*PLEASE NOTE: All applicants must reside in Alberta

Professional Facilitator for Mental Health Support Groups

Job Summary:
Nature and Scope:
Thanks to funding from Alberta Health, the Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta (EDSNA) is able to provide low-cost support groups throughout the year for people both directly and indirectly affected by eating disorders. At this time, EDSNA is looking for more professionals to join as contracted facilitators to help us offer these support groups for clients with eating disorders.

Support groups are non-clinical. Participants can expect to receive information, coping strategies, and peer support from participating in such groups. EDSNA aims to create validating group experience, rooted in the belief that everyone has the wisdom to determine the best route for themselves to recovery. Groups are a place of mutual respect, open communication and safety; a place where the participant is surrounded by people who ‘get it’ and the facilitator plays an important role but is not the only teacher in the room. EDSNA does not require a diagnosis or referral to attend support groups. At this time, all support groups are 18+.

Please note: EDSNA provides professionally facilitated support groups - not group therapy.

Qualifications:
● Required Qualifications:

Professional designation and registration with the appropriate regulatory organization. Professional backgrounds include:

• Psychologist
• Occupational Therapist
• Social worker
• Dietitian
• Registered Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse, or Nurse Practitioner

Applicants should also have:

• Experience working professionally with eating disorders, and the ability to provide current and accurate information
• Strong understanding of the complexity of eating disorders, eating disorder recovery, and co-occurring factors
• Practices from a weight-inclusive, healthy-at-any-size framework
• Previous experience facilitating support groups or therapy groups
• Has, and will maintain, their own professional liability insurance

Additional training/certification in yoga, music, art, etc therapies is advantageous but not required

Role & Expectations:
Facilitators are contracted to lead, support, and reframe group conversations during support sessions, while leaving ample room for peer support and sharing between participants. Groups offer both psychoeducation and support, and the facilitator strives to find a balance in session.

Specific duties include:

● Guide, inform, empower, prompt, and reframe conversations around mental health and eating disorder recovery.

• Ensure all members are enabled to participate in the group
• Manage conflict within the group
• Reframe maladaptive conversations and enforce group norms and EDSNA guidelines

● Ensure the focus remains on meeting the needs of the group as a whole

• Help the group to function in a safe manner.

● Work cooperatively with other EDSNA staff, facilitators and Board to foster continued improvement and evolution of programming.

● Maintain open communication with EDSNA staff, Board, and other facilitators
● Be respectful of other treatment professionals who may also be working with (or have worked with) the participants. EDSNA has a policy of collaboration and professional respect, which must be maintained at all times in group discussions.

● Be comfortable and proactive in connecting with participants of concern outside of group time in the name of safety

Terms of Employment:
● EDSNA facilitators are contractors, not employees
● Length of term:

• The term of each individual contract will be 6-9 weeks unless otherwise specified. Each program is contracted independently of all others.
• Groups are generally two (2) hours in length, per session
• Groups generally have a maximum of 12-15 participants, depending on the group/workshop
• Number of programs/year is based on facilitator, funding, and rental space availability (if applicable)

● Remuneration:

• The facilitator will be compensated $100-$150/hr, depending on the group facilitated, for direct contact plus preparation time per program contract

If you are interested in this position, please send us a resume and cover letter via Indeed and/or from the EDSNA website.

If you are interested in this position, please email your resume and cover letter to

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

No phone calls please

Disclaimer

We appreciate your interest in the Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta (EDSNA). However, only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

EDSNA is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to providing employment opportunities to all individuals. EDSNA is not currently accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms. Only those candidates permissible to work in Canada are applicable for this position.