Positions available at the following locations: Elyria, Westlake, Westpark, Akron, and Ravenna

This position is responsible for providing direct care counseling to children, adolescents, and/or adults through guidance and instruction to foster emotional, social, and mental growth of clients through therapeutic intervention and positive role modeling.  This will be done under the supervision of a licensed therapist.  Duties will include contact and meetings with parents/guardians of clients who have been referred for mental health services for purposes of intake, mental health assessment, and mental health counseling as recommended, consulting with staff regarding treatment planning, progress, and ongoing needs.   

Job Responsibilities  

• Comply with all Agency policies and procedures including CARF. 
• Maintain confidential records relating to clients’ treatment. 
• Conduct intake assessments and psychosocial evaluations under supervision
• Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives and help them to develop insight into themselves and their relationships. 
• Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems. 
• Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports in the required timeframe. 
• Counsel clients, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, adjusting to life, and making changes. 
• Collect information about clients through interview, observation, and assessment tools. 
• Act as client advocates in order to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations. 
• Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge. 
• Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments and develop treatment plans. 
• Evaluate clients’ physical or mental condition based on review of client information. 
• Meet with families, probation officers, and other interested parties in order to exchange necessary information during the treatment process. 
• Refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary. 
• Counsel family members to assist them in understanding, dealing with, and supporting clients or patients. 
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs and clients’ progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives. 
• Plan, organize and lead structured programs of counseling, work, study, recreation, and social activities for clients. 
• Modify treatment activities and approaches as needed on order to comply with changes in clients’ status. 
• Learn about new developments in their field by reading professional literature, attending courses and seminars, and establishing and maintaining contact with other social service agencies. 
• Maintain compliance with all laws and regulations governing the practice of counseling, social work and marriage and family therapy in Ohio. 
• Discuss with individual patients their plans for life after leaving therapy. 
• Gather information about community mental health needs and resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy. 
• Monitor clients’ use of medications.      

Qualifications  

• Must be enrolled in a master's level program and be registered in a practicum or internship course.  
• Must apply through the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, & Marriage & Family Therapist Board for Counselor Trainee status 
• Must be able to show proof of liability insurance 
• Knowledge of child and family development, individual/group/family counseling techniques, solution-focused, short-term treatment techniques, and mental health diagnoses (DSM-5). 
• Knowledge and understanding of special education labels used on Individual Education Programs (IEP). 
• Ability to work successfully in a team environment. 
• Good written and verbal skills. 

Work Environment: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Work is performed primarily at REACH Main Office and school-based settings.