From her position as a nurse with a lot of unusual and highly valued experience, Celeste Lewis has transformed herself into a key member of mental health treatment teams nearly everywhere she has worked. For example, when she practiced in Orleans Parish Prison, she conducted psychiatric evaluations, conducted follow-up appointments and engaged in psychiatric medication management, among other things. In addition, she was part of teams that performed crisis interventions and she helped to evaluated the mental health status of a number of inmates who were considered acutely homicidal or suicidal.
Prior to her prison stint, Celeste Lewis worked with the Capital Area Human Services District in Baton Rouge, where she served as a critical member of several of their best treatment teams. She did a bit of everything while there, which means she gained a lot of useful experience. Celeste not only conducted psychiatric evaluations for and diagnosed a large number of clients with severe mental illness, but she also prescribed psychotropic medication as necessary for proper treatment and she monitored their use. More than once, she served a critical role on the medical staff with regard to the decision-making process. She quite often provided necessary and constructive input to the treatment team as to the district process and served a critical role in that position.
Because she also has a strong background in substance abuse treatment, conducting intake and diagnostic interviews and conducting all types of therapy sessions, both one-on-one or in families or groups, Celeste Lewis is also an advocate for stronger mental health screening and better and more accessible treatment for those who suffer mental illness. She has also long been an advocate for better mental health education and for greater integration of those with mental illness into society.
