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This Week We Feature Young Professional Trisha T. Smith
This week’s young professional is an embodiment of the saying “you take the reins of your life and mould it to your vision.”
Trisha Smith returned to the Virgin Islands, her home, in 2010 and after having a difficult time finding employment within the social services industry, decided to start her own business in 2011 called Trinity Employee Assistance Services located in Qwomar Building, Free Bottom.
“Trinity Employee Assistance Services is an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provider in the British Virgin Islands that provides confidential, professional, behavioural health counseling and assistance to employees and their immediate family members,” the savvy business woman told VINO.
The young Virgin Islander, who is also a qualified Social Worker, opened up about why she decided to start such a business, one that she described could help employees function at their fullest potential.
She explained that the personal problems of employees can have a dramatic impact on their job performance and productivity; and for most people it is hard trying to balance the responsibilities of work and home. Therefore, with such a service in place, employees can balance their lives in order to maximise their productivity at home, work and within the community.
“Families are dealing with financial hardship, domestic violence, unemployment, grief, substance abuse, mental health issues, teen and parent conflicts, child abuse, single parenting, and divorce,” Ms. Smith pointed out. “Nothing undermines social inclusion more than financial hardship; and families are having a difficult time providing the basic needs to maintain their households due to the cost of living increase within the British Virgin Islands. Often time families are unable to cope with such challenges and are unaware of available resources or lack access to these resources.”
For that reason, Trinity Employee Assistance Services provides a range of prevention and treatment options for employees and their immediate family members.
Some of the services that are being offered include short-term counseling for job-related and personal stress, marital and family problems, grief, domestic violence, chemical dependency, and career planning.
“If an employer can no longer afford climbing insurance rates, workers compensation costs, absenteeism and poor productivity, then they should invest in an Employee Assistance Programme,” Ms. Smith emphasised. “Our employees are highly trained professionals and our services are strictly confidential within the limits of the Virgin Islands law.”
Ironically, entering in the social service was not Ms. Smith’s first profession.
After graduating from the BVI High school in 1997 now the Elmore Stoutt High School, Ms. Smith worked within the Financial Services Industry for a few years. Her first job was at the Registry of Corporate Affairs from 1997-2000 where she worked as a Registry Clerk.
Her next job was working as an Administrative Assistant at AMS Insurance Management Services from 2000-2003.
In 2004, Ms. Smith moved to the United States to pursue an undergraduate degree in Finance with a minor in Real Estate. It was during her 2nd year in undergrad, she decided to change her major to Social Work after her roommate convinced her to be a volunteer at a retirement home working with the elderly.
“I felt a great sense of pride helping persons in need and over the years I developed a sincere passion to work with children, adolescents and their families,” Ms. Smith recalled.
She then completed her Bachelor’s of Social Work from Florida Atlantic University in 2007 and her Master’s of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington with a concentration in Child and Family Services in 2010.
This young professional is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers which is an organization that works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies.
“The field of social work offers a chance to make a real difference in people’s lives on a daily basis. The best thing about being in the helping profession is you have the opportunity to work with multiple populations such as children and families, community organisations, elderly, medical, mental health, chemical dependency, education and research, advocacy and legislation or within corporations and non-profit organisations,” she said.
Firmly believing that strong family relationships are important to an individual’s wellbeing, Ms. Smith took the opportunity to work as a Case Manager at North West Family Success Center in Florida.
According the businesswoman, she assisted families that were experiencing crisis due to disruptions within their family, and provided financial assistance to assist with their utilities, rent/mortgage, transportation and groceries. Ms. Smith also offered short term counseling for issues related to grief, workplace and personal stress, domestic abuse, finance and budgeting, self improvement and marital and relationship issues.
Ms. Smith also worked in the in-patient unit at Millwood Hospital in Arlington Texas as a therapist. Millwood Hospital is a 120-bed licensed facility that offers a comprehensive continuum of care for children, adolescents, and adults with psychiatric or substance abuse problems. While at Millwood, Ms. Smith provided individual and group psychotherapy services to children ages 4-11 and adolescents ages 12-18 diagnosed with major psychiatric disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, mood disorder, disruptive behavior disorder, depression, and chemical dependency.
The young professional holds a certificate in Trauma Focus Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT) a psychotherapeutic intervention designed to help children, adolescents, and their parents overcome the negative effects of traumatic life events.
She can be reached at (284) 543 – 2249 for more information on the Employee Assistance Programme.
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