Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION:

  • Master of Social Work: Smith College, Northampton, MA.  (2011)
  • Bachelor of Arts: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. (2000)
  • School for International Training: Fortelaza, Brazil (1999)

TREATMENT COMPETENCIES:

  • Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Seeking Safety, Substance Abuse Counseling, Narrative Therapy, Thinking for a Change (T4C), and Attachment, Affect Regulation and Competency (ARC)

CERTIFICATES/AWARDS:

  • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) #119216
  • 10-Day (75 Hr) Intensive DBT Training with Charlie Swenson, M.D. (October, 2017)
  • Bridge Builder Award, North Quabbin Community Coalition (June, 2016)
  • 5-Day (35 Hr) Intensive ACT Training with Kelly Wilson, P.h.D (July 2016)
  • Seminar in Field Instruction (SIFI) Supervisor Training  (March 2016)
  • Municipal Police Training Certification II January 2015)
  • BSAS 5-Day (35 Hr) Intensive Motivational Interviewing Training, Tom Broffman, P.h.D. (December, 2015)
  • Eleanor Clark Thesis Prize, Smith College  (August, 2018)
  • Certificate of Mediation & Conflict Resolution: Umass, Amherst, MA (January, 2001)

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

State of Massachusetts Franklin County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO)

Assistant Deputy Superintendent
  • Large scale program implementation and evaluation
    • Ensuring the functions, modes & principles of evidence based practices are implemented with fidelity
    • Ongoing program evaluation and monitoring of policies
  • Supervision of three teams:
    • Four clinical staff (1 LICSW, 1 LMFT, 2 LMHC)
    • Two reentry planners
    • Three post release case workers
  • Public speaking at local, regional, state and national events
  • Quarterly, semi-annual & annual data reporting and presentations
  • All tasks pertaining to previous positon as Director of Clinical & Reentry Services continue to be performed
Director, Clinical and Reentry Services 1/15 – 6/17
  • Oversee the role out of dual diagnosis mindfulness based cognitive behavioral treatment
    • DBT, ACT, Seeking Safety, T4C, Stages of Change (Motivational Interviewing), expressive therapies
  • Oversee clinical criminogenic risk/needs/responsivity assessments and coordinate clinical response
  • Participate in the hiring of licensed clinical staff, reentry social workers, and post release case workers.
  • Track reentry task completion for all currently incarcerated clients
  • Facilitate weekly clinical didactics and multidisciplinary team meetings
  • Supervise six staff including three reentry staff and three master’s level clinicians
  • Complete performance evaluations and track staff for fidelity, time utilization & productivity
  • Field supervisor for MSW interns: Westfield State University, Smith College, Boston University and UConn
  • Design and implement facility wide protocols for clinical and reentry case management systems
  • Provide quarterly training with a focus on team development, staff resiliency and skill development
  • Conduct monthly DBT case presentations and monthly didactics of motivational interviewing, ACT and DBT
Clinical Re-Entry Coordinator 5/14 – 1/15
  • Group therapist: Seeking Safety, Start Now, Thinking for a Change, Mindfulness, and Reentry groups
  • Coordinate the reentry team, facilitate team meeting, foster the flow of all reentry services
  • Oversee the re-entry plans of all discharging inmates
  • Facilitate aftercare discharge planning for all clients
  • Supervise two US State Department Fellows from Uganda and Rwanda
  • Supervise one re-entry planner (BSW) and two re-entry case managers
  • Field supervisor for BSW intern from Elms College

Center for Human Development (CHD), Springfield MA

CBFS Team Coordinator/Clinical Consultant 4/13 – 5/14
  • Complete specialized documentation assuring compliance to DMH standards: comprehensive assessments, which includes addictive behavior, substance use, trauma, legal, medication, mental status exam, military service, risk assessment and physical health addenda; treatment planning; individual action plans; quarterly reviews; and discharge planning
  • Provide quarterly ACT workshops and weekly supervision to 10 direct care staff
Traumatic Stress Recovery Center, CHD (IOP)   9/13 – 4/14
  • Clinical supervisor: Frank Gallo, Ph.D. Contact
  • Specially designed, effective, and flexible intensive trauma care treatment for active or retired first responders struggling with a trauma injury
  • ACT therapist administering short term, trauma focused treatment protocols: IOP group treatment, mindfulness groups, ACT groups; Single and complex trauma care
  • Conduct comprehensive assessment processes, including: DSM 5 structured clinical interview; addictive behavior, substance use, trauma, medication, and psychosocial addenda; ACT case conceptualization; socialization to treatment; determine level of care and programming; aftercare and discharge planning
  • Data collection: Treatment Outcome Package (TOP); National Stressful Events Survey PTSD Short Scale (NSESSS); WAI-C and WAI-T

