Therapist

The Jewish Board•New York, NY

About The Position

You will receive ongoing training in the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) model as you work with families, youth, their communities, and other key members of their ecology to implement MST as designed. Extensive research has proven the effectiveness of MST. MST therapists do whatever it takes, via close collaboration with all involved, to address the needs of adolescents returning from residential placement for mental health, trauma and, in some cases, substance abuse. You will empower families to address challenging and/or problematic behavior and to help youth aged 12 – 17 ½ make life-transforming changes. Treatment progress is made through intensive interventions such as skill building, changing unhelpful family interactions, and increasing social support, to name a few.

Requirements

Master’s degree in clinical or counseling Psychology, Social Work, or a related subject area required. Eligibility for Professional Licensure in a behavioral health field is required. New master’s degree candidates are welcome with a limited permit.
Willingness to travel throughout New York City required. Driver’s License preferred.
Direct use of pragmatic (i.e., structural, strategic, and functional) family therapies
Therapy with children and adults using cognitive-behavioral techniques
Couples therapy using behaviorally-based approaches
Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth’s natural ecology (i.e., family, peer, school, and neighborhood)
Collaboration and partnership with community agencies
Previous work providing in-home or community-based therapy services
Knowledge of Microsoft Office required
Ability to learn new systems and applications
Able to read paper and electronic documents and perform significant data entry into various computer programs.
Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination to travel independently using public transportation.

Nice To Haves

Spanish speaking highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct clinical treatment using the MST treatment model and principles. Some principles include leveraging strengths and focusing on the positive, understanding sequences of behavior, and increasing mature behavior.
Conduct a thorough assessment of the client and family: gather information on behaviors of concern and strengths in the family and their ecology to inform conceptualization of the problem behaviors and interactions within the family’s ecological context.
Maintain a caseload of 4 – 5 cases at any given time, meeting with each client twice a week at a minimum
Comfort working with a diverse community of clients and traveling throughout New York to provide services in the home or community settings
Knowledge of the types of families in the community
Continuously work to engage the primary caregiver, family members, supports, and community agency staff (school, outpatient mental health providers, residential case planners and line staff, child welfare, community stakeholders) in change-oriented treatment.
Dedicate time to weekly case planning and evaluation of case progress, with ongoing support from your supervisor and team members.
Complete thorough paperwork in a timely manner including progress notes, weekly case summaries, and treatment plans
Receive regular training, professional development, supervision, and consultation activities designed to help you acquire extensive clinical skills within the MST treatment model.
Assure, along with fellow clinicians, that clients have access to 24 hours/day, 7 days/week support as needed.