Mental Health Clinician

POSITION SUMMARY

The Mental Health Clinician provides trauma-informed clinical services to clients who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness and are enrolled in Sister Rosalie Center for Recovery, an ASAM Level 3.1 low-intensity residential treatment program. This role conducts assessments, develops treatment plans, manages residential program intakes, and provides weekly individual and group psychotherapy for clients in treatment.

ABOUT US

CSS is a Catholic human and social services agency and behavioral health care provider that welcomes people of all faiths through its programs and employment. We provide help for our Alaskan neighbors through a variety of supportive service programs, including emergency shelter, food stability, housing, case management, and refugee assistance.

CSS empowers individuals and families on their path to permanent stability, creating thriving communities for all. Located in Anchorage, Alaska, CSS is a nationally accredited organization through the Council on Accreditation (COA), which recognizes that CSS provides high-quality services that meet best practice standards in the social service field.

Mission: To promote the physical, spiritual and mental welfare of persons in need in the community. This mission is achieved by: Offering charitable assistance to those in need, especially persons who are poor Developing and conducting programs to strengthen and support families and the dignity of the human spirit Administering the Corporal Works of Mercy and Gospel of Jesus Christ as defined by the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and envisioned by the traditional concepts of Catholic Social Teaching and Action through the laity And advocating for social justice for the common good of all ABOUT OUR PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT Catholic Social Services is launching the Sister Rosalie Center for Recovery, a new 10-bed ASAM Level 3.

1 low-intensity residential substance use disorder treatment program located on the Brother Francis Shelter campus in Anchorage, Alaska. This voluntary program will serve adults experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness who are seeking support for substance use disorders, co-occurring behavioral health needs, and long-term recovery.

The program is designed to reduce barriers to treatment by bringing residential recovery services directly into a trusted shelter-based setting. Participants will have access to a coordinated team providing substance use treatment, behavioral health support, peer support, case management, recovery planning, and housing-focused services.

By integrating treatment with shelter, medical, behavioral health, and housing supports, the program creates a practical and compassionate pathway from crisis and homelessness toward recovery, stability, and long-term wellness. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES Core Competencies: Teamwork: Works effectively with others, values input from team members, communicates openly and honestly, and collaborates across the team and agency.

Stress Tolerance: Demonstrates emotional resilience and maintains professionalism, compassion, and appropriate boundaries when responding to tension, resistance, or adverse events. Seeks support and uses healthy coping strategies when needed. Empathy: Provides respectful, nonjudgmental, and individualized care that reflects each participant’s needs, strengths, and circumstances.

Risk Assessment: Assesses participant risk factors, including suicidality, homicidality, grave disability, intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, overdose risk, and the need for medical or emergency intervention. Crisis Response: Uses crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques appropriate for a residential treatment setting.

Care Coordination: Collaborates with residential staff, case managers, peer support specialists, medical providers, and community partners to support coordinated participant care. Residential Treatment Environment: Works effectively with participants experiencing crisis while supporting a structured, fast-paced daily routine.

Clinical Knowledge: Knowledge of mental health disorders, substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, withdrawal symptoms, diagnostic procedures, DSM-5, counseling techniques, assessment, treatment planning, discharge planning, and trauma-informed care. Knowledge of substance use disorder counseling and intervention techniques for individual, group, and family treatment.

Knowledge of confidentiality, documentation, and recordkeeping requirements, including HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and applicable compliance guidelines. Knowledge of cultural and spiritual values and their relationship to recovery, wellness, and treatment engagement, including considerations relevant to Alaska Native and American Indian participants.

Knowledge of ASAM criteria, residential treatment standards, and level-of-care considerations, including admission, continued stay, transfer, and discharge planning. Knowledge of motivational interviewing, harm reduction, stages of change, relapse prevention, and other evidence-based substance use disorder treatment practices.

Knowledge of recovery-oriented care, person-centered treatment planning, aftercare planning, recovery supports, and linkage to housing and community resources. Knowledge of individual and group therapy practices within a residential substance use disorder treatment setting. Professional Skills: Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other required documentation systems.

Adaptability in responding to participant needs, program priorities, and changing service demands. Problem-solving skills that support sound clinical judgment and effective service coordination. Empathy, professionalism, and clear communication with participants, colleagues, and community partners. Willingness to learn and apply new clinical, compliance, and program practices.

Critical thinking skills to support ethical decision-making, participant safety, and quality care.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Complete biopsychosocial, behavioral health, substance use, and diagnostic assessments to support admission, treatment planning, level-of-care decisions, continued stay reviews, discharge planning, and referral needs. Provide individual and group therapy for participants in the ASAM Level 3.1 residential treatment program using trauma-informed, person-centered, recovery-oriented, and evidence-based substance use disorder treatment practices.

Identify and respond to participant risk factors, including suicidality, homicidality, grave disability, intoxication, withdrawal symptoms, overdose risk, relapse risk, and the need for medical or emergency intervention. Develop, update, and monitor individualized treatment plans that address substance use, co-occurring behavioral health needs, relapse prevention, recovery goals, discharge planning, and connection to ongoing supports.

Complete timely and accurate clinical documentation in accordance with state and federal regulations, 1115 Waiver requirements, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, Medicaid standards, and agency policy. Coordinate with residential staff, case managers, peer support specialists, medical providers, and external partners to support integrated care, participant engagement, treatment progress, and continuity of care.

Facilitate referrals and warm handoffs to medical care, behavioral health services, withdrawal management, peer support, housing resources, recovery supports, and other services needed to promote stabilization and long-term recovery. Support relapse prevention, recovery planning, life skills development, and participant engagement in the structured residential treatment environment.

Participate in clinical consultation, supervision, team meetings, required trainings, and quality improvement activities to support safe, effective, and compliant service delivery. Perform related duties as needed and assigned to support the residential treatment program and participant care.

QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree in a counseling, psychology, social work, or related field. Minimum Experience Requirement – Licensed Clinician: Must possess and maintain a qualifying professional behavioral health license in the State of Alaska. Minimum Experience Requirement – Unlicensed Clinician: One (1) year of experience in counseling, substance use disorder counseling, or addiction counseling.

Demonstrated knowledge of delivering trauma-informed care services. Must be actively working toward obtaining a qualifying professional behavioral health license in the State of Alaska and obtain licensure within three (3) years of hire. A valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and reliable personal vehicle are required.

Employees must use their personal vehicle for work-related travel, including meeting with clients and partners. Employees may begin employment with a valid out-of-state driver’s license but must obtain a valid Alaska driver’s license within 90 days of their date of hire. Obtain Qualified Addiction Professional (QAP) approval within (3) years of the Provisional Provider Application approval date with the State of Alaska.

WORK ENVIRONMENT Work is performed in a standard indoor office environment. Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds. Frequently sitting or standing at a desk for several hours at a time. Travel out of Alaska is rare. Occasional travel within Anchorage is required. Location: Sister Rosalie Center for Recovery located at 1021 E 3 rd Ave, Anchorage AK 99501 This position starts 1/04/2027 Schedule is Sunday- Thursday 8am to 4pm or 9am -5pm.