Functional Family Therapist

Functional Family Therapy is a community-based violence prevention program that aims to reduce violent recidivism through intensive and voluntary therapeutic services. This program is part of the Atlas initiative and uses the evidence-based Functional Family Therapy (FFT) model to engage young people and their families in holistic anti-violence services.

Address: 302 W 124th St, New York, NY 10027

About the Position:

Education Preference: Master’s degree in social work, counseling, education, or other relevant human service profession preferred; required for site supervisor position.

Preferred Experience:

• Direct use of pragmatic (i.e., structural, strategic, and functional) family therapies
• Individual therapy with youth and adults using cognitive behavioral techniques
• Marital therapy using behaviorally based approaches
• *Behavioral therapy targeting school behavior and academic performance
• Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth’s natural ecology that affect or influence the behavior of youth (i.e., family, peer, school, and neighborhood)

Preferred Knowledge: (* required of bachelor’s and masters’ level)

• Family systems theory and application
• Social-ecological theory and application
• *Behavioral therapies theory and application
• *Cognitive-behavioral therapy theory and application
• Pragmatic family therapies theory and application
• Child development research and its application in the treatment
• Social skills assessment and intervention
• *Basic counseling and process skills

Preferred Core Competencies:

• Ability to engage clients
• Willingness and ability to be strengths-focused
• Ability to shift to process
• Willingness to advocate for youth and family, belief in the capacity of people to grow and change
• Ability to manage stress and self-care
• Appreciation, respect, and understanding for teamwork and company systems
• Ability to maintain a high level of self-awareness
• Ability to be comfortable with cultural differences; to relate without patronizing
• Willingness to commit to empowering families to solve their own problems
• Ability and willingness to work with families in their own homes
• Willingness to be flexible to work with the families when they are available to meet

Job Responsibilities:

• Carry a caseload as assigned.
• Provide virtual/home-based* Functional Family Therapy to adults and their families, adhering to model fidelity requirements. (*as post-pandemic working conditions allow)
• Actively participate as part of a therapy team, including attending weekly team and individual supervision meetings.
• Assist families by actively referring them to appropriate services and supports, and with both clinical and concrete services.
• Make case progress notes as required by FFT and regularly report to external stakeholders.
• Participate in all FFT training, supervision, and consultation activities.

Salary: $70K - $75K Annually

Benefits: 401K, Dental, Medical, Vision

Equal Employment Opportunity

Empower Community Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.