Individual, Couples and Family Counsellor

About this position

Friends of Ruby is a not-for-profit organization that supports the needs of LGBTQI2S youth.

We are looking for a talented Clinical Counsellor to provide progressive support to LGBTQI2S youth in our centre in Queen East Toronto.

Applicants who self-identify as LGBTQI2S, specially those who identify as trans, non-binary and gender queer and meet the requirements of the job posting will be given first consideration in the hiring process.

Friends of Ruby recognizes that a diverse work force and volunteer base are critical to accomplishing our mission.

Friends of Ruby - Who we are

Friends of Ruby (previously Egale Youth Services) was founded by Egale Canada in 2014 to meet the needs of LGBTQI2S youth.

To date, the organization has supported more than 850 youth and prevented 470 mental health crises and visits to hospital emergency rooms, saving nearly $300,000 in health care costs.

Friends of Ruby`s Services and Programs

Friends of Ruby provides comprehensive and progressive support to LGBTQI2S youth, aged 16-29, well-being through housing and social services.

Friends of Ruby operates a counselling and drop-in centre and soon open the Friends of Ruby Home, a major new initiative which is well underway. The Home will provide transitional and emergency housing, as well as mental health and wellness support services, dedicated to serving homeless LGBTQI2S Youth, aged 16 to 29.

This is An Exciting Opportunity To…

The role reports to the Youth Services & Housing Director and provide individual and group counselling by…

• Providing counselling to LGBTQI2S individuals, couples and their families
• Providing crisis intervention counselling to Friends of ruby Drop-in participants and Friends of Ruby`s residents
• Formulating treatment plans and provides therapeutic counselling using a range of evidence-based practices, including but not limited to MBCT, CBT, ACT, MSRB, Brief Solution Focused Therapy and/or Trauma-informed Counselling
• Using a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach, complete intake and assessment of new participants, including ensuring program eligibility, creating safety plans with participants and assessing immediate and longer-term participant needs and goals
• Partnering with other professionals and works from a multi-disciplinary framework including, psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals;
• Connecting participants to other Friends of Ruby`s programs when appropriate and liase with peers from those programs to best support participants to meet their needs; refer to external service providers as needed;
• Facilitating Friends of Ruby’s group counselling and/or therapeutic programs, including but not limited to DBT skills group
• Organizing own work to ensure individual, couples and families are been assisted in our counselling services
• Actively participating in team meetings and individual/group clinical supervision
• Training, supervising and supporting volunteers and students in all aspects of their work,
• Ensuring confidentiality, collection of data and completion of case file documentation as required
• Occasionally supporting the overseeing of the Drop In area where participants wait for services, and monitoring the overall physical and emotional safety of the space; managing potentially escalating situations
• And other duties, as directed, for the delivery of the department’s strategic priorities and/or to meet key deadlines.

We’re Passionate About Finding Someone Who…

• Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW) or Counselling Psychology is an asset;
• 3-5 years of experience providing clinical counselling and support to queer and trans youth related to such issues as mental health, trauma, transitioning and/or coming out, substance use, family support and relationships;
• Membership in good standing with the college of social service workers or college of registered psychotherapists (RSW or RP), or other counselling college;
• The candidate must have experience running groups, preferably utilizing Evidence Based Practices, such as Dialectical Behaviour Therapy;
• It will be considered an asset if the candidate has training and/or previous experience with evidence informed treatment modalities including but not limited to MBCT, CBT, ACT, MSRB, Brief Solution Focused Therapy and/or Trauma-informed Counselling.

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience working with LGBTQI2S and BIPOC youth who could be part of  racialized communities, newcomers/immigrant populations and those living in poverty, experiencing  marginalization and underrepresentation, struggling with mental health, trauma, difficult family dynamics etc.;
• Knowledge in suicide risk assessment and intervention skills;
• Ability to partner with other LGBTQI2S social service providers & professional staff, i.e. psychologists, psychiatrists, into the overall treatment plan;
• Thorough knowledge of the principle, treatment techniques and methods of individual and family therapy
• Demonstrated sound judgment related to the development of collaborative approaches working with youth and their families; including high risk circumstances and safety planning
• Personal identification as trans, queer or on the LGBTQI2S spectrum, lived experience within one or more equity-seeking groups and the ability to speak a second language are considered assets;
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, harm reduction, and anti-oppression principles, and to strengths-based, trauma-informed, participant-centred practices
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team, to problem solve, and to remain flexible and able to adapt within a busy and changing environment;
• Ability to maintain properly clinical records
• Ability to manage conflict, crises and escalating situations calmly and confidently;
• Excellent written and verbal communication and organizational skills;
• Brings a strong understanding of intersectionality and Anti-Racist and Anti-Oppression practices;
• Has experience working in a not-for-profit, LGBTQI2S community and/or social justice environment.

Important note:

• We are open to consider candidates that can work full-time or part-time (minimum 15 hours).

Additional requirements

• Satisfactory clearance under the Vulnerable Sector Check Program;
• Willing to work at a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the youth and family;
• Ability to travel to participant`s home or other community-based settings as needed.

We’d Like You To Know…

Applications will be considered as they are received until the position is filled. While we thank all candidates for their application, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require an accommodation (including alternate format materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodation), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

We thank all candidates for their interest.  We regret that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

Join Our Team and Be Part of Our Mission!

To put forward your candidacy, please apply through this link. 

We thank all candidates for their interest.  

http://www.friendsofruby.ca/