Salary is $55,000 for associate level license and $62,000 for fully licensed.

JOB SUMMARY

Performs various state approved evidenced based counseling practices, under the general heading of cognitive behavioral therapy, for individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, including treatment of Major Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Work involves instructing adults and youth in therapeutic CBT activities. Works under moderate supervision, with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Will wok as part of a treatment team, including a case manager, to ensure assigned individuals remain authorized in services. Cognitive-Based Therapist will provide services face-to-face and via telehealth from assigned clinic location. Telehealth services may be provided to all clinic locations within PVC’s six-county region. This position will also fulfill contract obligations at the local adult probation office at least two days per week. Must be familiar with, and/or willing to be trained in, trauma-informed care. This includes understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma, and an ability to work in a behavioral environment where staff convey dignity, respect, hopefulness, and the opportunity for choice and empowerment among consumers.

DUTIES & ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Renders individualized, recovery-focused therapeutic treatments, in line with specific evidenced based practice protocols in CBT and CPT. Provides various CBT therapy techniques to assigned individuals. Adheres to EBP fidelity and assigns practice activities as appropriate. Develops therapy goals with assigned individuals, and their family members as appropriate, during sessions to facilitate positive outcomes. Documents a variety of strategies to engage individuals in CBT and consistently shows specific evidence of benefit, or lack of benefit, over the course of a protocol.

Therapist must show willingness to consistently communicate to individuals a clear strategy for producing change through CBT, from the start of treatment.  This includes ensuring communication of and individual commitment to, specific weekly home exercise objectives outside of session needed to produce progress towards the stated recovery goals. Therapist routinely documents specific evidence of giving to and eliciting from individual, feedback on sessions and overall progress in therapy, or lack thereof. Therapist must communicate to the individual and document in the clinical record, when the therapeutic relationship is consistently showing lack of benefit. Good faith attempts to communicate barriers to recovery must be made and collaborative attempts to overcome those barriers engaged in, wherever possible. Issues related to inconsistent session attendance or lack of home practice completion must be addressed and documented. Therapist must terminate therapy when ethically indicated, and document and communicate to client the clinical justification for doing so.

• Maintain a flexible work schedule while demonstrating effective time management to meet needs of individuals served.
• Travel between locations as assigned.
• Participate in weekly/monthly Team staff meetings.
• Participate in data collection activities and peer review processes as requested.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor(s).

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Therapist must demonstrate the ability to effectively teach, promote and document individuals’ understanding of CBT concepts and life applications towards recovery. Must show use and documentation of a wide range of CBT techniques over the course of a 16-20 session CBT protocol. This includes various CBT thought testing and behavioral techniques including; consistent use of Socratic Questioning and Guided Discovery, as well as regular assignment of home exercises to facilitate recovery. Must demonstrate the ability to facilitate and maintain a healthy therapeutic alliance, use of collaboration, and consistent use of agenda setting and homework follow up. Must be able to utilize an electronic health record system to document collaboratively and concurrently with consumers across all processes, including assessment, service planning, and ongoing consumer-provider interactions.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education: A Master's degree in social, behavioral, or human services field is required. Must complete training in state-approved Cognitive Behavioral Therapy protocol for adults and youth. Must complete training and certification in Cognitive Processing Therapy for treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in adults.

Experience: Experience in a social behavioral or human service occupation is preferred.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

Licensure as an LPC, LMFT, or LCSW is required. Will consider LPC-Associate, LMFT-Associate, or LMSW under clinical supervision for LCSW with 6 months or less remaining until full licensure.

A valid Texas driver's license and good driving record is required along with a copy of a valid auto insurance card.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

Must be able to bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, squat, lift 25 pounds, sit for an extended period, and reach overhead. Must be able to walk over a variety of terrains.

• Must have strong computer operating skills.
• Ability to participate respectively as a team member during department and agency meetings.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service.
• Ability to work with a variety of individuals with a diverse background in a positive, effective manner.