Mental Health Clinician

**Mental Health Clinician - Nanaimo, BC**

**Are you passionate about youth, mental health, and the outdoors?**

**The Organization**:
**The Opportunity**:
Each Take a Hike program has one full-time Mental Health Clinician to support vulnerable youth in changing their lives. The Mental Health Clinician will work regular classroom hours on designated Take a Hike school days, typically 5 days a week, and will accompany the team on all the program field trips (once a week).

This role requires full participation in weekly field trips learning from the land as well as multi-day wilderness trips; typically, two multi-day trips per year ranging in length from 2 to 5 days. We are seeking a Mental Health Clinician who is an adventurer at heart and truly values the positive impact of spending time in nature; someone who recognizes that impactful therapeutic breakthroughs can happen outside of an office setting, perhaps in a canoe or on a hiking trail.

**Key Competencies**:

- Demonstrated understanding of attachment-based and trauma-informed therapeutic models of support.
- Grounded in anti-oppressive practice with a commitment to Indigenous Reconciliation and Anti-Black Racism.
- Demonstrated knowledge of child and adolescent development, mental health, and standards of practice.
- Knowledge of or experience with couples and family therapy.
- Collaborative team player, able to establish and maintain positive working relationships within a multi-disciplinary team.
- Must be comfortable in the outdoors, able to care for self and others regardless of the weather and conditions.
- Willingness to grow in their skills and comfort through weekly out trips hiking, paddling, and regular time in nature.
- Ability and skills to camp overnight on self-propelled outdoor experiences.
- A passion for supporting vulnerable youth.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Identity-affirming Individual therapy with youth during school hours.
- Family therapy sessions to support parents / guardians of youth.
- Supportive group counselling sessions addressing relevant youth issues.
- Work as part of the classroom team providing leadership in mental health learning and mental health practices.
- Participate in all parts of the program including multi-day camping trips, volunteering, and events.
- Liaise with the entire staff team, and external agencies that can provide additional support to youth.
- Build relationships with school district and community partners to ensure Take a Hike’s success within the community.
- Facilitate youth assessments to enhance care, support engagement and collaboration on treatment goals and for metric and data collection purposes.

**Qualifications & Requirements**:

- Must have one of the following: a Master’s in Counselling Psychology, or a Master’s in Social Work (clinical focus).
- Registered member in good standing with an appropriate Regulatory College.
- 3 years of experience with youth and people in crisis and confident with group facilitation processes.
- Previous experience in an educational setting is an asset.
- Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle is an asset.

**Terms and Compensation**:
We offer a salary of 75K-85K, commensurate with experience, based on a 37.5-hour work week. The ideal start date for this position is August 2025.

Take a Hike is proud to offer generous benefits that enable Take a Hike employees to thrive personally and professionally which include:

- **Professional Wellbeing**: internal and external learning opportunities, professional development budget and training opportunities.
- **Life Balance**: 5 weeks' starting vacation for MHC + generous paid time off.
- **Physical and Mental Wellbeing**: Health Spending Account, Employee Assistance Program, employer paid Extended health and Dental, and travel health coverage.
- **Financial Wellbeing: ** 4.5% RRSP matching program, short term and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance.
- **Community Wellbeing: ** Shared values (Wellbeing, Relationships, Exploration, Gratitude, Growth), Open communication and yearly departmental retreats.

This is a full-time, permanent position located in Nanaimo, BC.

**How to Apply**:
If this position is of interest to you, please submit your cover letter and resume to our online portal, Collage, by **May 26th, 2025.**

Our Commitment to Reconciliation can be found on our website here: Take+a+Hike+Foundation+Endorsement+of+Reconciliation_2022.pdf

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: $75,000.00-$85,000.00 per year

**Benefits**:

- Dental care
- Employee assistance program
- Extended health care
- Paid time off
- RRSP match

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

- Are you part of an equity-deserving group?

(2SLGBTQQIA+ Community
Ethnic or Racial Group
Indigenous Ancestry
Immigrant
Disability
Lived experience of mental health challenges
Other lived experience
Prefer not to answer)

**Education**:

- Master's Degree (required)

Work Location: In person

Applicat