Clinical Counselor

*This position may qualify for a special sign-on incentive*

Job Title:  Clinical Counselor

Summary

Clinical counselors provide assessment and short-term, solution focused counseling services to eligible individuals, marital or intimate partners, families, and/or groups. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Scope of practice is limited to counseling services for other conditions that may be a focus of clinical attention and adjustment disorders.
• Ensure referral for appropriate behavioral health follow-up of any psychological disorders or symptoms requiring longer-term and/or medical/psychiatric intervention. Conduct intake, screening, assessment, and referral of clients as appropriate. Work with the client to establish an individual treatment plan. Provide individual, couples, and group counseling. Provide information about existing Navy programs such as SAIL. Provide immediate intervention and risk assessment IAW best practices in the mental health community and educate and ensure adequate referral and follow-up of any case presenting suicidal or homicidal risk
• Ability to perform accurate assessment of the client’s presenting problem and to plan effective treatment for that problem
• Provide an initial clinical assessment and ongoing risk assessments using the Columbia Suicide Severity Risk Scale (C-SSRS). Provide ongoing safety planning using the Veterans Affairs Safety Plan.
• Prepare and conduct management briefings in order to communicate recommendations on training and exercises. Facilitate and/or provide psychological first aid services to commands and/or groups within the commands. Execute Emergency Family Assistance Center assigned responsibilities as exercised and directed. Provide after-hours coverage for the FFSP in OCONUS locations, when required.
• Ability to intervene in crisis situations, using sound professional judgment, ethical practice and common sense.
• Provide services within 24 hours of request, using accepted practices and procedures, in response to both small- scale (e.g., suicide) and large-scale incidents (e.g., Shipboard accident, man-made emergency). Collaborate with Chaplains and/or medical personnel
• Provide outreach and training on Navy programs such as SAIL and family violence prevention to appropriate audiences such as commands, medical professionals, youth activities staff and chaplains
• Participate in site/regional quarterly quality assurance procedures to ensure that all clinical services provided are safe and of good quality
• Maintain counseling case documentation IAW all applicable policies, laws and instructions
• Ensure staff delivering non-medical counseling services are accounting for all services delivered in scheduling module

Required Education and/or Experience Qualifications

• Minimum educational qualifications include one of the following; a master’s degree in counseling accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; a master’s degree in social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Marriage and Family Therapy Education, or a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology and a one-year clinical internship accredited by the American Psychological Association.
• Current, valid and unrestricted clinical license or certification from a state or U.S. territory authorizing independent clinical practice in the fields of professional counseling, clinical social work, marriage and family therapy or clinical/counseling psychology- LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist), LCP (Licensed Clinical Psychologist/ Licensed PhD in Psychology), LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), LCPC (Licensed Certified Professional Counselor), LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
• A minimum of two years- of full-time, post-master’s supervised clinical experience.
• Clinical Counselors must meet or exceed the requirements for Tier II clinical practitioners.
• Counselors must meet the standards of professional and ethical conduct prescribed by their particular discipline or licensing board and demonstrate current clinical competence through at least periodic, direct service clinical experience during the 2 years preceding hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of the difficulties of adjusting to general life stresses as well as those resulting from the requirements of military life, and experience providing short-term counseling for those issues
• Knowledge of standard documentation requirements for clinical services
• Knowledge of available military and community referral resources
• Ability to work effectively with diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Proficiency in oral and written communication skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite software and skilled in the use of office software 

Other Skills and Abilities 

This position requires access to U.S. Government facilities and systems. U.S. Citizenship, a valid driver's license, transportation, and auto insurance are required.

Competencies 

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Customer Service - Manages difficult or emotional customer situations; Responds promptly to customer needs; Solicits customer feedback to improve service; Responds to requests for service and assistance; Meets commitments.
• Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Maintains confidentiality; Listens to others without interrupting; Keeps emotions under control; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Varies writing style to meet needs; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.
• Change Management - Develops workable implementation plans; Communicates changes effectively; Builds commitment and overcomes resistance; Prepares and supports those affected by change; Monitors transition and evaluates results.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Physical Demands:  Works in office areas.  Sits, stands, bends, lifts, and moves intermittently during working hours.   Uses personal computer, telephones, copiers, printers and other office equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment:  The physical demands and 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.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Zeiders Enterprises, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Pay Range: $60,000 - $135,200

PLEASE NOTE: The Zeiders pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Salary : $60,000 - $135,200