MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST - Juvenile Services

Tarrant County; Texas; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Tarrant County seeks a licensed mental health professional to assess and intervene for juveniles in a pre-adjudication detention setting. The role involves collaboration with psychiatrists, other mental health staff, and direct care officers to ensure comprehensive care while addressing crisis needs.

Responsibilities include suicide risk assessment, short-term counseling, group sessions, and staff consultation to tailor behavioral health plans for detained youth.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field.
• Doctoral degree in psychology is acceptable with related internship/licensure requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct mental health assessments and suicide risk assessments.
• Provide crisis intervention counseling for acute psychiatric crises.
• Perform short-term individual counseling and group counseling/skills training.
• Develop behavior management plans for detained youths and advise direct staff.
• Participate in treatment team meetings and share on-call crisis responsibilities.

Education

Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field

Doctoral degree in psychology

Job description

Summary

The incumbent will provide direct assessment, intervention and consultation services to meet the immediate mental health and emotional needs of juveniles detained in the pre-adjudication detention center. The incumbent will work in collaboration with staff Psychologists, contract Psychiatrist, other mental health providers/staff, institutional direct care officers and medical staff to ensure juveniles receives appropriate mental and behavioral health care while in the facility and provide guidance to non-clinical staff on how to best meet the mental health needs of detained juveniles. The incumbent will be responsible for conducting mental health and suicide risk assessments, short-term individual counseling and crisis intervention; facilitate group counseling and skills training; staff consultation regarding the behavioral health needs of juveniles; participate in treatment meetings; and may provide on-call emergency crisis intervention services to respond to mental health crisis, and share on-call assignments with other mental health staff.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Conduct mental health assessments and suicide risk assessments.
• Conduct assessment and management of suicidal youth.
• Provide crisis intervention counseling to address acute psychiatric crises.
• Conduct short-term individual counseling/crisis intervention.
• Provide group counseling/skills training.
• Staff consultation regarding mental and behavioral health needs of youth.
• Develop behavior management plans and recommendations to assist direct staff with meeting the behavioral health needs of detained juveniles.
• Participate in treatment team meetings
• May provide on-call emergency crisis intervention services to respond to mental health crises; on-call assignments will rotate with other mental health staff
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field.
• Eligibility for licensure through appropriate State of Texas licensing board for one of the following licenses are required: Licensed Professional Counselor – Associate (LPC-A), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist – Associate (LMFT-A), or Licensed Masters Social Worker (LMSW).
• Within ninety (90) days of hire, employee must obtain a temporary/provisional license and/or an approved supervisory plan.
• Employee must obtain the applicable independent licensure under which the employee was hired within three (3) years of hire date.
• Failure to meet the outlined requirements within the designated timeframes or failure to maintain required licensure in good standing for any reason are grounds for termination of employment.

OR

• Doctoral degree in psychology.
• In lieu of degree, completion of degree requirements upon hire and receipt of degree within six (6) months of date of hire.
• Completion of a doctoral internship and eligibility for licensure in Texas as a provisionally licensed psychologist required.
• Employee must obtain a doctoral degree within six (6) months of date of hire, obtain a provisional license within ninety (90) days of receiving doctoral degree, and obtain licensure as a Licensed Psychologist within two (2) years of receiving the provisional license.
• Tarrant County will provide post-doctoral supervision if needed.
• Failure to meet the outlined requirements within the designated timeframes or failure to maintain required licensure in good standing for any reason are grounds for termination of employment.

Physical Demands And Work Environment & Other Requirements

While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, stoop, climb, lift, push and pull.