Counselor I (LMHC Associate)

Nooksack Indian Tribe; Everson (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Nooksack Indian Tribe’s Health Department seeks a Mental Health Counselor to provide quality psychotherapy to adults, youth, and children in individual and group settings, with crisis intervention as needed. The role emphasizes culturally sensitive care and collaboration with families for safe, stable, and healthy outcomes.

The position requires handling assessments, treatment planning, and coordination with tribal and external partners across multiple locations, including travel to service

Qualifications

• Requires skill in conducting mental health assessments and suicide screening.
• Ability to develop service plans for clients.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws related to mental health.
• Ability to maintain professional relationships with clients and partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychotherapy to children and women in group and individual formats, including crisis intervention.
• Maintain accurate case records and update treatment plans per HIPAA/WAC.
• Collaborate with Behavioral Health team and tribal programs to plan and deliver services.
• Coordinate services with tribal, county, state, private and federal partners to support clients.
• Travel to tribal offices, schools, and patient homes as needed to provide services.
• Stay current with evidence-based practices and consult with supervisors as needed.

Skills

Mental health assessments

Suicide risk assessment

Crisis intervention

Education

Master's degree in Psychology or counseling

WA LMHC licensure eligibility within six months

Job description

Department: Health Dept, Behavioral Health Unit

Report To: Licensed Clinical Psychologist/BH Manager

Job Status: Exempt

Type: Full Time

THIS IS AN FULL TIME IN PERSON POSITION

JOB SUMMARY:

The purpose of this Mental Health Counselor position is to provide quality psychotherapy services for Adults, youth and children in individual and group settings that include crisis intervention. It involves assessment and evaluations, documentation of treatment services, monitoring of treatment plans, intervention, outreach, referral advocacy, follow up care, support services, and educational and prevention activities for Nooksack Indian tribal members and extended family. Emphasis is on providing culturally sensitive interventions, partnering actively with families to promote safe, stable and healthy families.

MAJOR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provides psychotherapy services to children and women in a group format and individually in variety of tribal and non-tribal locations, as follows:

• Provide suicide prevention training to the community members and tribal staff
• Work with other mental health providers in the practice of co-occurring disorders, systems of care and wrap-around service delivery systems.
• Stay abreast of current methods, metrics, tools and techniques related to the specialty area or program to implement up to date best practices
• Maintain case records containing pertinent, accurate and current information in compliance with the HIPAA and WAC policy, procedures and rules.
• Work collaboratively with Behavioral Health team in planning, developing, organizing, and facilitating counseling services in various programs operated by the Tribe in a group format and individual setting.
• Coordinate services with Tribal Programs and county, state, private and federal entities that will best serve the individual, client, family and community.
• Assess for immediate safety and stabilization needs, and provide continuity of care.
• Customize helping approaches to fit the client and family uniqueness utilizing professional
• Provide timely response to stabilize while communicating with all stakeholders to keep the client safe.
• Provide a range of therapeutic interventions that support the overall treatment plan
• Timely completion of assessment, treatment plan and regular updating of treatment Plan is required.
• Completion of Progress Notes must be finished concurrently or within twenty-four hours.
• Stay current with evidence-based practices.
• Consult with clinical supervisor and other mental health providers as needed to ensure highest quality of care and services.
• Participate in Case Management, clinical and staff meetings.
• Maintain all documentation current to support the services provided, in a timely manner.
• Must be willing to travel to multiple service locations (tribal offices, public schools and patient homes).
• Perform other non-clinical duties as assigned by the supervisor.

OTHER DUTIES:

Because of the Tribe's commitment to community service and the well-being of its members, each employee may be expected to perform a wide range of office and field duties from time to time. Such duties may or may not be related to their regular responsibilities.

PREFERENCE:

• Indian Preference Policy applies to this and all positions with the Nooksack Indian Tribe.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The following qualifications are required for the incumbent to have, in order to be considered for the position.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING FOR POSITION:

• Must possess a Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in Psychology or counseling.
• Degree must be acceptable to get licensed as a behavioral Health counselor associate in state of Washington.
• Must have active license form any state that is convertible to WA state Associate Mental Health Counselor license at the time of hire
• It would be highly preferred if you have passed the national exam required to become Mental Health Counselor in State of WA.

