2526 Martin Luther King Jr Way
Berkeley, CA 94704
United States
This is an opportunity to join a dynamic nonprofit organization working at the juncture of global mental health and human rights. Reporting to the Counseling Program Manager, the Trauma Therapist is a full-time direct service role that will provide individual, family, group therapy, case management and psychological/asylum evaluations for international survivors of human rights abuses, asylum seekers and refugees. PTR’s philosophy of healing utilizes evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally-attuned healing modalities that are relational and humanistically oriented to increase survivors’ agency, improve adaptive coping strategies, reduce survivor’s trauma symptomatology, and create safe spaces for healing to restore a sense of hope, safety and control over survivors’ lives. This position is a grant funded position through the California Victims Compensation Board through June 30, 2023 and is contingent on ongoing funding.
In addition to clinical experience providing trauma-informed and culturally responsive care for diverse communities, this position requires flexibility, creativity, resourcefulness and independence. Essential for this position is a sustained commitment to advancing global social justice & human rights, with a focus on the needs of human rights abuse survivors and immigrants seeking greater safety in the United States.
Effective July 1, 2022, PTR is transitioning from a full-time tele-health model to a Hybrid Service Delivery model that combines in person direct care with remote work. This position will be required to offer in-person service delivery a minimum of two days/week either at PTR offices located in Berkeley, CA or in the community. This policy will be reviewed ongoingly and formally reassessed December 31, 2022, with the possibility of increasing the in-person requirement.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The roles and responsibilities of the Trauma Therapist will include the following:
Direct Client Care (90%)
- Provide culturally and contextually responsive, trauma-informed and relationally-oriented individual and family psychotherapy for asylum seekers and refugees.
- Complete intake assessments and develop individualized treatment plans and priorities in collaboration with clients.
- Conduct follow-up assessments to monitor client progress, assess progress towards goals and developing needs and circumstances at 24-week intervals.
- Provide clinical case management and advocacy support, including assistance with connecting clients to community resources to address varied medical, legal, social, economic, employment and educational needs.
- In collaboration with the Counseling Program Manager, design and facilitate groups to support the collective healing of survivors of human rights abuses that are culturally attuned to alternative modalities of collective healing.
- Conduct asylum evaluations for individuals referred for evaluations during the asylum claim process. Collaborate with legal representatives and testify in Immigration Court, as needed. Accompany clients to asylum interviews and court hearings, as indicated.
- Complete client documentation and data collection in Salesforce electronic client charting system as per agency guidelines and grant requirements.
- Participate in the client care team and help achieve direct service goals. Support overall client care collaborating with psychological, psychosocial, psychiatric and community outreach team members.
- Participate in client care and programmatic team meetings, consultation and supervision.
Community Collaboration , Training and Other Responsibilities (10%)
- Represent PTR to community members, partners and organizations through external presentations and capacity-building activities.
- In collaboration with the Counseling Program Manager and the Director of Client Care, support the provision of offering trauma-informed training for partners and providers regarding the mental health and wellness needs of asylum seekers and refugees.
- Help develop & sustain collaborative relationships with partners & providers in the community.
- Complete data reporting and administrative duties.
- Participate in organization-wide activities and meetings and perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education & Experience
- Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work (MSW), Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy (MA, MS) or Clinical Psychology (PsyD or PhD).
- Licensed as a mental health provider in the state of California (LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, PsyD) or able to obtain licensure in CA if licensed in another state, or registered with the BBS as an AMFT, ASW, APCC. We will consider pre-licensure candidates who are registered associates and are working towards their
license. Clinical supervision is provided in this position for prelicensure candidates.
- 3+ years of experience providing trauma-informed psychological care for diverse and underserved populations including immigrants.
- Fluency in written and oral Spanish
- Experience with trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and relationally-oriented approaches to care.
- Experience working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.
Preferred Experience
- Experience working with refugees and/or asylum seekers.
- Experience working in different languages and/or with in-person interpreters.
- International work, study and/or living experience.
- Experience conducting psychological evaluations for asylum claims.
- Fluency in one or more languages in addition to English, with Spanish, Mam & Tigrinya highly desirable.
Competencies & Interests
- Global cultural and contextual awareness for working collaboratively with internationally diverse clients and team members.
- Demonstrated commitment to global social justice, anti-racism and human rights.
- Interest in contributing to a diverse, equitable and inclusive team environment.
- Capacity for self-reflection, humility, respect for difference & ability to manage disagreement.
- Flexibility, patience & ability to adapt to developing program needs.
- Maturity, initiative, resourcefulness & ability to creatively problem-solve.
- Interpersonal warmth, empathy, sense of humor & calm.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure with limited resources.
- Proficiency with MS Office Suite and Google Drive.
If interested, please submit the following to [email protected] with the subject Application for Bilingual Trauma Therapist: 1) a cover letter, 2) your most recent curriculum vitae or resume, and 3) a one-page statement about your clinical approach & philosophy. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. To learn more about Partnerships for Trauma Recovery, please visit our website at www.traumapartners.org. PTR is committed to creating a diverse workplace that reflects the nature of our work as well as our international client population. BIPOC, LGBTQ and immigrant candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.