Family Therapist Hybrid

Mount Prospect Academy; Bennington (VT); Hybrid; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Vermont Permanency Initiative (VPI) is seeking a Family Therapist to deliver specialized family systems treatment for adolescent females in a residential setting and their caregivers. The role blends remote caregiver sessions with on-site clinical services to enhance engagement and outcomes.

The position emphasizes trauma-informed care, caregiver engagement, and collaboration with residential, medical, educational, and psychiatric teams to support treatment progress and discharge planning.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or related behavioral health field.
• Eligible to obtain clinical licensure.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles.
• Ability to provide telehealth services in compliance with applicable regulations.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialized family systems treatment for adolescents in residential care and their caregivers.
• Balance telehealth and on-site clinical services; conduct remote caregiver sessions and on-site therapy.
• Facilitate individual, family, and group therapy with adolescents showing emotional and behavioral challenges.
• Complete clinical documentation within required timelines and maintain compliance with licensing and accreditation standards.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and participate in discharge and transition planning.
• Provide crisis intervention and consultation to direct care staff as needed.

Skills

Trauma-informed care

Telehealth

Family systems therapy

Crisis intervention

Education

Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy

Tools

Telehealth platforms

Electronic health records

Job description

Help Adolescent Females and Their Families Thrive

Residential Treatment Program for Adolescent Females
Bennington, VT | Starting Salary $60,000+
Hybrid Position: Remote Family Sessions and In-Person Clinical Services

At Vermont Permanency Initiative (VPI), we believe lasting change happens when families are engaged, supported, and empowered. We are seeking a compassionate, skilled, and relationship-focused Family Therapist to provide specialized family systems treatment for adolescent females residing in our residential treatment program and their caregivers.

This unique hybrid role combines remote caregiver and family therapy sessions with on-site clinical services, allowing you to make a meaningful impact while maintaining flexibility.

If you are passionate about trauma-informed care, family engagement, and helping adolescents and families build stronger futures, we encourage you to apply.

Position Summary

The Family Therapist provides specialized family system treatment to adolescents residing in a residential treatment setting and their caregivers. The therapist serves a critical role in engaging families early in treatment, beginning with caregiver-focused sessions designed to increase caregiver readiness, strengthen parenting capacity, reduce barriers to reunification, and establish a collaborative treatment partnership.

This position balances telehealth and on-site clinical services. Family and caregiver sessions may be delivered remotely to improve family engagement and reduce access barriers, while group therapy, multidisciplinary collaboration, crisis response, and selected family sessions occur on-site.

The Family Therapist utilizes evidence-based and trauma-informed interventions with youth presenting with significant emotional, behavioral, developmental, and psychiatric challenges. The therapist facilitates in-person therapeutic groups and collaborates closely with residential, medical, psychiatric, educational, individual clinician, and case management staff to support treatment progress and discharge planning.

Family Therapy Services

Caregiver Engagement and Assessment

• Initiate family services within the first 30 days of admission.
• Conduct caregiver-focused sessions prior to beginning conjoint family therapy.
• Complete family systems assessments, as indicated.
• Identify family strengths, barriers, protective factors, and treatment goals.
• Assist caregivers in understanding trauma, attachment disruptions, emotional regulation difficulties, and behavioral health diagnoses.

Family Therapy

• Conduct family therapy sessions utilizing telehealth and in-person formats.
• Address communication patterns, conflict resolution, attachment concerns, family functioning, and reunification readiness.
• Facilitate conjoint sessions between youth and caregivers when clinically indicated.
• Support caregivers in implementing skills and interventions outside treatment sessions.
• Provide psychoeducation regarding adolescent development, mental health conditions, trauma, and behavioral management.

Care Coordination

• Participate in treatment team meetings.
• Collaborate with psychiatrists, nurses, direct care staff, assigned clinical team, educational staff, and external providers.
• Assist with discharge and transition planning.

Group Therapy Responsibilities

• Facilitate in-person therapeutic groups each week utilizing evidence-based interventions appropriate for high-acuity adolescent females.

Clinical Documentation

• Complete assessments, case notes, monthly progress reports, discharge summaries, and related documentation within required timelines.
• Maintain documentation consistent with state licensing, accreditation, Medicaid, and program requirements.
• Collect and report clinical outcome measures as assigned.
• Attend weekly clinical meetings.
• Participate in behavior review and treatment planning meetings.
• Provide consultation to direct care staff regarding family dynamics and treatment approaches, as indicated.
• Assist in crisis intervention and stabilization efforts when clinically appropriate.
• Support family involvement in treatment milestones and transition planning.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, or related behavioral health field.
• Eligible to obtain clinical licensure.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles.
• Ability to provide telehealth services in compliance with applicable regulations.

Preferred

• Experience providing family therapy with children and adolescents.
• Experience working with severe emotional and behavioral disorders.
• Training in evidence-based modalities.
• Experience supporting child welfare, juvenile justice, and complex family systems.

Core Competencies

• Family Systems Therapy
• Trauma-Informed Treatment
• Caregiver Engagement
• Group Facilitation
• Crisis Intervention
• Clinical Documentation
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Cultural Humility

Physical & Environmental Requirements

• Ability to navigate residential treatment environments.
• Ability to use computers, telehealth platforms, and electronic health records.
• Ability to respond effectively during behavioral crises.
• Ability to occasionally work flexible hours to accommodate family schedules, including evenings.

Expected Outcomes

The Family Therapist will:

• Increase caregiver participation in treatment.
• Improve family engagement and readiness for discharge.
• Reduce barriers to family involvement.
• Strengthen caregiver confidence and parenting capacity.
• Enhance youth-family communication and attachment.
• Support successful transition to lower levels of care.
• Deliver evidence-based group interventions that improve emotional regulation, coping skills, and treatment engagement among adolescents.

Why Join Vermont Permanency Initiative?

At VPI, you'll be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to helping youth build brighter futures. We invest in our employees through exceptional benefits, career development opportunities, and a supportive workplace culture.

Vermont Permanency Initiative is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

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