Associate Psychotherapist Trainer

Summary: The Associate Psychotherapist Trainer works as part of an interdisciplinary team to address the trauma rehabilitation needs of vulnerable minority populations including the Shabak community who are suffering from the effects of war and violence. The Associate Psychotherapist Trainer will oversee psychological interventions, including individual and group psychotherapy with adults and children who are traumatized. This position also will provide supervision, coaching, and training to psychosocial counselor(s), social worker(s) and provide education, supervision, mentoring and support to partner organizations to meet the needs of survivors. The Associate Psychotherapist Trainer will oversee and advocate for survivors to access justice efforts including access to reparation. They will coordinate closely with survivors groups, community advisory boards and partner organizations to ensure survivors have access to legal, rehabilitation and other supports necessary.

Job Responsibilities

Clinical Supervision and Training: Conduct on-going supervision, formal training, staff support, promote self-care, mentoring and modeling to psychosocial counselors. Design and carry out training programs for the counseling department and wider interdisciplinary team. Continually assess learning needs of psychosocial counselors and social workers develop and modify individual professional development plans, and adapt training and coaching accordingly. Adapt training style, content, and frequency to meet both individual and team needs. Work as interdisciplinary team to assess, provide and follow-up on topics related to case management, interdisciplinary work and related topics. Participate in hiring and orientation for new psychosocial counselors and participates in hiring and orientation of physiotherapists as required.

Clinical Management: Manage performance of supervisees and provide regular feedback both through formal and informal assessments. Manage day-to-day operations of the counseling department, oversee counselling services provided by CVT staff in partner organizations, provide mentoring to partner organization staff on integrating trauma informed care into their systems and services. Track and ensure program objectives are met. Collaborate between disciplines of counseling, physiotherapy  and social work.

Psychotherapy: Provide psychotherapy to individuals, families and groups impacted by war and violence, in order to model methods and build capacity of psychosocial counselors. Collaborate and provide services with other interdisciplinary clinicians as part of an integrated care model.

Reporting: Write and submit regular reports regarding clinical and training activities, including training and workshop sessions, that focus on progress achieved toward program objectives.

Community assessment and advocacy: Coordinate closely with the Project Coordinator and community advisory boards to ensure that needs assessments are carried out using survivor centered, trauma informed principles. Carry out need assessments alongside Project coordinator, community advisory boards and civil society organizations in vulnerable communities to determine appropriate mental health interventions for people who have been traumatized by armed conflicts. Produce and contribute to  reports to the community advisory boards, civil society and partner organizations as required.

Based on needs assessments advocate for rehabilitation needs of survivors and support services required by survivors to access justice mechanisms, including the YSL.

Program Development and Evaluation: Participate in the design of and implementation of new programs as well as program evaluation.

Partnerships and Capacity Building: Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with both governmental and non-governmental organizations within Iraq. Provide training and address emerging issue related to rights and resilience. Coordinate with other organizations to better address the needs of survivors and support the development of pathways for them to obtain justice and accountability including access to reparations. Develop therapeutic interventions and/or adapt CVT standard interventions to meet the cultural and contextual needs of communities and partner organizations. Lead assessment of partner organizations capacities and develop training plans, clinical supervision and follow up to meet the needs of partner organizations and the communities they serve.

Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned by direct supervisors, Country Director, Program Manager in the implementation of program activities.

Required experience, competencies, education, certificates or licenses:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Clinical Psychology, Counseling or related discipline.
• Fluency in Kurdish, Arabic and English.
• Computer literacy in Email & Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
• Experience providing psychotherapy to children, adults, families and groups.
• Experience working with biopsychosocial approaches.
• Experience working with individuals and families in situations of risk, including domestic violence, suicide ideation and/or attempts.
• Experience implementing culturally appropriate mental health interventions, including individual, group and community-based approaches for people who have suffered war trauma.
• Experience providing training and awareness raising on transitional justice/justice mechanisms and the effects of human rights violations.
• Experience developing curriculum and providing training for survivor led organizations, civil society, and mental health professionals using interactive methodologies.
• Experience managing and supervising staff.
• Skilled at working as a member of a diverse team.
• Adequate interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all levels.
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to changing program requirements, beneficiary needs, and political climate.
• Must consistently promote and represent a humanitarian and human rights understanding of their work internally and externally, including promoting acceptance of differences and non-discrimination.
• Commitment to and role modeling of human rights approach including: maintaining respect regarding any sensitive issues such as religion, minority or political affiliation and treating colleagues equally regardless of differences. Strong commitment to serve beneficiaries of CVT’s project regardless their religion, gender, minority affiliation or political background.
• Commitment to the ethical and sensitive implementation of project activities, including a commitment to confidentiality, diversity, equity, and inclusion, quality service provision, and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (including online).

Preferred experience, competencies, education, certificates or licenses:

• Certification or licenses as a Psychologist or therapist.
• Experience supervising mental health counselors.
• Experience working as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Work experience with survivors of war trauma.
• Skilled at carrying out needs assessments and program evaluation.
• Experience with transitional justice mechanisms and principles.

Interested candidates must submit an updated CV with a Cover Letter to: [email protected]

Please put “Associate Psychotherapist Trainer” in the Subject line.

Application deadline:  December 7^th, 2024.

Only short-listed applicants will be invited to interview.