Family Therapist

POSITION SUMMARY

The Family Therapist is to provide patients and their families/significant others education, treatment and support for recovering from the effects of substance use disorders; consistent with the mission and philosophy of Fora, Family Therapists have a basic knowledge of substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health concerns and will recognize the importance of family, social networks, and community systems in the treatment and recovery process. This position is required to work Monday-Friday a minimum of two evenings each week, and facilitate clinical groups. Family therapists will provide services to adult families referred from residential and/or outpatient programs to meet the needs of all families seeking services. 

Schedule: Monday through Friday, including two evenings

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Clinical Evaluation, Treatment Planning, and Documentation

• Gather data systematically from the patient and their chosen family/significant others to identify relationship patterns, communication difficulties, family strengths and factors impacting recovery. 
•  Complete genograms, family assessments, and other necessary documentation in a timely and in an accurate manner.
• The Family Therapist will obtain and interpret all relevant assessment information into individualized collaborative treatment planning relevant to family goals and recovery needs. 
• Provide relational interventions that match the patients and families/significant others presenting needs and consider both internal and external referrals that are aligned with family recovery goals. 
• Monitor patient/family progress towards treatment goals and modify interventions based on clinical need. 
• Maintain timely documentation and accurate clinical documentation, including assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, family therapy documentation and discharge planning.
• Provide evidence-based interventions and psychoeducation addressing family dynamics, communication, boundaries, conflict resolution, protective behaviors (enabling behaviors) and development of family relapse prevention and crisis response plans. 
• Create procedures for initiating and sustaining contact with families/significant others while maintaining appropriate regard for privacy, confidentiality regulations and standards of care.
• Inform and maintain patients and their significant supports confidentiality rights, procedures that safeguard them, and exceptions imposed by regulations.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team care coordination meetings, case consultation, discharge planning and document continuing care, referrals, and linkage to community resources.
• Participate in quality improvement efforts, including tracking family-services utilization, outcomes and patient/family satisfaction.
• Perform other clinical duties consistent with the scope of practice and program needs.

Develop and Provide counseling and education services for patients and their support systems/family/significant others

• In conjunction with patients and treatment teams, develop and implement services that meet the support system needs of patients in a manner that fulfills the agency’s mission using an individualized treatment approach.
• Facilitate engagement and appropriate involvement of selected members of the family, couple, or significant others in treatment/recovery process.
• Develop and provide individual, group, and family counseling as a part of the therapeutic process to achieve treatment goals.
• Schedule family therapy intakes within 48 hours of receiving the family therapy referral.
• Provide outreach to contact patients identified and appropriate support within 48 business hours of initial family therapy intake with enrolled patients.
• Return phone calls from patients and concerned significant others within 24-48 business hours.
• Assist patients, families and significant others to understand the interaction between the patient’s support system and co-occurring disorders. 
• Assist patients, families and significant others to adopt strategies and behaviors that sustain recovery and maintain healthy relationships.
• Sensitize to issues of cultural identity, race, ethnic background, age, sexual orientation and gender in treatment and recovery.
• Provide services through a trauma-informed approach and lens.
• Provide psychoeducation to strengthen relationships including stress management, non-violent communication, boundaries, change management strategies and parenting as it applies to patient needs.
• Integrate Motivational Interviewing strategies, Stages of Change conceptualization, Systems Thinking, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy principles and skills into education and counseling processes. 
• Maintain a caseload of approximately 30 patients and/or families with a weekly service expectation of a minimum of 55% of time providing clinical care. Caseload size may fluctuate to ensure that a minimum of 55% of time is dedicated to direct care. 

Professional and Ethical Responsibilities

• Demonstrate ethical behaviors by adhering to established professional codes of ethics, confidentiality laws, professional boundaries and mandated reporting responsibilities.
• Adhere to Federal and State laws and agency policies and procedures regarding the treatment of substance use disorders.
• Recognize the importance of individual differences that influence patient client behavior and apply this understanding to clinical practice.
• Participate in ongoing supervision and consultation.
• Develop/utilize strategies to maintain one's own physical/mental health.
• Obtain and maintain current addiction counselor certification.
• Provide a Professional Disclosure Statement to all individuals and families receiving services.

Functions as an Active Member of the Program Clinical Team

• Attend and participate in treatment team meetings as assigned.
• Attend clinical supervision meetings assigned.
• Maintain and strengthen good working relationships with clinical team members.
• Attend and participate in departmental team meetings as assigned.
• Communicate and coordinate with staff from other departments effectively.
• Attend all staff meetings assigned.
• Work with Program Manager to identify gaps in curriculum and collaboratively implement improvements aligned with patient needs, clinical best practice, and program outcomes.

