DSHS Maple Lane Psychology Associate

Join our team as a Psychology Associate at our newest behavioral health treatment campus, Maple Lane, located near Centralia, Washington. The Baker Unit's primary mission is to provide behavioral health care for residents who have been determined to require involuntary care under RCW 71.05. The center's mission is to promote recovery, resilience, and rehabilitation for those residents, leading to successful community transition.

About the role

The Psychology Associate is an integral position responsible for delivering psychosocial interventions to an assigned group of residents. Evidence-based group and individual therapy, along with promoting effective interpersonal skills on the treatment milieu, are essential components of this role. The Psychology Associate functions as a key member of an interdisciplinary treatment team that includes medical, psychiatry, nursing, psychology, social work, and institutional counselors.

About Maple Lane Behavioral Health Treatment Center

Maple Lane provides innovative treatment for residents who are civilly committed or adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). Through smaller, community-based residential units, Maple Lane supports Washington State’s vision of behavioral health care delivered closer to home, family, and support systems, helping residents maintain meaningful community connections. Maple Lane is part of the Department of Social and Health Services Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration. Our dedicated staff provide residents with enriching opportunities and therapeutic experiences outside of a hospital setting, supporting a successful transition back into the community.

Responsibilities

• Resident Information and Case Formulation:
  • Obtain historical psychosocial documentation through records requests of past treatment.
  • Participate in treatment teams as assigned and contribute observations and treatment response data to help formulate resident conceptualizations and treatment plans.
  • Engage residents in social skills activities when indicated.
  • Collaborate with other disciplines to ensure residents are appropriately oriented to the facility.
  • Collaborate with social work to develop a comprehensive community success plan.
• Treatment:
  • Understand and apply established treatment models to resident care.
  • Contribute to integrated treatment plans by helping to formulate treatment goals.
  • Provide group therapy utilizing evidence-based and clinically promising clinical practices assigned to residents.
  • Conduct individual therapy sessions at a minimum of one session per month, but ideally as needed in consultation with the treatment team to promote progress and stability.
  • Monitor residents’ progress regarding established treatment goals and document in progress notes.
  • Monitor warning signs and risk factors for suicide, self-harm, and violence towards others. Notify nursing and clinical staff when risk is detected to help formulate a safety management strategy in accordance with the integrated treatment plan and clinical consultation.
  • Complete the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) when indication to die by suicide is detected.
• Collaborative Resident-Centered Care:
  • Collaborate with the interdisciplinary treatment team, including psychiatry, social work, medical, nursing, and other institutional staff.
  • Respond to email, messages, and phone calls in a timely manner.
  • When differences arise between disciplines, work to understand interests and obligations of other disciplines and adapt to integrated treatment needs.
• Milieu Management:
  • Contribute to a therapeutic milieu by intervening to de-escalate residents by utilizing Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and other facility-approved techniques.
  • Therapeutically engage residents post-crisis to re-establish rapport and engage residents in behavioral chain analysis.
• Clinical Documentation:
  • Maintain current, accurate, and behaviorally descriptive clinical documentation in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).

Requirements

• A master’s degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited institution.
• Registration as a Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor or professional licensure in the State of Washington.

Skills

• In-depth working knowledge of group behavior and dynamics.
• Experience in intervening and de-escalating crisis/dangerous situations.
• Knowledge of all hospital, state, and federal regulatory standards, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of mental illness and recovery principles.
• Ability to work with difficult or angry residents in a therapeutic, non-threatening manner.
• Ability to work as a team member and to resolve personal conflicts in a calm, non-threatening manner.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with management, peers, residents, and the public as required to carry out the assigned duties of the position.
• Demonstrate proficient operation of the following equipment: Computer, copy machine.
• Competency in basic computer skills, including word processing and navigating a web browser to utilize the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• Full competency in the designated EHR system following the completion of requisite EHR training as assigned.

Pay

Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.

Schedule

Sunday to Thursday, 9 am – 5:30 pm.