Peer Counselor, Mobile Crisis - Longview, WA

Why Work For Us?

Columbia Wellness is proud to be a company of real people committed to quality. We are focused on building a better future in mental health and behavioral healthcare. We have established a strong referral base in the community, and we are invested in our clinical growth. We offer generous training opportunities, free supervision, and a large spectrum of programs in which you can work. Columbia Wellness is located in-between two major cities, Seattle and Portland. By working with us you get the best of both small town and big city life. You're close to the beach, the mountains, the quiet and the city life. If you're looking for a place to call home and build a career, join our team at Columbia Wellness. If you want to make a difference that matters, then we want to hear from you. Together we can do more.

Position Overview

Under the supervision of the Program Director, the Mobile Crisis Peer Counselor provides peer support services; serves as a consumer advocate; provides consumer information for consumers experiencing mental health crisis in a variety of settings. The Peer Counselor performs a wide range of tasks to support consumers in crisis to identify, learn and use skills and resources to build resilience and improve their ability to manage difficult situations. Crisis Peer Counselor will model competency in recovery and wellness, assisting consumers to live their own lives through sharing of the Peer Counselor's lived experience in crisis and recovery.

Summary of the Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Peer Counselor will:

• Model effective coping techniques and self-help strategies to assist clients in crisis to use skills to self-regulate.
• When clinically appropriate, share lived experience to normalize and validate clients' experience.
• Link individuals to other professional community resources and natural supports, including educational, vocational, social, spiritual, and recreational resources.
• Support consumers in articulating personal goals for recovery and wellness.
• Support consumers in articulating the objectives necessary to reach his or her recovery and wellness goals.
• Lead recovery dialogues, and utilize and teach problem solving techniques with individuals
• Assist consumers in identifying strengths, setting objectives, and in identifying barriers.
• Recognize and report progress consumers make toward meeting objectives.
• Understand and utilize specific interventions necessary to support consumers in meeting their recovery and wellness goals.
• Teach consumers techniques for identifying and combatting negative self-talk, and
• Teach consumers techniques for identifying and overcoming fears.
• Support consumers in building social skills in the community that will provide a support network.
• Support non-consumer staff in identifying program environments that are conducive to recovery; lend their unique insight into mental illness and what makes recovery possible, and
• Attend treatment team meetings to promote consumer's use of self-directed recovery tools.
• Teach and model the value of every individual's recovery experience,
• Develop and share recovery-oriented material with other Peer Counselors, and
• Attend relevant continuing education, such as seminars, meetings, and in-service trainings.
• Provide and advocate for effective recovery-based services.
• Support consumers in obtaining services that suit that individual's recovery needs.
• Inform consumers about community and natural supports and how to utilize these in the recovery process.
• Support consumers in developing empowerment skills through self-advocacy and the use of shared personal experience to combat stigma.
• Refer individuals with substance use disorders to SUD treatment.
• Refer individuals with medical disorders to primary care.
• Provide skills training, including illness management, socialization, time management, parenting skills, independent living, budgeting, and other skills necessary to enhance self-sufficiency as possible within the context of a short-term treatment program.
• Complete all documentation, reporting, and other paperwork according to agency standards.
• Effectively use technology and software including but not limited to: computers, phones, email, EMR, etc.
• Be helpful, respectful, approachable and team-oriented.
• Manage time effectively, including but not limited to: planning ahead where possible and being punctual in person and with work performed.
• Work efficiently both independently and as part of a team.
• Build strong working relationships and a positive work environment.
• Be receptive to feedback, willing to learn, and willing to embrace continuous improvement.
• Attend all appropriate staff, organizational, and external meetings as assigned.
• Representation to the public as assigned by supervisor.
• Assist in other programs when assigned by supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• HS Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Received and must maintain Certification Peer Counselor.
• Registration in Washington State is required (upon hire).
• Must have a valid Oregon or Washington driver's license and must clear a multi-state criminal background check. Hiring shall be contingent on a clean driving record per driving abstract submitted by employee.
• Agency Affiliated Registration in Washington State is required, licensure preferred.
• State of Washington mental health specialty in child, disability (developmental disability/serious physical handicap or sensory impairment), and/or older adult populations preferred.

Salary: $21.27

We are proud to be able to not only offer competitive compensations but also a benefit package that our employees love.

We offer all permanent full-time employees:

• Medical, Dental and Vision.
• Long term disability and life insurance paid for by the employer
• 5% of gross pay put into a retirement plan by the employer. Immediately vested, no match requirement.
• 11 paid holidays
• 26 days of Paid Time Off per year
• Revenue Share Opportunities

Columbia Wellness is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Visit our website: www.columbiawell.org (http://www.columbiawell.org/) to learn more about our organization.

Columbia Wellness is a private nonprofit organization that has been serving the community for over 70 years!

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.