Mental Health

Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of people facing addiction and mental health challenges? _Are you passionate about providing low-barrier, timely support when it’s needed most? _If this speaks to you, we’d love to hear from you_
- _**What We Do**

The Alex is a beacon of hope for Calgary’s most vulnerable citizens, offering wrap-around health care, housing, social, and wellness programs. With a patient and client-centered approach, we envision a community where every individual is valued and empowered to thrive. Our mission is to improve quality of life through accessible and integrated health, housing, and social services. With five decades of experience, we have earned a reputation for tackling tough health and social issues, guiding individuals on their journey from crisis to wellness, and from challenge to change.

The Rapid Access Addiction Medicine (RAAM) Clinic at The Alex offers an innovative, low-barrier approach to addiction care. Operating our Community Health Centre, the RAAM Clinic provides same-day, walk-in access to evidence-based treatment. This model is designed to meet people in moments when they’re ready for support, eliminating the long wait times and complex intake processes that often delay care. Services include assessment, treatment planning, case management, psycho-social support, and pharmacotherapy, all delivered in a compassionate, patient-centered environment.

Reporting to the Team Lead, The Mental Health and Addiction Counsellor works with clients with addiction as well as with mental, physical, and social complexities. This role works collaboratively within our Primary Healthcare Team. The Mental Health and Addiction Counsellor works with clients with addiction as well as with mental, physical, and social complexities.

This is a full-time permanent position.

**What You Will Do**
- Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide evidence-based therapies within the session guidelines.
- Move clients off caseloads within session guidelines and be receptive to taking new clients onto caseload.
- Provide four to five therapeutic encounters with clients daily as a minimum expectation.
- Offer culturally sensitive services.
- Complete required documentation with excellence, in accordance with agency policy and procedures, and be respective of professional college requirements.
- Conduct assessments as appropriate and contribute to individualized service plans.
- Use evidence-based treatments in the areas of mental health and substance abuse to address participant needs (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectal behaviour therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), solution-focused therapy (SFT), etc.).
- Work from a harm reduction, trauma informed, and recovery-based approaches, grounded on a client’s readiness for change.
- Work collaboratively with clients, families, and community partners to assist clients in achieving treatment and recovery goals.
- Facilitate group programming for clients, using principles of psychoeducation, CBT, and other evidence-based models, when appropriate.
- Provide access to clients with same-day therapy, when required, appropriate, and applicable to The Alex program.
- Assist in data collection, and entry, as directed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

**What You Bring**
- Master's degree in psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
- An active registration with a professional discipline in Alberta.
- Social Workers must be authorized to perform psychosocial interventions.
- Minimum two years of experience as a Mental Health Clinician.
- Awareness of FOIP, HIA, and HIPA and doctrines such as the Mature Minor.
- Knowledge around working with suicidal individuals and how to handle such situations appropriately while considering confidentiality and client safety.
- Specialized training in evidenced-based therapies is an asset (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectal behavior therapy, solution focused therapy, etc.).
- Experience in single session therapy is an asset.
- Ability to set goals and work with clients within appropriate timelines and refer to other agencies/programs if needed.
- Awareness of the importance of evidence-based treatments and flexibility to practice from different perspectives.
- Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use issues.
- Awareness of increased complexities in providing therapy virtually.
- Understanding of harm reduction and trauma informed care.
- Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills.
- Commitment to contributing positively to team culture.
- Ability to work in high-stress situations with clear and open communication.
- Openness to a wide scope of practice with commitment to innovation and flexibility.
- Strong initiative in times of limited supervision.
- Awareness of the value that research and evaluation brings to therapy.
- First Aid (Basic or Intermediate) -