Professional Work Experience.  Christy Pennison graduated from Louisiana College with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Upon graduation, she was trained as a child forensic interviewer and began working at the Rapides Children’s Advocacy Center. She interviewed children and adolescents who were alleged victims of abuse, creating a safe place and environment to assist them with telling their story. Through her work with child victims she realized she not only wanted to help children tell their story but assist them in overcoming whatever obstacles they faced. 

In pursuit of further education, she obtained a master’s degree in School Counseling from Northwestern State University. During that time, she completed an internship at Alexandria Middle Magnet in which she worked with students individually and collectively to address their academic and social / emotional developmental needs. 

She spent the next several years working with adolescents and their families. She was trained as a Multisystemic Therapist and provided interventions to parents / caregivers aimed at equipping them with the tools they needed to transform the life of their child. She then transitioned to the Youth Challenge Program where she provided individual and group counseling sessions, in-class guidance lessons and crisis counseling to equip and empower high school students to create positive change in themselves and the world around them.

Driven and motivated by a desire to make a difference, she was given the opportunity to start up and develop a home and community based mental health rehabilitation program in Lafayette, LA. She was able to train, equip, and lead a team of compassionate individuals who provided mental health care to children, adults, and families in Lafayette and surrounding areas. Due to her leadership and service in the community, she was honored as a 20 Under 40 Young Leader in Acadiana in 2017.  

Before moving back to Pineville, LA, she worked as clinician at Aucoin & Associates Psychology Practice in Lafayette providing assessment, diagnosis, and counseling to children, adolescents, and adults.  She also provided training and workshops to parents, organizations, and schools addressing issues such as suicide prevention, mental wellness, and self-care.  She enjoys speaking on topics such as practicing self-care to promote overall well-being and overcoming limiting beliefs to help individuals move past their fears into their dreams.