Job Description

Posting number: 2026-06678

Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division: BHHA

Job classification: PSYCHOLOGY ASSOCIATE

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Mental Health, Human Services, Health Sciences, Counseling

Summary

DSHS Maple Lane - Psychology Associate

Join our team as a Psychology Associate at our newest behavioral health treatment campus, Maple Lane, located near Centralia, Washington.

BHTC Maple Lane Campus Baker Unit's primary mission is to provide behavioral health care for residents who have been determined to require involuntary care under RCW 71.05. BHTC's mission is to promote recovery, resilience, and rehabilitation for those residents, leading to successful community transition.

The Psychology Associate is an integral position that will be responsible for delivering psychosocial interventions to an assigned group of residents. Evidence-based group and individual therapy and promoting effective interpersonal skills on the treatment milieu are essential components of the Psychology Associate position. The Psychology Associate will function as a key member of an interdisciplinary treatment team that includes medical, psychiatry, nursing, psychology, social work, and institutional counselors.

About Maple Lane

Behavioral Health Treatment Center Maple Lane provides innovative treatment for residents who are civilly committed or adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). Through smaller, community-based residential units, Maple Lane supports Washington State’s vision of behavioral health care delivered closer to home, family, and support systems, helping residents maintain meaningful community connections.

Maple Lane is a key business unit within the Department of Social and Health Services Behavioral Health and Habilitation Administration. Our dedicated staff provide residents with enriching opportunities and therapeutic experiences outside of a hospital setting, supporting a successful transition back into the community. This is an excellent opportunity to join a team committed to modernizing and strengthening behavioral health treatment across Washington State.

Some of what you will do:

Resident Information and Case Formulation:

• Obtain historical psychosocial documentation through records requests of past treatment.
• Participate in treatment teams as assigned and contribute observations and treatment response data to help formulate resident conceptualizations and treatment plans.
• Engage residents in social skills activities when indicated.
• Collaborate with other disciplines to ensure residents are appropriately oriented to facility.
• Collaborate with social work to develop a comprehensive community success plan.

Treatment:

• Understand and apply established treatment models to resident care.
• Contribute to integrated treatment plans by helping to formulate treatment goals.
• Provide group therapy utilizing evidence-based and clinically promising clinical practices assigned to residents.
• Conduct individual therapy sessions at a minimum of one session per month, but ideally as needed in consultation with the treatment team to promote progress and stability.
• Monitor residents’ progress regarding established treatment goals and documents in progress notes.
• Monitor warning signs and risk factors for suicide, self-harm, and violence towards others. Notify nursing and clinical staff when risk is detected to provide concerns and to help formulate a safety management strategy in accordance with the integrated treatment plan and clinical consultation.
• Complete the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) when indication to die by suicide is detected.

Collaborative Resident- Centered Care:

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment team, including psychiatry, social work, medical, nursing, and other institutional staff.
• Respond to email, messages, and phone calls in a timely matter.
• When differences arise between disciplines, work to understand interests and obligations of other disciplines and adapt to integrated treatment needs.

Milieu Management:

• Contribute to a therapeutic milieu by intervening to de-escalate residents by utilizing Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) and other facility approved techniques.
• Therapeutically engage resident post-crisis to re-establish rapport and engage resident in behavioral chain analysis.

Clinical Documentation:

• Maintain current, accurate, and behaviorally descriptive clinical documentation in the Electronic Health Record (HER).

Who should apply?

We are searching for professionals with:

• A master’s degree in psychology, social work, mental health counseling, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited institution

AND

• Registration as a Washington State Agency Affiliated Counselor or professional licensure in the State of Washington

Desired knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• In-depth working knowledge of group behavior and dynamics.
• Experience in intervening and de-escalating crisis/dangerous situations.
• Knowledge of all hospitals, state, and federal regulatory standards, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of mental illness and recovery principles.
• Ability to work with difficult or angry residents in a therapeutic, non-threatening manner. Ability to work as a team member and to resolve personal conflicts in a calm, non-threatening manner.
• Must be able to communicate effectively with management, peers, residents, and the public as required to cany out the assigned duties of the position.
• Demonstrate proficient operation of the following equipment: Computer, copy machine.
• Must be able to effectively communicate with management, peers, clients, and the public as required to carry out the assigned duties of the position.
• Ability to be competent in basic computer skills, including word processing and navigating a web browser in order to utilize the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
• This position also requires full competency in the designated EHR system following the completion of requisite EHR Training as assigned.

Additional information

• Opportunities performed on-site at this work location at least three days a week may be eligible for an additional 5% premium pay in addition to the advertised salary.
• Work schedule: Sunday to Thursday 9am – 5:30pm

Why join us?

We partner with people to access support, care, and resources. DSHS employees make a difference in WA State every day by supporting sustainable recovery, independence, and wellness. See why people like you choose careers at DSHS:

Questions?

Please reach out to DSHS Recruiter Alex Baclaan at Alex.Baclaan@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number #06678.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Supplemental information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security