Licensed Equine Assisted Mental ...

About the Role

Provide equine assisted mental health services to individuals and groups at Simple Changes in collaboration with a certified Equine Specialist and equine partners. Work under the existing Potomac Health Foundation contract to provide free equine assisted mental health services to appropriate clients in Lorton, VA as a 1099 Independent Contractor, serving 3-6 clients per week plus groups.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and help generate equine assisted mental health sessions in conjunction with Simple Changes Executive Director/certified Equine Specialist.
• Work collaboratively and professionally with Simple Changes’ staff to ensure successful program implementation.
• Collaborate closely with certified Equine Specialist before, during, and after sessions.
• Work in a positive and respectful manner with equine partners; spend time connecting with Simple Changes horses to get to know them before working with them in sessions.
• Conduct outreach and coordination with organizations including local school systems, departments of social services, first responders, as well as individuals and groups to recruit program participants to meet the client contact hours stipulated in the PHF grant.
• Conduct clinical intakes, assessments, and treatment planning, preferably in conjunction with equine specialist.
• Co-facilitate ground-based equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) sessions for individuals, groups, and families navigating anxiety, PTSD, grief, and life transitions.
• Provide both individual and group clinical therapy sessions as a licensed clinical mental health professional.
• Utilize HIPAA-compliant therapy software to schedule sessions, track assessments, and collect client data.
• Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation and progress notes.
• Assist in completing grant-related reports and all therapist-related tasks associated with the Potomac Health Foundation grant, including objectives table (template provided), narrative on key accomplishments, challenges, partnerships, potential changes, and a key story representing program impact.
• Provide proof of an active and unrestricted Commonwealth of Virginia license to conduct mental health therapy sessions (e.g., Virginia LCSW license).
• Maintain independent professional liability insurance appropriate for private practice and add Simple Changes as additional insured.
• Ensure all appropriate Simple Changes forms (as stipulated by Executive Director) are filled out by all clients, including emergency contact and liability release forms.
• Comply with all HIPAA, state law, and NASW ethics; no disclosure of confidential information without proper authorization (obligation continues post-contract).

Requirements

• Be certified to and experienced in delivering equine-assisted psychotherapy and trauma-informed care.
• Hold a current and unrestricted Commonwealth of Virginia license to conduct mental health therapy sessions (e.g., Virginia LCSW license).
• Maintain independent professional liability insurance appropriate for private practice.

Deliverables

• Generate clients to meet the client contact hours stipulated in the PHF grant.
• Co-facilitate therapy sessions.
• Maintain appropriate records and clinical notes.
• Comply with HIPAA requirements.
• Assist in grant-related report fulfillment.