March 2013
- Yoga teacher, Vinyasa flow-style yoga in a hot room
Black Point Beach Association, Niantic, CT, July 2011-October 2014
- Teach restorative yoga and yoga nidra, a deep, guided visualization meditation
Mystic Arts Center, Mystic, CT, August 2011-present
- Teach Children’s yoga and art, organize and teach week long camps, workshops, and class series, contract to schools, i.e. The Drop-In Learning Center, New London, CT, Gallup Hill, Ledyard, CT
Connecticut Storytelling Center, New London, CT, June 2011-April 2014
- Manage Facebook page, organize events, and coordinate mailings
Blissworks Yoga and Healing Arts, New London, CT, December 2011-August 2012
- Operated the mind-body computer system, maintained the studio, greeted clients, and taught Vinyasa flow and gentle style yoga
Ocean Community YMCA, Mystic, CT, August 2011-April 2013
- Taught Vinyasa and gentle yoga
Fountain View Care Center (now renamed New London Rehab), Waterford, CT, March 2011- June 2011
- As a Dietary Aid, I Performed a variety of duties to set-up, distribute, and recover patient meal trays
- Prepared and served food according to sanitation standards, food service policies, and safety procedures, and managed the kitchen when the cooks were unable to come in
- Distributed meals, and cared for people in late adulthood and senescence in a fast paced environment
Mystic Yoga Shala, Mystic, CT, January-December 2011
- Operated the Mind-Body computer system, maintained the studio, greeted clients, and instructed yoga
Tower Street School Community Center, Westerly, RI, July to August 2011
- As a children’s yoga teacher for summer camp, I taught 45-minute children’s yoga sessions twice a week to fifteen summer campers, ages ranging from 5-13.
- Familiarized children with poses such as downward dog and warrior two with beanie babies and other props for children’s yoga.
Dairy Queen, Niantic, CT, July 2007- August 2010
- Server, crewmember, cashier
BACHELOR’S EDUCATION
Bachelors of Science: Developmental Psychology, GPA 3.84
- Mitchell College, New London, CT
- Graduation December 2013, Dean’s List High Honors Every Semester
MITCHELL COLLEGE AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS
- Honorable Mention NOBA Psychology Student Video Award 2014, available on you tube for viewing. https://youtu.be/zIZKsGbZFsQ.
- Honors Capstone Graduation Project, created my own study, “The Effects of Yoga on Psychological Wellbeing”
- Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, Nominated Spring 2013
- Psi Chi International Honor Society in Psychology, Mitchell College, inducted May 2012- present
- The Official Psi Chi Mission Statement: The mission of Psi Chi is to produce a well-educated, ethical, and socially responsible member committed to contributing to the science and profession of psychology and to society in general.
- Dean’s List and scholarship, due to exceptional achievement in academic GPA, Fall and Spring 2011, Fall and Spring 2012
Three Rivers Community College, GPA 3.8
- High Jump Program, Norwich, CT
- Attended from August 2009 to May 2010, Senior Year of East Lyme High School
MITCHELL COLLEGE INTERNSHIPS
Inner Peace Ct, Waterford, CT, January-May 2013
- Completed 100 hours as a clinical yoga therapist for anxiety, depression and stress management and used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness
Waterford Country School, Waterford, CT, November 2012-April 2013
- Completed 100 hours as a yoga instructor to the teachers after their long day of working with the teens at the country school
MITCHELL COLLEGE COMMITTEES, POSITIONS HELD
- Mitchell College, Yoga Club president and founder 2012-2013
- Mitchell College, Behavioral Science Club leader 2013
- Mitchell College, Dining Hall committee advocate 2011-2012
MITCHELL COLLEGE TRAVEL COURSE, OCEAN ECOLOGY
- Marine Ecology Field Study, MarineBio Laboratory, Key Largo, FL, March 2013
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
- Food Preparation, Litchfield Hills Triathlon, Hartford Marathon Foundation, New Hartford, CT, 2014
- Painted a Chair, Painted Chair Groton Senior Center Auction, Groton, CT, 2013
- Zen and Now Wellness Center Open House Summer 2012, Winter 2012, Summer 2013
- Waterford Country School, crisis center for teens, Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Resources Program, March 2013
- Mitchell College Farm Market Day, 2012
- Zach Deputy Surf Team December 2012
- Connecticut Storytelling Center, New London, CT, 2011
- Volunteering to give baked goods for the homeless, Newport Beach, CA, 2010
- Beach clean up day in New London, CT through Three Rivers Community College, 2009
CONFERENCES PRESENTED
- Ziskind, K. L. April 2016, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Conference, Poster Presentation, “Yoga in MFT Therapy and the Impact on Wellbeing,” Central Connecticut State, University, Hartford, CT
- Ziskind, K. L. November 2013, Poster Presentation, “The Effects of Yoga on Psychological Wellbeing,” Honors capstone at Mitchell College
SPECIAL YOGA WORKSHOPS TAUGHT
- Ziskind, K. L. October 2013, “Inversion Workshop,” Zen and Now Wellness Center, Niantic
- Ziskind, K. L. June 2012, “Summer Solstice Celebration,” Zen and Now Wellness Center, Niantic, CT, the first of many.
