Sonja Batten

Mental Health and Wellness Leader | Organizational strategy | Change management | Employee engagement | DEI | Bringing science to the art of employee wellness to build stronger organizations and teams

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Contact Info
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    Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, and Team Building

About

I'm one of those fortunate people who knew what type of career I wanted from an early age - trite as it may sound, I have always been passionate about helping people and making the world a better place. In fact, I began my first job working in mental health just 10 days before my 21st birthday, and even then it was clear to me that this would be my path.

Fast forward, and I am now a seasoned Mental Health Leader with 25+years of experience, having directly managed teams of 200+ people. I have worked in a variety of sectors, including federal government, academia, the nonprofit sphere, and the private sector. At my broadest level of impact, I guided policy for over 20,000 VA mental health professionals operating within a $7.5 billion dollar service line budget.

As a leader, I am calm, compassionate, diplomatic, and creative. I lead with integrity and I believe that every problem can be addressed, often using my sense of humor to ease difficult situations.

Throughout my career I am proud to have:

- Spearheaded all VA mental health policy nationwide for an integrated mental health care system during a challenging time of high visibility for mental health issues
- Directed the execution of VA’s innovative, nationwide mental health public awareness campaign entitled “Make the Connection,” winning over 50 awards in 2 years
- Directly enhanced the development and leadership skills of at least 150 professionals, from solo practitioners all the way to senior-level management at Fortune 500 companies
- Provided guidance on employee wellness efforts, staff engagement, and diversity equity and inclusion initiatives for a company with over 28,000 employees
- Pioneered the establishment of a mental health outreach and clinical program for Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and significantly increased access to care through same day mental health assessments
- Provided mental health training on four different continents, spoken to all types of media outlets (comprising print, television, and online media, including a live interview on the PBS News Hour), and served as a featured speaker at the Mayo Clinic Transform Conference

I have voyaged to all 7 continents and hold dual citizenship with Germany. Having traveled the world and lived all over the U.S., I am now planted in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. The beauty and history of my city and the graciousness of its people never fail to inspire me and bring out my creativity and resilience - an important antidote to the hard work of alleviating human suffering.

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Activity

Experience

  • Stop Soldier Suicide

    Stop Soldier Suicide

    2 years 2 months

    • Stop Soldier Suicide Graphic

      Chief Clinical Officer

      Stop Soldier Suicide

      - Present 2 months

      New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

    • Stop Soldier Suicide Graphic

      Vice President of Programs

      Stop Soldier Suicide

      - 2 years 1 month

      New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

      I provide leadership and oversight of all life-saving clinical programs and related Wellness Center operations of the nonprofit Stop Soldier Suicide (SSS). I oversee the development and implementation of tools and training curricula, QA/QC measures, and implement policies and procedures to accomplish the SSS mission.

      I coordinate on research projects and data analytics, and identify innovative clinical technologies and external partnerships to address new and emerging needs. I lead a…

      I provide leadership and oversight of all life-saving clinical programs and related Wellness Center operations of the nonprofit Stop Soldier Suicide (SSS). I oversee the development and implementation of tools and training curricula, QA/QC measures, and implement policies and procedures to accomplish the SSS mission.

      I coordinate on research projects and data analytics, and identify innovative clinical technologies and external partnerships to address new and emerging needs. I lead a team of more than 40 people, and manage a budget of more than $5.75M.

      During this role I have:

      - In the first year, reduced turnover in the Wellness Center by 82% and increased employee satisfaction by 74% - important markers in a crisis environment with high potential for burnout
      - Increased availability of clinical care through innovative access to care initiatives and strategic partnerships
      - Ensured compliance with national telehealth and clinical scope of practice regulations and laws

  • Chief Graphic

    Chief Member

    Chief

    - Present 1 year 9 months

    I am an active member of Chief, a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Chief is the only organization specifically designed for women executives to strengthen their leadership, magnify their influence, and pave the way to bring others with them.

  • Leadership Trainer and Certified Executive Coach

    Independent Consultant - Flexible Edge Solutions

    - Present 5 years

    New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

    As the Chief Executive Officer for a small consulting firm, I shape the strategic direction of operational functions for business growth and execution, serving both as the Managing Director and the corporate external spokesperson.

    I provide leadership training, executive coaching, employee wellness, organizational effectiveness, and health care-related training for businesses and professional organizations through videoconference and in person group workshops, as well as international…

    As the Chief Executive Officer for a small consulting firm, I shape the strategic direction of operational functions for business growth and execution, serving both as the Managing Director and the corporate external spokesperson.