Productivity.

• Schedule family therapy intake within 48 hours of receiving the family therapy referral.
• Provide outreach for the purpose of contacting identified and appropriate patient support within 48 business hours of initial evaluation with enrolled patients.
• Return phone calls from patients and concerned significant others within 24-48 business hours. 
• Facilitate weekly clinical groups as assigned to meet program needs.
• Work with Program Manager in development of family/support systems programming.
• Actively promote family therapy services within the Outpatient and Residential Programs through ongoing engagement, education and collaboration with patients and staff.
• Maintain a weekly schedule sufficient to meet a minimum of 55% weekly patient contact hours to provide consistent access to family services and direct care. This is met through individual/family sessions, groups facilitation, and case-management.   
• Offer both individual and group coverage for SUD and/or MH focused sessions as assigned to by Program Manager.  

SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS

• Position has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Counseling, Social Work, Psychology or another closely related behavioral health field that provides appropriate preparation for the delivery of individual, couples and family therapy. 
• At least 1 year of supervised experience providing counseling with a systems focus. 
• Obtain Certification for Alcohol and Drug Counseling within 1 year after hire. 
• Working towards Certification of "Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP)” through Oregon’s Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon (MHACBO) and/or Licensure regulated by Oregon Board of License Professional Counselor and therapist (OBLPCT), or Oregon Board of License /social work (BLSW) 
• QMHPs must demonstrate the ability to conduct an assessment, including identifying precipitating events, gathering histories of mental and physical health, alcohol and other drug use, past mental health services and criminal justice contacts, assessing family, cultural, social and work relationships, complete and assess for DSM diagnosis, and development and monitoring of a written treatment plan within the scope of their training.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Has basic knowledge of substance use disorders and intersection of co-occurring disorders

- Understand symptoms of addiction including addictive thinking/behaviors and basic understanding of harm reduction interventions i.e. psychopharmacology.

- Can describe warning signs, symptoms, and the course of substance use disorders. Can describe how substance use disorders affect families and concerned others. Can describe principles and philosophy of prevention, treatment, and recovery.

• Demonstrates familiarity with behavior change and recovery models.
• Understands family systems theories and the impact of addiction on the family 

- Recognizes how, when and why to involve the client's significant other(s) in family therapy.

- Understands the characteristics and dynamics of families, couples, and significant others affected by substance use. 

- Is familiar with and can appropriately use models of diagnosis and intervention for families, couples, and significant others.

- Able to facilitate the engagement of selected members of the family or significant others in the treatment and recovery process.

• Able to assist families, couples, and significant others in understanding the interaction between the family system and substance use behaviors.
• Demonstrates understanding and application of issues related to self-awareness, diversity, and ethics.
• Demonstrates ability to establish rapport and gather data to complete clinical evaluation including readiness for family therapy treatment.
• Demonstrate an understanding of and compliance with best treatment practices related to matters of self-awareness, diversity and ethics. 
• Demonstrates ability to construct treatment plans with patient/family; to re-assess the plan and make changes as indicated.
• Demonstrates knowledge of and ability to record treatment plans, session notes and progress of patient in relation to treatment goals and objectives consistent with agency standards.
• Demonstrates ability to facilitate process and psychoeducation groups for patients, in addition to family support education groups. 
• Recognize the importance of individual differences which influence patient behavior and will develop and use strategies to maintain one’s physical and mental health.
• Demonstrates the ability to explain evidence-based clinical interventions in patient-centered language and connect them to the patient’s/family’s recovery goals.
• Able to effectively problem solve and troubleshoot.
• Understands emergency situations and protocols to maintain safety. 
• Understands the role of community recovery meetings as a complementary support to formal behavioral health treatment.
• Able to coordinate and consult with treatment teams across all programs and community referents.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• For employees with a history of substance use disorder, Fora Health’s policy requires certification of a minimum of two years of sobriety for this position.
• Ability to pass pre-employment or for cause drug tests.
• Ability to pass DHS Criminal Background check

WORKING CONDITIONS

• This position generally works in an indoor office environment.
• Position requires some evening shifts. Adjustment of work schedule may be requested to meet program needs.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases which can encompass a variety of illnesses and infections, including tuberculosis, COVID-19, Hepatitis A, B, and C, and HIV.
• Possible exposure to upset, angry, severely traumatized, disabled or emotionally dysregulated patients and families.
• Exposure to potentially hazardous cleaning chemicals, personal protective equipment provided. 
• Reading computer screens, correspondence, forms, etc.