Clinical Counsellor - Mental Wellness & Substance Use

This posting

This posting will be used to fill two (2) term full-time positions to August 2, 2027, both working 75 hours bi-weekly. It will establish a 6-month eligibility list which may be used to fill similar positions.

This job is based in the thriving and diverse city of Whitehorse in the beautiful Yukon.

Who we are

The Government of Yukon's Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services division is known for its innovative, holistic, trauma informed and culturally accessible approach to providing mental health and substance use supports to all Yukoners. We aim to provide clients with the highest level of care and a healthy workplace for staff. Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services offers a goal focused approach to providing harm-reduction or recovery-based services for all individuals seeking to reduce the symptoms of mental wellness and/or substance use issues.

This position is to provide a clinical counselling service within the Intensive Treatment Program. This team is dynamic, welcoming, compassionate, and has a fantastic sense of humour. We’re excited to meet you! In this program, we provide group and individual counselling, group skills development, healthy recreation opportunities, all within a two-eyed seeing approach that incorporates Indigenous ways of knowing and healing.

Your role

As a Clinical Counsellor, you will provide assessment and treatment services, and some case management, to clients struggling with addiction and mental health concerns, on a live-in and outpatient basis. You should expect to be participating in individual therapy, the facilitation of process and psychoeducational groups, and peer consultation daily. The environment can be fast-paced and stressful; however, it is enormously rewarding in terms of the difference you are able to make in our clients’ lives. In order for this job to be fulfilling for you, you’ll need to be a team player who can appreciate and build off the strengths of others to pull together equally to support the clients within a multi-disciplinary team environment.

This position requires a flexible person who is comfortable with managing conflict, and who enjoys the challenge of adapting to a dynamic environment. You’ll be ready to jump into facilitating groups with a diverse set of clients. Finally, but most importantly, you’ll understand that clients come seeking help from lots of different backgrounds and are here for a chance to change, and you’ll be able to put that understanding and compassion first in your approach.

• For more information on this job, please contact Haley Steinhoff, Clinical Supervisor, Intensive Treatment Program at 867-332-7699 or [email protected]
• For more information about the recruitment process, please contact Jaime Strachan, HR Consultant at 867-332-5768 or [email protected]

Your benefits

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer many additional financial and non-financial benefits.

• Government of Yukon’s many benefits

Your career, your home, your lifestyle

We are the Yukon public service. Every day, we come together to serve the people who live here and make a difference in so many ways. Here, you will find the diverse opportunities you desire to develop your career while enjoying a warm sense of community and vibrant artistic, cultural, and recreational amenities, all set in a spectacular natural environment.

As part of our team, your achievements and enjoyment in both your work and personal life will be valued as you explore the many opportunities the Yukon, and the Government of Yukon, has to offer.

Check out

• Yukon Life
• Working at Yukon government
• Whitehorse Lifestyle
• Yukon, Larger than Life

Important application and job requirements

Essential qualifications

Please submit your resume clearly demonstrating how you meet the qualifications below. Selections for further consideration will be based solely on the information you provide in your resume; ensure you use a month/year to month/year format and include the duties you performed in each of your positions.

• Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Social Work, Counselling, or a related discipline (or higher); a Bachelor’s degree with significant related experience in substance use or addictions may also be considered (e.g., withdrawal support, harm reduction, relapse prevention, substance use assessments, etc.).
• Recent experience providing assessments, treatment planning, and referrals with adults
• Experience providing case management with adults
• Experience delivering individual and group counseling
• Significant experience working with marginalized and Indigenous populations

It may be helpful for you to review “Prepare your resume and cover letter”.

Please note we will not accept resumes sent through email. A profile must be created, and resumes must be submitted in English, through E-recruitment. The official language used in the workplace is English.

Desired knowledge, skills and suitability

If selected for an interview, candidates should have, and may be assessed on, the following:

• Strong ability to work with marginalised populations, with the understanding of collaborative health care delivery systems, and the continuum of services available to clients at different stages of their lives;
• Ability to demonstrate cultural humility, flexibility, and collaboration working with Indigenous populations and partners;
• Significant client-centred experience working persons who are impacted by mental health and substance use concerns;
• Understanding of two-eyed seeing and trauma informed approach to client care
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment, serve as a positive team member, and accept and provide constructive feedback.
• Ability to quickly change gears to meet client needs in a fast-paced environment;
• Effective written and oral communication supported by strong conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to develop and deliver programming;
• Strong client-centered, strength-based, trauma-informed practice;
• Strong self-awareness and openness to learning, as well as a growth mindset to ensure the practice of self-care; and
• Ability to maintain professional and timely client records in an electronic management system

It may be helpful for you to review “The job interview process”.

Conditions of employment

You must meet the following conditions before being hired, or within the time frame noted.

• RCMP Vulnerable Sector Check;
• TB Screening;
• Copy of Master’s Degree
• Valid Class 5 Driver’s Licence or equivalent;
• WHMIS 2015 within one month of hire

Job requirements

This job requires you to perform, and/or be exposed to, the following:

• Works with clients experiencing strong and at times serious emotions and situational challenges. Work with clients experiencing suicidal ideation;
• Works with clients who use drugs and alcohol;
• Works with clients with forensic histories;
• Facilitate therapeutic groups and provide individual therapy.
• Ability to travel within the Yukon on a regular basis during all weather conditions

Learn more

• For help on creating your E-recruitment profile, email [email protected] or phone 867-667-9453.
• See why the Government of Yukon has been identified as one of Canada’s top employers since 2014.