Counselor Children's Outpatient FIELD

Salary: $80,000/year

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short Term and Long Term Disability insurance
• 5 days of Paid Time Off
• 16 Paid Wellness Days and Holidays (including the week of Christmas off)
• Employer-paid health insurance premiums for all full-time employees
• 403b retirement plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Year-round employee wellness and appreciation initiatives

About the Role

This is a professional clinical position providing counseling to children and families in the Children’s Outpatient (COP) program under the Outpatient Services Division. COP provides children’s therapy services designed for those who have experienced trauma, including loss and grief, depression, anxiety, abuse histories, and addictions. These services can be provided in-office or in the community and may be for the individual or the family.

The role assists in managing mild to moderate behavioral or emotional needs stemming from trauma, such as school behavior difficulties, adoption-related issues, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, abuse histories, and addictions. All COP programming utilizes a solution-focused, family-centered approach and evidence-based or research-supported practices to assist children and families in problem-solving skills, behavior strategies, anger management, and other therapeutic interventions.

The Children’s Outpatient Field (COP) Counselor delivers clinical interventions to children, adolescents, and families with mental health needs. The COP Field Counselor ensures counseling services are individualized, recovery-focused, and empower individuals to manage their own recovery and advocacy process.

The COP Field Counselor serves as a subject matter expert on counseling interventions that enhance recovery, natural supports, coping, and self-management skills. Services emphasize personal safety, self-worth, confidence, growth, community connection, boundary setting, planning, self-advocacy, personal fulfillment, social supports, and effective communication.

The COP Field Counselor collaborates with other service providers, including psychiatry, Behavioral Health Case Managers, High Fidelity Wraparound Facilitators, and Homeless Services. If additional services are needed but not yet engaged, the counselor educates and coordinates initiation as clinically appropriate. If services are recommended but declined, this must be documented in service notes.

This is a field-based position requiring an annual client-facing care target of 1,410 hours. Achieving the minimum required weekly, monthly, and annual client-facing hours is an essential function of this role.

Directions for Living is an essential services provider. All team members must be willing and able to provide vital support during emergencies, pandemics, or other disaster situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical counseling to children, adolescents, and families using individual, family, play, and group therapy approaches
• Utilize solution-focused, family-centered, and evidence-based practices to address trauma-related behavioral and emotional needs
• Ensure counseling services are individualized and recovery-focused
• Develop and expand rehabilitative skills to support client recovery
• Collaborate with psychiatry, case managers, and other service providers
• Educate and coordinate additional services as clinically appropriate
• Document service notes, including declined services or recommendations
• Meet annual client-facing care hour requirements (1,410 hours)
• Provide essential services during emergencies or disaster situations

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field
• Knowledge of DSM-IV and ICD-9 diagnostic codes
• Basic knowledge of psychotropic medications
• Clinical knowledge to provide intervention for adults and children with a range of psychopathology
• Willingness to learn new therapeutic approaches as required
• Knowledge of community resources
• Ability to work in a field-based setting