Servicenet, Northampton MA

Clinician: Outpatient Therapy 5/12 – 4/13
  • Caseload of 45 clients providing individual, couples, family and group psychotherapy using MI, ACT, CPT, Seeking Safety, in vivo exposure, narrative, and psychodynamic techniques
  • ARC child and family therapist and consultation team member treating PTSD
  • Clinician for the Franklin CountyHouse of Correction/Servicenet program

Veterans Administration Medical Center, Leeds MA

Specialized Inpatient PTSD Unit (Internship)  9/10 – 5/11
  • Clinicianworking closely with Veterans with chronic PTSD; dual diagnosis; chronic pain; relationship problems and other psychosocial stressors; and axis II pathology
  • Group therapy: interpersonal, in vivoexposure, goal setting, family therapy, and ACT groups
  • Facilitate psycho-education classes: PTSD concepts; anger management; sleep hygiene; imagery-relaxation; mindfulness and therapeutic music classes
  • Individual therapy: Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)

Berkshire Children and Families, Hadley MA

Specialized Assessment Team (Internship) 9/09 – 5/10
  • Conduct comprehensive Permanency Planning Assessments for the Department of Children & Families.
  • Offer clinical recommendations in relation to the strengths and needs of child clients
  • Conduct Home Studies for families who are interested in adoption: Assess client’s history, accessing delicate, potentially triggering background information to assess a person’s future parenting capacities. Work with children, foster families and collaterals to assess client needs
  • Use the Home Study to inform recruitment and placement of a foster child and foster parent(s)
  • Clinician for men and teen parenting groups
Treehouse Foundation Group Therapist
  • Facilitate a bi-weekly music therapy group for adolescent boys.

Self Employed, Amherst MA

Musician & Educator    5/02 – 9/09
Private music teacher – The Fretted Instrument Workshop.
  • Musician – The Amity Front, LLC.
  • Highway Bound[CD]. (2006). Recorded by The Amity Front. Amherst, MA; Self Released.  Produced by David Goodrich.
  • Border Towns[CD]. (2008). Recorded by The Amity Front. Pomfret Center, CT; Signature Sounds. Produced by David Goodrich.
    • Product placement: Planet Money NPR; Lawmen (A&E); Search of Food (Ovation TV); Vimeo, iTunes, Pandora, Spotify.
  • Head Teacher, CAPACIDAD: Music & Arts Camp.     
  • Head Musician, Amherst College Theater Department.

Massachusetts Campus Compact, Medford MA

Team Coordinator, Americorps*VISTA 5/01 – 5/02
  • Supervised the hiring, direct support, training, consultation and supervision to Americorps*VISTA members.
  • Public speaker for higher education service learning programs at national conferences.
  • Consultant to student, faculty and community partners.
  • Increased the student enrolment by 33% and student programs from two to five.

University of Massachusetts – Anthropology Department, Amherst MA

Program Coordinator, Americorps*VISTA   5/00 – 5/01
  • Systematically developed the infrastructure for a new academic organization: UMass Alliance for Community Transformation (U-ACT), Anthropology Department, UMass.
  • Designed and disseminated educational curricula and training materials for facilitators.
  • Facilitated group meetings, coordinated all logistics for program events.

TEACHING:

  • May, 2017. Correctional Officer Academy Presentation: Trauma & Stressor Related Conditions
  • January, 2017. MPTC Training. Police Response to Mental Illness and Emotional Disturbances
  • January, 2017 – May, 2017. Westfield State University. SOCW 0699 Treatment for at risk populations
  • July, 2016. MPTC Training. Police Response to Mental Illness and Emotional Disturbances
  • January, 2016 – May, 2016. Westfield State University. SOCW 521 Human Behavior and the Social Environment
  • January, 2015 – May, 2015. Westfield State University. SOCW 622 Adult Mental Health
  • September, 2014 – Dec, 2014. Westfield State University. SOCW 621 Mental Health and Children

PUBLICATIONS:

Council of State Governments (2017).  “Developing Collaborative Comprehensive Case Plans Webinar.”  https://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/webinars/developing-collaborative-comprehensive-case-plans/
National Reentry Resource Center, Council of State Governments (2017). Contributor to “Collaborative Comprehensive Case Plans – Addressing Criminogenic Risk and Behavioral Health Needs.” Retrieved from https://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/collaborative-comprehensive-case-plans/
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2017). Contributor to “Guidelines for Successful Transition of People with Mental or Substance Use Disorders from Jail and Prison: Implementation Guide.” (SMA)-16-4998. Rockville, MD.https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA16-4998/SMA16-4998.pdf
Sibley-Schwartz, L. (2014). Music, mindfulness and defusion. In: Afari, N., and Stoddard, J. The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner’s Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, New Harbinger Publications
Sibley-Schwartz, L. (2011). Clinical use of Music as an Adjunct to Evidence Based Treatment for Treating Post Traumatic Stress. Retrieved from URI: http://hdl.handle.net/11020/23005                             

