Part-Time Senior Therapist

Substance Use Disorders Outpatient Program (SUD OP)

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Part-Time Senior Therapist position.

An Overview

The Senior Therapist provides clinical services (group, individual and family therapy, case management, crisis intervention, assessment and diagnostic services) to individuals with substance use and accompanying co-occurring emotional, behavioral, psychiatric or other related problems. This position also provides clinical services to individuals with opioid use disorders receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT) such as methadone and suboxone.

What You Should Bring

The ideal candidate should have thorough knowledge of individual and group behavior including thorough knowledge of treatment issues related to psychiatric problems, dual-diagnosis, and chemical dependency; good knowledge of psychopharmacology, psychiatric disorders, alcoholism/drug addiction.

The Opportunity

• Conduct psychosocial and mental health and substance use assessments utilizing the DSM-5 and the ASAM Criteria to determine client needs and to determine appropriate treatment levels and modalities;
• Works with clients to develop individualized treatment plans based on strengths, needs, abilities and preferences;
• Implements group-oriented treatment and therapy programs, applying motivational, cognitive-behavioral and other evidence-based approaches;
• Provides individual and family therapy;
• Provides care coordination or case management services for clients who present multi-service needs and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders;
• Provides crisis intervention/emergency services if needed;
• Leads treatment team meetings, conveying concerns, challenges, strengths, and progress of subject client.
• Coordinates treatment with referral sources (including Probation and Parole, ASAP, Court Services, Child Welfare and other) and other treatment providers (including opioid treatment, psychiatry, detox, or residential team members, or community health or housing professionals, for example);
• Prepares a variety of written reports including assessment, diagnosis, treatment plan, progress notes, quarterly treatment updates and others using an computerized clinical record;
• Conducts client drug and alcohol screens as needed;
• Attends staff meetings, relevant training sessions and conferences;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

About the Department

The Center for Adult Services (CAS) provides programs and services in Aging; Adult Protective Services; Clinical & Emergency Services; and Community & Residential Support Services for seniors and for persons with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders. CAS provides compassionate and effective person-centered services based on best practices. Our teams support self-determination, safety and recovery for Alexandria residents affected by abuse, neglect, mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

Possession of Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Psychology, Education or related field; at least two years of post-graduate work experience in providing direct clinical services to consumers having one or more substance use, psychiatric, and emotional disorders; and licensure or license eligible (has completed all required education and supervision as required by applicable board) as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner (LSATP) or Clinical Psychologist in the Commonwealth of Virginia at the time of appointment; if license eligible, the employee must obtain Virginia licensure at the first available opportunity, but no later than one year after appointment; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Employees must possess a valid driver's license issued by the state of their residence if they are in a position with driving responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

Two to three years post masters experience providing direct clinical services for substance use and co-occurring mental health issues including individual, group, and family substance use treatment; Knowledge of the mental health exam and the mental health classification/DSM-5 and the ASAM Criteria; At least one year of employment in a mental health/substance use community agency environment; At least one year providing care coordination or case management. At least 10 hours training in Motivational Interviewing and six months post-training experience in MI; At least six months of experience using an electronic clinical record system. Bilingual (English-Spanish, French, African or Middle Eastern language) skills.

Notes

These positions require the successful completion of pre-employment background checks including but not limited to: FBI/Federal Records Check; VA State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry; Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Database; Verification of education/certifications; and Driver's license.

Schedule: Negotiated Hours between 7:00AM - 8:30PM, Monday through Friday and 7:00AM - 4:00PM on Fridays.