Trauma Therapist
Toronto, ON
Full-time
$67146.24/year
Trauma Therapist
Full Time, Permanent
Level 8
Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of services to hundreds of young people every day.
More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth’s immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer 24/7 crisis shelter transitional housing options on-site and, in the community, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community.
For over 40 years, Covenant House has been dedicated to its mission of serving youth on the street and to protect and safeguard all youth with absolute respect and unconditional love. Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.
Overview:
Covenant House’s Anti-Trafficking Urban Response Model includes initiatives in prevention/early intervention, direct services to survivors and incorporates research and evaluation. We have established an advocacy service, crisis bed (2 beds), transitional housing (12 beds) and a peer facilitated group program for survivors. As established leaders we have shared our expertise through trainings, consultations, and online resource materials such as Traffick Stop.
We have developed therapeutic trauma informed; strength based best practices that effectively promotes recovery. Essential to that recovery is intensive trauma therapy. This position is part of our Enhancing Outcomes Project and will also provide intensive clinical supports through a trauma therapist who is grounded in the unique features of sexual exploitation trauma.
Our trauma therapist will be familiar with trauma therapy principles and be grounded in adapting interventions to respect survivors’ need to control the pace of change and the intensity of the therapeutic relationships.
Responsibilities:
- Engagement with 14–24 -year-old youth who are experiencing or at risk of Human Trafficking, and their families/natural supports for the purpose of providing trauma therapy
- Establish therapeutic alliance with participants, by establishing supportive positive rapport and working alliance with participants and supporting their working relationships across their network of support.
- Partner with participants to assess needs, identify goals, and map steps to help attain those goals, including interviewing participants to assess needs, discuss plan options, and develop a plan that meets participants’ needs and desires, reflects participants’ strengths, and enhances resiliency and positive youth development
- Deliver therapeutic interventions to promote recovery and growth from traumatic experiences using evidence-based trauma-related measurement tools and assessments
- Utilize a trauma-informed approach to assessing and determining appropriate service needs of client including, but not limited to, treatment planning, safety planning, support referrals and housing
- Provide services in locations deemed to be safe and convenient to youth (such as online, in shelters, in family homes, and other community settings)
- Work collaboratively (i.e., for purposes of Case management) within the Anti-Human Trafficking program team, other Covenant House Toronto programs, the youth shelter system, child welfare system and broader community
- Documentation in participant’s clinical record, including items such as assessments, participant goals, referrals and collaboration with participant support network, activities and progress related to plan elements, session notes, risk management and safety plans in Efforts to Outcomes (ETO)
- Participate in and support the Survivor Advisory table as needed, receiving, and acting upon feedback from the Advisory
- Work with stakeholders and partners
- Maintain client files and complete all required documentation in a timely manner.
- With support from the Anti-Human Trafficking Manager, monitor program data to identify trends and gaps in services
- Participate in assessment and evaluation tools and measures to support the research and evaluation of the program’s work
- Monitor that confidentiality, professional ethics and professional standards are maintained through the case management process. And ensure all participant files are maintained according to agency and professional standard
- Perform related duties as assigned by the Anti-Human Trafficking Manager
Qualifications/Skills:
- BSW or MSW, or degree in a counseling related field, or equivalent in education and experience is required.
- Registration with a College of Registered Psychotherapists (CRPO) or The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) is required
- 3 years’ experience working with youth who are survivors of, or at-risk of Sexual Exploitation, sex trafficking and Gender Based Violence is required.
- Experience providing trauma therapy to survivors
- Demonstrated ability in working with a trauma responsive, harm reduction approach and from an anti-oppression and culturally competent perspective/framework is essential
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with intense, acute youth situations and circumstances
- Sound understanding of family dynamics, adolescent development and attachment theories and an ability to apply them is required.
- Understanding of issues related to adolescent/youth Human Trafficking, youth homelessness, 2SLGBTQ identities, mental health and substance use problems and disorders, and developmental and learning disabilities.
- Knowledge of community resources and systems relevant to youth homelessness and anti-human trafficking
- Excellent communication (both oral and written) and organizational skills and ability to work independently
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including evening hours is required
- Demonstrated competencies including communications, creativity, flexibility, teamwork, and self-care.
- Demonstrated organization ability to handle caseload requirements, compile statistical data and reports for review and evaluation.
- Capacity to work virtually from a home office as well as in community and flexibility to work evenings and weekend hours as required.
What we Offer:
- Meaningful work.
- Competitive compensation.
- Benefits such as Health, Dental, Vision, Personal Days, Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement and more.
- Employee perks which include discounts on gym membership, city bike rentals, auto & home insurance and more.
Interested candidates should submit their cover letter and resume to this posting no later than May 26, 2025. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls please.
At Covenant House Toronto we believe in a workplace culture of inclusion that is welcoming, respectful and safe for all staff. It is critical to Covenant House Toronto success to eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups. Equity groups have been, and continue to be, underrepresented and marginalized in the workforce, leadership roles, and in some specific occupations. Equity groups include but may not be limited to Indigenous persons, racialized people, gender diverse people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.
In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Covenant House Policy on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the Covenant House recruitment process.
Please visit our careers page to see more job opportunities.
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