COGNITIVE COUNSELOR

Who is Gateway Foundation?

Gateway Foundation, Inc. is a national non-profit dedicated to helping individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. Established in 1968, Gateway provides essential tools and knowledge for recovery, positively impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Operating through its Community Services, Corrections Divisions, and Corporate Headquarters, the organization is recognized for innovative, effective treatment approaches and maintaining high standards.

Why join us?

Consider joining our team, where your impact can be truly meaningful. Our organization focuses on delivering high quality clinical services as a recognized leader in evidence-based treatment proven to get results. By joining our team, you'll have the chance to provide essential services to underserved populations, all while working for an organization that values you and aims to be an employer of choice. You can expect to be part of a vibrant culture that emphasizes teamwork and professional growth, while embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion for every individual in every community. When you join us, you'll discover personal and professional fulfillment by aligning your career with your values.

We are honored to offer behavioral healthcare services in Corrections

Perks of working in correctional healthcare:

• Opportunity to make a positive impact on a marginalized population
• Exposure to diverse patient demographics
• Focus on driving change, tracking progress, and improving care
• Development of skills in a unique healthcare setting

Cognitive Counselors are responsible for:

• Prepares appropriate cognitive intervention plans, in accordance with established standards and deadlines. Prepares and conducts group educational sessions with clients in accordance with intervention programming plan; facilitates discussion and interaction; and enables group members to understand and accept responsibility for the process of change, and acquire necessary coping and behavior management skills.
• Documents cognitive intervention programming plans, evaluations, weekly progress notes and discharge summaries. Updates and maintains client records which include recording direct service hours, activity or group participation ensuring they are complete and accurate in accordance with organizational, regulatory, accreditation and contractual standards.
• Prepares and conducts educational programs and lectures on scheduled topics related to thinking for change, cognitive intervention, life skills, problem solving, behavior modification, anger management to assist clients with basic education on these topics. Develops client discharge plans.
• Contributes to client care monitoring by regularly reporting to supervisor client observations, incidents, unusual occurrences and caseload activities and results. Participates in staff meetings to review client progress, intervention programming and recommend continuation or modification of programing. Assists team in maintaining consistent setting for program, planning and coordinating client interaction events.
• Maintains regular communications with onsite parole officers to relay reports on clients’ progress in cognitive programming. Prepares written reports and correspondence.
• Provide effective support, intervention, direction, and conflict resolution; interact effectively with family members; and maintain effective contacts with outside agencies and referral sources or services.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in a Human Service (Psychology, Social Work, Mental Health or Substance Abuse counseling, or closely related field) from an accredited college
• 2 – 5 years of experience with cognitive intervention substance use treatment/counseling and/or mental health counseling.
• Experience in forensic counseling preferred
• Current Certified Addictions Professional (CAP) or Masters Certified Addictions Counselor (MCAP) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) preferred
• Must be able to obtain Florida Department of Corrections clearance to work in the correctional institution.
• Basic knowledge of the principles of human growth and psychosocial development
• Basic knowledge of group and individual dynamics, conflict resolution and intervention techniques based on client maturation level
• Basic understanding of mental health disorders requiring referrals
• Basic communication skills to exchange information and interact with various internal and external audiences regarding client care
• Active listening skills and social perceptiveness
• Ability to read and interpret policies and instructions
• Ability to understand side effects and impact of medications on client
• Adaptability / flexibility: ability to shift priorities

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to walk and move about the facilities for up to two hours at a time, to monitor and interact with clients
• Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
• Ability to record, proofread and check documents and files for accuracy, to prepare and analyze data and figures, transcribe, read
• Ability to use a keyboard and video display terminal to receive, retrieve, and/or audit information and data
• Ability to respond to telephones, and to hear and detect alarms and unusual noises

Benefits at Gateway Foundation:

Health and Wellness:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents
• Employee wellness program promoting health and fitness and offering cash-saving premiums
• Employee assistance programs focused on mental health

Financial Wellbeing:

• 403(b) Retirement Plan with 3% employer match
• Short-term and Long-term Disability and Life and AD&D Insurance paid for by Gateway
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Flexibility and Time Off:

• 18 paid time off days per year – accrual rates increase with years of service
• 9 paid company holidays
• Work-life-balance

Personal Development:

• Training & Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement - up to $5,250 per calendar year
• eLearning access to online courses that provide CEU’s and job-related training
• Clinical Supervision: Formal and informal guidance

Gateway Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/ Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets. Please view Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.