LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
CPRP (Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner)
Master CASAC (Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor)
Apple Teacher
M.A., State University College at Brockport
Courses Taught
- Assessment in Counseling
- Adult Lifestyle and Career Counseling
- Substance Abuse Counseling
- Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Topics for Counselors
- Research and Program Evaluation
Publications
- Opioid Prevention/Narcan Training, Nursing Faculty/Staff Publications, 184, 2018.
- Building Proficiency in SBIRT through "Hands-On" Teamwork, Nursing Faculty/Staff Publications, 150, 2018. Co-authored with K. Plum, C. A. Critchlow, A. Corigliano, H. Moscicki, & R. Shanahan.
- Development and Implementation of SBIRT Interprofessional Training for Pharmacy, Nursing, and Mental Health Counseling Students, Pharmacy Faculty Publications, 149, 2017. Co-authored with A. Corigliano, K. Juba, K. Plum, R. A. Jordan, & C. A. Critchlow.
Narrative
Before joining St. John Fisher University, Begley spent 22 years as a director at an agency dedicated to empowering individuals in recovery from mental health and substance use disorders. In this role, she provided counseling, support, and guidance to clients and their families, helping them achieve healthier and more fulfilling lives within their communities.
Since joining St. John Fisher University, she has served as the coordinator and specialist for three grant-funded initiatives. In 2015, she became a member of the SAMHSA SBIRT Grant Advisory Council and was soon appointed as the coordinator of the three-year grant, which has since transitioned into a sustainable program. Through this initiative, students learn the essential practice of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) in integrated care settings, helping them recognize the impact of alcohol and other drug use on overall health.
In April 2017, Begley joined the University’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Task Force and has since trained hundreds of students and faculty on the proper administration of Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses. In 2018, she was appointed the HRSA Grant Integration Specialist, assisting in the execution of grant objectives. The following year, she contributed to the BWHET Data Waiver Grant Implementation team and was named coordinator of the HRSA/BWHET Opioid Supplement Grant, which provides nursing students with training on Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for individuals recovering from substance use disorders.
In addition to holding an LMHC and CPRP, Begley is a Master CASAC (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor) and teaches courses in the Graduate Mental Health Counseling Program, with a focus on substance use disorders. Her passion lies in an integrated approach to education, bridging overall health, mental health, and substance use awareness to prepare future professionals for holistic, patient-centered care.