    I provide leadership training, executive coaching, employee wellness, organizational effectiveness, and health care-related training for businesses and professional organizations through videoconference and in person group workshops, as well as international invited presentations in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

    In this role, I have:

    - Enhanced development and leadership skills of professionals, from solo practitioners all the way to the senior-level management at Fortune 500 companies.
    - Provided training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to mental health professionals across 4 continents

  • Booz Allen Hamilton Graphic

    Senior Psychological Health Advisor / Senior Associate

    Booz Allen Hamilton

    - 8 years

    Washington, District Of Columbia and New Orleans, Louisiana

    I managed the firm’s Behavioral Health Community of Practice and provided expert advice and support on the development and management of innovative, government-run programs with a particular focus on improving health systems and healthcare practice.

    As the Senior Psychological Health Advisor for the firm, I also provided guidance on employee wellness efforts, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and strategic communications.

    - I led multiple administrative and project…

    I managed the firm’s Behavioral Health Community of Practice and provided expert advice and support on the development and management of innovative, government-run programs with a particular focus on improving health systems and healthcare practice.

    As the Senior Psychological Health Advisor for the firm, I also provided guidance on employee wellness efforts, diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, and strategic communications.

    - I led multiple administrative and project teams of 20+ people, and managed over a dozen projects across 8 years with budgets from $500K to $3M per year.

    - I delivered program leadership and subject matter expertise across the continuum of clinical operations, communications, and health care policy for more than 20 contracts across the VA, DoD, and HHS health markets.

    - Those contracts were across difference areas such as organizational design, health care integrated planning and leadership, strategic and health communications, suicide prevention, mental health, and substance use services.

  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Graphic

    Deputy Chief Consultant for Specialty Mental Health

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

    - 4 years

    Washington DC-Baltimore Area

    I steered the development of all national mental health policy related to the specialty areas of women’s mental health, military sexual trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention, substance use disorders and collaboration with the Department of Defense.

    I also held a dual role and served as the Acting Chief Consultant for Mental Health Services from August 2013 to January 2014 where I spearheaded all VA mental health policy nationwide for an integrated mental health care…

    I steered the development of all national mental health policy related to the specialty areas of women’s mental health, military sexual trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention, substance use disorders and collaboration with the Department of Defense.

    I also held a dual role and served as the Acting Chief Consultant for Mental Health Services from August 2013 to January 2014 where I spearheaded all VA mental health policy nationwide for an integrated mental health care system with over 20,000 employees and an operating budget of $7.5 billion, during a time of high visibility for mental health issues and in a challenging environment.

    - Together with my team, I directed the execution of VA’s innovative, nationwide mental health public awareness campaign entitled “Make the Connection,” winning over 50 awards in 2 years through a highly successful social media campaign
    - I guided VA’s 15 national mental health research centers of excellence, including the National Center for PTSD
    - I successfully synchronized all aspects of VA’s collaboration on mental health with the Department of Defense and Health and Human Services.

  • Deputy Director

    Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

    - 2 years

    I served as the first Deputy Director for this new DoD Center of Excellence with a headquarters budget of over $200 million and 180+ staff during a time of significant Congressional and media visibility.
    • I designed an organizational structure for the Center while guiding programmatic direction for subject matter experts in psychological health and traumatic brain injury research and clinical care.

  • VA MARYLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

    VA MARYLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

    5 years

    • VA MARYLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Graphic

      Director of Training, University of Maryland Baltimore Psychology Internship Consortium

      VA MARYLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

      - 1 year

      Baltimore, Maryland, United States

      I took on a new, additional role to orchestrate all facets of a large, APA-accredited psychology internship consortium across 2 VA medical centers and an academic school of medicine. Within this role, I oversaw training for 15 psychology interns per year, coordinating the training provided by 30+ licensed psychologists who served as Consortium faculty.

      - I ensured excellence in training experiences, organized relevant didactic training, and facilitated trained professional development…

      I took on a new, additional role to orchestrate all facets of a large, APA-accredited psychology internship consortium across 2 VA medical centers and an academic school of medicine. Within this role, I oversaw training for 15 psychology interns per year, coordinating the training provided by 30+ licensed psychologists who served as Consortium faculty.

      - I ensured excellence in training experiences, organized relevant didactic training, and facilitated trained professional development in both subject matter areas and professional ethics.

