Family Counselor

Family Counselor

The Family Counselor will be responsible for developing the program for mental health therapy. This position provides compassionate, ethical, and culturally competent mental health services to children and their families. The family counselor is responsible for developmentally appropriate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders and life challenges of children. Holding sessions for individual and group mental health therapy will be a key component for the Family Counselor.

This position will work closely with the Clinical Director for Early Intervention as well as providing IECS services in regard to general family counseling and behavior counseling. They will develop the process from referral to discharge and conduct credentialing for all medical providers. They will develop and implement a plan for outreach and information about services. The family counselor utilizes interactive, play-based interventions with regular caregiver involvement in the child's mental health care. The family counselor should demonstrate knowledge in the treatment of childhood trauma, emotional dysregulation, and child behavioral concerns. The family counselor should demonstrate understanding of caregiver-child relationships and how to effectively incorporate these foundational relationships into the child's mental health treatment. The family counselor is also responsible for all documentation, including intake and consent forms, diagnostic assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge documents.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Hold individual/group therapy sessions for clients/families.
• Implement Adverse Childhood Experience's (ACE's) screeners to put into programs by determining a process for all services within the agency (with director approval).
• Gather assessments/administer assessments when needed.
• Works in conjunction with Play IMUA with referrals/assessments/services.
• Create and maintain tracking system/folders/filing.
• Provides direct and consultative therapeutic services to children enrolled in IMUA programs according to policies and procedures and individual plans.
• Completes developmentally appropriate diagnostic assessments.
• Create and implement developmentally appropriate treatment plans.
• Engage in evidence-based, developmentally appropriate counseling interventions to address individual needs of the child as well as needs of the family.
• Provide support to caregivers to enhance the child's care (e.g., psychoeducation, family therapy, additional resources)
• Complete clinical documentation including intake and consent forms, diagnostic assessments, individualized treatment plans, session notes, and discharge documentation.
• Collaborate with other professionals to provide continuity of care.
• Provide referrals to outside resources/additional services as needed.
• Consults with other therapists/mental health professionals, as appropriate, to discuss caseload management, interventions, and receive support from other professionals.
• Counsels and coaches family members with respect to the results of the evaluation and makes appropriate recommendations and referrals.
• Provides services for the habilitation in social, emotional, motor, adaptive, physical, behavioral and cognitive domains and developmental concerns associated with the domains.
• Refers appropriate children for medical or other professional services necessary to maximize the developmental progress of children with delays in all areas of development.
• Participates actively in meetings with other team members, including families and other medical or professional services in order to develop an individualized plan for assigned clients that meet clients'; and their families'; needs, interest and abilities.
• Provides family-centered direct, multi and transdisciplinary and consultative therapeutic services to children enrolled in IMUA programs according to policies and procedures and individual plans in order to prevent or minimize the impact of initial or future impairment, delay in development or loss of functional ability.
• Provides direct and consultative services with specific regard to any necessary adaptation of the environment and selection, design and fabrication of assistive technology to facilitate development and promote the acquisition of functional skills.
• Provides consistent and timely feedback regarding the progress and status of clients to other members of the team, including families.
• Provide various outpatient mental health services with the goal of client recovery.
• Conduct intakes and monitor individual, group, and family therapies.
• Develop service plans and conduct reviews as needed throughout the duration of treatment.
• Provide mental health assessments, counseling, referrals, and intervention services.
• Demonstrates organizational skills and time management in independently managing work, caseload and related responsibilities.
• Complete and maintain documentation according to federal and state guidelines.
• Maintains confidentiality of child/family, agency records and all related information.
• Monitors service delivery and service gaps.
• Works closely with Program Director on staff training and development to improve skills and to ensure evidence-based best practices and service delivery.
• Performs clerical duties, such as filing, photocopying, faxing, shredding and collating.
• Actively participates in committees, teams and task forces as required and directed by the agency.
• Provides services in Hana, on Lanai and Molokai as needed while demonstrating an understanding of cultural uniqueness.
• Presents a positive and professional image to client, families, staff, community agencies and visitors.
• Relates to clients and families in a warm, courteous and professional manner.
• Presents information and recommendations clearly and effectively and communicates in a constructive, supportive manner.
• Maintains a high level of professional knowledge and competency through participation in meetings, conferences, review of current literature and other learning activities to promote professional growth in child development, the individual's specific discipline, early intervention and early childhood education.
• Acts as a consultant to educational, medical and other professional groups.
• Serves as a consultant to other professionals to incorporate child development therapy development activities into daily schedule.
• Assists to ensure credentialing is ready for Billing; works in conjunction with HR to successfully enroll in credentialing with insurances.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Time management, attention to detail and organization
• Outstanding interpersonal skills and high attention to detail
• Ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Desire to work for / with fast paced individual.
• Able to prioritize workload, meet deadlines and multi-task.
• Clear Criminal Background
• Clear Child Protective Background
• Current and valid driver's license and Auto Insurance.
• Current TB clearance
• Clear Drivers Abstract

Education and/or Experience:

Must be at least 18 years old and meet the following:

• Master's or Doctoral degree in the behavioral sciences (Social work, Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, Clinical Psychology) required.
• Current Hawaii License in Good Standing or on track to pursue licensure in the state of Hawaii (LMHC, LMFT, LICSW, or LP) (responsible for maintaining own licensure)
• At least 2 years Work Experience with Families and Children as licensed mental health professional preferred.
• In addition to your coursework, complete clinical training.
• Earn a degree from programs that are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Language Skills:

• Ability to read and comprehend complex instructions, correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write complex correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and group situations to clients, community partners, agency personnel and Board members of the organization.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills
• Time management, attention to detail, and organization skills

Reasoning Ability:

• Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.
• Ability to apply problem solving skills in concrete and variable situations.
• Ability to work independently.

Computer Skills:

• Knowledge and understanding of Microsoft Office software – specifically Microsoft Word and Excel, and Outlook

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Proficient knowledge and experience using the DC 0-5 and the DSM 5 and understanding of the differences in diagnoses of children vs. adolescents and adults.
• Proficient understanding of child development
• Knowledge of professional and ethical mental health documentation standards
• Knowledge of community resources
• Ability to continuously assess progress and adjust diagnoses, treatment plans, and therapeutic interventions as needed.
• Stays up to date on current research and evidenced based practices
• Attends continuing education opportunities to continue professional development
• Maintains the ethical and professional standards set forth by the Ethics