SUMMARY:

The Family Therapist (FT) role is to provide culturally sensitive, therapeutic services to the students and their caregivers. Family Therapists use formal counseling and Evidenced Based Practices (EBP) therapeutic techniques in otherwise less conventional treatment settings. Counseling is less commonly provided within the office setting but rather in the milieu or in the home dependent on the students’ needs. FT’s help establish lifelong connections, providing clinical support for youths and their caregivers and assist in overcoming obstacles, identifying strengths, and developing supports to ensure the youth and families overcome their previous challenges and achieve success. FT’s will work on identifying and problem-solving challenges for students and caregivers that resulted in the student requiring the additional resources that residential care provides.
The position provides an excellent learning experience for FT’s, as they are expected to develop comprehensive assessment and treatment plans with the residents and their families/caregivers and then become familiar with presenting these to administration, faculty, referral sources, etc. as part of the treatment team process. In addition, FT’s are expected to build a positive therapeutic rapport with their assigned students and caregivers while working to enhance accountability through utilization of the caregivers, restorative justice planning and other interventions designed to improve relationships and work through past and current stressors related to family dynamics. FT’s are the overarching facilitator of family treatment. They will work with the student’s clinical team (if applicable) to relay the goals and objectives within the treatment plan to the respective treatment team members. Family Therapists will also work with Permanency Coordinators to identify strategies to promote any of the family work that is being implemented. They will also continue to support a trauma informed approach within their respective milieus using Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), the Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) Framework, and other identified trauma informed interventions. The FT’s provide documentation via SOAP notes in the Kaleidacare system for family sessions, group counseling notes for situations where there is more than one student and completes assigned documentation tasks as outlined below. The FT meets with the respective treatment team members to assist in reaching the student’s permanency plan goal. Common FT responsibilities include development and implementation of treatment plans, behavioral support plans, safety plans, and writing of court, monthly progress, and assessment reports.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy
• Minimum 1.5 years of experience counseling adolescents and/or families, preferably in home based or residential settings: this includes practicum and internship-based experience.
• Experience with Evidenced Based Family Therapy modalities preferred but not required
• Must complete background check
  Mount Prospect Academy (MPA) assures equal opportunity and public access, and if necessary, affirmative action in all its policies regarding employment and provision of services. MPA does not discriminate in its hiring, programs or policies on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, sex, marital status and sexual orientation.

• Writing and presenting comprehensive assessments/case conceptualizations to faculty, referrals, families, and administration.
• Facilitate individual and family treatment based on treatment plan prescription, predominantly within the home but the residential milieu when required.
• Develop plan for professional licensure following the guidelines of the NH Board of Mental Health Practice
• Responsible for ensuring residential staff adhere to the appropriate programming and treatment plans for the individual (as indicated)
• Monitor all aspects of day to day operations and evaluate client services delivery.
• Working with residents and families on development of short- and long-term treatment plans.
• Act as agency liaison with contracting agencies, advocates, and guardians.
• Maintain records for contract and state compliance.
• Develop and maintain community, governmental and other public and private resources and relationships and actively participate in professional organizations.
• Facilitate trainings for all faculty related to Evidenced based FT practice as part of the yearly training calendar
• Support crisis intervention within the milieu and the home
• Marriage and family therapists remain accountable to the AAMFT Code of Ethics
• Continue to research current EBPs to support personal, professional, and program development
• Will be responsible for any other tasks assigned by the Clinical Director/Director of Clinical Services