Trauma Counselor - Safe Way Forward

Safe Horizon’s Safe Way Forward program provides comprehensive trauma-informed client-centered services to families affected by intimate partner violence and involved in the child welfare system. Our goal is to help those who have experienced physical, emotional, or other forms of abuse establish long-term safety and healing from trauma. Safe Horizon uses a client-centered, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive approach to support clients, recognizing that families may want or need to stay in contact with the person causing harm. The Safe Way Forward program (SWF) engages all family members—survivors, persons causing harm, and their children—as clients to assist in healing and explore safe ways to maintain contact.

About the role

Hybrid schedule: 2 days on-site, 3 days remote.

Responsibilities

• Administer trauma screenings and assessments to children, survivors of domestic violence, and/or persons causing harm in intimate partner relationships.
• Develop treatment goals with clients.
• Engage clients and provide trauma-focused mental health treatment with fidelity to evidence-based models.
• Provide evidence-based trauma-focused treatment through individual, dyadic, and group models.
• Work in close partnership with SWF team members and ACS to coordinate service provision for children and families impacted by domestic violence.
• Conduct comprehensive assessments for survivors, persons causing harm, and their families.
• Provide crisis intervention and short- and long-term trauma intervention for children, survivors, and/or persons causing harm.
• Engage in safety assessment and risk management dialogues with clients to follow up on safety plans.
• Conduct home visits with clients and their families.
• Participate and support clients in family team conferences.
• Maintain clear, concise, and timely documentation, including data entry into a computerized record-keeping system.
• Attend training relevant to the position, including learning and consultation on evidence-based treatment models.
• Actively participate in individual and group supervision.
• Prepare for and participate in regularly scheduled FFP team case review meetings about new and ongoing cases.
• Maintain open communication with supervisors and team members.
• Collaborate with other service providers internally and externally as needed.
• Participate in the service team of clinicians and case planners responsible for maintaining a mixed caseload of families (including survivors, their children, and persons causing harm).
• Implement strategies for addressing vicarious trauma.

Requirements

• Sensitivity toward and understanding of victimization, especially the experience of survivors of domestic violence and all family members, including the person causing harm.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to be assertive and well-organized.
• Ability to work under pressure in a calm and reassuring manner.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively on a team with an appreciation for different points of view.
• Ability to work evenings as needed and maintain a flexible work schedule.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Basic understanding of computer systems for managing case records.
• An advanced degree (LMSW) (license required) or related field.
• Prior experience working with children and families impacted by domestic violence, abuse, and/or trauma.

Qualifications

• Bilingual Spanish/English fluency (strongly preferred).
• Experience with family therapy or individual therapy preferred, particularly with survivors of domestic violence or persons causing harm in a trauma-informed setting.
• Knowledge of the New York City domestic violence service system, public benefits, child welfare, housing system, and other social services.

Pay

Hiring range: $62,000 to $64,000 annual.

Schedule

Full-time: 35 hours per week.

Benefits

• Vacation time
• Paid sick time
• Holidays
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Company life insurance
• Medical/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Commuter Benefits Program
• Gym reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Employee Learning Center

Safe Horizon was named one of City & State New York Top Workplaces of 2025.