Therapist - Community Counselling, Youth Support Services

Ray of Hope Inc.; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ray of Hope Inc. seeks a licensed psychotherapist to provide youth and family counselling across community settings. The role emphasizes trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, and collaborative case management to support development and safety.

The incumbent will participate in supervision, engage with caregivers, and contribute to caregiver groups while maintaining records and coordinating referrals within the program.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work or related field; supervised placement acceptable.
• Three to four years' experience with youth and substance use.
• Regulatory body registration (e.g., CRPO/OCSWSSW) or eligible.
• WHMIS, First Aid, Non-violent crisis intervention certifications.

Responsibilities

• Maintain confidential clinical and statistical records and respond to requests.
• Screen and assess participants; coordinate referrals and admissions.
• Deliver individual, group and family counselling in various settings.
• Provide trauma-informed care and crisis response; safety planning.
• Collaborate with community agencies; support discharge planning.
• Participate in weekly supervision and ongoing professional development.

Skills

Motivational Interviewing

Crisis Intervention

Trauma-Informed Care

Group Facilitation

Education

Master’s degree in social work or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Full-Time (Contract) Therapist
Community Counselling, Youth Support Services

Position Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 hours per day.
*Contract ends September 3, 2027.

Overview

The incumbent is a psychotherapist who provides counselling services within our Community Counselling program to youth and their families. The Therapist will have clinical experience in the areas of addiction, concurrent disorders, family systems and/or trauma, and has clinical skills and knowledge for addressing these concerns. The Therapist may provide case management to youth, as needed, to support a safety-first approach and lifestyle change appropriate to the developmental stage of adolescents. The Therapist is expected to work collaboratively within the organization, and to establish and maintain strong working relationships with related community partners. The Therapist may be expected to contribute to our caregiver support services, inclusive of developing, coordinating, and implementing the caregiver support group and providing individual caregiver supports. The Therapist will offer a flexible, safety-first approach in providing therapy for youth and caregivers. Services are offered in the community, homes, coffee shops or wherever the youth is comfortable, always allowing for Therapist safety. A Therapist may be required to provide administrative and/or clinical supervision to student placements, and less experienced Therapists. Peer consultation is encouraged between Therapists.

Specific Responsibilities

Administration

• Maintain current and accurate confidential clinical and statistical records, and attend to related requests for documentation in a timely and consistent manner
• Coordinate referrals, admissions and discharges with related organizations

Clinical

• Conduct screening and assessments with participants from diverse backgrounds to determine their suitability for participation in treatment programs
• Collaborate with participants to develop participant-centered, strength-based, forward thinking change strategies, reflecting evidence-informed practices and clinical experience
• Conduct individual, group and family counselling/psychotherapy sessions, often in community locations outside of the office, in a professional and ethical manner, following recognized standards, legislation and guidelines relevant to clinical practice with youth
• May provide concurrent disorder and/or trauma treatment that requires specialized training (e.g., EMDR, advanced family therapy, etc., within the Therapist’s scope of practice.)
• Maintain clear communication with participant’s family members and associated professionals, where consents to do so exist, according to the program policies and procedures
• Counsel family members and significant others and assist them to understand and effectively parent their substance using youth
• Collaborate with community agencies and services regarding treatment and service needs for youth and family, including referrals and case management activities for participants
• Monitor participant risk factors, conduct risk assessments and develop safety plans with participants, their families and associated professionals (attending to duty to report matters promptly)
• Respond to participant requests and crises in a responsible, timely and flexible manner, in consultation with the program manager/director; develop participant-centered safety plans
• Provide parent coaching, family mediation, and support in conflict resolution between parents and youth
• Develop discharge plans in consultation with the participant, family, supervisor and associated professionals and organizations

Professional Development

• Actively participate in the process of reviewing and/or developing treatment approaches, evaluation methods and program policies and procedures when requested
• Participate in ongoing professional development activities, and engage in reciprocal relationships of learning with colleagues to stay current in the field
• Actively participate in weekly supervision meetings
• Implement related learning and professional development plans as discussed with manager
• Maintain professional credentialing, certification and continue education requirements, on own initiative and in conjunction with organizational resources where available

General Program Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain professional working relationships and regular communication with community and other related organizations to facilitate case management efforts
• Participate in knowledge exchange activities with related organizations by maintaining regular correspondence, sharing and inquiring about resources, and advocating for quality service delivery
• Actively participate in team meetings and committees as assigned by the management team
• Prepare and present public education and prevention presentations related to substance abuse for youth, families and other professionals
• Provide oversight of university and college placement students as requested by the program manager/director
• Follow the policies and procedures of Ray of Hope and Youth Support Services, and consult with the clinical and/or administrative manager as needed
• Other duties as may be assigned

Qualifications

Education

• Completion of a Master’s degree in related social service sector (preferred) or bachelor's degree with a supervised placement in psychotherapy or related field

Experience

• Three to four years' experience working with youth, problematic substance use, and psychotherapy

Certifications

• WHIMS, First Aid, Non-violent crisis intervention

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities required to be successful in this position

• Thorough knowledge of substance abuse/addiction, cause and effects, evidence-based models of treatment intervention and their application to diverse youth and family populations
• Experience in individual, family, group and crisis counselling methods with youth participants
• Experience using motivational interviewing, stages of change, and harm reduction strategies, as well as skills in appropriately apply various other counselling approaches and techniques
• Ability to manage self and others through crisis situations in a trauma informed manner, including continuous assessment of participant risk factors and taking steps to ensure participant, staff and community safety
• Comprehensive skills in case management, collaboration, and emergency response
• Must have the skill to verbally de-escalate crises and practice basic self-defence in an unpredictable environment
• Excellent group facilitation skills required to facilitate regular parent/caregiver groups
• Ability to work independently in clinical and community settings
• Ability to manage workload and give priority to tasks
• Ability to interpret and implement organizational policies and procedures
• Ability to make decisions surrounding issues such as risk assessment and duty to report; addiction assessment and treatment planning; occupational health and safety assessments in the field; and exercise good clinical judgement as well as common sense
• Software knowledge in Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc.
• Training in specialized treatment modalities an asset

Requirements

• Vulnerable Sector Police Check
• Valid, unrestricted Class “G” Driver’s licence
• Ministry of Transportation Drivers Abstract
• Required to own/have access to a reliable vehicle
• Employment Medical Form including immunization record and fitness assessment
• Registration and membership in good standing with a regulatory body that provides access to the controlled act of psychotherapy (i.e., CRPO, OCSWSSW, etc.)

Physical Demands

• Hours of work typically consist of weekdays, generally during business hours; however, flexibility required to work evenings and respond to occasional crisis calls from colleagues outside regular business hours is required
• This position works independently within the community, with 24/7 on-call support from colleagues and or the program director
• Constant standing (15%), sitting (70%) and walking (15%)
• Frequent use of mental capabilities and concentration
• Risk of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue
• Infrequent exposure to environmental hazards, including Hot/Cold and regular environmental variables
• This position requires the person to consistently work with and around others