FFT Therapist

Clarvida•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, build lasting skills, and improve stability. The therapist works with youth, caregivers, referral sources, and community supports to address behavioral and emotional concerns and improve family functioning. Training to become an FFT therapist is provided; prior FFT training or certification is not required. The therapist must complete required FFT training and participate in ongoing supervision, consultation, and activities supporting competent, model-faithful service delivery. The role includes direct clinical services, coordination with families and community partners, clinical documentation, and administrative tasks. The therapist maintains a program-established caseload, service frequency, and billable hours consistent with FFT delivery, clinical need, and quality of care. The position is field-based and/or office-based, requires travel to meet client and county needs, and includes a flexible schedule with evenings and weekends as needed. 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 the 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.
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 and use of a conceptual framework for child and adolescent development, emotional and behavioral problems, and treatment modalities including foster care.
Knowledge of applicable standards and regulations and ability to 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; ability to think clearly and logically, solve problems, and 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 child development and the child welfare system.
Ability to track staff performance metrics and use a person-centered approach to holding staff to performance objectives.
Comfort learning and using technology resources, including Avatar, Trails, and other systems.
Attention to detail in documentation and communication.
Strong interpersonal and customer-service skills and ability to collaborate with teams.
Professional demeanor, language, communication, and boundaries with coworkers and clients; ability to hold others accountable.
Ability to build and maintain rapport with youth, adults, employees, and child welfare and court professionals.
Knowledge of professional boundaries and self-care routines, and ability to support others in setting appropriate boundaries.
Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, and Outlook), adequate typing skills, and basic computer skills.
Knowledge and use of phones, copiers, 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 travel off-site, operate a vehicle in varying road and weather conditions, and use a personal car or other vehicle as required for travel and transportation.
Ability to meet the physical requirements of the position, including frequently standing, walking, and sitting; occasionally lifting or moving up to 25 pounds; and using computer, tablet, phone, and general office equipment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Deliver FFT through engagement, motivation, relational assessment, behavior change, and generalization according to the approved model and clinical guidance.
Build balanced relationships with family members, reduce blame and negativity, strengthen hope, and address participation barriers.
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 suited to the family’s assessed relational patterns and treatment phase.
Help families apply and maintain new skills at home, school, and in 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 to support community and program needs.
Complete provided FFT training and required model learning activities.
Participate in scheduled FFT consultation, clinical supervision, case review, and fidelity monitoring at the required frequency.
Use feedback and clinical data to strengthen practice.
Complete required 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.
Participate in team meetings and support new staff shadowing as assigned.
Maintain client files and complete required work diaries, timecards, mileage, and expense submissions within expected timeframes.
Maintain accurate and 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 requirements.
Maintain the program-established caseload, service frequency, and billable hours consistent with FFT delivery, clinical need, and quality of care.
Work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends as needed to meet family availability.
Participate in the program’s on-call process as assigned and follow established response procedures.
Protect confidential information and follow HIPAA and agency compliance standards.
Maintain professional boundaries, communicate respectfully, use supervision proactively, and perform other duties necessary to support program and agency functions.
Attend and actively participate in Clinical Services team meetings and appropriately access and use supervision resources.