Social Work
Behavioral and Applied Social Sciences

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Rebecca Wiersma, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor of Social Work

Education

• 2010 - PhD, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. Dissertation: Children’s Adaptive Psychological Functioning in the Face of Adversity

• 2003 - Graduate Certificate in Infant Mental Health, Merrill Palmer Institute, Detroit, MI

• 2002 - M.S.W., School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
  
  
• 1999 - B.A., Department of Social Work, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  
  

Certification

• Master’s Social Worker Clinical License
• Social Work Board of Michigan
  
  

Professional Memberships

• National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
• Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH)
  
  

Experience
Dr. Wiersma has 13 years of social work practice experience. She began her career as an adoption facilitator at Spectrum Human Services. Upon attaining her MSW she began employment with Community Care Services working with individuals and families. She then joined the National Health Service Corps and worked in a rural mental health center in Pipestone, Minnesota. Interest in the area of Infant Mental Health (IMH) led her to develop and obtain funding for a program in IMH services for rural families.  She currently maintains a practice at The Guidance Center.  As an adjunct faculty of Social Work she taught at Wayne State University.