YOUTH PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Job Summary

Psychotherapist: Provides mental health services to clients referred through Whitman-Walker Health's primary care, ages 13 and up, and should have some level of expertise working with the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS infected and affected community. Psychotherapist will provide individual, group, couple, and family psychotherapy.

Youth Psychotherapist: Provides mental health services to youth clients referred through medical services, youth accessing services through RealTalk DC and Peer Education Center programs. Therapist should have some level of expertise working with youth 13 and up, and their families, as well as the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS infected and affected community. Provides individual, group, and family psychotherapy as well as integrated expressive therapy programming within WWH’s youth drop-in center.

Role Specific Duties:

Intake, Assessment, and Treatment Planning

• Conducts thorough and comprehensive intake and assessment with each assigned client within the designated time frame.
• Facilitates the participation of the client in the development of goal-oriented treatment planning.
  
  

Clinical Practice

• Provide individual, group, couples, and family psychotherapy services.
• Maintain 30 hours of direct client care per week, unless delegated to do other work for the Health Center approved by your manager. Effective in assessing risk and intervening in crisis situations.
• Ensures appropriate clinical treatment congruent with DSM-5 diagnosis and comfortable with ICD-10
• Provides case formulation for each client from a sound theoretical knowledge base.
• Attends clinical supervision with the designated Behavioral Health Lead Clinician.
• Assess client and caregiver need for education; provides education as appropriate, makes referrals for additional education as needed.
  
  

Referral and Advocacy

• Assists clients in identifying and accessing various internal and external community resources
• Provides timely referrals and monitors their progress.
• Effectively advocates for clients, as needed.
• Responds in a timely manner to all client, collateral, and agency contacts.
  
  

Monitoring, Reassessment, and Transition Planning

• Monitors client progress toward treatment goals.
• Reassess the client's needs in a clinically appropriate time frame.
• Provides ongoing assessment of the client’s level of care needs, coordinating the client's transfer to a different level of care or discharge from care, as appropriate.
  
  

Case Coordination

• Prepare and actively participate in case presentations, conferences, and multi-disciplinary meetings.
• Effectively coordinates with other disciplines to address client needs and treatment goals.
  
  

Community Engagement & Education

• Provides training and education for a network of community providers
• Facilitates talks, workshops, and discussions on LGBTQ youth-related topics
  
  

Administration

• Maintains accurate and up-to-date records and computer information on every assigned client in accordance with applicable guidelines and regulations.
• Conducts monthly review and resolution of data entry problems.
• Adheres to all program and Health Center policies and procedures
• Conducts quarterly chart audits in a timely manner in accordance with
  
  

Quality Improvement procedures.

• Clinical documentation should be completed and locked within 72 hours
  
  

Performance Improvement

• Participate in quality assurance and quality improvement measures.
• Works with supervisor to identify areas for performance improvement and professional development.
• Attends and participates in internal and external in-services, workshops, and conferences for professional development and to keep informed of changes and innovations in the field.
  
  

Quality Improvement

• Understands and participates in quality improvement activities of the department.
  
  

Role Specific- Knowledge, Skills, and Talents Required:

• Strong clinical skills, with proven ability to engage, assess, provide interventions, and terminate appropriately with diverse populations.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships within the organization and with external providers.
• Strong knowledge of DSM-5 and the impact of mental illness on diverse populations.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and competence with issues related to racial, cultural, gender identity, and sexual minority status.
• Good working knowledge of the health care delivery system, social services, and community-based resources.
• Ability to provide a full range of services with minimal supervision
• Good written and oral communication skills.
  
  

For Youth Psychotherapist:

• Strong knowledge and skills in working with adolescents, families, and supportive systems
• Experience and/or specialized training in expressive therapies, including but not limited to play therapy, psychodrama, art therapy
  
  

Education And Experience Required

• Master of Social Work or Counseling-related degree.
• Current licensure is required in DC.
• At least 1 or more years of clinical experience.
• Awareness of HIV related issues
• Experience working with youth 13-24 preferred.