Adolescent and Family Clinical Counselor

The Educational Alliance Inc.•New York, NY

33d•$32 - $38•Hybrid

About The Position

Provide specialized clinical counseling to adolescents (ages 12–21) and their families in a New York State OASAS-certified outpatient treatment program, with a primary focus on adolescent substance use, co-occurring mental health concerns, and family systems. Utilizing a person-centered, trauma-informed, and developmentally responsive lens, individualized assessment and counseling services are delivered both in-person and virtually at Project Contact Outpatient at the Center for Recovery and Wellness. The clinician in this role will also carry a secondary caseload of adult clients and provide support to significant others and family members across treatment tracks.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in a mental health discipline (MSW, MHC, MFT, etc.), and either licensed in the State of New York or working under a limited permit and eligible for licensure.
Experience working with adolescents and/or families in a clinical or community-based setting is strongly preferred.
CASAC credentialing (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor) or CASAC-T with a bachelor's degree in a human services-related field and a minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a substance use program and treating adolescent population.
Possess a demonstrated ability to deliver patient treatment, including communication skills, successful engagement in specialized human services training, understanding of human interaction and personality development, and the ability to write and record case documentation.
Familiar with Regulatory Agency/OASAS Regulations regarding the operation and practices of patient care.
Knowledge of adolescent development, family systems theory, and group dynamics is essential; experience with motivational interviewing, CBT, and evidence-based adolescent SUD interventions (e.g., CRAFT, MET/CBT, Brief Strategic Family Therapy) strongly preferred.
Must be computer-literate with knowledge of Microsoft Office applications.
Competent in electronic health records that support treatment plans and case notes such as AURA Relias, Netsmart, and AWARDS (willing to learn new systems).
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to multitask and handle challenging situations in a professional and courteous manner
Self-motivated
Ability to work professionally and empathetically with a diverse group of clients and staff.
Bilingual in any language preferred; Spanish fluency is a plus given the communities served.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with adolescents and/or families in a clinical or community-based setting is strongly preferred.
experience with motivational interviewing, CBT, and evidence-based adolescent SUD interventions (e.g., CRAFT, MET/CBT, Brief Strategic Family Therapy) strongly preferred.
Spanish fluency is a plus given the communities served.

Responsibilities

Provide trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate individual therapy and group counseling primarily to adolescents (ages 12–21) with substance use diagnoses and co-occurring conditions, and secondarily to adults across outpatient treatment tracks.
Provide family therapy and psychoeducation using evidence-based, family systems approaches; engage parents, caregivers, and significant others as active partners in adolescent treatment planning and recovery support.
Partner with schools, pediatric providers, juvenile justice, and other adolescent-serving referral sources, providing regular updates and clinical progress reports on shared clients.
Partner with a multi-disciplinary team in assessing diagnoses, planning treatment, implementing evidence-based interventions, offering clinical insight, and providing team-based support for clinical operations.
Maintain a primary caseload focused on adolescents and families, providing weekly individual counseling and family sessions consistent with individualized treatment plans across the Adolescent, Significant Other/Family, and adult Substance Use Treatment tracks.
Continuously assess the appropriateness of the current level of treatment, corresponding with LOCADTR and utilization review instruments (Substance Use treatment track).
Coordinate integrated services with medical, mental health, vocational, recovery services, and other social service providers.
Complete detailed progress notes, comprehensive treatment plans, intake/admission assessments, psychosocial assessments, discharge plans, and other required documentation in accordance with OASAS and CARF standards.
Maintain accurate and organized clinical charts, engaging in pre-audits of charts to ensure compliance with OASAS, managed care, and CARF standards.
Send weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports to HRA through the Substance Abuse Tracking and Reporting System.
Specimen collection for clients and monitors for treatment-related issues in order to update the treatment plan (Substance Use treatment track)
Check the toxicology reporting portal daily to ensure any positive toxicology reports are communicated to supervisory staff, documented, and addressed with the client (Substance Use treatment track)
Coordinate integrated services with medical, mental health, housing, vocational, recovery services, and other social service providers.
Facilitation of individual and group-level interventions during other clinician vacations or leave
Ensure that clients’ annual medical examinations are completed, with associated referrals as needed.
Engage parents, guardians, and/or family contacts upon admission of adolescent and adult clients; maintain consistent communication with referents and families throughout the course of treatment, including written or oral clinical updates as required.
Effective advocacy and collateral contacts to meet client treatment needs.
Work collaboratively with our Project ENTER Team to build and sustain the adolescent caseload pipeline.
Attend staff meetings and training as required, as well as individual and group supervision.
Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.