THOMAS A. MERZ
PO BOX 53
MENLO, GA
30731
(V) 706.506.8561
(F) 877.807.5932
tom@thomasamerz.com
EDUCATION
M.Ed. Rehabilitation Counseling
University of Georgia, 1994
B.A. Sociology
Minor: Psychology
Magna
Cum Laude
Georgia
State University, 1992
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
SKILLS AND SPECIALTY AREAS
- Specializations include online counseling, forensic mental health, substance abuse
evaluation and crisis intervention
- Ability to manage several projects
simultaneously
- Excellent managerial and clinical
supervisory skills
- Excellent writing/editing skills
- Insight Facilitator; Insight Learning Foundation, Discovering your Personality Spectrum and Teaching in the Nexus
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Thomas A. Merz, LPC, Menlo, GA/2008-Present
Evaluator/Therapist
– Provide clinical and forensic assessments
and evaluations for contracted government agencies, private businesses, attorneys and individuals; provide
online counseling services to individuals; provide online counseling training.
Merz Consulting, Inc., Adairsville, GA/1999-2008
Co-owner & Vice President – Supervised up to 70 staff people in management and field positions
working with families involved with child protective services, private referrals and EAP clients; provided oversight to bachelor
and master level interns from local colleges and universities; provided online counseling; provided workshops on such issues
as online counseling, team-building, education and forensic mental health; provided case consultation and clinical supervision;
managed 1.8M budget and general operations; decided not to renew contracts after several years of ongoing state funding cuts.
The Council on Quality and Leadership, Towson, MD/1999-2002
Quality Consultant - Provided monitoring, evaluation and technical assistance to state agencies
and providers of MR/DD services; participated in the development and/or revision of monitoring and evaluation methodologies;
developed and facilitated workshops as assigned.
Morningstar Family Resource Center, Rome, GA/2001-2002
Therapist - Provided Homestead/Wrap-Around therapy services,
in-home and case management supports and forensic First Placement Best Placement (FPBP) Family Assessments for Georgia Department
of Family & Children Services (DFCS).
Workforce
Strategists, LLC,
Chattanooga, TN/2000 - 2001
Counselor - Made primary contact with downsized
and laid-off workers; provided intake, assessment and counseling services; made appropriate referrals as needed; provided
technical computer support; developed and maintained clinical components and services of the company website; developed and
provided EAP services.
UMRA, Inc., Gadsden, AL/1998-2000
Executive Director/QMRP - Supervised 50 employees in direct care and management positions for
an agency serving adults with developmental disabilities; provided clinical oversight for 27 resident/trainees in 9 homes
and a day-habilitation facility; wrote Individual Service Plans; facilitated staff trainings; developed behavior intervention
strategies; wrote and reviewed policies and procedures.
Mountain Lakes Behavioral Health Care, Guntersville, AL/1998 - 1999
Program Coordinator - Coordinated day treatment for approximately 50 clients
with psychiatric and substance abuse related disabilities; supervised 5 staff persons; performed client intakes and discharges;
provided crisis intervention and coordinated appropriate services; provided individual and group counseling; managed program’s
operating budget.
GrandView Behavioral Health Center, Fort Payne, AL/1997 - 1998
Therapist - Provided individual, group and
family counseling to people with psychiatric disabilities and substance abuse related disabilities; coordinated and documented
intakes, assessments and discharges; provided group therapy to geriatric individuals in a partial hospitalization setting;
marketed programs and services.
Lifeline Healthcare Services, Inc.,
Guntersville, AL/1997
Primary Therapist - Provided individual, group and
family counseling to people with psychiatric and substance abuse related disabilities; coordinated and documented intakes,
assessments and discharges; supervised nurse and technician regarding therapeutic issues; provided 24 hour on-call emergency
service; provided case management services; documented according to state specification on all clients.
Marshall/Jackson Court Referral Program, Guntersville, AL/1997
Contract Group Facilitator - Provided weekly domestic violence intervention through standardized curriculum to individuals referred through
the court system; provided oral and written reports to coordinator regarding progress.
Tailored Options for Personal Support (TOPS), Decatur, GA/1996
Executive Assistant - Assisted the Executive Director with program development and policy review for an agency providing community
living support to persons of all ages with developmental disabilities; represented TOPS at Medicaid reform meetings; supervised
30 direct-care staff.
Mentor Clinical Care, Atlanta, GA/1994-1996
Foster
Care Provider
- Provided therapeutic foster care to persons with developmental and physical disabilities; participated in ongoing training;
participated in ongoing supervision from a Licensed Professional Counselor; awarded Mentor of the Quarter, summer 1994.
Northside Hospital, Vistas Unlimited, South Location, Atlanta, GA/1994
Employment Trainer - Provided job development and
job coaching to consumers with mental illness; responsible for weekly and monthly documentation.
Skyland Trail, Atlanta, GA/1994 - 1995
PRN
Supervisor
- Facilitated groups, disbursed medications, coordinated client activities and provided crisis intervention for people with
mental illness in a residential rehabilitation setting.
RECENT/CURRENT PROJECTS
Warren Shepell, Canada, E-Counselor for EAP contracts in Georgia
Riverside Publishing, Itasca,
IL, 2003-4, examiner for the Battelle Developmental Inventory, 2nd Edition (BDI-2) Standardization Study
PUBLICATIONS
Book reviews have been provided for:
Family
Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin
American Counseling Association
Guidepost
Journal of Rehabilitation
Book chapters and articles:
Merz,
T. (in press). Therapeutic Use of SMS Text Messaging. In Anthony, K. & Nagel, D.M. (Eds.) Mental Health and the Impact
of Technological Development. Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, Springfield, IL.
Horne, S., Merz, T., & Merz, D. (2001).
Disability and Emotional Abuse: Mental Health Consequences and Social Implications. Journal of Emotional Abuse, 2,
4, 39-60.
INTERNSHIP/PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE/1992-1994
Northside Hospital, Vistas Unlimited, South Location, Atlanta, GA
Psychiatric adult/geriatric day treatment facility
Therapist/Job
Coach
Northeast Georgia Medical Center, The Rehabilitation Institute, Gainesville, GA
Inpatient rehabilitation program
Case Manager/Stroke,
TBI, SCI, Geriatric
Kelly
Diversified, Athens, GA
Work training and employment center
Adjustment Counselor
VOLUNTEER
SERVICE
The Center for Mental Health and Human Development, Atlanta, GA
Advisory Board Member
Georgia Council on Child Abuse, Atlanta, GA
Post graduate clinical supervision including group facilitation for survivors
of abuse
Clifton Night Hospitality, Atlanta, GA
Provided bus transportation for 30 elderly homeless men; facilitated
selection process when space was limited; facilitated discussion groups; assisted in the development of a group home residence
plan for elderly homeless men with disabilities.
Compeer Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Provided support and mentoring for
a person with a developmental disability
