LGBTQ Therapist - TIL

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Annually serving over 1,400 youth and families, Lawrence Hall is a community-based organization committed to helping Chicago's youth, families, and communities heal from the adverse effects of childhood trauma. For more than 150 years, Lawrence Hall has been delivering high-quality care throughout the Chicago metropolitan area and is a statewide leader in highly effective, evidence-based, and innovative therapeutic treatment. Their core programs-Child and Family Treatment Center, Therapeutic Day School, Creative Therapies, Foster Care, Transitional/Independent Living Program, Workforce Development, and Community Wellness-have met the changing and complex needs of youth and families by not only becoming more community based, but also by developing more preventative programs that help curb violence in Chicago's communities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Under the direct supervision of the Director of Clinical Services or designated supervisor, and working in collaboration with the Older Adolescent Team, the LGBTQ Older Adolescent Program (OAP) Therapist carries a caseload which includes youth in care aged 17-21 years old who identify as LGBTQ. The therapist is responsible for providing individual and group therapy services, including placement stabilization services, community-based interventions, and in-home treatment.

Due to the community-based nature of the work, transportation of youth in agency or personal vehicles may be required. Treatment may also aim to help youth in care with the identification, development, and restoration of family and support networks. Treatment is trauma-focused, with common clinical concerns including treatment of trauma symptoms, attachment issues, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and reluctance/resistance to treatment.

The therapist will also be involved with developing trainings and conducting consultation services with OAP employees to provide support & stabilization for the sites at which the youth reside. This position requires effective verbal communication with team members, community resources and young people/families, as well as ability to provide ongoing required written documentation. Therapist must have effective use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Lawrence Hall fosters a culture built upon four core values:
Respect, Empowerment, Safety, and Teamwork. These values are deeply embedded within our organization's philosophy of trauma-informed care and directly influence every position. Must be able to effectively use both verbal and physical crisis intervention skills and techniques with adolescents and young adults. Physical intervention skills require the ability to kneel and return to standing without assistance. Therapist must also maintain flexibility to adjust work schedules according to needs of the program.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Carries a selected caseload of older adolescent youth in care (age 17-21), many of who identify as LGBTQ
• Rotates and travels across the Chicagoland area between Older Adolescent Program TLP and ILO sites to provide services.
• Facilitates individual, group and family therapy services.
• Formulates and frequently reviews treatment plans with supervisor
• Administers ongoing screening tools to assess the functioning, needs, and progress of the youth
• Prepares required clinical documentation such as Mental Health Assessments, Individual Treatment Plans, IM+CANS, and Quarterly Progress Reports
• Implements an intentional trauma-focused treatment process that incorporates attachment theory, cognitive behavioral strength- and evidence-based approaches, and strengths/skills based interventions
• Takes an active role in the planning and facilitation of clinical trainings for OAP team, with guidance and collaboration from Director of Clinical Services.
• Works closely with other team members to meet the needs of youth in care, through participation in site team meetings, youth staffing meetings, and site supervisor meetings
• Provides support and teaches OAP team methods for managing clinical and crisis issues
• Assists youth and employees to help…