REQUIRED SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES POSITION:

All employees working within the Nooksack Health Department have the responsibility for developing and safekeeping a workplace that values and supports a culturally diverse working environment. Employees' treatment of each other, their willingness to try new ways and ideas--all these things contribute greatly to the organization's success in providing an open, culturally enriched and diverse workplace. To include;

• Requires knowledge and skills in completing mental health assessments and suicide Screen and assessment
• Requires knowledge and skills in developing service plan for the client.
• Requires knowledge of state and federal laws relative to assigned area.
• Requires ability to maintain professional relationships with clients; co-workers and community partners.

REQUIRED CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must pass alcohol/drug test at time of hire and throughout employment.
• Must pass criminal background check at time of hire and periodically thereafter.
• Provide proof of negative TB test within past 12 months.
• Provide Proof of HIV/AIDS training or obtain within the first month of employment
• Mental Health Associate Counselor License must be obtained from the state of Washington within six months of the hire date, to practice under the direct supervision of License Clinical Psychologist.
• Must be free of any active or prior claims and must maintain as such throughout employment with the Nooksack Indian Tribe.

REQUIRED LICENSES OR CERTIFICATIONS:

• Must have and maintain throughout employment a valid Washington State Driver's License and meet the insurability requirements of the Tribe. (Must Provide Driving Abstract at time of hire).
• Candidates must become licensed as a Mental Health Counselor Associate with the State of Washington within six months.
• Possess First Aid/CPR certification

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS (The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.)

• Work is performed indoors in a climate-controlled office environment. Travel is required to meet with clients in a variety of facility locations such as: but not limited to the Tribal behavioral health center, medical clinic, Education Department center, regional schools, variety of government agencies and patient homes, etc.

DESIRED SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES POSITION

• Knowledge of Native American Indian cultural and psychosocial problems associated with the population, therapies and treatment curriculum that assist in providing the best outcomes or willingness to learn.
• Knowledge of chemical dependency treatment and recovery, child/adult protective services and legal issues such as inpatient/outpatient treatment, Immediate Detention and Emergency Detention or willingness to learn.

The following qualifications are preferred/helpful for the incumbent who has these skills/knowledge or abilities for this position.

• Experience working with children and knowledge of play therapy will be highly preferred. Experience in providing screening and assessment to the children and women in particular
• Experience or certification in play therapy
• Experience or certification in art therapy
• Experience in providing therapy to the children in a group format

Description of Bellingham WA State:

Bellingham is a lush, green Bay town located on the Pacific Coast, close to snowcapped mountains. Bellingham is also the home of Western Washington University. The city is known for its easy access to outdoor recreation in the San Juan Islands and North Cascades, Whistler, and Mount Baker. The Bellingham location enjoys proximity to the cities of Vancouver (Canada), and Seattle. This makes it the ideal place to enjoy weekends, or to get away to other locations, utilizing two international airports in the vicinity. The work office is approximately 12 miles east of Bellingham.

What are we looking for in a Therapist?

We are looking for a candidate that will practice cultural humility in providing services to the assigned clients for this position. Therapists will be working with adults, children, adolescents and their families in individual and a group format. Applicants must be flexible, organized and able to handle transitions well. Working knowledge of DSM-5 is required, or willingness to learn. Starting salary and training for the Associate Counselor position is exceptional.

Education & Professional Credentials:

Master's degree in Psychology or Mental Health counseling from accredited School. LMHCA license from any state is acceptable that is convertible to WA state equivalent credentials within six months.

Organization:

We are Tribal Behavior Health Clinic serving Native American clientele.

We offer our providers with an excellent benefit package that includes Noncontributory Health Insurance, CEIJ Paid Training, paid license renewals, 4% match 401K, 3% merit increase (approved on satisfactory performance), and an approved site for loan repayment. Nooksack Tribal offices have very generous paid time off, paid sick time, a team-based and collaborative work environment, and training provided to become proficient in assigned work duties.

Job Preview available on request, by calling NIT BH at (360) 966-237 or emailing the Front Desk at tshanderafinooksack-nsn.qov, and setting up appointment.