$18.00/hour

MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST INTERN

JOB SUMMARY
Under clinical supervision of a Licensed Therapist, participates in the delivery of mental health services to students and participates in providing consultative services to District personnel in support of the mental health needs of students in special education programs.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is a mental health internship program. It is not intended to confer regular employment status. It is designed to provide professional opportunity for recent graduates to apply their knowledge in the field of mental health, and earn supervised post-degree hours to fulfill their mental health licensing requirements. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
A licensed Therapist provides clinical supervision to a job incumbent, while the Director, Student Support Services provides administrative supervision to the Mental Health Therapist Intern. Job incumbent does not supervise others.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES– Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Prepares and maintains required treatment records and reports

• Prepares and maintains required treatment records and reports
• Counsels students, individually and in-group sessions, to assist in the development of skills and strategies to address social emotional and behavioral needs
• Collects and assesses information about students using interviews, observation, surveys in collaboration with District staff
• Participates in the coordination of mental health services for students in emergency/crisis situations
• Develops, implements, and modifies treatment plans based on students’ needs and progress
• Meets and confers with families and other involved parties in order to exchange necessary information during the treatment process
• Gathers information about community mental health needs and resources that could be used in conjunction with therapy
• Prepares and conducts workshops and courses related to mental health issues
• Participates in IEP meetings and contributes to goal setting and planning for students
• Communicates and collaborates with District personnel and family members as a means of effectively supporting students and strategies, both in-home and school setting, to optimize the overall program and progress of the student
• Refers students or family members to community resources or specialists as necessary
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Education: A master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), Associate Social Work (ASW), or a field related to the knowledge and abilities required of this classification from an institute of higher learning recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation is required. Registration with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and working toward Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT) or Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) licensure is required.

Experience: One year of experience providing therapeutic services in schools or clinics is preferred.

Knowledge of: Assessment, diagnoses and treatments for school-aged children; mental development of school-aged children; report writing methods and techniques; record keeping practices and techniques; social emotional needs and their relationship to learning.

Ability to: Encourage students to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, and help them to develop insight into themselves and their relationships; guide students in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems; maintain confidentiality of records relating to students’ treatment; effectively communicate, both orally and in writing; effectively manage multiple cases to meet deadlines; assess students’ needs and understand the influence of environment on their needs; prepare written reports, presentations, and materials related to mental health services; effectively build and maintain rapport with others; prepare and maintain accurate information/data.

License: A valid California’s driver license and use of private transportation are required to travel between school sites.

PHYSICAL STANDARDS
The work environment and physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this internship. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. These physical standards are generic in nature.

Work environment: While performing the duties of this internship, the intern works in an office and classroom environment.  The work environment includes ability to effectively work with frequent interruptions and crisis situations. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work environment includes working directly with school-aged children. An intern may have a higher level of exposure to infection from students.

Physical environment: While performing the duties of this internship, an intern must be able to observe students’ behaviors in a school environment and read instructional materials, tests, student records and other printed matter. Specific vision abilities required by this internship include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. An intern must understand speech and communicate to others at normal levels in-person or on the telephone.  An intern may occasionally lift/carry supplies and printed material weighing up to 25 pounds. An intern is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, turn, talk and hear, and taste and smell; use hands to write, type, handle, move, or feel objects, tools, equipment or controls.