Psychotherapist-Mental Health Jobs

About Whitman-Walker Health

Whitman-Walker envisions a society where all persons are seen for who they are, treated with dignity and respect, and afforded equal opportunity to health and wellbeing. Through care, advocacy, research, and education, we empower all persons to live healthily, love openly, and achieve equality and inclusion. For over 40 years, we have been meeting the needs of our communities with the endless dedication of our diverse teams.

At Whitman-Walker, our commitment to “Community, Caring, and Quality” really shines through! Our mission is to be the highest quality, culturally competent community health center serving greater Washington’s diverse urban community, including individuals who face barriers to accessing care, and with special expertise in LGBT and HIV care. We offer a full line of healthcare services including (1) comprehensive outpatient offerings for medical and dental healthcare; (2) an on-site Pharmacy; (3) legal support in the areas of access to healthcare, public benefits, and private insurance, discrimination, and workplace rights, immigration, transgender rights, and others; (4) behavioral healthcare provided through individual and group therapy; and (5) Confidential and anonymous HIV testing and counseling services.

Job Summary

Psychotherapist: Provides mental health services to clients referred through Whitman Walker primary care ages 13 and up. The therapist should have some level of expertise working with the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS-infected and affected community. Psychotherapist will provide individual, group, couple, and family psychotherapy.

Youth Psychotherapist: The therapist provides mental health services to youth clients referred through medical services, youth accessing services through RealTalk DC, and Peer Education Center programs. The therapist should have some level of expertise working with youth 13 and up, and their families, as well as the LGBTQ and HIV/AIDS-infected and affected community. Provides individual, group, couple, and family psychotherapy as well as integrated expressive therapy programming within WWH’s youth drop-in center

Core WWH Primary Essential Duties

• Adheres to Whitman-Walker policies and procedures, with special attention given to HIPAA requirements.
• Demonstrates excellent customer service by identifying and exceeding customer requirements.
• Participates in organizational quality and performance improvement activities.
• Maintains a respectful, non-judgmental, and compassionate manner with patients/clients/staff.
• Maintains data integrity through conscientious use of relevant tools and employing a system of checks and balances.
• Demonstrates organizational skills necessary to multi-task, meet deadlines and re-prioritize as needed.
• Performs and behaves in accordance with Whitman-Walker’s mission, cultural norms, and core values of dignity, respect, affirmation, and humility.

Role-Specific Primary Essential Duties

• Effective in assessing for risk and intervening in crisis situations.
• Assess client and caregiver need for education; provide education as appropriate, makes
• Facilitates the participation of the client in the development of goal-oriented treatment planning.
• Ensures appropriate clinical treatment congruent with DSM-5 diagnosis and comfortable with ICD-10
• Provides case formulation for each client from a sound theoretical knowledge base.
• Maintain 30 hours of direct client care per week, unless delegated to do other work for the health Center approved by your manager.
• Conducts thorough and comprehensive intake and assessment with each assigned client within the designated time.
• Intake, Assessment, and Treatment Planning
• Clinical Practice
• Attends clinical supervision with designated Behavioral Health Lead Clinician.
• Provide individual, group, couples, and family psychotherapy services.

referrals for additional education as needed.

• Monitors client progress toward treatment goals.
• Provides ongoing assessment of client’s level of care needs, coordinating client transfer to a
• Assists clients in identifying and accessing various internal and external community resources
• Effectively advocates for clients, as needed.
• Responds in a timely manner to all client, collateral, and agency contacts.
• Provides timely referrals and monitors their progress.
• Reassesses client needs in a clinically appropriate time frame.
• Monitoring, Reassessment, and Transition Planning
• Referral and Advocacy

different level of care or discharge from care, as appropriate.

• Case Coordination
• Is prepared and actively participates in case presentations, conferences, and multidisciplinary

meetings.

• Administration
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date records and computer information on every assigned
• Effectively coordinates with other disciplines to address client needs and treatment goals.

client in accordance with applicable guidelines and regulations.

• Conducts quarterly chart audits in a timely manner in accordance with Quality Improvement procedures.
• Attends and participates in internal and external in-services, workshops, and conferences for
• Clinical documentation should be completed and locked within 72 hours
• Participates in quality assurance and quality improvement measures.
• Performance Improvement
• Adheres to all program and Health Center policies and procedures
• Conducts monthly review and resolution of data entry problems.
• Works with supervisor to identify areas for performance improvement and professional development.

professional development and to keep informed of changes and innovations in the field.

• Quality Improvement
• Understands and participates in quality improvement activities of the department.

Budget Responsibilities

None

Management Responsibilities

None

Core WWH Knowledge, Skills, And Talents Required

• Ability to manage time and effort in order to meet strategic objectives.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing excellent customer service, both internal and

external.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of all applicable WWH policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of healthcare information systems with the ability to adapt to new electronic medical record

and population health platforms.

• Ability to maintain records and information in an accurate, timely, and confidential manner.
• Flexibility to work various shifts, including afternoon, evening, and weekend shifts as necessary.
• Flexibility to work within the organization's various locations as necessary.
• Commitment to health equity
• Ability to adapt to changes in the service delivery model, re-prioritizing as necessary.
• Analytical skills necessary for the preparation of accurate, concise, and comprehensive reports.

Principal Working Relationships

• Reports to the Senior Manager of Behavioral Health or their designee. Receives supervision as

necessary around service provision and clinical intervention.

• Collaborates with WWH direct services staff and volunteers. May supervise volunteers or interns, as assigned.
• Maintains relationships with other organizations as necessary to facilitate the provision of services to clients.
• Attends required meetings and serves on committees and task forces, as assigned.
• Functions as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Works in collaboration with assigned clients.

Role Specific - Knowledge, Skills, And Talents Required

• Strong working knowledge of Mental Health, Substance Use Disorders, HIV/AIDS, LGBT issues, and

clinical practice for effective provision of psychotherapy to diverse populations.

• Strong clinical skills, with proven ability to engage, assess, provide interventions, and terminate

appropriately with diverse populations.

• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships within the organization and with external

providers.

• Good working knowledge of the health care delivery system, social services, and community-based resources.
• Strong knowledge of DSM-5 and the impact of mental illness on diverse populations.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and competence with issues related to racial, cultural, gender identity, and sexual minority status.
• Ability to provide a full range of services with minimal supervision
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Basic computer skills.

For Youth Psychotherapist

• Strong knowledge and skills in working with adolescents, families, and supportive systems
• Experience and/or specialized training in expressive therapies, including but not limited to play therapy, psychodrama, art therapy

Education And Experience Required

• Master of Social Work or Counseling-related degree.
• Experience with or sensitivity to LGBTQ issues.
• Current Independent licensure, as required in the District of Columbia
• At least 2 years of clinical experience and 1 year of experience working with HIV/AIDS populations.

Working Conditions

Working conditions for this position are normal for an office environment. Individual may be required to work evenings and/or weekends and organization events.

Physical Demands

• Communication: Direct and indirect communication. Written and verbal competency.
• Concentration: Extended periods of engagement with computer systems where concentration is key to accuracy in data entry. Intermittent periods of engagement with a telephone system to respond to inquiries where concentration is key to task performance.
• Movement: Standing and sitting for long periods.
• Visual: Long periods on the computer.
• Lifting: No more than 20 lbs. and infrequently.

Whitman-Walker is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against applicants, its employees, or former employees on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and gender identity. For accommodation in the application process, please contact Human Resources.

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