FFT Therapist

Clarvida - Colorado•Colorado Springs, CO

About The Position

The Functional Family Therapy (FFT) Therapist provides structured, family-focused treatment in homes and community settings to help youth and families strengthen relationships, reduce conflict, and build lasting skills. The therapist works with youth, caregivers, referral sources, and community supports to address behavioral and emotional concerns, improve family functioning, and support stability. FFT training is provided; prior FFT training or certification is not required. The therapist must complete required training and participate in ongoing supervision, consultation, and activities that support competent, model-faithful service delivery. The position includes direct clinical services, care coordination, case documentation, program participation, and administrative responsibilities. The therapist maintains an assigned caseload and program-established service frequency and billable hours, while meeting agency, payer, contract, and FFT requirements. Work is field-based and requires travel to meet with families and attend to county and client needs. The schedule is flexible and may include evenings and weekends, and participation in the on-call process may be assigned.

Requirements

Master's degree in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or a related behavioral health field.
Current Colorado DORA license, candidate credential, or registration appropriate to the role, with ability to practice under applicable supervision and payer requirements.
Experience working with children, adolescents, and families.
Knowledge of family systems, child and adolescent development, trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, and culturally responsive practice.
Ability to engage families experiencing conflict or mandated services, organize a field-based caseload, make sound clinical decisions, and accept coaching and accountability.
Strong written and verbal communication, documentation, and technology skills, including ability to learn electronic health records, FFT platforms, and agency systems.
Valid driver's license, acceptable driving record, current auto insurance, and access to a safe, reliable vehicle for required travel.
Ability to satisfy required background checks and fingerprinting.
Knowledge of child and adolescent development, emotional and behavioral problems, and treatment modalities, including foster care.
Ability to adhere to applicable standards and regulations; make appropriate placements based on youth and family care providers; develop and implement goals; and maintain agency policies and standards.
Effective organizational and time-management skills, clear and logical thinking, problem-solving ability, and ability to function with minimal supervision.
Knowledge of local agencies and community resources serving youth, families, and foster care services.
Experience with crisis intervention and conflict resolution, and knowledge of the child welfare system.
Ability to track staff performance metrics and use a person-centered approach to holding staff accountable to performance objectives.
Comfort learning and using technology resources, including Avatar, Trails, and other systems.
Detail-oriented documentation and communication; strong interpersonal, customer service, teamwork, and rapport-building skills.
Professional demeanor, language, communication, boundaries, and self-care practices; ability to support others in setting appropriate boundaries and to hold others accountable.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook), adequate typing skills, basic computer skills, and use of phone, copier, and other office equipment.
Ability to properly install and use car seats and other child vehicle restraint systems.
Understanding and application of Trauma Informed Care.
Ability to drive in various road and weather conditions and operate and access a safe, reliable vehicle.

Nice To Haves

Independent licensure is preferred.
Bilingual ability is a plus but is not required.

Responsibilities

Deliver FFT through engagement, motivation, relational assessment, behavior change, and generalization, following the approved model and clinical guidance.
Build balanced relationships with family members, reduce blame and negativity, strengthen hope, and adapt engagement to each family's culture, strengths, needs, and circumstances.
Assess family relationships, strengths, risks, protective factors, and presenting concerns; develop individualized treatment goals and safety or crisis plans with families and the treatment team.
Coach and practice communication, problem-solving, parenting, emotion regulation, and other skills appropriate to the family's assessed relational patterns and treatment phase.
Help families apply and maintain new skills across home, school, and community settings; plan transitions, connect families with supports, and complete discharge planning.
Assess and respond to safety concerns within training and scope of practice; consult promptly, follow crisis response procedures, and report suspected abuse or neglect as required.
Communicate with referring agencies and coordinate with caseworkers, schools, courts, and other providers as appropriate, with required consent and confidentiality protections.
Provide other assigned clinical services within qualifications and scope of practice while maintaining FFT model requirements and program priorities; occasionally carry non-FFT cases as needed.
Complete FFT training and required model learning activities; participate in FFT consultation, clinical supervision, case review, fidelity monitoring, team meetings, and assigned staff shadowing.
Use feedback and clinical data to strengthen practice; complete model assessments, session planning, progress tracking, and fidelity documentation in designated systems.
Complete at least 20 hours of required annual training, along with additional agency and FFT requirements.
Maintain client files and accurate, timely clinical records, treatment plans, progress notes, assessments, and reports in the electronic health record and applicable FFT systems; meet agency, payer, contract, and service authorization standards.
Maintain the program-established caseload, service frequency, and billable hours in a manner consistent with FFT delivery, clinical need, and quality of care.
Work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed; participate in the on-call process when assigned and follow established response procedures.
Submit work diaries, timecards, mileage, and expenses within required timeframes; complete ADP timecards and expenses as expected.
Protect confidential information and comply with HIPAA and agency requirements; maintain professional boundaries and communicate respectfully.
Attend and actively participate in Clinical Services team meetings, use supervision proactively, and perform other duties necessary to support program and agency functions.
Travel off-site for meetings and county and client needs, using a personal or other required safe, reliable vehicle.