EPI Group and Family Therapist

Detailed Overview

Reporting to the Clinical Coordinator, the EPI Group and Family Therapist, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, provides comprehensive group psychoeducation and group therapy services to clients and families in the designated areas of the EPI Program. Provides education, consultation, and intervention to families and caregivers of clients receiving services from the EPI Program; family intervention includes assessment, short-term treatment, consultation, and follow up services to these families and caregivers.

Formulates and implements family intervention plans in collaboration with members of the EPI Central Team and community EPI Clinicians working with the client. Educates and provides consultation to clients, families and healthcare professionals regarding early psychosis and group and family therapy. Delivers in-services and presentations, and initiates, develops and carries out evaluation and research activities in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities Ongoing development of the group intervention component of the EPI Program in collaboration with the EPI Central Team. Provides comprehensive group psychoeducation and group therapy services to clients and families in the EPI Program. Uses methods such as psychosocial and mental status assessments to identify problems and treatment objectives, and to facilitate change in coping style, behaviour, attitude and feelings as it relates to psychosis and other issues.

Participates with clients, families, community supports and multi-disciplinary treatment teams to coordinate services. Works with families and caregivers of clients by providing education, assessment, short-term family therapy, and multi-family group therapy services in a team context, in order to facilitate improvement in clients and families/caregivers as it relates to psychosis and other developmental and system issues. Provides follow-up and ongoing monitoring of complex psychosocial situations and makes referrals to other services when required.

Educates and provides consultation to clients, families and healthcare professionals on issues related to high risk factors, recovery and evidence-based practice relevant to early psychosis. Maintains client records by methods such as charting client information, preparing progress notes and reports in accordance with established standards, policies and procedures to meet regulatory requirements and documenting for future reference. Communicates with hospitals, community health and social agencies including government ministries.

Collaborates with other relevant organizations such as B.C. Schizophrenia Society and Canadian Mental Health Association. Acts as a resource to clients and their families by performing duties such as providing information for clients and families regarding mental health resources and access to these resources, suggesting contacts to facilitate optimal planning, arranging referrals and facilitating the development of mental health resources to support the well-being of clients and families.

Develops and delivers in-services, presentations, and/or training related to psychosis, group intervention, and family therapy by methods such as collaborating with members of the multi-disciplinary team, determining relevant content and required audiovisual/handout aids, conducting literature searches and planning and coordinating seminars. Participates as a member of local committees and planning bodies by methods such as engaging in program evaluation, identifying opportunities for change, assessing available resources, initiating solutions, analyzing outcomes and identifying areas for improved efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery to enhance the mental health care system and reduce service gaps.

Maintains a variety of records such as workload statistics by methods such as recording information into approved formats, collating data, analyzing trends, accounting for variances, preparing reports as required and recommending an action plan to the Program Coordinator. Initiates, develops and carries out program evaluation, clinical research activities and program…