Counselor (School Based)

Job Type

Full-time

Description

Position Close Date: April 17, 2025

The PUYALLUP TRIBAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, located in Tacoma, Washington is seeking an experienced School Based Counselor to provide comprehensive assessments, individual, group, and family counseling, crisis response, safety planning, and treatment for students.

"It is the mission of the Puyallup Tribal Health Authority to provide quality healthcare and promote wellness in a culturally appropriate manner."

We offer an outstanding workplace, competitive market based salary, and benefits packages including:

• Monday - Friday schedule
• Medical/Dental/Vision benefits - monthly premiums paid 100% for employees
• 18+ annual paid holidays
• Generous paid sick and vacation accruals
• 401(k) with annual profit sharing
• Life & AD&D insurance coverage
• PTHA is an approved loan repayment site for various programs
• Employee Assistance Program
• Excellent work/home life balance

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Perform comprehensive intake interviews of clients' mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs.
• Provide at least 25 hours (or 65% time for shorter weeks) of individual, group, and family counseling services to students and their families in the school or clinic as appropriate.
• Ability to competently screen and/or treat students with suicidal thoughts/behaviors, using evidenced based practice approaches (i.e., TF-CBT, DBT).
• Maintain at least weekly (aka 4x/month) documented contact with each student assigned for individual counseling services > 95% of the time. Exceptions to this must be approved and documented by Supervisor.
• Accurately document in-person client contacts electronically, on date of service, at least 95% of the time.
• Develop and conduct individualized treatment plans on time at least at least 95% of the time.
• Treatment plans will be completed according to WAC and accreditation guidelines for all assigned clients and will include measurable goals in "client voice."
• Refer students to internal and external resources as needed and monitor activities and progress.
• Develop effective internal and external professional working relationships to enhance and ensure effective client services and to meet department goals/deadlines.
• Participate clinical supervision and peer review process as required.
• Participate in Clinical Team meetings, Treatment Coordination Team (TCT) and other departmental collaborations as assigned.
• Demonstrates a thorough working knowledge of the DSM-5TR mental and ASAM substance use diagnosis.
• Establish and maintain client case files ensuring current quality standards as required by WAC and any other accrediting body and/or county/government/contract entities.
• Maintain State licensure in respective field by completing required CEU's and attending annual Marty Smith training.
• Coordinate with other PTHA staff in providing multi-disciplinary approach to treatment.
• Assist in training and educating of staff and community, including obtaining any necessary training or certifications as directed.

PREVENTION/INTERVENTION FUNCTIONS:

• Plan, organize and participate in interdepartmental, tribal, community, and school-based activities to provide education, outreach, and prevention education services at least 8 hours per month.
• Collaborate with Chief Leschi Schools to identify high-risk youth and conduct student assistance services, which includes screening, pre-assessment, support, brief intervention, and necessary referrals. Provide timely follow-up with school, students, parents or legal guardians.
• Facilitate school-based recovery support (e.g. children of known users, high risk behaviors, etc.)
• Complete all prevention/recovery documentation in monthly status reports to school and department or more frequently as needed or requested.
• Maintain program records and files (e.g. program evaluations, review, prevention, intervention, student recovery, etc.) for purposes of compiling and documenting activities in compliance with funding requirements and ability to provide reliable information as requested.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in counseling or related field from an accredited university
• Current Washington State license or Associate license as a Mental Health Counselor, Social Worker, or Marriage and Family Therapist
• Two (2) years' experience (within the last 48 months) in the behavioral health field providing direct counseling services to individuals, families and groups
• Experience working with electronic health record systems
• Current and valid WA State Driver's License

Salary Description

$77,249 - $99,756 annually