Rachel Weiss Rachlinski, MS, LPC-S

Rachel is a clinician, trainer, and leader with 30+ years of diversified experience across hospitality management, higher education, community mental health, private practice, and program management. She blends evidence-informed clinical care, animal-assisted interventions, culturally responsive supervision, and management training and experience to support students, clinicians, and organizations in building resilience and meeting individualized needs.

Core Counseling & Clinical Skills

  • Individual, Group, and Family Therapy
    • Animal-Assisted Interventions — applied human–animal interaction principles for therapeutic engagement, especially with children, adolescents, and young adults.
    • Assessment, Crisis Intervention, and Safety Planning — experienced in intake assessment, risk management, and coordinating wraparound supports.
    • Specialty Populations & Issues — body image and identity concerns, student mental health, transitions, grief, behavioral interventions, and reentry support.
    • Clinical Supervision & Mentorship — board-approved supervisor with experience in onboarding and supervising clinicians in private practice and agency settings.
    • Telehealth & Hybrid Service Delivery — effective remote and hybrid care delivery, including best practices for engagement, documentation, and ethical telehealth.

 

Public Speaking and Training

  • Workshop Delivery
    • Representative Topics
      • Implementing animal-assisted therapy ethically and effectively in clinical settings
      • Student mental health: early identification, triage, and campus collaboration
      • Trauma-informed classroom and school supports for staff and administrators
      • Supervisory best practices: reflective practice, ethics, and developmental supervision
      • Team building and collaborative problem solving to build trust and communication
    • Formats — keynote talks, half-day workshops, continuing education seminars, and small-group skill labs with practical tools and handouts.

 

Training, Curriculum, and Instructional Design

  • Curriculum Development — designed workplace and life-skills curricula for pre-employment and staff programs, and created professional development for school personnel.
  • Higher Education Instruction — Adjunct faculty experience teaching undergraduate and graduate courses with strong student and faculty feedback.
  • Learning Approach — Adult-learning informed, interactive, practice-focused sessions with case examples, role-plays, and resources for immediate application.

Leadership, Program Management, and Consulting

  • Clinical & Operations Leadership — directed clinic operations for outpatient, intensive outpatient, and short-term programs; led process reviews and implemented efficiency improvements to enhance outcomes and financial sustainability.
  • Practice Start-up & Growth — co-founded and managed two specialty mental health practices; practical experience with operations, staffing, supervision, and community partnerships.
  • Consulting Services
    • Counseling center workflow and triage optimization
    • Program development for school-based mental health services and transition programs
    • Implementation planning for animal-assisted programming and ethical guidelines
    • Supervision structures and clinician onboarding processes
  • Technology & Systems Experience — Managed organizational change projects and training for the adoption of administrative systems and documentation workflows

Credentials and Professional Background

Education — PhD Candidate, Counselor Education and Supervision (University of New Orleans); MS in Clinical Community Counseling (Johns Hopkins); Post-master's certificates in Human–Animal Interaction and Play Therapy.

Licensure & Certification — Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselor; Maryland Board-Approved Counseling Supervisor; training in mediation, parenting coordination, and school-based crisis interventions.

Career Highlights — Project and program manager for IT projects and programs, including business, consulting, and university graduate school roles, private practice founder, clinical director, adjunct faculty, and extensive frontline school and community mental health experience.

Awards — Prospective Counselor Educator, Louisiana Counselor Education and Supervision Association 2024, LCA Research Award, Louisiana Counseling Association 2025

To inquire about counseling, training, consulting, or speaking availability, contact us with a brief description of your goals and preferred format.