MENTAL HEALTH GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR *REPOST*

Join Us in Making a Difference at DJS! The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) is dedicated to transforming young lives, creating safer communities, and fostering equitable systems. We are seeking passionate individuals for our Mental Health Graduate Professional Counselor role to make a meaningful impact on youth and the community at DJS.

This position is the entry level of professional counseling work, at the Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor level, providing counseling services to clients with mental disorders by using assessment, evaluation, intervention, rehabilitation, and treatment regimens. Employees in this classification who work in a criminal justice environment provide clinical and therapeutic services to clients who have demonstrated a need for rehabilitative intervention because of behavioral factors or personality disorders and co-existing mental health, health, substance abuse, or other social adjustment factors. The Mental Health Graduate Professional Counselor represents the Behavioral Health team in the facility providing direct clinical services based on a comprehensive assessment & service plan.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive behavioral health assessments, develop individualized treatment plans, and provide therapeutic interventions to youth in a secure residential justice services setting.
• Facilitate individual, group, and family therapy sessions utilizing evidence-based and trauma-informed treatment approaches.
• Respond to behavioral health crises and participate in an on-call rotation to provide emergency clinical support and intervention services.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, educational staff, medical providers, families, direct care staff, and community stakeholders to support treatment goals and continuity of care.
• Maintain timely and accurate clinical documentation, treatment updates, case notes, and reports in compliance with DJS, COMAR, and licensing standards.

Requirements

• Education: Determined by the Maryland State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists under the requirements for Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC).
• Licenses, Registrations, and Certificates: In accordance with Health Occupations Title 17 and Code of Maryland Regulations 10.58.01.09, a candidate placed in this classification must be licensed as a Graduate Professional Counselor by the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists. Employees certified as a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor (LGPC) may practice graduate professional counseling for 2 years under the supervision of an approved supervisor. As required by the Maryland State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists, these employees must possess certification as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) by the end of this 2-year period.
• Candidates may be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland if assigned duties requiring the operation of a motor vehicle.

Qualifications

The preferred candidate for this position may possess any of the following qualifications:

• Experience providing mental health and/or substance use counseling services to adolescents within residential, juvenile justice, or behavioral health settings.
• Experience conducting suicide risk assessments, crisis intervention, and safety planning with youth populations.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), or other evidence-based interventions.
• Experience working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary treatment team environment.
• Bilingual skills or experience working with culturally diverse populations.

Benefits

State of Maryland benefits.

Location: DJS- Green Ridge Youth Center, 10700 Fifteen Mile Creek Road, Flintstone, MD 21530.