QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience Requirements

• Graduate level degree in Social Work, Counselling Psychotherapy, or Psychology and registered with the associated regulatory body (NSCSW, NSCCT, NSBEP).
• 3+ overall years of experience in providing counselling, with at least 1 year facilitating trauma-focused therapeutic groups.
• Familiarity with group therapy models, curriculum development, and best practices.
• Experience working with diverse and marginalized populations is essential.
• 1+ years of post-graduate specialized experience related to sexual assault/abuse with a focus on therapeutic counselling is considered an asset.
• Advanced training, knowledge, and skills in working with complex relational trauma and dissociation are considered an asset.
• Strong knowledge of local community organizations and systems to facilitate referrals, collaboration, and networking is preferred.

Additional Competency Requirements

• Ability to engage and remain present with people who are highly activated in crisis states.
• Knowledge of the intersectional dimension of systemic inequalities, including but not limited to racism, colonialism, sexism/misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, classism/poverty, ableism, ageism, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in networking, advocating and collaborating to improve marginalized populations’ access to services.
• Proven ability to work as part of a collaborative team following relational values and practices.
• Able to consult with therapeutic supervisors to address challenging client situations and monitor and address vicarious trauma.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Avalon is seeking a Group Trauma Therapist to lead and support group-based therapy programming as the primary therapist responsible for group services within our organization. As a member of the Sexual Violence Trauma Therapy Program (SVTTP), this position focuses on the development, facilitation, and evaluation of therapeutic trauma groups for individuals of all gender identities (ages 15+) who have experienced sexualized and gender-based violence. Services are offered in person or online, with the majority of this role’s work being group-based.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Group Therapy Related Duties (70%)

• Lead the planning, development, and facilitation of group-based trauma therapy programs.
• Serve as the primary group therapist within the Avalon counselling team.
• Develop and adapt trauma-focused group curricula and materials in collaboration with clinical supervisors and the team.
• Support participant screening and assessment for group readiness.
• Ensure groups are delivered using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and intersectional approaches.
• Provide group debriefing and post-group support to participants as needed.
• Engage in outcome measurement and contribute to program evaluation.
• Support placement students for group therapy as appropriate.

Administrative Duties (20%)

• Record and maintain up-to-date formal client records in accordance with professional college requirements.
• Enter and maintain updated client profiles and client session statistics on the Jane app.
• Ensure inactive client files are closed in a timely manner.
• Participate in regular therapeutic and peer supervision as needed.
• Attend team meetings as needed and appropriate.

Professional Liaising and Training (10%)

• Coordinate with internal partners for client referrals and group promotion.
• Ensure therapy skills remain updated in accordance with professional College requirements.
• Ensure ongoing training around trauma-informed and culturally relevant best practices.
• Provide occasional community-based training and presentations when time and resources allow.