Licensed Mental Health Professional

About the Role

We are seeking a compassionate, Licensed Clinical Family Therapist in Denton County to empower youth and families by creating strength-based behavior change that will be sustained long after treatment ends. You will receive ongoing training in the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) model as you work with families, youth, their communities, and other key members of their ecology to implement MST as designed. Extensive research has proven the effectiveness of MST.

MST therapists do whatever it takes, via close collaboration with all involved, to address the needs of juveniles with criminal offenses, including, in some cases, substance abuse. You will empower families to address challenging and/or problematic behavior and to help youth aged 12 - 17 make life-transforming changes. Treatment progress is made through intensive interventions such as skill building, changing unhelpful family interactions, and increasing social support.

For more information on Multisystemic Therapy, please watch this video: How Does MST Work?

Responsibilities

• Conduct MST assessments including review of referral information, identifying and engaging key participants, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses, and developing an analysis of the fit of problem behaviors within the ecological context.
• Engage primary caregivers and other key participants in active change-oriented treatment by identifying and overcoming barriers to engagement.
• Implement a problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation, outcomes review, and strategy revision procedure using the MST Analytic Process.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with the nine MST Principles and the MST Analytic Process.
• Engage and collaborate with all relevant systems and key participants within each system to maintain alignment throughout MST treatment.
• Provide direct clinical treatment using methods compatible with MST principles and practices.
• Participate in all MST training, supervision, consultation, and MST Therapist development activities.
• Conduct a minimum of 2 face-to-face contacts per week with individual clients and their families within a variety of settings, including client homes, schools, and other community locations as needed.
• Provide therapeutic services using Multisystemic Therapy.
• Have face-to-face (and/or video) contact with the client's Legally Authorized Representative, if required and applicable.
• Develop individual treatment plans; assess and reassess clients’ support systems and available community resources, schools, and/or facilities per MST guidelines.
• Ensure all documentation for services rendered is submitted within 2 business days.
• Collaborate on discharges for clients by working with the client, family, interdisciplinary treatment team, and community resources.
• Comply with all grant and Authority guidelines and regulations for all services rendered to clients.
• Record, report, and evaluate client progress on Authority's Progress Notes through Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• Attend 3 hours of professional development per calendar year specific to MST or related to working with adolescents and families (cost covered by the program).
• Participate in the Center’s Zero Suicide Initiative.
• Support individuals experiencing a crisis by connecting them with appropriate Center programs (e.g., Mobile Crisis Outreach Team, Psychiatric Triage, Crisis Prevention services).
• Remain with individuals during a crisis (when safe) to provide support until specialized crisis staff or emergency personnel arrive.
• Participate in debriefing sessions following a crisis event to review the incident and ensure compliance with HHSC guidelines and Center policies.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, sociology, social work, or other human services field that meets the requirements of an LMSW, LPC-Associate, LMFT-A, and who is under the supervision of a Licensed Professional of Healing Arts (LPHA) Supervisor (as recognized by the state of Texas). Supervision by an LPHA can be provided by the Center at no cost.
• One year of counseling experience preferred.
• Current licensing from the state of Texas.
• Must attend MST orientation training upon hire and quarterly booster trainings.
• Background and criminal history free from any disqualifying offenses as outlined by the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
• Valid driver’s license and automobile insurance; must obtain a Texas driver’s license within 30 days if out-of-state.
• Successful completion of all position-specific training within 30 days of employment.

Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of family systemic approaches and interventions.
• Therapy with children and adults using cognitive behavioral techniques.
• Couples therapy using behavioral-based approaches.
• Behavioral therapy targeting school behavior and academic performance.
• Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth’s natural ecology (e.g., family, peer, school, neighborhood).
• Collaboration and partnership with community agencies.
• Previous work providing in-home or community-based therapy services.
• Knowledge of community and government service delivery systems, case management, interviewing techniques, mental illness, rehabilitation methods, and community welfare resources.
• Skill in interviewing, conducting individual and family needs assessments, conveying instructions, negotiating services, and training others.
• Ability to work in a team environment and display regular, reliable in-person attendance.
• Understanding and practice of Trauma Informed Care principles.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.