POSITION OPENINGS

JOB TITLE: Trauma Therapist 

HOURS: Part-Time, 12-24 hours/week  

BACKGROUND CHECK: Extensive

 

SUMMARY: 

The Trauma Therapist is responsible for providing trauma-focused mental health treatment and case  management services to child victims and their non-offending family members when sexual abuse and/or serious physical abuse has been alleged to the children and families being served by the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) and the Children’s Advocacy Center (LCAC). Services are delivered in-house at the Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center’s Manistee and Ludington locations. 

 

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Maintain strict standards of confidentiality; 

• Develop therapeutic relationships with children and their families; 

• Assess the needs of children and their families; 

• Provide individual, family, and group therapy with an emphasis on trauma-focused intervention;
• Crisis intervention; 

• Provide parents and caregivers psycho-education and resources pertaining to the impact of  trauma on child development, 

• Participate in regular monthly case review meetings with Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)
• Model effective self-advocacy and assertive communication skills; 

• Advocate on behalf of children and their families to help them meet their needs and achieve their  desired level of independence and self-sufficiency; 

• Link families with resources available in the community; 

• Help to identify and eliminate barriers to services; 

• Assess client satisfaction;

• Work collaboratively with a team of professionals; 

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with people and organizations in the  community; 

• Make referrals to DHHS as needed; 

• Participate in clinical supervision, team meetings, case consultations, and training as needed;
• Complete clinical documentation in a timely manner consistent with NCA policies; develop,   
      maintain and review complete case records; 

• Participate in program evaluation and program development initiatives; 

• Seek consultation with Supervisor as needed; 

• Complete a minimum of 8 contact hours of continuing education in the field of child abuse every two years;  

• Compile appropriate statistical data and case tracking information; 

• Attend staff meetings; 

• Participate in staff functions; 

• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director 

 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

Master’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field required. Must possess and retain a current license or registration in the State of Michigan in psychology, social work, or  counseling. 

Forty (40) hours of trauma-specific training (TF-CBT, EMDR, PCIT, AF-CBT, CFTSI, CPP, PSB-CBT) required. The Trauma Therapist will meet the criteria for Qualified Child Mental Health Professional and commit to ongoing education in the field of child abuse and participate in supervision. Experience with trauma-based clinical interventions and in working with survivors of sexual and physical abuse is highly preferred. 

Additional requirements include: a nonjudgmental approach that reflects cultural competency and sensitivity to the unique needs and diverse experiences of individual families, the  ability to engage and maintain therapeutic relationships with families, the ability to develop collaborative relationships with other providers, effective interpersonal communication skills, the ability to assess and intervene within complex family and community systems, and a willingness to be flexible, patient and creative.  

 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

Conditions of employment with the LCAC include a thorough background investigation. Candidates for this position will be required to  have dependable transportation available to them without notice. 

 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

Sitting for long periods of time, frequent walking, and occasional reaching, bending, kneeling, or stretching is to be expected. The nature of the work also involves manual dexterity to operate office equipment and while keyboarding. An employee will need normal, or corrected to normal, range of sight and hearing and will carry work-related materials up to twenty-five (25) pounds. 

The above job description is intended to summarize the essential functions of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list of miscellaneous duties and responsibilities that may be requested in the performance of this job. Employees are occasionally required to participate in activities outside of normal business hours. 

 

The Lakeshore Children’s Advocacy Center (LCAC) is an equal opportunity employer and maintains a  policy of nondiscrimination with respect to all employees and applicants for employment. All personnel  actions, such as recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, layoff, recall, compensation, discipline, termination, and education, recreational, and social programs are administered without  regard to sexual orientation, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability status, opposition or participation activity protected by applicable law, or membership or application  for membership in a uniformed service. Employment decisions, subject to legitimate business  requirements of LCAC, are based solely on an individual’s qualifications, merit and performance.