Mental Health Therapist

UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

JOB DESCRIPTION

I. TITLE OR CLASSIFICATION

Mental Health Therapist

II. DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

The Site Mental Health Therapist is part of a multi-disciplinary team working with students with social-emotional needs. The Mental Health Therapist provides mental health counseling and therapeutic interventions for students and their families.

III. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The role of the Mental Health Therapist includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Develop a plan for the therapeutic intervention for each student that includes individual/group/family counseling and participation in the classroom behavior management system.

• Work with parents to extend therapeutic interventions to the home.
• Provide training to both special education and regular education/mainstream staff to support the implementation of a behavior management system to enhance a student’s functioning across educational settings.

• In conjunction with the team, develop, monitor, and document behavioral performance of each student assuring behavioral goals and mental health treatment plans for each child are being addressed.

• Assess the need and create behavior support plans as necessary.
• Implement behavior support plans and train staff in execution of plans.
• Teach and reinforce positive behavior choices made by students in the classroom, home and Community settings.

• Identify antecedent conditions that are contributing to or sustaining desired/undesired behavior. Apply appropriate antecedent management interventions.

• Prepare and present a summary of therapeutic progress at assigned students’ IEP meetings.
• Prepare and update written annual social-emotional IEP goals and objectives.
• Provide social skills training (i.e. pro-social) communication, anger management, conflict resolution, etc.) to both individual students and groups.

• Assist the behavior specialist in case management of students in class and at home.
• Co-lead group therapy with the behavior specialist.
• Participate in weekly multi-disciplinary team meetings to assess students’ needs.
• Schedule and attend weekly consultation with the behavior specialist and the classroom teacher to review behavioral and therapeutic issues/progress of each student.

• Communicate monthly with students’ parents. If needed, provide training to students’ families regarding the therapeutic intervention and how to implement them in the home. Training occurs at site.

• Attend District/Site Special Education meetings and offer resources to staff.
• Provide prudent and appropriate responses to behavioral crises for the students on your caseload.

• Must report any suspicions of abuse or neglect of children to the proper authorities.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with governmental laws and regulations.
• Participate and successfully complete professional development seminars/workshops assigned by supervisor.

IV . KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES :

• Possess strong written, verbal communication, and presentation skills.
• Possess sound time and material organizational skills.
• Ability to constructively engage in rapidly changing behavioral situations.
• Keen observation, listening and interactive skills vital for developing professional relations.
• Knowledge of behavior modification systems and development of behavior plans.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement individual/group/family counseling strategies and other forms of therapeutic interventions.

• Ability to assess the needs of children and develop appropriate assessment forms of therapeutic intervention.

• Ability to develop, prepare, deliver and monitor IEP’s based on identified skill and social-emotional behavior deficit areas.

• Knowledge and experience developing, reporting and administering IEP plans.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills in order to communicate via e-mail and preparing documents on a word processor.

• Must be able to work independently and cooperatively with classroom, school and district staff.
• Must be able to complete training in physical restraint system.

IV . KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES :

• At least 1 year experience working directly with special education/high-risk children in a school setting.

• Knowledge and experience of behavior management systems.
• Ability to respond effectively to quickly escalating behavioral situations that involve children on mainstream school sites.

• Advanced degree/certification in Counseling, Pupil Personnel Services, or Marriage Family/Child Counselor.

• Ability to physically restrain a student if necessary.