Counsellor, Counselling Service

Family Service Toronto; Toronto; On-site; CAD 61,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Family Service Toronto is seeking a Counsellor for the Pathways to Counselling program, offering trauma-informed, clinical counselling for adults and youth with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their caregivers.

The position is permanent full-time (35 hours/week) with one evening per week, located at 355 Church Street and 128A Sterling Road, with potential visits to Victoria Park Hub. Salary ranges from $60,745 to $74,819 annually, with a deadline of October 28, 2026 by 5:00 pm.

Qualifications

• MSW, MA or MEd or foreign credentials valued.
• Applicants must be registered and in good standing with the Ontario social work/therapy college.
• Minimum of three years of clinical experience.
• Ability to provide counselling in a second language is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed counselling for adults, youth and caregivers.
• Work with individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and/or autism.
• Use short- to medium-term therapy approaches and document in the client database.
• Supervise students and participate in clinical consultations.

Skills

Trauma-informed counselling

Cultural competency

Strong communication

Supervising students

Evidence-based modalities

Education

MSW/MA/MEd or equivalent

Tools

Electronic client database

Job description

Salary Range: $60,745.00 To $74,819.00 Annually

Counsellor – Pathways to Counselling

POSITION DETAILS Counsellor

Program:

Pathways to Counselling - Counselling Service – Mental Health and Gender Based Violence

Contract:

Permanent Full Time; 35 hours per week, including flexibility to work one evening per week

Location:

355 Church Street and 128A Sterling Road with potential for visits to Victoria Park Hub

$60,745 - $74,819 Grade 8 BU Application Deadline:

October 28, 2026 by 5:00 pm

File Number:

COU #29-26 – with cover letter and resume

E-Mail:

Mail:

HR, 355 Church Street, Toronto ON M5B 0B2

Web:

Grow with us!

Family Service Toronto (FST) helps people face a wide variety of life challenges. For over 100 years, we have worked with individuals and families destabilized by precarious mental health and/or socioeconomic circumstances, and/or developmental disabilities, to achieve greater resilience and stability in more just and supportive communities. We achieve this through our direct service work of intervention and prevention which includes case management, counselling, peer support and education; knowledge building; and system-level work including social action, advocacy, community-building and working with partners to strengthen the sector.

We’re proud of our people and culture! We are constantly evolving what we do and how we do it. Our work is grounded in the lived experience of the clients and the community. We celebrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and excellence. We are agile, learning and always willing to try new things.

The Opportunity!

FST ’s Pathways to Counselling (PTC) program provides trauma informed clinical counselling for adults and youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities as well as their caregivers. Referrals come through FST’s Developmental Services programs which provide case management supports and triages all people with intellectual/developmental disabilities who are seeking case management supports in Toronto. This position also provides counselling supports to youth with autism, ages 12-17 years. The counsellor will be part of an outstanding interdisciplinary team using a range of therapeutic modalities, participating in clinical consultations and a shared commitment to professional development.

Services are offered to clients across Toronto in-person, by phone or video call.

Ready to make that move? Here’s what’s in it for you:

• Thrive in trust-based culture and have fun, working with an amazing, diverse group of driven, talented people.
• Be part of a workplace incorporating trauma informed care into all aspects of service delivery, building on the principles of knowledge-building and resiliency.
• Get on-the-job training and development.
• Make a significant impact on our clients and community.

What we are looking for:

Responsibilities

Counselling expertise:

• Provide culturally sensitive trauma informed and evidence-based counselling for individuals
• Experience and expertise working with people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Autism or secondary diagnosis and/or their caregivers
• Experience with short term and medium-term therapy models.
• Provide services to clients from diverse ethno-cultural communities, diverse sexual orientation, and gender identities, and to clients who are marginalized by a range of systemic issues.
• Experience and/or knowledge of working with people facing an array of challenges, including mental and physical health issues, impacts of trauma, relationship issues, intellectual disabilities, neurodiversity and comorbidity
• Provide professional clinical assessments, case notes and reports in a timely manner using an electronic client database.
• Supervising students

Qualifications

• M.S.W., M.A. or M.Ed. Foreign credentials are valued.
• Applicants must be registered and in good standing with the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
• Minimum of three years of clinical experience.
• Demonstrated clinical training, experience, and competence in integrating at least two clinical modalities into practice (e.g., CBT, DBT, EFT, Mindfulness, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Narrative Therapy).
• Professional Development in drama therapy or expressive arts therapy an asset
• Demonstrated commitment to, and understanding of the principles of social justice, cultural competency and equity and inclusion.
• Current knowledge of best practices in mental health (e.g., crisis de-escalation, suicide prevention, harm reduction, child abuse, and gender-based violence).
• Ability to provide counselling in a second language, is a strong asset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Our goal is to attract, develop, and retain highly talented individuals from diverse backgrounds allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives.

We actively encourage applicants from all equity seeking groups. First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black and People of Colour, people with disabilities, people with diverse gender expression, and people with lived experience of poverty are encouraged to apply.

In accordance with Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, and FST’s Equity and Inclusion policy, accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants need to make their needs known in advance.

Family Service Toronto does not use artificial intelligence (AI) or automated tools to screen, assess, or select applicants during the recruitment process.

We thank all applicants and will contact the individuals selected for an interview.