Carmella Navarro

Ms. Carmella Navarro is from Chicago, IL. My career is focused on service to others as a professional counselor/coach in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago.
Initially, my career began with the Community Crisis Center in Elgin, IL. The focus to assist clients involved in domestic violence, trauma, and economic distress. Work in the community also consisted of empowering clients in a 5-year self-sufficiency program which allowed them to achieve educational and professional goals, leaning heavily on community resources.
My work continued in various arenas of the Employee Assistance Programs in the Chicagoland area. Along with short term solution focused counseling, other involvement consisted of crisis intervention to support critical incident stress debriefs post a traumatic incident. fitness for duty cases, education, and training for wellness fairs. Companies represented included Hospital Systems, government contracts and many Chicago and suburban Community municipalities.
Moving forward, my direction was led toward working with the Military as a Military Family Life Consultant. The passion to serve those who serve grew and flourished. As an MFLC relationships developed with the 88th RD in the Yellow Ribbon Programs. Primarily beginning with families of deployed service members. Supportive services ranged from summer camps to weekend events in support of military families. This experience led to becoming an embedded MFLC at various installations both CONUS and OCONUS. Services included facilitating educational groups, Individual short-term counseling and supporting command as needed.
Connecting to some key leaders allowed Ms. Carmella Navarro to truly embed in the Army Reserve as a Suicide Prevention Program manager in 2016 with the 85th USARSC in Arlington Heights, IL. Building a program in Suicide Prevention was a rewarding challenge. The assistance of some great NCOs and Officers allowed the program to grow into a one-of-a-kind Stand for Life Suicide Prevention Program. Connections were made that allowed Command Staff and Soldiers to know where to go for resources, support, and training. Communication and collaboration with behavioral health staff and the various communities our Soldiers live in on an on-going basis provided a fully integrated approach.
Ms. Navarro earned a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services/Psychology from National Louis University in May 1992. Her Master of Science degree in Human Services/Psychology was earned in June of 1997 from National Louis University. Other advanced courses consist of a certified Master Trainer in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills in July 2015; Completed the MRT course in September 2019 and a Certified Professional Coach in November 2019.
Upon leaving the Army Reserve Ms. Carmella Navarro was awarded the Civilian Service Commendation Medal. In recognition of outstanding service, knowledge, and professional competency of developing and implementing the Suicide Prevention Program.
Currently, I have a private practice connet4balance located in Schaumburg, IL. My mantra is “I am committed to empowering others to be intentional about their healing and resiliency in all stages of their lives.” I continue to collaborate with colleagues to provide suicide awareness, wellness, and resiliency training to the community with Heroes4Life Consultants.