July 17, 2014 - Sharon Wilkerson, LCSW-R, a social worker with a breadth of experience in counseling and case management, recently joined the staff of the adult outpatient psychiatry clinic. Ms. Wilkerson will provide intakes, psychotherapy with individuals and in groups, and participate in case conferences.
“Ms. Wilkerson’s appointment will enhance our ability to serve a broader range of clients, including people with disabilities,” said Kristie Golden, PhD, Associate Director of Operations for the Neurosciences Service Line. “When we interviewed Ms. Wilkerson, we were impressed by her ability to help people live more independently by connecting them to the services they need.”
Ms. Wilkerson received her masters of social work degree from Adelphi University after earning a BSW from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. She has worked in a variety of settings: providing substance abuse counseling, case management for emotionally disturbed children in foster care, early intervention services to children with special needs, managing a child care program, counseling people with psychiatric disorders and, for the past 8 years, offering counseling and assisting with reasonable accommodations for disabled students at York College in Jamaica, NY.
In line with the department’s strategic initiative toward greater continuity of care, Ms. Wilkerson anticipates that part of her role will be helping clients transition between the hospital and outpatient clinic. She is also committed to working as part of a multidisciplinary team. “Stony Brook provides me a unique opportunity to interact every day with the medical staff,” Ms. Wilkerson said. “We work as a collaborative team, each of us contributing a different perspective and learning from one another.” Her approach to therapy is eclectic. “I try to tease out what the client needs most. It may be psychotherapy or coping skills or referrals to support services. They are the experts in their lives and my role to give them tools for success.”