2SLGBTQIA+ Clinical Counsellor [Specialty in Disorders of Eating]

Positions Available: 2
Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Schedule: Monday – Friday; Hybrid Model 

Friends of Ruby (FoR) 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. 

If you’re passionate about creating safe, inclusive spaces for marginalized youth, this is your chance to make an impact as a Clinical Counsellor! 

Position Summary

We are looking for a talented clinician who identifies as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to provide mental health and counselling support to 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, including those with intersectional identities of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC). We encourage members of the BIPOC community to apply. 

Reporting to the Director of Youth Services, the Clinical Counsellor will provide single session and short-term counselling, along with utilizing ongoing counselling skills to youth, using evidence-based practices aligned with needs identified at the time of intake and assessment to Friends of Ruby. The counsellor will also work with Drop-in participants and Friends of Ruby’s Home resident. 

The Clinical Counsellor will plan and facilitate clinical groups dedicated to topics such as skills for safer living, coping and emotion management skills and mindfulness practices. The Clinical Counsellor provides crisis support to address immediate crises, including suicide risk assessment, safety planning, emotional de-escalation, resources and referral, or connecting with emergency responders if necessary. 

Tasks and Responsibilities 

Utilizing strengths-based, trauma-informed and harm reduction approaches, the Clinical Counsellor will:  

• Formulate treatment plans and provide therapeutic counselling using a range of evidence-based practices, including but not limited to MBCT, DBT, ACT, MBSR, Trauma-informed Counselling, Participant-Centred Therapies and/or Brief Solution Focused Therapy. 

• Provide short-term counselling, including the delivery of a Brief Solution Focused Therapy pilot project. 

• Using a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach, create safety plans with 2SLGBTQIA+and BIPOC participants assessing immediate and longer-term needs and goals. 

• Working from a multi-disciplinary framework partner with psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to best meet the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. 

• Connect participants to other Friends of Ruby`s programs when appropriate and liaise with peers from those programs to best support 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC participants to meet their needs; refer to external service providers as needed. 

• Facilitate Friends of Ruby’s group counselling and therapeutic programs, including but not limited to DBT skills group, Skills for Safer Living and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. 

• Complete participants Intake Assessments. 

• Actively participate in team meetings and individual/group clinical supervision. 

• Support students, ensuring confidentiality, collection of data and completion of case file documentation as required. 

• Occasionally support the overseeing of the Drop In area and monitor the overall physical and emotional safety of the space; managing potentially escalating situations. 

• Provide same-day crisis counselling, completing risk assessments and safety planning. 

• Manage crisis, recognize and provide appropriate intervention as needed. Address youth conflict directly and respectfully. Teach and model effective problem solving and conflict negotiation. 

• Participate in the on-call crisis line rotation. 

• Work collaboratively with other teams in matters relating to communication, evaluation and different initiatives in support of the Organization’s mission. 

• Maintain clinical records and completion of administrative tasks. 

• And other duties, as directed, for the delivery of the department’s strategic priorities and/or to meet key deadlines. 
   

Skills and Experiences

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Counselling Psychology, or in a related field and/or comparable work experience. 

• Membership in good standing with the college of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or College of Registered Psychotherapists (RSW or RP), or other counselling college. 

• Provide trauma informed individual and group therapeutic services. 

• 3-5 years of experience providing clinical counselling and support to 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth in issues related to mental health, trauma, disorders of eating, violence, self-injurious behavior, transitioning and/or coming out, substance use, family support and relationships. 

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, harm reduction, anti-racism, anti-oppression, strengths-based, trauma-informed, participant-centered practices and ability to implement them in work with 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth. 

• Experience in group facilitation, preferably utilizing Evidence Based Practices; training and/or experience with modalities including but not limited to MBCT, CBT, DBT, ACT, MBSR, Brief Solution Focused Therapy and/or Trauma-informed Counselling are considered an asset. 

• Knowledge and experience working with 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth and the ability to work from a lens of sensitivity to diversity related to race, culture, religion, immigration, cognitive functioning, poverty, sexual orientation and gender identity, etc. 

• Knowledge in suicide risk assessment, crisis intervention skills and safety planning; and ability to manage conflict, crises and escalating situations calmly and confidently. 

• Possess the lived experience, knowledge, and cultural experiences required to address the specific issues trans, non-binary or gender queer youth face including trauma and transphobia, safely and effectively. 

• Demonstrated clinical experience in disorders of eating. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team, to problem solve, and to remain flexible and able to adapt within a busy and changing environment, and excellent written and verbal communication and organizational skills. 

Why Work With Us? 

• A welcoming, inclusive environment where your voice matters. 

• The opportunity to make a lasting impact in the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. 

• Flexible scheduling that fits your life. 

• Growth opportunities in a mission-driven organization. 

What We Need 

• Satisfactory Vulnerable Sector Police Check clearance. 

• Legal eligibility to work in Canada. 

Friends of Ruby is committed to an inclusive and accessible hiring process. If you require accommodations 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. 

Apply and help us create brighter futures for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. 

We can’t wait to hear from you!