Senior Counselor

Biidaaban Healing Lodge; Pic River; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Biidaaban Healing Lodge in Pic River, Ontario, is seeking a Senior Counselor to provide individual and group counseling to residents and support culturally grounded, community-based healing programs.

Based on-site, the role includes assessments, confidential case notes, crisis support, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to plan and evaluate services, with flexibility for occasional evening or weekend sessions.

Qualifications

• Counseling or social work experience in residential/community settings, ideally with Indigenous communities.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, culturally safe, and client-centered approaches to healing and mental health support.
• Strong assessment, case management, treatment planning, and documentation, with attention to confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Effective group facilitation skills for therapeutic, educational, and psychoeducational programming.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution abilities, with a respectful and non-judgmental approach.
• Ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team and coordinate with community agencies and service providers.
• Post-secondary education in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field; professional registration or eligibility is an asset.
• Understanding of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and community dynamics; lived experience or prior work in First Nations communities is considered an asset.
• Capacity to work on-site in Pic River 50, ON, including flexibility for occasional evening or weekend programming as required.
• CPR/First Aid and crisis intervention or de-escalation training are beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group counseling to residents.
• Support community-based programming and wellness plans.
• Maintain accurate and confidential case notes.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary staff and external partners.
• Facilitate therapeutic and educational sessions.
• Provide crisis support when needed.
• Mentor other counseling staff and participate in team meetings.
• Engage in ongoing professional development.

Skills

Counseling experience

Trauma-informed care

Group facilitation

Documentation

Confidentiality

Interpersonal skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Indigenous awareness

Evening/weekend flexibility

Education

Counseling/social work/psychology degree

Job description

Company Description

Biidaaban Healing Lodge is a 12-unit residential facility that provides Aboriginal community members in the Robinson‑Superior Area with residential and community-based healing programs. The Lodge is located in the Ojibways of Pic River First Nation on the shores of Lake Superior, offering a peaceful environment that supports wellness and recovery. The surrounding community is accessible by Highway 17, approximately a three-hour drive east of Thunder Bay and three-and-a-half hours west of Sault Ste. Marie. Biidaaban Healing Lodge emphasizes culturally informed, community-focused services grounded in Indigenous values and traditions.

Role Description

The Senior Counselor is a full-time, on-site role based at Biidaaban Healing Lodge in Pic River 50, ON. This role provides individual and group counseling to residents, supports community-based programming, and helps participants develop healing and wellness plans that reflect their cultural and personal needs. The Senior Counselor conducts assessments, maintains accurate and confidential case notes, and collaborates with multidisciplinary staff and external partners to coordinate client care. Daily responsibilities include facilitating therapeutic and educational sessions, providing crisis support when needed, and contributing to program planning and evaluation. The position also involves mentoring other counseling staff, participating in team meetings, and engaging in ongoing professional development to support high-quality, culturally safe services.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in counseling, psychotherapy, or social work in a residential or community-based setting, ideally with Indigenous communities.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, culturally safe, and client-centered approaches to healing and mental health support.
• Strong skills in assessment, case management, treatment planning, and documentation, with attention to confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Effective group facilitation skills for therapeutic, educational, and psychoeducational programming.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution abilities, with a respectful and non-judgmental approach.
• Ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team and coordinate with community agencies and service providers.
• Relevant post-secondary education in counseling, social work, psychology, or a related field; professional registration or eligibility is an asset.
• Understanding of Indigenous cultures, traditions, and community dynamics; lived experience or prior work in First Nations communities is considered an asset.
• Capacity to work on-site in Pic River 50, ON, including flexibility for occasional evening or weekend programming as required.
• CPR/First Aid and crisis intervention or de-escalation training are beneficial.