Maui

Maui’s Super Intern:
Toni Rodrigues, MA

After 30 years of working in the mental health field, Maui resident Antoinette Rodrigues, “Toni,” decided to earn a second master’s degree in psych counseling. The graduate of Loyola Marymount University enrolled in Argosy’s MFT Program and chose to do her practicum at the Co-occurring Day Treatment Program (COD) at Aloha House Inc. While attending school and working in COD, Toni also juggles a steady job at Maui Family Support Services, as well as being a wife to her husband of 24 years and mother to her teenage son.

“Toni is not your average practicum student,” states Lydee Ritchie, MFT, who facilitates the After Care program at COD. “She is a super intern coming to the program with decades of experience, yet is open and willing to learn new approaches, styles, strategies, and models in treating both addiction and mental illness.” Ritchie adds, “Toni is a work horse with a fantastic attitude. She helps lead psychotherapy and psychoeducation groups, then she’ll do individual sessions and progress notes. She’s eager to do mental health and addiction assessments, as well as recovery treatment and crisis plans. She’ll even go to an Ohana meeting for a CWS consumer in the program, and take another one to an AA meeting. Plus, on her own initiative, she’ll vacuum, throw the trash, organize and redecorate the office. Now, how much luckier can I get?”

“We’ll all have withdrawals after Toni leaves the program at the end of the year,” quips Bob Lanser, LSCW, Program Manager of the COD Day Treatment program. “If only we could clone her.”

“The consumers all love her,” states Larry Ruiz, MA, CSAC. Ruiz facilitates the Day Treatment classes of COD. “She already has a good understanding of the dynamics of addiction and mental illness in family systems. And we’re so ever grateful that she is initiating the first COD ‘Friends and Family Night.’ We’ve been talking about it, but never really pursued it until she took ownership of this new project.”

Impressed with her caliber of workmanship, her commitment and dedication to the profession of MFT, her professionalism and compassion, Maui HAMFT boardmembers Holly Espinueva and Ritchie nominated Toni to be honored by HAMFT at its annual conference this year. Dr. Kai Swigart, HAMFT president, presented Toni with a “Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service.” She also received $100 to help cover her registration fee to Scott Miller’s presentation.

Toni, in her ego-less way declared, “But why am I getting this? I didn’t do anything.” Then she laughed her big booming infectious laugh. Ritchie replied with a chuckle, “She’s also funny, that’s why I call her my COD ‘sparkplug.’”

“By the way, Toni was amongst the first to become a member of HAMFT on July 15, 2011,” states Dr. Kai. “That was the very first day we opened the doors to membership.”

If all goes well, Toni hopes to graduate in June 2012. Ritchie and Ruiz also expressed their hopes: To see her coming back to be a permanent member of the COD staff…. Well, of course in addition to seeing her reach her goal of setting up a private practice, too. “We can’t be too selfish,” laughs Ritchie. “But Super Interns are hard to come by.”

Contributed by Lydee Ritchie, MFT