Child and Adolescent Therapist in Washington, District of Columbia at The District of Columbia Childrens Advocacy Center

The Child and Adolescent Therapist provides (without charge to client or encumbrance of insurance) therapeutic services to help children and caregivers cope with and recover from experiences of child sexual or physical abuse or exposure to other violent crimes. This is an in-person, direct service position and may require occasional evening (until 8pm) work hours. The incumbent is required to participate in the on-call rotation for after-hours and weekend advocacy/clinical crisis intervention services. This position requires mandatory reporting for child abuse and neglect under the District of Columbia Statute § 4-1321.02.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Conduct psycho-social assessments with children, adolescents, and caregivers to identify strengths, needs, and appropriate interventions.
• Conduct therapeutic sessions with children and adolescents; develop case goals and document progress.
• Maintain and assure quality and confidentiality of electronic and paper files and statistical tracking.
• Participate in weekly, individual supervision.
• Participate in staff meetings, ongoing training and professional development activities including individual supervision and peer review.
• Provide non-offending family members with clinical consultation, parent education, and therapeutic referrals.
• Facilitate support/psychoeducation/treatment groups as needed.
• Respond to crisis situations with clients.
• Participate in on-going training and professional development activities.
• Share appropriate information with Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) partners; collaborate with team members in planning care for children/adolescents and arrange services.
• Consult with members of the MDT as requested or as deemed necessary.
• Participate in MDT and organization-wide planning efforts and events.

Supervisory Responsibilities

There are no supervisory responsibilities for this position.

• Master’s degree (from an accredited institution) in social work, counseling, psychology or related field;
• At least one (1) year professional experience;
• Current mental health licensure in the District of Columbia.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to work in-person, some evenings, and participate in an after-hours on-call rotation.
• Demonstrated knowledge with different theoretical and intervention models including developmental theories, attachment theories, crisis intervention theories, the dynamics of intra-and extra-familial child abuse, and the DSM-V.
• Superb interpersonal skills; high level of cultural humility. Superior organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to work independently and as a contributing team member.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and adolescents, ranging in age from 3 to 17 years of age, as well as with their adult caregivers.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally to a variety of individuals and groups.
• Ability to successfully pass Child Protection Registry clearance and criminal background check.

Preferred Qualifications

• Academic or post-graduate training in Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
• Experience working in a Children’s Advocacy Center setting.
• Knowledge of investigative, social services and legal system in the District of Columbia.
• Familiarity with and a disposition toward the multi-disciplinary team approach to the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases.