Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation Therapist Contract in Lower Mainland, BC

Overview

Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation

Branch Lower Mainland BC CA

Position:
Therapist
Location:
Lower Mainland, BC

Professional liability insurance, WorkSafeBC and GST registered and holds a valid Business Number. Every student in the Take a Hike program performs a minimum…

Full-time Therapist

Vancouver, BC

The Take a Hike Youth at Risk Foundation is seeking a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a passion for the great outdoors to support students and families in the Take a Hike Vancouver Program. Our ideal candidate is patient and empathetic, and is willing to expand their ideas about traditional therapeutic practice. This individual is an experienced adventurer, works well under pressure and looks forward to being a part of a unique and collaborative team.

This is a fixed contract position for ten months (September 2016 to June 2017), with the possibility of renewal.

The Organization:

Take a Hike (TAH) is an alternative education program that engages at-risk youth in high school through a unique combination of adventure-based learning, academics, therapy, and community involvement.

Since it was established in 2000, the ultimate goals of Take a Hike are that barriers to learning are minimized, personal issues are addressed, and students achieve a greater level of social and academic success. The program combines the following four aspects:

Adventure-based Learning (ABL): An ABL Specialist guides students through outdoor day trips and multi-day expeditions. ABL uses physical activities to help youth develop self-directed goals, trust, communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills in a safe, supportive environment.

Therapy: A program therapist provide youth with individual, group, and family counseling in both outdoor and office settings. The therapist aims to change the negative impact the past has on the present, become a better choice maker, increase self-esteem and accept and take responsibility for their own actions.

Academics: At the beginning of the year, the Take a Hike staff meet with each student to assess their academic level and work with them to plan a path that leads to graduation. The outdoor trips also serve to reinforce academic lessons.

Community Involvement: Every student in the Take a Hike program performs a minimum of 60 hours of community service a year. The purpose is to demonstrate to youth that, as members of a larger community, they have a responsibility to others and that their help is needed. Valuable work experience is also gained.

For more information on the program, please visit www.takeahikefoundation.org .

The Opportunity:

Each Take a Hike class has one full-time clinical counsellor to support at-risk youth in changing their lives. During the term of this contract, the therapist will work regular classroom hours on designated Take a Hike school days, typically 5 days a week, from September through June and will accompany the team on all of the class outrips. This role requires full participation on weekly outdays in nature as well as multi-day expeditions; typically three per year ranging in length from 4-10 days. We are seeking a therapist who is an adventurer at heart and truly values the impact nature can make on vulnerable youth; someone who recognizes that the most impactful therapeutic breakthroughs can happen outside of an office setting, perhaps in a canoe or on a mountaintop.

Responsibilities:

• Individual therapy with students during school time
• Family sessions to support parents / guardians of students
• Group counselling sessions addressing student issues such as drug and alcohol abuse
• Participate in all parts of the program including multi-day camping trips, volunteering and events
• Liaise with the entire staff team as well as external support agencies that can provide additional help to students
• Assist with the preparation and presentation of proposals and grants for ongoing program funding

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Masters level in Clinical Psychology
• Registered member of B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors
• Professional liability insurance, WorkSafeBC and GST registered and holds a valid Business Number
• First aid, preferably Wilderness
• Log of multi-day expeditions of different types in remote terrain (at least 40 days recommended)
• Ability to apply therapeutic practices outside of a traditional office
• Physically fit (must be able to support and lead students in outdoor activities)
• Experience with counselling youth and people in crisis and confident with behaviour management
• Knowledge of or experience with couples and family counselling
• Collaborative team player, able to establish and maintain positive working relationships
• Above all, a passion for supporting at-risk youth

This position is located in Vancouver, B.C.

How to Apply:

If this position is of interest to you, please submit your cover letter, resume and a trip log outlining the dates, location and any details of expeditions in remote terrain by 19 June 2016.

We thank you for your interest. Please note only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.