Indigenous EPI TherapistIndigenous Youth Worker (50-26)

INTERNAL/EXTERNAL POSTING: OPEN UNTIL JULY 27 2026 AT 4:00PM

INDIGENOUS EPI THERAPIST AND YOUTH WORKER (50-26)

BSAANIBAMAADSIWIN PROGRAM EARLY PSYCHOSIS INTERVENTION

Job Status: Permanent

Hours of work: 35 hours per week

Base office: Parry Sound

Competition #: 50-26

Purpose of the Position: The EPI Therapist is a member of Bsaanibamaadsiwin an Indigenous Mental Health and Addictions program that walks alongside Indigenous community members families and communities in a way that is relational culturally safe trauma-informed and grounded in respect for Indigenous ways of knowing. This role provides Early Psychosis Intervention (EPI) services to Indigenous youth emerging adults and their families/supports who may be experiencing early signs of psychosis or a first episode of psychosis. The EPI Therapist provides counselling/psychotherapy assessment psychoeducation treatment planning relapse prevention family support system navigation and coordinated care in collaboration with the client their chosen supports the Bsaanibamaadsiwin team the Parry Sound EPI Team the regional EPI team and community partners.

Bsaanibamaadsiwin honours a Two-Eyed Seeing approach. The successful candidate will be expected to respect and draw from both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing while ensuring that care is led by the clients needs choices identity culture family/supports and community context.

We strongly encourage applications from First Nations Inuit and Métis applicants. Candidates who self-identify as Indigenous will be prioritized in the hiring process as part of our commitment to providing culturally appropriate community-accountable care. Applicants are invited to self-identify in their cover letter if they are comfortable doing so. Indigenous knowledge language lived/living experience community connection cultural teachings and professional experience are all valued forms of knowledge for this role.

Education and Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree or higher in Social Work Psychology Nursing Occupational Therapy Counselling/Psychotherapy or another related human service/health science discipline or an equivalent combination of relevant education registration and experience.
• Current registration in good standing with a professional regulatory body whose members are authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy in Ontario or ability to obtain and maintain appropriate registration as required for the role. This may include but is not limited to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario the College of Nurses of Ontario the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario or another appropriate regulatory college.
• Demonstrated ability to provide counselling/psychotherapy therapeutic interventions assessment treatment planning crisis support and professional documentation with youth emerging adults families and/or individuals experiencing significant mental health concerns.
• Experience or strong interest in Early Psychosis Intervention first episode psychosis serious mental illness concurrent disorders youth mental health family work or recovery-oriented care. Formal EPI experience is an asset but is not required when the candidate brings strong clinical relational cultural and learning capacity.
• Understanding of EPI principles including early identification engagement psychoeducation coordinated specialty care relapse prevention family involvement and support for school work home social cultural and community functioning.
• Knowledge of Indigenous cultures histories strengths teachings and practices with awareness of the traditional territories and First Nation communities within Muskoka and Parry Sound.
• Understanding of the impacts of colonization residential schools child welfare involvement racism discrimination grief/loss poverty housing insecurity and other social determinants of health while also recognizing Indigenous strengths resilience culture family kinship land ceremony language humour and community connection.
• Experience working with Indigenous communities Indigenous organizations First Nation communities or Indigenous clients and families is strongly preferred.
• Ability to respectfully collaborate with Elders Knowledge Keepers healers traditional people community leaders and cultural supports when requested by the client and when appropriate protocol has been followed.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team in rural and community-based settings including in-person community-based office-based and virtual service delivery.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word Outlook and client information systems.
• Bilingualism in French is an asset. Indigenous language fluency is an asset.
• A valid Ontario G or G2 drivers licence access to reliable transportation and ability to travel throughout Muskoka and Parry Sound Districts as required.
• Flexibility to work days evenings weekends and statutory holidays as required by program needs.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provide culturally safe Early Psychosis Intervention services to Indigenous youth emerging adults and families/supports with a focus on early engagement recovery education prevention intervention and wellness.
• Provide counselling/psychotherapy and therapeutic interventions using culturally safe trauma-informed strengths-based recovery-oriented and clinically sound approaches.
• Complete intake screening assessment treatment planning risk assessment safety planning relapse prevention planning discharge/transition planning and follow-up in a respectful and timely manner.
• Support clients who may be experiencing early signs of psychosis a first episode of psychosis mood concerns anxiety trauma substance use social withdrawal grief/loss crisis or other barriers to wellness and recovery.
• Provide psychoeducation and family/support work with client consent to help families and chosen supports better understand psychosis recovery communication relapse prevention crisis planning and available resources.
• Participate in NAVIGATE model training and apply relevant components of coordinated specialty care including Individual Resiliency Training Family Education Supported Employment and Education peer support medication collaboration and team-based care as appropriate to the role and service plan.
• Work from a wholistic lens that considers physical mental emotional spiritual family social cultural community school/work housing income and safety needs.
• Use a Two-Eyed Seeing approach by integrating clinical knowledge with Indigenous knowledge cultural supports ceremony land-based approaches and traditional healing when requested by the client and appropriate to the service plan.
• Build and maintain respectful relationships with First Nation communities Indigenous organizations schools health care providers hospitals primary care psychiatry crisis services RAAM/addictions services community partners and other service providers.
• Support early identification and access by providing education consultation outreach and service navigation to clients families communities schools and partners as appropriate.
• Maintain accurate respectful timely and professional clinical documentation in accordance with agency policy regulatory college standards privacy legislation and program expectations.
• Contribute to a healthy team culture by practicing humility accountability good communication mutual support and willingness to learn.

Salary scale: $36.62 to $45.15 per hour commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Benefits: Comprehensive benefit plan and enrolment in a Registered Retirement Plan with HOOPP where contributions start on date of hire.

You are invited to submit your application quoting competition 50-26 by 4:00pm on Monday July 27 2026 to:

The Hiring Committee
Canadian Mental Health Association Muskoka-Parry Sound Branch
173-202 Manitoba Street
Bracebridge Ontario P1L 1S3
Telephone: Online: CMHA MPS Careers

Canadian Mental Health Association Muskoka - Parry Sound (CMHAMPS) is an equal opportunity employer and we value the importance of diversity dignity and worth of every individual in the workplace.

Qualified consumers/survivors and/or family members are encouraged to apply.

We retain all applications submitted for one (1) year after the closing date of this posting for consideration in any future postings.

As part of our commitment to Accessibility if you wish this information in a different format please contact our office at or email .

If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity please let us know prior to the interview if you require accommodation.

We thank all applicants but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Required Experience:

Senior IC

Employment Type : Full-Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1
Monthly Salary Salary: 36 - 45