Mental Health Clinician

Are you a clinician who finds joy in building connections and trust with young people? Do you believe that feeling heard, seen, and supported can change someone’s story? Are you looking to be part of a team that shows up for youth, exactly as they are? If this sounds like the kind of work you’ve been looking for, we’d love to meet you.

What We Do

Since , The Alex has been a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing integrated primary health care, community support services, and housing-focused programs to individuals and families who experience barriers to accessing traditional health, housing, and social service systems. Services are grounded in principles of health equity, low-barrier access, trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, harm reduction, and person-centered care

The Youth Health Clinic provides team-based primary health care and social programming to youth aged 12 to 24.

Mental Health Clinicians (MHCs) offer evidence-based therapies to individuals and groups, facilitates skills and process to groups, and works closely with an interdisciplinary health and social team. While carrying a case load and completing required assessments, evaluation instruments, and other documentation, MHCs seek to resolve clients’ issues and support their move to independence or to other community support where appropriate.

This is a full-time contract position for 12 months until July 16, .

What You Will Do:

• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide evidence-based therapies within the session guidelines.
• Move clients off caseloads within session guidelines and be receptive to taking new clients onto caseload.
• Provide four to five therapeutic encounters with clients daily as a minimum expectation.
• Offer culturally sensitive services.
• Complete required documentation with excellence, in accordance with agency policy and procedures, and be respective of professional college requirements.
• Conduct assessments as appropriate and contribute to individualized service plans.
• Use evidence-based treatments in the areas of mental health and substance abuse to address participant needs (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectal behaviour therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), solution-focused therapy (SFT), etc.).
• Work from a harm reduction, trauma informed, and recovery-based approaches, grounded on a client’s readiness for change.
• Work collaboratively with clients, families, and community partners to assist clients in achieving treatment and recovery goals.
• Facilitate group programming for clients, using principles of psychoeducation, CBT, and other evidence-based models, when appropriate.
• Provide access to clients with same-day therapy, when required, appropriate, and applicable to The Alex program.
• Assist in data collection, and entry, as directed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What You Bring:

• Master's degree in psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• An active registration with a professional discipline in Alberta.
• Social Workers must be authorized to perform restricted psychosocial activities or be willing to qualify for this practice enhancement.
• Minimum two years of experience providing mental health care to individuals ages 12 to 24.
• Awareness of FOIP, HIA, and HIPA and doctrines such as the Mature Minor.
• Knowledge around working with suicidal individuals and how to handle such situations appropriately while considering confidentiality and client safety.
• Specialized training in evidenced-based therapies is an asset (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectal behavior therapy, solution focused therapy, etc.).
• Experience in single session therapy is an asset.
• Ability to set goals and work with clients within appropriate timelines and refer to other agencies/programs if needed.
• Awareness of the importance of evidence-based treatments and flexibility to practice from different perspectives.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues.
• Awareness of increased complexities in providing therapy virtually.
• Understanding of harm reduction and trauma informed care.
• Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills.
• Commitment to contributing positively to team culture.
• Ability to work in high-stress situations with clear and open communication.
• Openness to a wide scope of practice with commitment to innovation and flexibility.
• Strong initiative in times of limited supervision.
• Awareness of the value that research and evaluation brings to therapy.
• First Aid (Basic or Intermediate) – Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance and child welfare intervention check are required.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action.

Work Environment and Hours:

• The Alex Youth Health Centre: – 2 Ave SE, Calgary, AB
• 1.0 FTE (37.5 hrs/wk)
• Standard hours are 10:00 am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday.
• Continuous extended periods of sitting, with some standing and walking (sometimes up or down stairwells).
• Occasional physical action require the ability to bend/crouch, reach above shoulder height, kneel/crawl, and carry objects (up to 20 lbs.).

What We Offer:

Some of the great benefits The Alex has to offer include:

• 3-weeks’ vacation
• Medical and Dental Coverage
• Health / Wellness Spending Accounts
• RRSP, Student Loan Repayment Program and/or Mortgage Repayment Accelerator Program (up to 5% match)
• Personal Days
• Floating Holiday
• Sick/Wellness Days
• Employee Family Assistance Plan (EFAP)
• Professional Development