Clinical Counsellor – Fee for Service Contract

Positions Available: 1

Job Type: One-Year Contract (13 Hours per Week)

Posting Date: October 20, 2025

Closing Date:

October 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM EST

Friends of Ruby is dedicated to supporting the well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth aged 16-29 through mental health services, social programs, and housing. We operate a Youth Drop-In Centre, offering barrier-free counselling, hot meals, and community programming, and a Transitional Home, providing emergency and long-term housing with life-skills support.

Our approach is comprehensive, involving mind, body, and community. We believe that every individual is unique, valuable, and deserving of care, and we are committed to treating everyone with dignity, respect, and inclusion. Rooted in intersectional, anti-oppressive, and decolonized approaches, our work is grounded in integrity as we build strong, collaborative relationships and strive to grow and improve together.

Position Summary

We are seeking a skilled and experienced Clinical Counsellor on a one-year, fee-for-service contract basis to provide mental health and counselling support to 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, including those with intersectional identities of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC). We strongly encourage applications from members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.

The successful candidate will operate as an independent contractor, delivering services virtually and in-person as outlined below. They will have a dedicated focus on providing individual and family counselling to support the relational well-being of youth.

Key Competencies and Responsibilities:

• Clinical Assessment & Care Planning

• Conduct strength-based assessments and develop evidence-informed, individualized care plans.

• Formulate treatment plans and provide therapeutic counselling using modalities such as MBCT, DBT, ACT, MBSR, Trauma-Informed Counselling, and Brief Solution-Focused Therapy.

• Complete participant intake assessments and maintain
  
  accurate clinical records.

• Crisis Intervention & Emotional Regulation Support

• Manage crisis situations by conducting risk assessments, de-escalating crises, and supporting youth in developing coping and emotional regulation skills.

• Create safety plans with 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC participants using a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach.

• Client-Centered & Culturally Responsive Practice

• Provide single sessions and short-term family counselling using evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive practices.

• Integrate anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed frameworks to center client voices, identities, and lived experiences.

• Collaborative Care & Resource Navigation

• Partner with internal case managers and other mental health professionals within a collaborative, multi-disciplinary framework.

• Support youth in navigating and connecting with relevant community resources and supports.

• Participate in required team and clinical supervision meetings.

• Effective Communication & Rapport Building

• Build trusting, therapeutic relationships with participants through empathetic, adaptive, and professional communication.

• Facilitate group counselling and therapeutic programs (e.g., DBT skills, mindfulness)

Contract & Fee Structure:

This is a one-year, fee-for-service contract for a 0.35 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) commitment. This translates to providing approximately 13 hours of service per week, or a clinical volume of 55-60 billable hours per month.

To maintain this volume, the contractor will manage a caseload of 3-6 clients. The exact number will depend on the frequency and type of care each client requires.

Compensation is provided per service hour, not as a salary. The fee schedule for services is outlined below.

Service Delivery Model & Volume:

This is a primarily virtual role, requiring an average of one in-person session per month.

Skills, Experience & Contractor Requirements:

• Master's degree in social work, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Counselling Psychology, or related field.

• Membership in good standing with a relevant professional college (e.g., CRPO, OCSWSSW).

• Experience providing clinical counselling and support to 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth, with experience in family counselling.

• Demonstrated commitment to and ability to implement social justice, harm reduction, anti-racism, and anti-oppressive practices.

• Must operate as an Independent Contractor with:

• Professional Liability Insurance is suitable for clinical practice,

• The capacity to manage private practice,

• Ability to invoice for services rendered according to the agreed fee schedule.

• Satisfactory clearance under the Vulnerable Sector Police Check Program.

• Must be legally qualified to work in Canada and reside in Ontario.

Work Location & Schedule

• Work Location: Services are to be delivered primarily from the contractor's own premises (for virtual sessions) and at the Friends of Ruby office in Downtown Toronto for in-person sessions and meetings.

• Schedule: Must maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate client needs, occasional evening work, and required organizational meetings.

Application Process:

Please note that we are unable to accept phone inquiries regarding this position. Due to the high volume of applications, we receive, we are only able to contact candidates who have been selected for an interview. To ensure a fair and efficient hiring process, we kindly ask that all applications be submitted directly through the job posting link.

Friends of Ruby is committed to an inclusive and accessible hiring process. If you require accommodation at any stage, please inform our People and Culture team.

Preference will be given to members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as part of our commitment to equity and representation. We encourage members of the BIPOC community to apply.

Interested candidates who meet the contractor's requirements (including insurance and private practice capacity) should submit their proposal.

Apply by October 31st 2025, at 5:00 PM EST, and help us create brighter futures for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth