Indigenous EPI Therapist/Indigenous Youth Worker (50-26)

Canadian Mental Health Association•McDougall, ON

1d•CA$37 - CA$45•Hybrid

About The Position

The EPI Therapist is a member of B’saanibamaadsiwin, an Indigenous Mental Health and Addictions program that walks alongside Indigenous community members, families, and communities in a way that is relational, culturally safe, trauma-informed, and grounded in respect for Indigenous ways of knowing. This role provides Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) services to Indigenous youth, emerging adults, and their families/supports who may be experiencing early signs of psychosis or a first episode of psychosis. The EPI Therapist provides counselling/psychotherapy, assessment, psychoeducation, treatment planning, relapse prevention, family support, system navigation, and coordinated care in collaboration with the client, their chosen supports, the B’saanibamaadsiwin team, the Parry Sound EPI Team, the regional EPI team, and community partners. B’saanibamaadsiwin honours a Two-Eyed Seeing approach. The successful candidate will be expected to respect and draw from both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing, while ensuring that care is led by the client’s needs, choices, identity, culture, family/supports, and community context. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis applicants. Candidates who self-identify as Indigenous will be prioritized in the hiring process as part of our commitment to providing culturally appropriate, community-accountable care. Applicants are invited to self-identify in their cover letter if they are comfortable doing so. Indigenous knowledge, language, lived/living experience, community connection, cultural teachings, and professional experience are all valued forms of knowledge for this role.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Counselling/Psychotherapy, or another related human service/health science discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education, registration, and experience.
Current registration in good standing with a professional regulatory body whose members are authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy in Ontario, or ability to obtain and maintain appropriate registration as required for the role. This may include, but is not limited to, the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, the College of Nurses of Ontario, the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, or another appropriate regulatory college.
Demonstrated ability to provide counselling/psychotherapy, therapeutic interventions, assessment, treatment planning, crisis support, and professional documentation with youth, emerging adults, families, and/or individuals experiencing significant mental health concerns.
Experience or strong interest in Early Psychosis Intervention, first episode psychosis, serious mental illness, concurrent disorders, youth mental health, family work, or recovery-oriented care. Formal EPI experience is an asset but is not required when the candidate brings strong clinical, relational, cultural, and learning capacity.
Understanding of EPI principles, including early identification, engagement, psychoeducation, coordinated specialty care, relapse prevention, family involvement, and support for school, work, home, social, cultural, and community functioning.
Knowledge of Indigenous cultures, histories, strengths, teachings, and practices, with awareness of the traditional territories and First Nation communities within Muskoka and Parry Sound.
Understanding of the impacts of colonization, residential schools, child welfare involvement, racism, discrimination, grief/loss, poverty, housing insecurity, and other social determinants of health, while also recognizing Indigenous strengths, resilience, culture, family, kinship, land, ceremony, language, humour, and community connection.
Experience working with Indigenous communities, Indigenous organizations, First Nation communities, or Indigenous clients and families is strongly preferred.
Ability to respectfully collaborate with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, healers, traditional people, community leaders, and cultural supports when requested by the client and when appropriate protocol has been followed.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team in rural and community-based settings, including in-person, community-based, office-based, and virtual service delivery.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook, and client information systems.
A valid Ontario G or G2 driver’s licence, access to reliable transportation, and ability to travel throughout Muskoka and Parry Sound Districts as required.
Flexibility to work days, evenings, weekends, and statutory holidays as required by program needs.

Nice To Haves

Bilingualism in French is an asset.
Indigenous language fluency is an asset.

Responsibilities

Provide culturally safe Early Psychosis Intervention services to Indigenous youth, emerging adults, and families/supports, with a focus on early engagement, recovery, education, prevention, intervention, and wellness.
Provide counselling/psychotherapy and therapeutic interventions using culturally safe, trauma-informed, strengths-based, recovery-oriented, and clinically sound approaches.
Complete intake, screening, assessment, treatment planning, risk assessment, safety planning, relapse prevention planning, discharge/transition planning, and follow-up in a respectful and timely manner.
Support clients who may be experiencing early signs of psychosis, a first episode of psychosis, mood concerns, anxiety, trauma, substance use, social withdrawal, grief/loss, crisis, or other barriers to wellness and recovery.
Provide psychoeducation and family/support work, with client consent, to help families and chosen supports better understand psychosis, recovery, communication, relapse prevention, crisis planning, and available resources.
Participate in NAVIGATE model training and apply relevant components of coordinated specialty care, including Individual Resiliency Training, Family Education, Supported Employment and Education, peer support, medication collaboration, and team-based care, as appropriate to the role and service plan.
Work from a wholistic lens that considers physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, family, social, cultural, community, school/work, housing, income, and safety needs.
Use a Two-Eyed Seeing approach by integrating clinical knowledge with Indigenous knowledge, cultural supports, ceremony, land-based approaches, and traditional healing when requested by the client and appropriate to the service plan.
Build and maintain respectful relationships with First Nation communities, Indigenous organizations, schools, health care providers, hospitals, primary care, psychiatry, crisis services, RAAM/addictions services, community partners, and other service providers.
Support early identification and access by providing education, consultation, outreach, and service navigation to clients, families, communities, schools, and partners as appropriate.
Maintain accurate, respectful, timely, and professional clinical documentation in accordance with agency policy, regulatory college standards, privacy legislation, and program expectations.
Contribute to a healthy team culture by practicing humility, accountability, good communication, mutual support, and willingness to learn.