ELECTED/APPOINTED POSITIONS:

  • Department of Mental Health Site Board (Franklin/North Quabbin)                        01/18 – current
  • Human Services Program Advisory Board, Greenfield Community College            02/18 – current
  • School Committee – Union #28, Leverett, MA            11/17 – current
  • Transitions from Jail to Community Core Task Force             5/14 –  current
  • Mental Health & Law Enforcement Committee 1/17 – current

LECTURES & WORKSHOPS:

  • October, 2017. Webinar Presentation, “Developing Collaborative Comprehensive Case Plans,” sponsored by the Justice Center and the Council for State Governments, retrieved from https://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/collaborative-comprehensive-case-plans/ 596 total attendees.
  • September, 2017. Justice & Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP)/Second Chance Act (SCA) Behavioral Health Training Summit.  Plenary: “Developing Collaborative Comprehensive Case Plans”
  • May, 2017. FCRN Presentation: “Corrections re-envisioned: Dual Diagnosis Treatment”
  • May, 2017. WNE Presentation “Corrections re-envisioned: Dual Diagnosis Treatment”
  • April, 2017. PATCH Office: “Reentry at Franklin County Sheriff’s Office – Family Reentry Services”
  • April, 2017. NQCC Presentation: “Corrections re-envisioned: Dual Diagnosis Treatment”
  • March, 2017. CSO Presentation: “Reentry at Franklin County Sheriff’s Office: A Community Approach”
  • January, 2017. Learn to Cope:  “Treatment for Addictions”
  • November, 2016. UMass Focus Group on Recovery: “Addiction and Reentry Services”
  • November, 2016. National Association of Social Workers (NASW): “Corrections re-envisioned: Dual Diagnosis Treatment”
  • November, 2016. Drug Court Conference: “Corrections re-envisioned: Dual Diagnosis Treatment”
  • October, 2016. Legislative Breakfast (GCC): “Reentry at Franklin County Sheriff’s Office”
  • October, 2016. Executive Council Legislative Meeting:“Transitions from Jail to Community”
  • June, 2016. SASSI Presentation: “Trauma, Addiction & Treatment at Franklin County Sheriff’s Office”
  • May, 2016. WNE Presentation “Corrections re-envisioned: Reentry at Franklin County Sheriff’s Office”
  • May, 2016. Orange Sequential Intercept Mapping Presentation
  • April 2016. EOPSS Presentation: “Dual Diagnosis Treatment for the Incarcerated Population”
  • April, 2016. Opioid Task Force (GCC) “Trauma, Addiction & Reentry at Franklin County Sheriff’s Office”
  • February, 2016. DMH Presentation: “Trauma, Addiction & Treatment”
  • September, 2015. Supervisors Training: “Trauma & Stressor Related Conditions”
  • June, 2014. SASSI Presentation: “Trauma, Addiction & Treatment at Franklin County Sheriff’s Office”
  • April, 2014. “ACT for Students,”Symposium, Academic Practice, Teaching & Learning Summit, UMass
  • June, 2011. “ACT for PTSD,” guest lecturer, Smith College
  • August, 2011. “Clinical use of Music as an Adjunct to Evidence Based Treatment for PTSD,” Smith College

__________________________________________________________

“I can’t think of more important work than helping people engage life in meaningful and inspired ways,” says Levin Schwartz. Levin is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) who received his MSW from Smith College School for Social Work. Levin has been a cognitive behavioral therapist working with different groups of individuals like combat veterans, forensic populations, couples, families, adolescents, and children struggling with trauma and stressor-related conditions like Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Levin specializes in providing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and has specialty training in other evidence-based cognitive and behavioral therapies for treating trauma and substance use disorders including Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Seeking Safety and Attachment, Affect Regulation and Competency (ARC).

Complementing Levin’s clinical work, he explores the use of music as an adjunctive therapy in treating trauma. He was awarded for his research on the treatment of traumatic stress and the use of music as an adjunctive therapy, which contributed to The Big Book of ACT Metaphors: A Practitioner’s Guide to Experiential Exercises and Metaphors in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Besides his clinical practice, Levin is a musician and educator performing and teaching guitar and mandolin. “These interests involve using mindfulness and acceptance skills as tools for accessing creativity … providing a vehicle for others to explore living in the moment and recognize their barriers to valued living after trauma,” says Levin.