Senior Therapist

Adult Mental Health Outpatient Therapist

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. About one-quarter square miles in the city have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for our Senior Therapist position.

An Overview

The Senior Therapist, under the guidance and assistance of the assigned supervisor, provides individual and group psychotherapy, clinical evaluation, and case management services to mental health consumers as a member of the Adult Outpatient Services team

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, juvenile delinquency, and/or elderly and aging; ability to work successfully with a variety of consumers; ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing with other professionals and with the public; ability to plan and supervise the work of interns or students.

The Opportunity

• Provides 1,040 hours annually of individual and group psychotherapy to mental health consumers, including consumers with a dual-diagnosis;
• Provides care coordination services to consumers;
• Conducts clinical assessments and evaluations when needed and formulates diagnoses and treatment plans for mental health consumers;
• Provides emergency and crisis intervention services to consumers;
• Prepares reports for court proceedings, represents the Department and testifies as an expert witness on behalf of consumers;
• Initiates medical, psychiatric, and psychological evaluation referrals as needed;
• Participates in staff development;
• Maintains clinical records in an Electronic Health Record (Credible) in accordance with State, City, Departmental, and Federal compliance requirements which includes collaborative and same day documentation;
• Performs related work as required.

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 abuse 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 abuse, psychiatric, and emotional disorders; and licensure or license eligible (has completed all required education and supervision as required by applicable board) as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) 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.

Preferred Qualifications

Currently licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Clinical Psychologist in Virginia at the time of appointment; Fluent and Bilingual in both English and Spanish (both written and spoken) with the ability to competently provide therapy in both languages to native speakers.

Notes

Monday through Friday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM with at least one evening on either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, until 9:00PM.