Ms. Punam Gurung is a Licensed Professional Counselor with specialized credentials in correctional mental health and alcohol and drug counseling. She is currently the Health Services Administrator Mental Health Director for Correctional-USA at the St. Louis Criminal Justice Center where she played an instrumental role in development of a comprehensive suicide prevention and intervention program.   With over a decade of experience in mental health and addictions treatment, she has served in a variety of roles, including therapist, rehabilitation specialist, addictions counselor, and program administrator. She has specialized training and expertise I cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and solution-focused therapy.  In addition to her clinical experience, she is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and an active volunteer in community-based mental health programs. For example, she has provided mental education for high school students in Nepal, served as a board member for the Nebraska Nepalese Society, and participated in disaster relief efforts, including providing mental health support to earthquake victims in Nepal.