Therapist

Overview:

The Therapist will deliver therapeutic clinical services at Friends of the Children – Western Montana, a licensed Mental Health Center providing trauma-informed clinical services to youth enrolled in the Friends of the Children program, as well as siblings. The therapist will ensure high-quality care for youth and their families while fostering an interactive, supportive environment for staff. This position requires a strong background in mental health services, excellent skills working with children, and a commitment to the mission and values of the organization. The Therapist will work in collaboration with the Mental Health Center Manager and all team members in program refinement and expansion. The Therapist role requires ongoing and proactive interactions with members of the community, caregivers, partners, and schools.

Essential Functions Responsibilities:

Clinical:

- Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, accreditation standards, and evidenced based practices in mental health care.

- Communicate effectively and appropriately regarding organization data, issues, concerns, policies and procedures.

- Participate as an active member of the interdisciplinary team, collaborating with Professional Mentors, Family Engagement staff, caregivers, schools, and community providers to develop coordinated and comprehensive supports for youth and families.
Seek out and engage with professional development opportunities and foster a positive team culture.

- Understand and inspire others to actively support the organization’s mission, vision, values, and principles and be able to clearly articulate the organization’s function.

- Conduct regular case reviews, ensuring adherence to treatment plans, clinical assessments, licensure expectations, and ethical standards.

- Monitor client outcome data and implement quality improvement initiatives as needed.

- Consistently fulfills requirements established in the Friends of the Children and contractual arrangements specific to patient care.

Client Care:

- Actively participate in direct client care, including assessments, therapy, crisis intervention and safety planning.

- Provide trauma-informed, person-centered, evidence-based therapy to children and caregivers.

- Provide therapy services, with an average client caseload of 23 and 20 billed client sessions per week/80 per month which may include individual and group therapy.

- Collaborate with Friends of the Children treatment team and other healthcare providers and community resources to coordinate care for clients.

Administrative Responsibilities:

- Maintain accurate and confidential client records in compliance with legal and ethical standards.

- Strive to optimize billing best practices by submitting accurate, complete electronic health records in a timely fashion and in compliance with Medicaid standards.

Community Engagement:

- Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, stakeholders, and referral sources.

- Partner with staff and community providers to coordinate wrap-around services, including:

Behavioral health services

- Recreational services

- Educational support

- Medical services

- Social services

Policy Development:

- Coordinate with Mental Health Center Manager to update and implement clinical policies and procedures to ensure effective service delivery.

- Stay updated on industry trends and changes in mental health regulations.

Essential Skills and Abilities:

- Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management, delegation and follow-up skills.

- Ability to represent, effectively and professionally, the organization to a wide variety of audiences.

- Ability to research, analyze data, design/develop, propose, implement, and sustain programming.

- Work with youth and caregivers to develop adaptive and emotional coping skills across settings, such as emotional regulation, problem solving, communication, conflict management and decision making in individual and group therapy settings.

- Ability to solve problems, work in a team environment, manage several issues concurrently, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced constantly changing work environment.

- Strong project management skills. Proven ability to manage multiple deadlines, responsibilities, and competing priorities.

- Knowledge of child development and child issues, particularly those most relevant to our program youth.

- Awareness of community resources, and the ability to cultivate and sustain relationships with these resources.

- Demonstrated expertise in trauma-informed care, child and adolescent development, and family systems.

- Committed to inclusive and culturally responsive practices. Ability to understand, respect, and work effectively with clients and caregivers from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Basic computer literacy; experience with electronic health records and performance-based software is a plus.

- Must possess or be willing to obtain a valid Montana Driver’s License, maintain a good driving record, and operate a safe reliable personal vehicle to transport children as needed. Vehicle insurance liability limits of at least 100K/300K/100K including underinsured/uninsured covered along with a business use endorsement.

- Must successfully pass a background check, including drug screening, criminal and protective services clearances.

- Obtain or maintain First Aid/CPR certification

Preferred Skills and Abilities:

- Experience in working with children and proficiency in evidence-based approaches

- Experience working in a small or community-based mental health setting.

- Knowledge of trauma-informed care and culturally competent practices including knowledge of Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and play-based therapy techniques.

- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse populations and multidisciplinary teams.

- Work with caregivers to develop supportive and nurturing relationships with the youth that promote resiliency and wellness.

- Participate in clinical consultation on an ongoing basis.

Qualifications:

- Master’s degree or higher in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or a related field.

- Licensure (e.g., LCSW, LCPC, LMFT, PsyD) in the state of Montana.

- Candidates working towards licensure will also be considered.

- At least 2-3years of direct experience with children, youth and families.

- Strong understanding of evidence-based practices in mental health treatment

- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

Salary Range: $ 58,000-68,000 DOE

Benefits:

- Medical, dental, and vision insurance

- A&D/Life and long-term disability insurance

- 401(k) with employer match

- 4 weeks PTO + most federal holidays

- PSLF Eligibility