Family Therapist

About the role

The Family Therapist provides crisis intervention and individual, family, and group therapy for families of minors of the Tri-Valley, and performs other duties as assigned.

Responsibilities

• Performs individual, family, and group counseling to enhance mental and emotional health using a variety of therapeutic and counseling techniques;
• Counsels families of youth, including crisis intervention and family therapy;
• Conducts intake assessments to determine type and severity of problems;
• Determines counseling objectives; establishes diagnostic and treatment plans;
• Works with resistant families referred by police for law violations or school attendance review boards;
• Coordinates with probation department for youth involved with the Alameda County Probation Department;
• Rotates assignments with other counselors;
• Participates in multi-disciplinary teams such as school district School Attendance Review Board (SARB) meetings and mediation meetings with County of Alameda Probation Department;
• Develops/implements client case plans;
• Maintains accurate, confidential client records;
• Prepares oral and written studies, reports, and recommendations;
• Works cooperatively with other departments and agencies;
• Utilizes a computer and specialized software.

Requirements

• One year of experience counseling families of youth, including crisis intervention and family therapy;
• A Master's Degree in Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field;
• Current licensure or eligibility for state professional licensing required (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT.), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW.) or Clinical Psychologist).

Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of general fields of psychology and sociology or social work;
• Child and adult development;
• Perspectives and treatment of juvenile delinquency;
• Law and organization of the juvenile justice system;
• Effective communication techniques;
• Operation of modern office equipment;
• Computer operating systems and software applications including word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.

Skills

• Counsel an entire family of ambivalent clients;
• Facilitate making explicit underlying issues and involvement of all family members, starting with first contact;
• Maintain clear boundaries of responsibility between counselor and family members;
• Maintain good working relations with colleagues, supervisor, police administration, other City employees, and representatives of other community agencies;
• Develop a close working relationship with law enforcement and the Crisis Receiving Home;
• Work effectively with all family members, including those who display irrational behavior and express unreasonable demands without taking responsibility for the actions of others or the consequences thereof;
• Formulate systemic interactional hypotheses and treatment plans;
• Present cases orally and in writing for clinical supervision and group consultation;
• Minimize both the use of crisis shelter care and requests for petitions under Section 601 of the Welfare and Institutions Code;
• Exemplify an enthusiastic, resourceful and effective customer service attitude with those contacted in the course of work.

Benefits

Includes comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, retirement savings, vacation, sick leave, parental leave, bereavement leave, personal leave, pregnancy leave, and deferred compensation. Also includes uniform allowance, safety shoe allowance, prescription safety glasses, shift differential, standby pay, court pay/cancellation pay, and standby pay.