April Meeting
In Person Only
Friday, April 25th from 12:00-1:30pm
Central Texas Rehabilitation Hospital
700 W. 45th Street
Austin, TX 78751
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Thank you to our food sponsor
Note: This meeting is intended for social workers only and is not open to all professions. Please only RSVP if you are a Licensed Social Worker, or are currently a social work student.
April GASW Meeting
2024 Memberships have Expired
2025 Memberships are Now Available
Please see our FAQ page for more information HERE
In Person:
Central Texas Rehabilitation Hospital
700 W. 45th Street
Austin, Texas 78751
April Topic and Speaker Info
Working with Folks Impacted by Grief and Loss
Jocelyn Chamra-Barrera, LCSW, Executive and Clinical Director, Christi Center
Jocelyn Chamra-Barrera, LCSW is a bilingual licensed clinical social worker and expert on the areas of mental health, child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, and significant trauma. She currently serves as the executive and clinical director of The Christi Center, a nonprofit organization that offers hope after the death of a loved one by providing support networks, community education, and therapeutic activities that are free, peer-based, and ongoing. By combining her expertise in mental health with her passion for community, Jocelyn is dedicated to helping people connect with their emotions by actively listening to their stories. Jocelyn first started working at The Christi Center in 2017 as a bilingual services coordinator, since then she has held multiple roles including program manager and director of programs and clinical services. In 2024, she was promoted to executive and clinical director. In this role, Jocelyn ensures that the organization continues to serve the Austinites, as it did when it was first founded in 1987, while evolving with the needs of the community. She also oversees the operations side of the organization, ensuring that it honors its past while moving into
the future. Prior to working at The Christi Center, Jocelyn served as a bilingual therapist for Blue Note Psychotherapy, a high-quality, specialized therapy consultancy of engaged and compassionate
therapists. She was also a bilingual therapist for The Austin Center for Grief and Loss, an organization offering therapy resources and support for those grieving the death of a loved one from illness, accident, suicide, or violence; divorce or separation. In addition, she served as a clinical intake specialist for the Center of Child Protection, which aims to reduce trauma for children during the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children.
Jocelyn is deeply committed to advancing her industry. She volunteers as a therapist with the Therapy for Therapists Collective, a network that offers pro bono psychotherapy, peer supervision,
support groups, and other resources specifically for therapists. Additionally, she is a member of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG), an organization that raises awareness about the needs of grieving children and teens and provides education and resources for their supporters. Jocelyn has also been a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the world’s largest
professional organization for social workers, which focuses on professional development, maintaining standards, and advocating for sound social policies. She is also connected with the
University of Texas at Austin’s Social Work Alumni Network. She holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts
from The University of Texas at Austin. In her spare time, she enjoys making and drinking lots of coffee and spending time with her husband, Bobby, son Noah, and their pets, Violet and Nacho.
Jocelyn Chamra-Barrera, LCSW, Executive and Clinical Director, Christi Center
Jocelyn Chamra-Barrera, LCSW is a bilingual licensed clinical social worker and expert on the areas of mental health, child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence, and significant trauma. She currently serves as the executive and clinical director of The Christi Center, a nonprofit organization that offers hope after the death of a loved one by providing support networks, community education, and therapeutic activities that are free, peer-based, and ongoing. By combining her expertise in mental health with her passion for community, Jocelyn is dedicated to helping people connect with their emotions by actively listening to their stories. Jocelyn first started working at The Christi Center in 2017 as a bilingual services coordinator, since then she has held multiple roles including program manager and director of programs and clinical services. In 2024, she was promoted to executive and clinical director. In this role, Jocelyn ensures that the organization continues to serve the Austinites, as it did when it was first founded in 1987, while evolving with the needs of the community. She also oversees the operations side of the organization, ensuring that it honors its past while moving into
the future. Prior to working at The Christi Center, Jocelyn served as a bilingual therapist for Blue Note Psychotherapy, a high-quality, specialized therapy consultancy of engaged and compassionate
therapists. She was also a bilingual therapist for The Austin Center for Grief and Loss, an organization offering therapy resources and support for those grieving the death of a loved one from illness, accident, suicide, or violence; divorce or separation. In addition, she served as a clinical intake specialist for the Center of Child Protection, which aims to reduce trauma for children during the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children.
Jocelyn is deeply committed to advancing her industry. She volunteers as a therapist with the Therapy for Therapists Collective, a network that offers pro bono psychotherapy, peer supervision,
support groups, and other resources specifically for therapists. Additionally, she is a member of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG), an organization that raises awareness about the needs of grieving children and teens and provides education and resources for their supporters. Jocelyn has also been a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the world’s largest
professional organization for social workers, which focuses on professional development, maintaining standards, and advocating for sound social policies. She is also connected with the
University of Texas at Austin’s Social Work Alumni Network. She holds a Master of Science in Social Work from the School of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts
from The University of Texas at Austin. In her spare time, she enjoys making and drinking lots of coffee and spending time with her husband, Bobby, son Noah, and their pets, Violet and Nacho.