YSIC Crisis Counselor - Associate License (with Authorized Driver)
Overview
The Y actively promotes a culture free from bias and injustice. We are dedicated to removing institutional and systemic barriers that result in oppression and racism. We will be accountable to marginalized communities for creating equitable and sustainable environments where social justice is woven into every facet of our programs, and by caring for our communities in a culturally versatile and respectful manner.
Job Summary
The Crisis Counselor provides comprehensive, short-term crisis outreach services to youth, young adults, and families in King County experiencing a mental health or behavioral emergency. The Crisis Counselor supports clients through a team approach. The teams are made up of case managers, Parent Partners, and Youth Peers and collaborate to successfully stabilize the initial crisis, provide intensive support, and link the client and families to ongoing formal and informal support systems.
About the Role
This position is with the Y Social Impact Center, the social services division of the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS), serving around 5,000 youth, young adults, and families every year in communities across King County, Pierce County, and various counties across WA. Through our programs we aim to strengthen young people’s ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems towards successful life transition; establishing stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital.
Responsibilities
- Works as part of a team to provides immediate, short term, acute crisis intervention services to families in King County to prevent out of home care and psychiatric hospitalization for children and youth.
- Provides short-term individual and family stabilization services and resource linkage, including risk assessments, safety planning, parenting skills training, behavior management, de-escalation training and brief counseling.
- Develops Action Plans to address priority needs and makes treatment recommendations that are sensitive to the family's cultural, social, and mental health needs.
- Works with families to help them advocate with systems, access community resources, identify and utilize natural support and use effective problem-solving techniques.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree in social work, counseling, or related field, preferred
- Current WA State Licensed Mental Health Counselor Affiliated (LMHCA), Licensed Social Work Associate Independent Clinical (LSWAIC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFTA)
- One or more years post-graduate experience providing short-term mental health services to youth and families from a broad range of cultures and social needs
- Registered counselor in Washington
- Training and experience in individual, family, and group treatment modalities
- Strong engagement and relationship-building skills
- Able to work in a team management approach
- Strong organizational skills with an attention to details, timelines, and follow-through
- Able to meet with clients at home and in the community
Code of Conduct for Applicants
All employees and volunteers are responsible for adhering to abuse prevention policies, maintaining appropriate boundaries, completing required training, reporting suspicious or inappropriate behavior, and complying with mandated reporting requirements. Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened, trained, supervised and held accountable to the organization’s abuse risk management standards.
Benefits
- Membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for you and your household
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life insurance
- Retirement with generous employer contributions
- Free access to mental health resources
- Rapidly-accruing paid time off (PTO)
- Discounts on qualifying YMCA of Greater Seattle childcare and day camp programs
Pay
Hiring Range: $80,168.40/yr
Schedule
Monday-Friday; 9am-5pm with occasional earlier mornings/later evenings per programmatic need.