Clinical Counsellor & Behavioural Therapist! 

Overview

Job Title: Clinical Counsellor & Behavioural Therapist
Reports to: Clinical Supervisor
Position Duration: permanent (3-month probation)
Hours/week: 31.5 hours/week
Hourly wage: $42/hour
Vacation: 8% accrual
Benefits: Full benefits paid by employer, 5% RRSP Contribution (following probation)
Office Location(s): Castlegar, BC

Position Summary

Freedom Quest Youth Services Society provides specialized residential care and support services for children and youth experiencing crisis. The agency’s Low-Barrier Short-Term Stabilization Care program, Eagle House, provides a safe environment for children and youth (aged 6-18) who are experiencing a crisis and/or breakdown of their living environment. The service is short-term (3-9 months) and focuses on crisis mitigation and healing through a harm-reduction lens by providing culturally safe, individualized support.

This is a combined position (30 hours/week total: 15 hours Clinical Counsellor + 15 hours Behavioural Therapist) providing direct clinical services and behavioural intervention support to children and youth in our Low-Barrier Short-Term Stabilization Care program. The successful candidate will lead therapy planning, deliver clinical interventions, conduct functional behavioural assessments, and work collaboratively with the residential care team, families/caregivers, and community partners to support stabilization and successful transitions for children and youth experiencing functional crises.

This position works in partnership with community-based professionals (CYMH, CYSN) and is integral to developing and implementing SHSS Service Plans that support crisis stabilization and prepare children/youth for successful transitions back home or to alternative living arrangements.

Key Competencies

Clinical Excellence
  • Advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills
  • Expertise in trauma-informed therapeutic interventions
  • Skilled in functional behavioural assessment and intervention planning
  • Strong crisis intervention and risk assessment capabilities
  • Ability to integrate clinical and behavioural approaches for comprehensive care
 
Collaboration and Communication
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with diverse stakeholders
  • Ability to provide effective consultation to staff, families, and community partners
  • Skilled in facilitating difficult conversations and managing conflicts
  • Strong team collaboration abilities across multidisciplinary settings
 
Cultural Responsiveness and Sensitivity
  • Commitment to cultural safety, humility, and anti-racism
  • Understanding of distinctions-based approaches for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples
  • Ability to work respectfully with diverse families and communities
  • Skilled in incorporating cultural practices and traditional healing into treatment planning
 
Child and Family-Centered Practice
  • Ability to engage children/youth who may be resistant or mistrustful
  • Skilled in building authentic, therapeutic relationships
  • Strong family engagement and parent training skills
  • Capacity to honor children/youth voice and agency in treatment planning
 
Systems Thinking and Coordination
  • Understanding of the child welfare system and specialized residential care
  • Ability to coordinate care across multiple service providers
  • Skilled in transition planning and community reintegration
  • Understanding of how individual interventions fit within broader systems of care
 
Professional Accountability
  • Strong ethical compass and professional integrity
  • Excellent documentation and record-keeping abilities
  • Commitment to evidence-informed practice and ongoing learning
  • Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries
  • Self-awareness and commitment to reflective practice
 
Flexibility and Resilience
  • Ability to work effectively in a dynamic residential environment
  • Creative problem-solving in complex situations
  • Capacity to manage the emotional demands of working with high-risk youth
  • Strong self-care practices and resilience
 
Working Conditions
  • 30 hours per week (15 hours Clinical Counsellor + 15 hours Behavioural Therapist)
  • Services primarily delivered at the residential facility with occasional community-based work
  • Flexible scheduling may be required to accommodate family meetings, case conferences, and program needs
  • May include occasional evening hours for family therapy sessions or transition planning meetings
  • Regular collaboration with residential care team during various shifts
  • Office space and resources provided at the residential facility
 
Supervision and Reporting
  • Reports to Clinical Supervisor
  • Works collaboratively with Residence Coordinator and residential care team
  • Participates in clinical consultation and peer supervision as appropriate
  • May provide guidance and consultation to Residential Child/Youth Workers

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Counsellor Responsibilities (16.5 hours/week)
 
Direct Clinical Services
  • Provide comprehensive clinical services including intake, assessment, treatment, and crisis intervention for children and youth with moderate to severe behavioral, mental health, and/or trauma-related concerns
  • Conduct individual, group, and family therapy using evidence-informed therapeutic modalities
  • Provide mediation and family support to children/youth and their family/caregivers
  • Deliver parent training and family interventions (e.g., Emotionally Focused Family Therapy or other evidence-based approaches)
  • Maintain basic knowledge of psychotropic medications as prescribed by physicians, including awareness of effects and side effects
 
Assessment and Planning
  • Lead the development and implementation of SHSS Service Plans in collaboration with children/youth, families, care teams, and guardianship workers
  • Provide comprehensive assessment and treatment planning grounded in trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive practice
  • Support the development of transition plans that prepare children/youth and their families for successful return home or alternative placements
 
Collaboration and Consultation
  • Provide consultation and liaison with community agencies, schools, hospitals, MCFD programs, and other service providers
  • Actively collaborate with community-based professionals (CYMH, CYSN) who will be (re)assuming support for the child/youth during and after transition
  • Provide direct clinical consultation and guidance to residential staff and management
  • Coordinate care teams to ensure integrated and holistic assessment and planning
 
