Friends of Ruby is dedicated to the journey and well-being of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, aged 16-29 through mental health services, social services, and housing. Friends of Ruby offers Youth Mental Health services, a Youth Drop-In Centre, and a Transitional Home. The Centre provides access to barrier-free counselling and therapeutic groups, case management and a drop-in space with hot meals, community, and comprehensive programming. The Home provides transitional and emergency housing, as well as mental health and life-skills to support youth moving towards independent living.

Friends of Ruby recognize that a diverse work force is critical to accomplishing our mission. Our goal is to attract, develop, and retain highly talented employees from diverse backgrounds, allowing us to benefit from a wide variety of experiences and perspectives.

We strongly encourage applications from the 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, and diverse backgrounds that meet the requirements of the job posting. We suggest applicants introduce themselves, their stories and lived experiences in their cover letter to the degree they are comfortable with.

Position Summary

We are looking for a talented clinician who identifies as a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to provide mental health and counselling support to 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, including those with intersectional identities of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC). We encourage members of the BIPOC community to apply. 

Reporting to the Director of Youth Services, the Clinical Counsellor will provide single session and short-term counselling, along with utilizing ongoing counselling skills to youth, using evidence-based practices aligned with needs identified at the time of intake and assessment to Friends of Ruby. The counsellor will also work with Drop-in participants and Friends of Ruby’s Home resident. 

The Clinical Counsellor will plan and facilitate clinical groups dedicated to topics such as skills for safer living, coping and emotion management skills and mindfulness practices. The Clinical Counsellor provides crisis support to address immediate crises, including suicide risk assessment, safety planning, emotional de-escalation, resources and referral, or connecting with emergency responders if necessary. 

Tasks and Responsibilities 

Utilizing strengths-based, trauma-informed and harm reduction approaches, the Clinical Counsellor will:  

• Formulate treatment plans and provide therapeutic counselling using a range of evidence-based practices, including but not limited to MBCT, DBT, ACT, MBSR, Trauma-informed Counselling, Participant-Centred Therapies and/or Brief Solution Focused Therapy. 

• Provide short-term counselling, including the delivery of a Brief Solution Focused Therapy pilot project. 

• Using a harm reduction and trauma-informed approach, create safety plans with 2SLGBTQIA+and BIPOC participants assessing immediate and longer-term needs and goals. 

• Working from a multi-disciplinary framework partner with psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals to best meet the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. 

• Connect participants to other Friends of Ruby`s programs when appropriate and liaise with peers from those programs to best support 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC participants to meet their needs; refer to external service providers as needed. 

• Facilitate Friends of Ruby’s group counselling and therapeutic programs, including but not limited to DBT skills group, Skills for Safer Living and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. 

• Complete participants Intake Assessments. 

• Actively participate in team meetings and individual/group clinical supervision. 

• Support students, ensuring confidentiality, collection of data and completion of case file documentation as required. 

• Occasionally support the overseeing of the Drop In area and monitor the overall physical and emotional safety of the space; managing potentially escalating situations. 

• Provide same-day crisis counselling, completing risk assessments and safety planning. 

• Manage crisis, recognize and provide appropriate intervention as needed. Address youth conflict directly and respectfully. Teach and model effective problem solving and conflict negotiation. 

• Participate in the on-call crisis line rotation. 

• Work collaboratively with other teams in matters relating to communication, evaluation and different initiatives in support of the Organization’s mission. 

• Maintain clinical records and completion of administrative tasks. 

• And other duties, as directed, for the delivery of the department’s strategic priorities and/or to meet key deadlines. 
   

Skills and Experiences

• Master's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Psychotherapy, Counselling Psychology, or in a related field and/or comparable work experience. 

• Membership in good standing with the college of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or College of Registered Psychotherapists (RSW or RP), or other counselling college. 

• Provide trauma informed individual and group therapeutic services. 

• 3-5 years of experience providing clinical counselling and support to 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth in issues related to mental health, trauma, disorders of eating, violence, self-injurious behavior, transitioning and/or coming out, substance use, family support and relationships. 

• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, harm reduction, anti-racism, anti-oppression, strengths-based, trauma-informed, participant-centered practices and ability to implement them in work with 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth. 

• Experience in group facilitation, preferably utilizing Evidence Based Practices; training and/or experience with modalities including but not limited to MBCT, CBT, DBT, ACT, MBSR, Brief Solution Focused Therapy and/or Trauma-informed Counselling are considered an asset. 

• Knowledge and experience working with 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC youth and the ability to work from a lens of sensitivity to diversity related to race, culture, religion, immigration, cognitive functioning, poverty, sexual orientation and gender identity, etc. 

• Knowledge in suicide risk assessment, crisis intervention skills and safety planning; and ability to manage conflict, crises and escalating situations calmly and confidently. 

• Possess the lived experience, knowledge, and cultural experiences required to address the specific issues trans, non-binary or gender queer youth face including trauma and transphobia, safely and effectively. 

• Demonstrated clinical experience in disorders of eating. 

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team, to problem solve, and to remain flexible and able to adapt within a busy and changing environment, and excellent written and verbal communication and organizational skills. 

Additional Requirements:

• Satisfactory clearance under the Vulnerable Sector Police Check Program.
• Must be qualified to legally work in Canada.
• Willing to work onsite Monday to Friday at the Friends of Ruby Drop-In Youth Centre located in downtown Toronto or Friends of Ruby satalie offices, where flexibility and autonomy is required.
• Willing to work on a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the organization, working evenings, and on-call on occasions.
• Ability to travel to other community-based settings as needed.

Location: Hybrid Model, Downtown Toronto, Ontario.

Friends of Ruby is dedicated to fostering an inclusive selection process and work environment, guided by the Employment Equity Policies. If selected for an interview, please inform the People and Culture team of any accommodation you may require during the interview process.