    • VA MARYLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM Graphic

      Coordinator, Trauma Recovery Services

      VA MARYLAND HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

      - 5 years

      Baltimore, MD

      I developed and led the posttraumatic stress disorder clinical care programs for two large VA medical centers and 5 community-based outpatient clinics in the state of Maryland, transforming services to be strongly evidence-based.

      • Significantly increased access to care by eliminating 100% of backlogged, pending clinical consults while designing a system for same day mental health assessments.
      • Pioneered the establishment of VA Maryland Health Care System’s first mental health…

      I developed and led the posttraumatic stress disorder clinical care programs for two large VA medical centers and 5 community-based outpatient clinics in the state of Maryland, transforming services to be strongly evidence-based.

      • Significantly increased access to care by eliminating 100% of backlogged, pending clinical consults while designing a system for same day mental health assessments.
      • Pioneered the establishment of VA Maryland Health Care System’s first mental health outreach and clinical program for Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

  • Yale University School of Medicine Graphic

    Associate Director, Women's Health Research at Yale

    Yale University School of Medicine

    - 1 year

    New Haven, CT

    I provided leadership for the second largest women’s health research program in the United States and served as a key member of the executive team that set programmatic research priorities for intramural funding in women’s health.
    • I published collaborative research on the interrelationships between women’s mental and physical health.
    • I offered education on women’s health topics in educational and media contexts.

Education

  • University of Nevada, Reno Graphic

    University of Nevada, Reno

    Doctor of Philosophy - PhD Clinical Psychology

    APA-Approved Clinical Psychology Graduate Training Program

  • The University of Georgia Graphic

    The University of Georgia

    Bachelor of Arts (BA) Psychology

  • National Center for PTSD, Boston University Psychology Consortium

    APA-Approved Postdoctoral Fellowship in PTSD

  • Medical University of South Carolina Psychology Internship Consortium

    APA-Approved Clinical Psychology Internship

Licenses & Certifications

Volunteer Experience

  • Treasurer - Board of Directors

    Association for Contextual Behavioral Science Foundation

    - 2 years

    Health

    I served as Treasurer (unpaid, volunteer role) for the first 2+ years of its inception for an international nonprofit foundation focused on improving global mental health, especially in lower and middle-income countries.

    Provided seminal input and guidance into governance structures and policies as the organization was being created.

  • Member - Board of Advisors

    National Association of Veteran Serving Organizations

    - 2 years

    i18n_veterans

    I served as a Member of the Board of Advisors (unpaid, volunteer role) and subject matter expert in Veteran mental health and the Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system to the nonprofit Veteran Service Organization - National Association of Veteran Serving Organizations.

  • Association for Contextual Behavioral Science Graphic

    Member Board of Directors

    Association for Contextual Behavioral Science

    - 9 years

    Health

    Served as an elected member (unpaid, volunteer role) of the Board of Directors for the international Association for Contextual Behavioral Science for 9 years. ACBS is an organization dedicated to the alleviation of human suffering and the advancement of human well-being through research and practice grounded in contextual behavioral science. I served as President-Elect / President / Past-President from 2012-2015, Secretary / Treasurer from 2009-2012, and Member-at-Large from 2006-2009, helping…

    Served as an elected member (unpaid, volunteer role) of the Board of Directors for the international Association for Contextual Behavioral Science for 9 years. ACBS is an organization dedicated to the alleviation of human suffering and the advancement of human well-being through research and practice grounded in contextual behavioral science. I served as President-Elect / President / Past-President from 2012-2015, Secretary / Treasurer from 2009-2012, and Member-at-Large from 2006-2009, helping grow the organization from its inception in 2005 to what is a now strong association of over 8,000 professionals internationally.

  • University of Maryland School of Medicine Graphic

    Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

    University of Maryland School of Medicine

    - 7 years

  • Georgetown University School of Medicine Graphic

    Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry

    Georgetown University School of Medicine

    - 6 years

  • Uniformed Services University Graphic

    Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry

    Uniformed Services University

    - Present 15 years

Publications

Honors & Awards

  • AFFIRM Leadership in Health Information Technology Award

    Association For Federal Information Resources Management

  • Association for Contextual Behavioral Science Fellow

    Association for Contextual Behavioral Science

  • Award for Outstanding Media Contribution to Trauma Psychology

    American Psychological Association Division 56

  • Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Civilian Service

    Department of Defense

  • Outstanding Contributions by an Early Career Psychologist to Psychology in Service to the Public

    Maryland Psychological Association

Languages

  • German

    Limited working proficiency

  • English

    Native or bilingual proficiency

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