THERAPIST - TOUCHSTONE
2 days ago
San Antonio
Job Description On Site Location: Bulverde, TX PRIMARY FUNCTION/RESPONSIBILTY Serves as a primary provider of mental health services for youth in the foster care system residing in a General Residential Operation, delivering individual and group therapy, and participating in the development of individual plans of care. Ensures that the youth in care receive high quality treatment, skills training, and community support. Works to maintain a healthy treatment milieu, participates in admission and discharge decisions, and collaborates with team members regarding residents’ behavioral health and medical needs, psychiatric and psychological evaluations, and other treatment priorities The clinician should be able to thrive in evening hours, values relational work, and is passionate about healing through evidence-based modalities like TF-CBT, play therapy, and the Neurosequential Model. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Delivers individual, family, and group therapy to residents using evidence-based, trauma-informed treatment methods and completes documentation within 24 hours of session., • Establishes positive, trusting rapport with youths on campus., • Maintains positive relationships with staff and clients., • Asks questions and listens to help youths explore their thoughts and feelings., • Assesses patients’ emotional and mental health and oversees and leads integrating various assessments into a comprehensive and individualized Child Plan of Service (CPOS) for all assigned youths., • Completes monthly suicide screeners or screens youth as needed for risk of suicide., • Evaluates client’s progress and recommendations for care., • Assists the treatment team in maintaining a healthy campus milieu., • Conducts assessments and diagnoses mental health disorders., • Completes admission assessments and initial CPOS’s, and initial consultations to gather patient information., • Assists with admissions, placements, and discharges to minimize risk and promote the maintenance of a therapeutic culture., • Assists with emergency admissions and scheduled placements as needed., • Meets with residents regularly to provide counseling, treatment and adjusts CPOS’s as necessary and as required by individual service packages. Collaborates with the Treatment Director, Program Director and other Touchstone leadership to evaluate possible admission or discharges of children into the program., • Collaborates with the Treatment Director, Program Director, and treatment team to determine if youth meet continued stay criteria for their service packages., • Attends weekly integrative staffing’s and in the absence of the Treatment Director leads the clinical staffings., • Communicates effectively with the DFPS Case Workers and SSCC staff for the coordination of care for residents on campus and, as needed., • Works closely with the Medical Director and ANP, Team Psychologist, VP of Residential Services, Residential team, and UTHSCSA nursing personnel., • Models and educates campus personal on the treatment philosophy, methods, and techniques outlined for the therapeutic milieu., • Supports VP of Residential Services/Program Director, Program Coordinators, Care Managers, Supervisors, Youth Care Specialists as needed., • Coordinates treatment with other external providers such as psychiatric hospitals, juvenile justice systems, courts, etc., • Consults with Youth Care Specialists and assists with problem solving around children’s behaviors., • Conduct training for staff as needed., • As a mental health specialist for the GRO, he/she may be called after hours to assist in resolving crisis situations on occasion., • Maintains professional license in good standing., • Takes all the annual training needed and maintains certifications., • Serves on the on-call rotation for the GRO., • Utilize Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Play Therapy techniques and the Neurosequential Model to engage clients., • Experience with substance use treatment modalities., • Other duties as needed and assigned. QUALIFICATIONS Required: • Master’s degree in counseling, Social Work, Psychology, or related field., • Fully licensed LPC, LCSW, LMFT, and LCDC with 5+ years post-licensure experience., • Proven experience working with children and teens in the foster care system and residential setting preferred, • Training, experience, and skill in the use of the one or more trauma-informed treatment modalities such as dialectical behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, trust-based relational intervention, TF-CBT and Play Therapy., • A working understanding of the DSM-5-TR, the use of psychometric testing in psychological evaluations, the categories of psychotropic medications commonly administered to high acuity youth, and the categories of service for which such youth may be eligible in a public-school Special Education Program., • Strong understanding of trauma-informed care and adolescent development., • Eligible for credentialing with Medicaid and Superior., • Excellent communication, empathy, and collaboration skills. Highly Preferred: • Proven work experience as a Mental Health Therapist or similar role., • Empathy for clients., • Confidentiality with client information., • Relevant training and/or certifications as a Mental Health Therapist., • Bilingual (English/Spanish), • Experience in the child welfare system with an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of case care teams, CASA volunteers, attorney’s ad litem, and child placing agencies., • Knowledgeable in completing an admission assessment or any other evaluation of a child for placement., • Knowledgeable in developing, reviewing, and updating service plans for a child in care., • Knowledgeable in completing a discharge or transfer summary for a child., • Able to utilize electronic medical records to document activity with residents., • Experience working in an office supporting several staff members., • Experience using Microsoft software. Certifications/Licenses/Registrations: • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex ideas and concepts., • Advanced organizational skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously., • Attention to detail and high level of accuracy in preparing and maintaining documentation., • Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders., • Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a proactive and problem-solving mindset., • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS • Body mobility to stoop, kneel, bend, reach, walk and walk briskly in order to interact with and monitor children., • Stamina to work long days and drive long distances., • Moderate to heavy lifting up to 60 pounds., • Must have the ability to communicate both verbally and in writing., • Must have the ability to give and receive verbal and written instructions (with or without hearing aids)., • Must have fine vision, sustained vision, and peripheral vision (with or without glasses)., • Environment requires dexterity to remain calm and adapt to fast paced and emotional environments consisting of children with moderate to severe emotional and psychological needs., • Home-like settings with varying moderate to high degrees of background noise., • Light and ventilation are found in a typical home setting., • Campuses are smoke-free, except on permitted campuses in designated areas. Supervised by: VP of Clinical Services Supervises: None