Description

DSHS WSH Psychology Associate

Are you looking to further your professional career in the field of Psychology? If you are ready to put your Master's degree to work and gain valuable experience in an inpatient behavioral health setting where you have room to grow and learn, this is a great opportunity for you.

We're looking to hire a Psychology Associate at Western State Hospital (WSH), a state in-patient psychiatric facility in Lakewood, Washington. You will be serving the Civil Center of Excellence (CCE) at WSH. Most of our patient population is admitted to the hospital under the Involuntary Treatment Act for civil commitment for psychiatric treatment and this position mostly work with patients with a history of violent felonies charges. Our staff members provide direct care, assessment, and evidence-based individual/group psychological therapies to adults with severe psychiatric conditions. This position will be a member of a treatment team serving on a ward with no more than 30 patients.

In this role, you will expand upon your current mental health and counseling knowledge by delving into complex, challenging, and diverse cases. You will be exposed to work within an evolving treatment program that focuses on evidence-based treatment modalities and behavior management strategies.

In return, we offer job stability, a meaningful career, and job satisfaction.

This is an exciting opportunity for a meaningful career where you have the ability to grow as a professional to enjoy the work you do and to help support the Civil Center's mission of transforming lives through dedication to the wellness of individuals, their families, and the community through behavioral health interventions, treatment, and education. All work will be on-site at our Lakewood facility. This position reports to the Psychology Services Supervisor.

Some of what you will be doing:

• Design and implement group treatment interventions for civilly committed patients
• Conduct individual and group therapy sessions as appropriate for the treatment plan of the patient
• Apply psychotherapeutic theories and techniques in the delivery of services to people for the purpose of treating such diagnosed behavioral health disorders
• Collaborate with colleagues to plan treatment in accordance with hospital and CMS guidelines,
• Maintain documentation of therapy services provided to each patient, according to facility and professional standards and revise when needed
• Participate in treatment team meetings and collaborate with other staff to facilitate services for the patient as appropriate to their treatment plan

• Professionals with a Master's degree in Psychology or behavioral health counseling from an accredited school or department of psychology
• Desire and compassion for working with people with severe, diagnosed mental illness
• Flexibility and the ability to see value in small successes

• Strong interpersonal skills, communicate effectively in a way that is understood by patients, physicians, peers, clinical and non-clinical staff, supervisors, and managers
• Creative and innovative approaches to demonstrating recovery in its many various forms is possible
• Self-starter and work alone to accomplish patient goals without direct supervision
• Understand and address patient and treatment team's expectations and provide excellence in care and service consistent with ESH's mission, vision, values, and behavioral standards
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws and accreditation standards