- Ziskind, K. L. September 2011, Children’s Meditation on World Peace Day, Pine Point School, Mystic, CT.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY FOCUSED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCES ATTENDED
- Group Practice Owner’s Exchange Conference, 2 days, Chicago, Illinois, July 2019
- One-on-one consultation support from Lynn Louise Wonders, LPC, registered play therapist, Spring 2019
- Food and Mood, 8 CEU, Connecticut Naturopaths, Mystic, Connecticut, November 2018
- One-on-one consultation support from Allison Pigeon, LCSW, group practice owner, July 2018
- LGBTQ Sexuality Workshop, 8 CEU, Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT, February 2018
- Preventing Suicide in Emergency Department Patients, 3.5 CEU, Suicide Prevention Resource Center Training Institute, Online Training, December 2017
- Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), 2 CEU, Suicide Prevention Resource Center Training Institute, Online Training, December 2017
- HIV/AIDS: What You Need To Know, 6.5 CEU, Connecticut Clearinghouse in Plainville, CT, November 2017
- Recovery and Relapse: Two Sides of the Coin, 6.5 CEU, Connecticut Clearinghouse in Plainville, CT, November 2017
- Best Practices in the Treatment of Depression and Substance Use Disorders, 6.5 CEU, Connecticut Clearinghouse in Plainville, CT, October 2017
- Organizational Development: Marketing as Collaboration 1 CEU, National Association for Addiction Professionals and SMAHSA, June 2017
- Acamprosate: A Medication for Alcohol Use Disorder, 1 CEU, National Association for Addiction Professionals and SMAHSA, June 2017
- Anger Management for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Clients, 3 CEUs, National Association for Addiction Professionals and SMAHSA, June 2017
- Prescription Medication Misuse, Abuse, and Dependence: Addressing Addiction, 2 CEUs, National Association for Addiction Professionals and SMAHSA, June 2017
- Rehearsals for Growth Action Methods Family Therapy, 7.5 hours with Dr. Daniel Wiener, West Hartford, CT, April 2016
- Central Connecticut State University’s Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), Clery Act or Title IX related policies, Online, January 2016
- Transitioning to Recovery, Annual NAMI Connecticut State Conference, Meriden, CT, October 2014
- CITI Training Institutional Review Board Course Completion, July 2013
- Autism Workshop, Mystic, CT, January 2013
- Annual NECTOP and NEPA 2012 Worchester Polytechnic Institute, MA, October 2012
- “What Is the What:” written by Dave Eggers, live presentation, St. Petersburg, FL, August 2010
- Association of Play Therapy Conference, Dallas, Texas, 65 CEU’s, October 2019
- The Gottman Couple’s Therapy Method Training Level One, 11 CEU’s, December 2020
YOGA CERTIFICATION FOCUSED WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS ATTENDED
- Inversion Workshop, 2 Hrs, Pradipika Yoga, Clinton, CT, January 2018
- Ana Forrest Intensive, Fresh Yoga, New Haven, CT, June 2017
- Inversion Workshop, 2 Hrs, West Hartford Yoga, West Hartford, CT, April 2017
- Carrying Suffering and Pain onto the Path with Khentrul Rinpoche, 5hrs, Westbrook, CT, February 2017
- The Five Keys to Radiance, Beauty and Power with Kia Miller, Online, January 2017
- Prenatal Yoga Workshop, West Hartford, CT, April 2016
- Loving Kindness Meditation, taught by Sharon Salzburg, West Hartford, CT, June 2015
- Meditations Off the Mat, taught by Rolf Gates, New Haven, CT, February 2015
- 500 hour Inner Peace Yoga Therapy training, Asheville, North Carolina, May and September of 2013: Certified by Yoga Alliance and the International Association of Yoga Therapists, taught by Nischala Joy Devi, Dr. Marc Halpern, Maria Kali Ma, Amy Weintraub, Neil Pearson, Laura Kupperman, Lilliah Schwartz
- Inversions and Arm Balances and Celebrate Your Practice Workshops, taught by Ana Forrest, Boston, MA, March 2013
- TRX Certification, MA, June 2012. TRX is a Navy SEALs Suspension Training bodyweight exercise that develops strength, balance, flexibility and core stability simultaneously.
- Backbends: Free Your Spine and Unraveling the Mysteries of Hips, Neck and Shoulders Workshops, taught by Ana Forrest, Boston, MA, December 2012
- Journey to the Core Workshop taught by Ana Forrest, Cranston, RI, July 2012
- Zen Meditation with Monk Chet Shanholtzer, Niantic, CT, June 2012
- Core Anatomy Workshop, taught by Sadie Nardini in New Haven, CT, January 2012
- 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training: Lifeline Power Yoga taught by Sid McNairy Yoga Alliance Certification, Mystic, CT, June to July 2011
- Baron Baptiste’s 40 Days to a Personal Revolution, Mystic, CT June to July 2011
- Foundations In Action Workshop, taught by Baron Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga, Boston, MA, March 2011
- Children’s Yoga Teacher Training, 12 hours, taught by Lani Rosen-Gallagher, Mystic, CT, March 2010
- The Anatomy of Yoga Workshop, taught by Ray Long, M.D. FRCSC, and Chris Macivor, Lenox, MA, 8.5 hours, July 2010
