School Based Mental Health Therapist I at Palo Alto Unified School District
Job Summary
Job Summary
RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the direction of the Mental Health Therapist Supervisor and with coordination of the site Principal, the School-Based Mental Health Therapist I is responsible for providing site based clinical services related to the delivery of mental health care to assigned students at the school location. Provides consultation services to the school staff to support the overall mental health goals of their assigned students. May also consult about students receiving special education services at the school. Specific Duties Include the Ability to: • Encourage students to express their feelings [using various therapeutic techniques, including play therapy] 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; • Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and reports; • Counsel students, individually and in group sessions, to assist in overcoming dependencies, maladaptive behavior, adjusting to life, and making changes; • Collect and assess information about students through interviews, observation, and tests; • Act as student advocates in order to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations; • Participate as an active member of the Crisis Response Team; • Develop and implement treatment plans based on clinical experience and knowledge; • Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments and develop treatment plans; • Refer students or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary; • Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs and students' progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives; • Maintain data on the efficacy of services; • Modify treatment activities and approaches as needed in order to comply with changes in students' status;