Documentation and Training
  • Maintain appropriate clinical, client, and administrative records in accordance with professional standards and organizational policies
  • Deliver training to residential staff on trauma-informed care, mental health, and therapeutic approaches
  • Prepare reports and documentation as required
 
Behavioral Therapist Responsibilities (15 hours/week)
 
Functional Assessment and Planning
  • Conduct comprehensive functional behavioural assessments for children and youth
  • Develop behavioural intervention plans for crisis mitigation and stabilization
  • Create individualized positive behaviour support plans in collaboration with children/youth, families, and care teams
  • Assess behaviours and environmental triggers contributing to crisis situations
 
Behavioral Intervention and Support
  • Develop and maintain behavioural intervention strategies and programs for children, youth, and families
  • Implement evidence-based behavioural approaches to support stabilization and skill development
  • Provide training to caregivers and residential staff to implement individualized behavioural plans
  • Monitor and adjust behavioural interventions based on ongoing assessment and progress
 
Transition and Community Support
  • Collaborate with children/youth/families' primary community supports to develop transition plans
  • Work in alignment with community-based professionals to ensure continuity of behavioural supports after discharge
  • Provide training and consultation to families/caregivers to support successful community living
  • Develop written plans including needs identification, goals, tasks, and timeframes
 
Counselling and Skill Development
  • Counsel individuals and groups to achieve more effective personal, social, and vocational development
  • Support children/youth in developing coping strategies, emotional regulation, and adaptive behaviours
  • Facilitate skill-building activities aligned with developmental needs
 
Professional Development and Documentation
  • Keep current on literature and research in behavioural interventions and provide up-to-date best practice information
  • Maintain related records and prepare reports
  • Contribute to program evaluation and quality improvement
 
Integrated Responsibilities (Both Roles)
 
Team Collaboration
  • Work closely with residential staff to ensure consistent implementation of clinical and behavioural interventions
  • Participate in case conferences, team meetings, and care planning sessions
  • Provide guidance and support to Residential Child/Youth Workers in implementing treatment plans
  • Facilitate communication between residential program, families, schools, and community partners
 
Crisis Management
  • Provide crisis intervention support to children/youth experiencing acute distress
  • Develop crisis mitigation strategies and safety plans
  • Support residential staff in managing challenging behaviours and crisis situations
 
Cultural Safety and Trauma-Informed Practice
  • Ensure all interventions are culturally safe, trauma-informed, and aligned with the Aboriginal Policy and Practice Framework
  • Support indigenous children's inherent right to culture, language, and tradition
  • Facilitate connections to cultural supports and traditional healing practices as appropriate
 
Family Engagement
  • Actively support caregivers to develop skills and confidence to support the child/youth
  • Provide psychoeducation to families regarding mental health, trauma, behavioural challenges, and effective interventions
Facilitate family involvement in stabilization and transition planning

Knowledge Skills, and Abilities
​
Education
  • Master's degree in Social Work, Educational Counselling, Clinical Psychology, Child and Youth Care, Counselling, Psychology, or a related field (REQUIRED)
  • Registration with appropriate professional colleges or associations (e.g., BC College of Social Workers, BC Association of Clinical Counsellors) is required or must be obtained within six months of hire (REQUIRED)
 
Experience
  • Minimum five (5) years of direct clinical experience in social services working with children, youth, and families
  • Minimum two (2) years of experience conducting functional behavioural assessments and developing behavioural intervention plans
  • Demonstrated experience providing individual, group, and family therapy
  • Experience working with children/youth with complex trauma, mental health concerns, behavioural challenges, and/or developmental needs
  • Experience working in residential or intensive community-based child and youth mental health settings is preferred

Knowledge and Skills
  • Advanced knowledge of child and youth development, trauma-informed practice, and attachment theory
  • Expertise in evidence-based therapeutic modalities (e.g., CBT, DBT, EFFT, narrative therapy, play therapy)
  • Strong knowledge of functional behavioural assessment and positive behaviour support approaches
  • Understanding of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) principles and evidence-based behavioural interventions
  • Knowledge of child and youth mental health disorders, including concurrent substance use concerns
  • Familiarity with psychotropic medications commonly prescribed to children and youth
  • Understanding of harm reduction principles and low-barrier service approaches
  • Knowledge of the Child, Family and Community Service Act, An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families, and relevant MCFD policies
  • Ability to work from a biopsychosocial-spiritual lens within an ecological framework
  • Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally safe practice principles
  • Understanding of harm reduction principles and recovery-oriented care
  • Willingness to engage in life-long learning and self-reflexivity practices to understand Indigenous worldviews and the important role of culture in facilitating healing.
  • Recognition that colonization continues to impact the health and wellness of Indigenous Peoples. This includes recognizing the role of trauma and offering trauma-informed care.
  • Strong organizational and time management abilities
 
Other Requirements
  • Valid BC Class V Driver’s License (REQUIRED)
  • Satisfactory Driver’s Abstract (REQUIRED)
  • Satisfactory Driver Factor Report (REQUIRED)
  • Valid First Aid and CPR Certification (REQUIRED)
  • Reliable Vehicle (REQUIRED)
  • MCFD Record Check (inclusive of Vulnerable Sector Criminal Record Check) (REQUIRED)
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASSET)
  • Commitment to ongoing professional development and clinical supervision (REQUIRED)
  • Ability to work flexible hours occasionally to meet program and family needs (REQUIRED)