Psychotherapist

About This Role

This psychotherapist role is a member of a multi-disciplinary team serving adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses. The primary role is to provide short-term individual and group therapy to enrolled clients, many of whom are homeless or formerly homeless and may have co-occurring disorders.

Responsibilities

• Provide brief (e.g., 6 month) individual counseling to enrolled clients, using cognitive behavioral therapy within a recovery model
• Facilitate group counseling with enrolled clients, in collaboration with other agency staff
• Develop measurable individualized therapy goals and objectives
• Document services provided in a timely manner
• Work in a highly collaborative manner with other care team members, including case managers and other service providers, within and outside of DESC
• Assist in the development of individualized service plans
• Provide outreach and engagement services to assigned clients to initially engage and maintain working relationships
• Conduct psychosocial assessments and monthly Less Restrictive Alternative reviews as needed
• Provide crisis intervention and risk assessment; tolerate unusual or unpleasant behavior
• Support clients with achieving and maintaining healthy living conditions, including attending care conferences, supporting clients in their residential units, coordinating with housing staff, participating in cleaning out clients’ units, and documenting barriers
• Participate in psychiatric consultation, supervision, program meetings, and in-service trainings
• Participate in clinical reviews and case conferences for consumers on caseload
• Comply with the agency's clinical accountability policies and procedures
• Maintain current and complete clinical and administrative records
• Participate in quality assurance reviews when assigned
• Comply with applicable program research and evaluation procedures
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Eligible for a Licensed AAC credential or any other superseding credential that meets RCW 71.05.020 requirements to act as a Mental Health Professional whose scope of practice includes independently conducting mental health assessments and making mental health diagnoses
• Master's degree in social work, psychology, or other relevant behavioral science
• Ability to drive an agency or personal vehicle to conduct agency-related business
• Current Washington State driver's license and insurable driving record are required
• Understand the tenets of cognitive behavioral therapy and possess competency in delivering psychotherapy services
• Interest or experience in working with consumers who are difficult to engage and maintain in traditional mental health programs
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with staff from various backgrounds
• Subscribe to the philosophy of cooperation and continuity across programs and of consideration and respect for consumers

Nice to have:

• At least 2 years’ experience working with homeless or formerly homeless adults challenged by severe mental illness and/or Substance Use Disorder
• Prior 1:1 and/or group counseling experience
• Licensed Social Worker (LICSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in State of Washington or actively pursuing one of these credentials
• Bilingual (Spanish/English)
• Bicultural background/experience and/or Qualified Minority Mental Health Specialist designation

Benefits

• Medical insurance (no premiums/payroll deductions for employee coverage)
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term Disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• ORCA card subsidy
• Paid Time Off (34 days per year)
• Retirement Plan

Important Details

• Days off: Saturday, Sunday
• Shift: Day
• Union representation: This position is a part of a union and is represented by SEIU Healthcare 1199NW

About the Company

Recognized nationally as an innovator and leader in developing solutions to homelessness, DESC is a social services organization, supportive housing operator, and licensed behavioral health treatment provider. The organization focuses on meeting the needs of people experiencing long-term homelessness and living with complex behavioral health and other medical conditions. Approximately 3,000 people are actively receiving services from DESC at any given point in time. DESC operates five shelter/emergency housing programs, 19 permanent supportive housing facilities with over 1,750 units, several hundred additional scattered site apartments, and a range of behavioral health services including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, residential crisis stabilization, street outreach, mobile crisis response, and treatment for opioid use disorder.