Therapist

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Provide individual therapy to children and their families utilizing various therapeutic modalities.  Assess psychological needs of assigned clients.  Develops, oversees the implementation and monitors behavior programs of assigned clients.  Serves as a member of the client’s Interdisciplinary Team.  Instructs staff in the implementation of individual behavior programs.  Provides intensive therapeutic services to children in assigned settings.  Collaborates with other members of the treatment team, designs and directs the implementation of a behavior modification intervention plan, which is individualized to each client and their family. 

ESSENTIAL & CORE FUNCTIONS: 

Conducts required psychological assessments for assigned clients.  Documents assessment in accordance with Community Council and regulatory agency standards. 

Coordinates the collection, summarization and analysis of data related to individual behavior programs.   

Develops, monitors, and revises client behavior or plan of support programs designed to meet the needs of assigned clients.   

Develop and write treatment plans based upon the result of psychological evaluation diagnosis, the GAF score and recommendations.  Ensure all necessary signatures are obtained for all required documentation (i.e. parent signatures). 

Participates as a member of assigned client’s Interdisciplinary Team.  Provides written documentation of assigned individual's progress in accordance with Community Council and regulatory standards as required. 

Provides instruction to staff in the implementation of individual behavior programs.  Observes on-site implementation of behavior programs to ensure that individuals' needs are being met. 

Respond accordingly to cases of an emergency nature.  Notify appropriate personnel.  Provide necessary interventions to assist clients in development of age appropriate behavioral skills. 

Create and implement behavioral intervention plans which include positive behavioral reinforcement, emotional support, and time structuring activities, time out strategies, crisis intervention techniques, and other strategies as needed.   

Conduct periodic reviews of client plans as needed.  Ensure appropriate levels of medically necessary services are provided.  Complete initial assessments for clients CBE.   

Actively participates in staff meetings.  In accordance with Community Council and licensure requirements, attends in-service training to achieve, maintain and enhance professional competence.  Interacts professionally with the clients, co-workers, families and/or community members. 

Adheres to policies and procedures of Community Council.   

Performs all duties independently.  May be required to report to alternate sites as assigned. 

Performs related duties, special assignments and projects as required by Community Council management. 

Ability to work with all levels of directors, supervisors, colleagues, staff, and consumers in an effective and positive manner. 

Ensures excellent customer service delivery within the Program/Department. 

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Performs other duties and special projects as assigned. 

PREREQUISITES & QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION:  

A licensed mental health clinician (psychiatrist, psychologist, licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, or licensed clinical social worker. 

OR 

Master’s Degree from an accredited university in a clinical mental health discipline, such as:  Psychology, Counseling, Clinical Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing, and Marriage and Family therapy. In order for a degree to count as a mental health degree, the degree must contain at least twelve (12) credit hours in clinical coursework in the foundations of behavioral health and the provision of mental health services (i.e., individual, group and family therapy, abnormal psychology, psychopathology, cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic therapy, crisis counseling, assessment, child development, personality theory, psychotherapy lab, clinical practicum). Other courses may count as determined by a review of the transcript/syllabi. No more than three (3) of these twelve (12) credit hours can be derived from a supervised clinical mental health practicum experience (teaching/education/other non-clinical practicum experiences will not count). Courses such as statistics, program and policy development , and program administration, will not be counted as behavioral health courses because they do not include instruction in the direct provision of mental health services.  If coursework is part of a medical degree, there must be clear evidence that the course was directly related to the diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders rather than medical conditions.  Appropriate medical degrees/training will include substantial training in mental health disorders; medical degrees that are behavioral health related usually include a residency in psychiatry.  

PLUS a minimum two (2) years verified paid experience providing mental health treatment. 

OR 

A minimum of a master’s degree from an accredited university in a clinical mental health discipline (as stated above) 

PLUS weekly documented enhanced clinical supervision for these employees with less than two (2) years verified paid experience providing mental health treatment. 

Supervision must be provided within the agency by a person meeting the qualifications of a Clinical Supervisor. 

A written supervision plan that exceeds the agency standard must be developed. 

Mental Health Professionals in this category working twenty (20) hours or more per week must receive one (1) hour of individual supervision per week.  Those working less than twenty (20) hours per week must receive one (1) hour of individual supervision bi-weekly. 

The enhanced supervision must continue until two (2) years of experience at the agency has been met, but must be no less than one (1) year.