Job Description
Gateway Foundation Inc
Cognitive Counselors are responsible for:
- Prepares appropriate cognitive intervention plans, in accordance with established standards and deadlines. Prepares and conducts group educational sessions with clients in accordance with intervention programming plan; facilitates discussion and interaction; and enables group members to understand and accept responsibility for the process of change, and acquire necessary coping and behavior management skills.
- Documents cognitive intervention programming plans, evaluations, weekly progress notes and discharge summaries. Updates and maintains client records which include recording direct service hours, activity or group participation ensuring they are complete and accurate in accordance with organizational, regulatory, accreditation and contractual standards.
- Prepares and conducts educational programs and lectures on scheduled topics related to thinking for change, cognitive intervention, life skills, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management to assist clients with basic education on these topics. Develops client discharge plans.
- Contributes to client care monitoring by regularly reporting to supervisor client observations, incidents, unusual occurrences and caseload activities and results. Participates in staff meetings to review client progress, intervention programming and recommend continuation or modification of programing. Assists team in maintaining consistent setting for program, planning and coordinating client interaction events.
- Maintains regular communications with onsite parole officers to relay reports on clients’ progress in cognitive programming. Prepares written reports and correspondence.
- Provide effective support, intervention, direction, and conflict resolution; interact effectively with family members; and maintain effective contacts with outside agencies and referral sources or services.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
- Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a Human Service (Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health or Substance Abuse counseling, or closely related field) from an accredited college
- 2 – 5 years of experience with cognitive intervention substance use treatment/counseling and/or mental health counseling.
- Experience in forensic counseling preferred
- Current Certified Addictions Professional (CAP) or Masters Certified Addictions Counselor (MCAP) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) preferred
- Must be able to obtain Florida Department of Corrections clearance to work in the correctional institution.
- Basic knowledge of the principles of human growth and psychosocial development
- Basic knowledge of group and individual dynamics, conflict resolution and intervention techniques based on client maturation level
- Basic understanding of mental health disorders requiring referrals
- Basic communication skills to exchange information and interact with various internal and external audiences regarding client care
- Active listening skills and social perceptiveness
- Ability to read and interpret policies and instructions
- Ability to understand side effects and impact of medications on client
- Adaptability / flexibility: ability to shift priorities
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time, to monitor and interact with clients
- Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
- Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy, to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, read
- Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data
- Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises
Job Tags
Full time, Shift work,