Mental Health Therapist

Position: Mental Health Therapist

Hours: Full Time

Definition

Under immediate (I, II), general supervision (III), or general direction (IV), provides clinical and/or administrative mental health services in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary environment through the use of therapy (individual, family or group), case management, interagency collaboration and community engagement according to Interface Mental Health standards.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Mental Health Therapist I (unlicensed) - is the entry/trainee level classification, where emphasis is on learning casework and treatment methods appropriate to a public mental health setting, procedures, and policies as part of a multi-disciplinary team under the close clinical supervision of a California Board of Mental Sciences Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Psychologist or Licensed Clinical Social Worker. 

Hourly Rate: unregistered-$25/ $26 bilingual – registered up to 1yr post grad $27/$28 bilingual

Mental Health Therapist II (unlicensed) - is the journey-level classification, providing mental health services as part of a multi-disciplinary team under general supervision with clinical supervision by a California Board of Mental Sciences Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Psychologist or Licensed Clinical Social Worker. May take on additional community engagement duties.

Hourly Rate: registered, 1yr+ post grad $28.50/ $29.50 bilingual

Mental Health Therapist III (licensed) - is the advanced journey-level classification, providing mental health services as part of a multi-disciplinary team under general supervision.  Incumbents in this classification demonstrate greater skill and depth of job knowledge in the assessment of consumer and family needs, in the formulation and implementation of treatment and wellness and recovery plans, and in community partnership engagement.

Hourly Rate: licensed, 3yrs + post grad $30/ $31 bilingual

Mental Health Therapist IV (licensed) - is the expert level of the series, able to independently perform the most complex clinical and case management assignments and providing clinical or administrative supervision according to licensure and training, key roles in community partnership engagement.  Demonstrates leadership within the multi-disciplinary team.

Hourly Rate: 2yrs licensed, 3yrs + post grad $32/ $33 bilingual

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assesses, evaluates and provides mental health and/or substance abuse services including individual, group and family therapy/counseling, rehabilitation, crisis intervention and case management services for persons with serious mental illness or youth with serious emotional disturbance utilizing culturally-sensitive, client/family-centered, strength-based, wellness and recovery models of service delivery.

• Performs clinical documentation and maintains productivity according to department standards.

• In collaboration with other members of the multi-disciplinary team, including consumers and family members, participates in the development of treatment plans, coordinates treatment, case management and discharge planning.

• Collaborates on behalf of the consumer/family with other support services provided by health care, social services agencies and community organizations.

• Participates in training on various topics such as cultural competency, clinical practice, compliance, treatment planning, case management, co-occurring disorders and substance abuse. 

• Provides administrative support services including outreach and information about how to access and apply for state and federal programs (such as Medi-Cal), performs pre-screening and assists in paperwork completion to determine eligibility.

• Performs other related duties as required.

Qualification Guidelines

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Working knowledge of: the diagnosis, assessment, prognosis, treatment, rehabilitation and case management for persons with serious mental illness, alcohol and drug issues, co-occurring disorders and/or youth with serious emotional disturbance; effective therapeutic techniques and modalities; psychosocial and cultural factors affecting mental health and service delivery; and administrative procedures related to the delivery of mental health services, and Medi-Cal, state and federal mental health programs descriptions, treatment benefits, application procedures, etc.

Ability to: establish and maintain effective working relationships with others as part of a multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural team; assess, treat and manage cases for an ethnically diverse population with mental illness and their families; communicate effectively in writing and orally, including public speaking; efficiently organize time and workload responsibilities; effectively utilize agency and community resources; conduct group meetings, interpret and explain laws, rules and regulations to other staff, clients, family members and the public; and help implement state, federal and County mental health programs.

Recruiting Standards

Education/Experience:

A Master's degree in one of the following is required:
Marriage & Family Counseling;
Counseling Psychology;
Clinical Psychology;
Clinical Counseling;
Clinical Mental Health Counseling;
Counseling with an emphasis in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling;
Social Work with an emphasis on Clinical Social Work; OR
Other equivalent Master's degree from a college or university approved by the California Department of Consumer Affairs, Board of Mental Science Examiners;

AND

Must either be currently registered with the California Board of Mental Sciences (BBS) as a:

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist;
Associate Clinical Social Worker; OR
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor*;

OR

Be within 90 days of completion of the requirements for graduation with a Master's degree in a discipline as noted above; and Following graduation, provide documentation that an application for an intern or associates registration number has been submitted to the BBS.

*In order to qualify for this job classification as a California Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, applicants must meet one (1) of the following additional training and education requirements beyond the minimum training and education required for licensure:

• Six (6) semester units or nine (9) quarter units specifically focused on the theory and application of marriage and family therapy; OR
• A named specialization or emphasis area on the qualifying degree in marriage and family therapy; marital and family therapy; marriage, family and child counseling; or couple and family therapy.

Note: Proof of Master's degree and BBS registration is required by date of hire, or be within the 90 days of completion of the requirements for graduation with a Master’s degree, and as noted above. 

If qualifying as a California Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, proof of meeting the criteria outlined above, which allows Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors in the State of California to provide counseling, assessment and treatment to couples and families, is also required by date of hire.

Other Requirements

Special Requirements:

• Candidates are required to have at time of hire and maintain a current California Board of Mental Sciences registration number as a condition of continued employment, and malpractice insurance policy.

• Incumbents are encouraged and supported to obtain a LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) license, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) license or LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor) license with the California BBS within six (6) years of initial registration as an Associate Marriage Family Therapist, Associate Clinical Social Worker or Associate Professional Clinical Counselor as a condition of continued employment.  Once licensed, Mental Health Therapists who are California Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors must complete a minimum of six (6) hours of continuing education, specific to marriage and family therapy, in each license renewal cycle as a condition of continued employment.

• If pursing a California LPCC, individuals must successfully complete 500 hours of documented supervised experience working directly with couples, families, or children within six (6) years of initial registration as an Associate Professional Counselor as a condition of continued employment.

• Certain positions may require work experience with specific age groups such as children, adults, or older adults and/or related service types.  Some positions require some evening hours.

• Related work experience with a multi-cultural client population and Spanish-English bilingual skills, desirable, incentive provided at $1/hr.
• Successful background and criminal clearance required and maintained, including but not limited to California Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, Child Abuse Index and Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).  Proof of a valid California Driver License, reliable transportation, proof of automobile insurance (listed as covered), pass and maintain driving approval as required by our insurer.

Supplemental Information:
All assignments involve work in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural settings with seriously mentally ill adults or seriously emotionally, disturbed children or adolescents, or complex trauma.  Mental health services are decentralized throughout the County and involve field-work and travel within the County.  Incumbents are expected to work in community agency or school environments and/or via telehealth.

Continuous review of BBS requirements and funder requirements may result in position descriptions update. When updated positional descriptions will be reviewed with incumbents.

Benefits:

• 401(k),
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Referral program
• Vision insurance