SAGPS BOARD MEMBER PROFILE Doris Muniz, LCSW Doris Muniz, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker has been a board member for over 25 years. She was born and raised in San Antonio. She is the oldest of five children. She helped her mother raise her younger siblings. Doris received her Associates degree from San Antonio College and while there she took an interest inventory that indicated social work would be a career area where she would do extremely well. She had never heard of social work and started looking in to it. After graduating from San Antonio College she transferred to Our Lady of the Lake where she received her Bachelor degree in Social Work in 1974 and later her Masters in Social Work in 1975.  Doris believes being a social worker provides many opportunities to specialize and provides a great deal of flexibility. She described one of her field placements at San Antonio State Hospital where she worked with chronically mentally ill patients, substance abuse patients, and a teenager who was hospitalized for a suicide attempt. She says this placement helped her find her niche and passion as she always wanted to work with kids. At first, she thought she wanted to be a teacher but quickly realized that teachers only taught subject matter and were not really involved in their kid’s problems. As a social worker you are able to be involved with their concerns and problems.  As the first born of an alcoholic family she knew what it felt like to be alone with no one to talk with about her problems.  She knew that being a social worker was what she wanted. Her first job was as a baby sitter, which she said was mostly unpaid. Her first job after graduating from high school was as a cashier in a discount store. Once she transferred to Our Lady of the Lake she participated in a work study program where she worked as a group leader with teenagers at a community center.  In talking about her career, Doris states, “Up until 2004 I always worked for an institution. I was laid off from a clinical position at that time and this forced me to reevaluate and do some intense soul searching. I had never looked for a job except for my first one in 1975.  All other subsequent positions I was recruited. At this time I began questioning what I really wanted.  It seemed that over the years I had done less and less clinical work, which I loved and ended up doing more administrative work. This time allowed me to reflect back to the reason I had gone into social work. I love doing individual, couple, and family work. I now work with individuals of all ages; however I seem to have ability to work with teenagers and especially with teen girls. I also enjoy my work with families that have adopted children through Child Protective Services and find it challenging and very rewarding. My client focus is on teenagers and young adult although I see people of all ages. I like the variety and it keeps me energized. My current practiced is not conducive to group work and I do miss that.”  Doris stated that there has not been one person that has been inspirational in her career instead there have been many. She was most inspired by her early years at the San Antonio Children’s Center, now known as the Southwest Mental Health Center. While there she was a member of multi-disciplinary teams that worked with very damaged children. The teams were made up of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, teachers, child care workers, and so many more…who taught her so much. So instead of someone she would have to say someplace special has been inspirational.  When she is not working Doris loves to read fiction, to walk down on the San Antonio River, and spend time with friends and family. She enjoys their company, eating good food, and drinking fine wine.  In talking about SAGPS, Doris relates, “I got involved with SAGPS in the mid 1980’s when Al Riester and I were colleagues at Southwest Mental Health Center. He kept telling me that I needed something outside of SMHC and encouraged me to join. It was one of the best choices I have ever made. I have learned so much and made so many wonderful friends.”  When asked would you like for people to know her, Doris said, “Probably that I enjoy my life especially being a grandmother!”      Jane Carr, PhD