Mental Health Therapist School-Based (K-12)

Job Summary:

This is an on-site school-based position that serves residents of the Pueblo of San Felipe. The position provides developmentally responsive and culturally grounded mental health services to students across K–12 school settings.

The incumbent is expected to provide a range of psychological assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic services for individuals, couples, groups, and families as directed.

Services also include crisis assessment and intervention; school-based consultation; prevention programming; and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to support student wellness, academic engagement, and coordinated care.

Supervision and Guidelines: The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Behavioral Health Director for administrative oversight, with clinical supervision under the school's supervisor or designated School-Based Clinical Supervisor. The incumbent will not have a supervisory role. The position may provide consultation support and co-facilitation support to peer support workers and school staff as appropriate.

Essential Duties

Provides individual, group, and/or family outpatient mental health therapy/counseling to clients and families as appropriate to the position; prepares assessments, treatment plans, discharge plans and follow-up care programs; provides therapeutic crisis intervention and emergency services as applicable. Provides developmentally appropriate services to students across elementary, middle, and high school settings.

Collects information about clients through assessment, observation, case history, and mental health screenings as applicable; evaluates information to identify causes of presenting problems and make clinical recommendations as appropriate to client’s needs. Conducts suicide risk assessments, safety planning, and crisis response in alignment with school and Pueblo crisis intervention protocols.

Provides caseload management; prepares individualized services, referring to appropriate resources as needed. Coordinates referrals across school, primary care, behavioral health, and community-based services to ensure continuity of care.

Provides and/or arranges for therapeutic interventions that best meet the needs of the client/family. Implements evidence-based and culturally adapted interventions, including social emotional learning and skills-based programming when appropriate.

Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings: Mental Health Therapists, Substance Use Counselors, Peer Support Staff and other community partners as determined by supervisor.

Collaborates with teachers, administrators, school-based health center staff, peer support workers, and community cultural stakeholders.

• Provides clinical support in crisis situations as determined by supervisor.
• Participates in prevention and early identification initiatives aligned with the Systems of Care (SOC) program or other grant-supported programming.
• Co-facilitates with team members (e. g., Peer Support Workers, medication prescribers, other clinicians)
• Participates in training sessions and workshops to enhance or develop clinically relevant skills.
• Maintains timely and accurate documentation in accordance with tribal, programmatic, licensing, and funding requirements.
• Participates in the review of clinical issues and program policies and procedures.

As “Essential Staff” may be required to be available for on-call duty coverage and must be prepared to work on days determined to be Tribal Holidays or Administrative Leave.

QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

• Experience working with children, adolescents, and families is strongly preferred.
• Experience in a school-based counseling setting is preferred.
• Experience in integrated primary care, tribal communities, rural behavioral health, or school-based health centers is highly desirable.
• Experience practicing in a family-centered environment is desired.
• Experience practicing in a culturally and linguistically diverse setting is desired.
• Experience conducting suicide risk assessment and crisis intervention with youth populations is desirable.

Demonstrated understanding and acceptance of working as a member of a multidisciplinary team and familiarity with the wraparound approach to comprehensive community-based care.

Experience in collaborating with family members, youth, school staff and community cultural stakeholders through active involvement with the community

Demonstrated Positive Experience With

• Ability to apply mental health counseling methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of community mental health resources including traditional modalities
• Knowledge of crisis intervention techniques
• Knowledge of clinical operations and procedures
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical counseling principles, programs and methodology
• Knowledge and understanding of clinical mental health counseling and social work principles, methods, procedures, and standards.
• Ability to evaluate the progress of therapeutic treatments and to make individual modification.
• Demonstrate commitment to professional self-care and reflective practice to support sustainable clinical service delivery in high-need settings.
• Knowledge of psychological test administration, scoring and interpretation.
• Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to patients’ rights.
• Ability to develop and present educational programs and/or workshops.
• Experience with evidence-based treatments/practices, practice-based evidence, and community-defined evidence.
• Openness and flexibility in tailoring the service/support delivery system to meet the clinical and cultural needs of the population of focus by being willing to listen and learn from the community itself through an inclusive planning process.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Additional Qualifications

Language Skills

Keres-speaking appreciated or ability to work effectively in a multi-lingual environment with a translator.

Computer Skills

Working knowledge of Microsoft Office software including Windows, Word, Access, and Excel.

Physical Demands

The work requires driving and involves standing, bending, and walking within the community, schools, clinics, and homes and driving a car in all types of road conditions. Lifting and carrying is necessary to set up equipment for special events, clinics, and teaching programs.

Additional Responsibilities: This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by this employee. He or she will be required to follow any other instructions or to perform any other duties requested by his or her supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of customs and mores of the Pueblo of San Felipe community, and appreciation for the importance of traditional ways of lifestyle and language.

• Ability to apply multicultural sensitivity and awareness of working in tribal communities
• Demonstrated respect for tribal sovereignty and willingness to engage in community-informed practice.
• Ability to collaborate with families, elders, and cultural leaders in ways that honor traditional knowledge, language, and community-defined approaches to healing.
• Knowledge of child and adolescent development across K-12 age ranges.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within school systems while maintaining clinical and ethical boundaries.
• Willingness and ability to treat patients with respect, empathy and dignity

Possess Exceptional Listening and Communication Skills

• Possess a working understanding of HIPAA regulations, requirements, and guidelines and willingness to exercise a strict level of patient confidentiality
• Possess a working understanding of FERPA considerations in school-based settings.

Required Licenses/Certifications: Master’s or Doctoral degree in Counseling, Social Work, Clinical Psychology, or a directly related behavioral health field; New Mexico licensure at the independent or provisional level (LPCC, LCSW, LMHC, Licensed Psychologist, or equivalent) required, consistent with scope of practice and supervision requirements.

Valid New Mexico driver’s license.

Preferences: San Felipe, Keres language, and Veteran’s Preferences.