Yakima Neighborhood Health Services Job Title: Counselor

Minimum Qualifications:

Master's in Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Educational Psychology with an intern or practicum experience in direct counseling services; or certification within Washington State as a Certified Social Worker, Certified Mental Health Counselor, Certified Marriage and Family Therapist, or Licensed Psychologist; plus one year (40 hour week; not internships or practicum) supervised experience with direct counseling services to clients. Convenient if bilingual in English/Spanish, English/Laotian, English / Cambodian, English/Vietnamese, English/Russian, and/or ability to sign.

Supervised by: First Steps Coordinator

Position(s) supervises: None

Typical Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

Requires sitting for long periods of time, working at a computer terminal. Some bending and stretching required. Ability to lift papers or boxes up to 30 pounds occasionally. Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range. Manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination required for use of calculators, phones, computer keyboards and other equipment. Requires ability to sustain concentration in a noisy and fast-paced environment. Visitation in client homes year-round is common. Local travel using own car is required.

Examples of Duties (this list may not all include all the duties assigned):

ß         Provide psychosocial assessment, counseling and education to pregnant/postpartum clients.

ß         Complete screens for depression with postpartum clients.

ß         Provide counseling in such areas as grief and loss, postpartum depression, parenting, sexual abuse, domestic violence, etc

ß         Attend case conferences on a regular basis with other YNHS health staff to address the comprehensive needs of the clients.

ß         Maintain strict confidentiality standards in regard to mental health services and chemical dependency counseling standard.

ß         Obtain appropriate and specific releases from clients before sharing information with other agencies.

ß         Develop and maintain appropriate linkages with other mental health/social services in the community who may share YNHS clients.

ß         Work in coordination with other YNHS health providers to develop education programs for YNHS patients and staff.

ß         Works cooperatively with students, modeling and directing counseling activities.

ß         Participate in quality assurance activities and peer review as requested.

ß         Maintain organized, clean, efficient and confidential work area.

ß         Represent YNHS in local meetings as requested.

ß         Perform related work or other tasks as requested.

Working Relationships:

All YNHS employees are expected to develop and maintain professional and courteous working relationships with all other YNHS employees, patients, visitors, health profession students, vendors, and volunteers of the organization. In addition, YNHS employees are expected to provide courteous and efficient service to health and social service agencies working with YNHS patients.

Salary Range:

Salary Level D