Senior Mental Health Therapist

Job Title: Senior Mental Health Therapist
Reports to: Clinical Team Lead
Department: The Pines
Compensation: $82,000 - $113,500 depending on years of experience and licensure

Shrub Oak International School () is a therapeutic day and residential school for autistic children, adolescents, and young adults with complex co-occurring conditions. Located in northern Westchester County, Shrub Oak offers unparalleled educational opportunities for autistic students in a family-centric, supportive environment. We offer a variety of programs to meet the needs of students across the spectrum, and our curriculum is based on the most advanced and successful evidence-based clinical and academic approaches in ASD education.
The Pines at Shrub Oak is a 24-bed, coeducational, interim residential placement for students on the autism spectrum who may need significant psychiatric support and stabilization before transitioning to a less restrictive environment. Students at the Pines receive psychiatric services in addition to the academic and life skills instruction in a safe, supportive environment with a 2:1 student to staff ratio.

Essential Functions:
The Senior Mental Health Therapist is a licensed professional who will provide expertise in behavioral science and mental health related services, serving as an integral part of The Pines interdisciplinary team. The therapist will be the primary mental health provider for an assigned cohort of students and will be responsible for providing individual, group, and family therapy. The Pines will operate within a DBT framework, and the therapist will be comprehensively trained in DBT and will be directly involved with the implementation and utilization of DBT as a core component of treatment. The therapist will work closely with students, family members, and external parties to ensure comprehensive therapeutic care, and to support thorough transition and future planning. The therapist will also provide expertise by conducting behavioral assessments within their purview, consulting, counseling and supporting crises as needed, as well as designing and developing treatment plans and interventions that meet the individualized needs of students. The therapist will also work some evening and weekend hours on a rotating basis and be part of a rotating clinical on-call system. Having access to confidential information, discretion and independent judgement is required.

• Conducts comprehensive assessments and reassessments of a student's behavioral and emotional needs within the approved parameters of their expertise
• Provides crisis management and/or classroom push in/pull out support as necessary
• Utilizes a variety of treatment approaches, including milieu approaches, that are safe, creative and individualized to a particular student's needs
• Functions as a member of an interdisciplinary team to support the comprehensive treatment of students in The Pines
• Engages students and families in treatment planning to set achievable and measurable goals and supports the identification and execution of interventions designed to support the attainment of those goals
• Completes accurate and timely clinical documentation around treatment planning, progress noting, IEP, and others as required
• Develops and implements behavior support plans (BIP, ISP, others) and trains staff in support of the plan to improve behavioral outcomes for our students
• Collaborates with students, families, and external providers to support transition and future planning
• Performs any other responsibilities as needed and required

Please note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Requirements:
Experience & Education

• Master's degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Art Therapy or related required; PhD or PsyD in Clinical Psychology or related field preferred.
• Valid NYS clinical license: LCSW, PsyD, LMHC or LCAT in good standing required
• At least 3 years’ experience in a behavioral health, residential, or educational setting conducting mental health/behavioral assessments, evaluations, and interventions required; 5 or more years preferred
• Experience working with students on the autism spectrum or with developmental disabilities strongly preferred
• DBT experience strongly preferred

Skills & Abilities:

• Competency in utilization of evidence-based clinical modalities including but not limited to DBT, CBT, TF-CBT, MI, and others.
• Exceptional written communication skills, specifically involving documentation, progress notes, incident reports, and other related administrative tasks
• Exceptional verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with a demonstrated ability to understand, problem solve, and make sound determinations/decisions in situations with complex facts and data
• Skilled in managing challenging behaviors and executing de-escalation techniques
• Ability and willingness to learn new skills
• Ability to display grit and resilience and maintain composure
• Ability to effectively and proactively interact with a wide variety of individuals in a manner that values diversity, and positively portrays our programs, personnel, and philosophies
• Ability to multitask and make sound and appropriate decisions under pressure, where situations/circumstances are continually evolving
• Demonstrated ability to succeed in a fast-paced, unpredictable environment
• Ability to handle highly challenging behaviors, including those aggressive in nature
• Computer proficiency and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and other software
• Ability to get TCIS trained and complete/maintain all required trainings

Benefits:
Available for full-time employees. An overview of our benefits:

• Insurance coverage: Health, vision, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Paid time off (PTO)
• 401k w/ company match
• Tuition/Professional development assistance
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Employee discounts

Physical Requirements/Demands:
A workday regularly includes multiple or conflicting demands, deadlines and time pressures; work regularly requires sustained concentration. Standing for sustained periods of time, bending, stretching, walking up and down stairs (building has 6 floors), around a hilly campus as needed, may also require walking between floors or between buildings at a moment’s notice. May need to lift/move boxes up to 25 pounds and move or rearrange furniture.

Work Environment:
We are a boarding school located on a 127-acre campus. The work environment will include both indoor and outdoor spaces, mostly inside the classroom or educational environment. May include work within the residential setting. The building has 6 floors accessible by staircases and elevators.

EEO Statement:
Shrub Oak is an equal employment opportunity employer. Shrub Oak International School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to apply for a job or to perform the essentials functions of their job. Please advise us if you require a reasonable accommodation.

Please note:
SOIS maintains a smoke-free environment to ensure the health and safety of our students, employees, and community. Smoking or vaping of any kind is strictly prohibited indoors, outdoors, and during off-campus activities, with enforcement measures in place including smoke/vape detectors. Non-compliance will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.