Job Description

DEPARTMENT: Clinical Services

REPORTS TO: Associate director of Emerging Adult Service Team

LOCATION: Hybrid work arrangement from home office and any office location in Chicago, Evanston, or Northbrook

FLSA CLASSIFICATION: [EXEMPT]

THE ORGANIZATION

Through clinical services, education, and research, The Family Institute at Northwestern University is one of the nation’s leading relationship-based behavioral health organizations committed to strengthening and healing children and adolescents, couples, families, and individuals. When you join The Family Institute, you are joining a team of over 230 collaborators comprised of clinicians, educators, researchers, therapists-in-training, partners, and administrators across three service sites. We are a strong, independent organization focused on advancing the world of behavioral health.

Learn more about our culture.

THE ROLE

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Staff Therapist to join our Emerging Adult Team. This clinician will provide mental health services tailored to a wide range of clients across the lifespan with a specific interest in working with emerging adults, supporting their unique developmental, social, and emotional needs. The role involves working with individuals, couples, and families, to promote growth and resilience aligned with the Family Institute’s mission and values.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong interest in working with emerging adults and be comfortable addressing common presenting problems including life stage transitions, relationship challenges, social and cultural identity, addiction, neurodivergence, sexuality, and work/life balance. They will have experience working systemically with families and couples.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide psychotherapy that is empirically informed, theoretically grounded, culturally responsive, and relationally based.
2. Provide a timely response to all current or prospective clients; perform mental health assessments, identify at-risk behaviors, and develop appropriate treatment plans, providing referrals when necessary.
3. Document all services in EHR within established organizational timelines.
4. Build and maintain a caseload by meeting unit targets.
5. Obtain two years of clinical supervision with satisfactory evaluations.
6. Work collaboratively with clients, external systems, colleagues, and operation staff, and in a culturally sensitive and appropriate manner, including complex clinical or shared cases as appropriate.
7. Support organizational or administrative communication with clients
8. Attend required individual supervision, weekly peer clinical consultation and Clinical Services meetings, as applicable in addition to all other mandatory meetings.
9. Demonstrate an ongoing investment in professional development, while adhering to confidentiality practices and maintaining compliance with organizational policies and procedures.
10. Apply AI and/or automation tools that streamline or improve processes, efficiency and quality while exercising discretion and ethical judgment.
11. Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Optional Job Responsibilities

1. Contribute to a class (e.g., guest lecturer)
2. Supervise therapist in-training
3. Participate in a clinical, educational, or research program
4. Present a topic to external groups (workshop, presentation)
5. Receive meta vision
6. Develop and disseminate a “product” (e.g., workshop, talk, blog) that drives referrals to The Family Institute

OF QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge and Skills

1. Possess a training background and clinical experience that are empirically informed, theoretically grounded, and systemically oriented
2. Experience or strong interest in working with emerging adults and developmental challenges
3. Understanding of personal and professional boundaries
4. Organizational skills
5. Time and stress management skills
6. Communication skills to include interpersonal, teamwork, and collaboration skills
7. Computer literacy
8. Problem solving skills

MINIMUM HIRING SPECIFICATIONS

1. Master’s Degree in a license-eligible discipline
2. Minimum of one-year post-graduate experience
3. Experience building and maintaining a consistent clinical caseload and ensuring timely completion of all required documentation
4. Ability to work some evenings and Saturdays

Requirements

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Must be able to compose written reports clearly and effectively
2. Must be able to be in a stationary position due to attention to computer screen
3. The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations
4. The ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer) to perform work-related duties
5. Must be able to apply established protocols in a timely manner
6. Must be able to determine solutions to problems
7. Must be able to operate successfully while handling multiple projects

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Family Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, Veteran status, or any other protected class. We strive to create a working environment that is free of all forms of discrimination and one that promotes human dignity and mutual respect among all staff. We believe every member of our organization enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world, to identify challenges, and to discover, design, and deliver solutions.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and welcome applications from candidates with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please direct your inquiries to the HR Team.

Compensation is based on a number of factors, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, a candidate’s applicable work experience, licensure status, key skills and qualifications, and internal and external market considerations. Staff Therapists are compensated through a base salary plus variable compensation model. The base salary range for this position is $44,886 to $71,832 for unlicensed applicants and $59,848 to $91,171 for licensed applicants, based on licensure tier and years of clinical experience. New Staff Therapists are paid a fixed salary during a 24-week ramp period while building their caseload. After ramp, Staff Therapists move to base salary plus variable compensation based on clinical productivity, which can meaningfully increase total earnings above base.

Details of the full compensation structure, including variable pay potential, are reviewed during the interview process.

The Family Institute provides competitive benefits, including health, a 403(b) retirement savings plan, generous time off, and professional development. For a more inclusive list of benefits, please visit our Careers page at https://www.family-institute.org/about-us/careers