Psychotherapist I

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Psychotherapist will provide psychotherapy for clients referred to KidsInclusive. The psychotherapist will participate in developing and delivering group programs for caregivers, and individual psychotherapy for children and youth with the focus on building emotion regulation skills for autistic children and youth, who are registered with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP).

The Psychotherapist will support a healthy workplace that embraces diversity, encourages teamwork, and complies with all applicable and regulatory requirements. This service will take a neurodiversity affirming approach that is client and family centred, considers the whole person (biopsychosocial model), and is trauma-assumed.

**PRINCIPLE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Participate in the development of psychotherapy services at KidsInclusive, including developing a referral and intake process, and designing education sessions and interventions, in conjunction with the Psychologist and Manager.
- Develop and deliver group programs for caregivers learning to support the emotion regulation of autistic children.
- Design individualized treatment plans collaboratively with the client and/or caregiver based on assessed needs and risk assessment, e.g., suicidality, self-harm, or other safety risks, in conjunction with the Psychologist, as appropriate.
- Implement appropriate time-limited individual and/or group psychotherapeutic interventions, providing evidence-based therapies for emotion regulation for autistic children and adolescents.
- Collaboratively develop psychotherapeutic treatment goals with clients, such as: identifying bodily sensations and how to respond to them, building an environment that reduces stressors and increases supports, regulating sleep and eating, and learning strategies for coping with big emotions that reduce risk of harm.
- Consult with family physicians and other clinicians within the circle of care to obtain collateral information, to periodically share progression towards therapeutic goals, to promote effective discharge planning and recommend aftercare services.
- Provide education sessions to clients and family members, as well as to public audiences and external groups as needed.
- Participate in peer review/consultation processes, clinical supervision and training of early career clinicians and learners.
- Liaise with referral sources, community partners and providers, verbally, electronically and/or in writing on a regular basis and documents same.
- Perform duties in accordance with relevant legislation and organizational policies and procedures.
- Participate in review of referrals and consultation with interdisciplinary team.
- Complete detailed and comprehensive documentation including admission and discharge reports and follow-up recommendations in accordance with KidsInclusive best practises and documentation policies, CRPO requirements.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of continuous quality improvement initiatives.
- Maintain work load measurement and related data collection, as required.
- Promote a work environment that is in accordance with KidsInclusive and KHSC Policies.
- Participate in hospital and program committees and task groups, as assigned.
- Other duties as required.

The above duties are representative but are not to be construed as all inclusive.

**QUALIFICATIONS**:

- Registered in good standing or eligible for registration (within 3 months of start date) with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario.
- Completion of Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or equivalent education is required.
- Demonstrated training and clinical supervision providing evidence-based therapies for emotion regulation for autistic children and youth is required, such as, acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, and other empirically supported modalities.
- A minimum of three years’ experience providing direct clinical services to autistic youth and their caregivers in a mental health setting.
- Significant clinical experience with autistic youth, and common co-occurring mental health concerns, such as anxiety, mood conditions, restricted eating and sleep concerns using evidence based modalities and a neurodiversity-affirming approach.
- Clinical experience in non-violent crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment and de-escalation strategies.
- Demonstrated knowledge of relevant legislation (e.g., Regulated Health Care Professions Act, Psychotherapy Act, Mental Health Act, Personal Health Information Protection Act, Health Care Consent Act, Substitute Decisions Act as well as commitment to upholding the principles of the Code of Ethics of the College of Psychotherapists.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
- Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, time management, planning and evaluation skills.
- Demonstrated commitment to t