INDIGENOUS TRAUMA THERAPIST
The Prince Edward Island Rape and Sexual Assault Centre (PEIRSAC) is a feminist, non-profit,
government funded organization providing individual and group counselling across the province to adult
and youth (16+) survivors of all genders of recent or historic sexual violence. PEIRSAC is partnering with
the Aboriginal Women’s Association of PEI (AWAPEI), to hire an Indigenous trauma therapist to
respond to Indigenous women and gender diverse people’s psychosocial needs on-reserve (Abegweit and
Lennox Island) and off-reserve (Charlottetown), fusing both clinical Western and traditional Indigenous
methodologies of care and support to provide holistic and culturally safe trauma therapy. The incumbent
will also facilitate relationship- and capacity-building between and within both organizations through
sharing knowledge, expertise, and skills; and will be required to facilitate training and support to Elders
as they provide services. A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle to travel to the three locations on
PEI is required, and the flexibility to work with clients remotely via phone and/or other technology when
required.
PEIRSAC is seeking an individual with a Master’s degree in social work, counselling psychology, or
similar, with current (or eligible for) good standing with a PEI professional regulator. The ideal
incumbent will have at least three years of trauma-focused counselling with Indigenous (preferably
Mi’kmaq) clients, and therefore knows the history and traumatic intergenerational impacts of
colonization, including (but not limited to) residential schools, the sixties scoop, and murdered and
missing Indigenous women and girls. The incumbent must be able to demonstrate how they work from a
therapeutic approach that is decolonizing, intersectionally feminist, strengths-based, person-centred,
non-pathologizing, and tailored to each person’s individual context, e.g. racialized and gendered
experiences, socio- economic class, dis/ability, sexual/affectional orientation, spiritual and cultural
worldview.
First Nations, Inuit or Métis candidates will be given priority; please self-identify.
Requirements
The ideal candidate will have:
- Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous populations
- Knowledge of PEI First Nation communities
- Master’s Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling (or other applicable program) with valid
registration for Prince Edward Island with your relevant professional organization - Excellent assessment, interviewing, and counselling skills with a minimum 3 years of social work
or other counselling experience in a health care setting or social service agency with victims of
sexualized violence, trauma, and abuse - Solid interpersonal skills that allow one to work with people sensitively, tactfully, diplomatically,
and professionally in diverse working environments - High level of sound and independent judgment, reasoning, and discretion; strong ethics including
a commitment to client confidentiality - The ability to make independent decisions when circumstances require, including recognizing
limits to their professional competency and when to refer - Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Valid driver’s license, access to a vehicle, and willingness to travel a minimum twice a week to rural
reserves (with mileage compensation based on provincial rates) - The flexibility and capacity to work remotely from home or office as required (due to public health
directives, weather, client preference, etc.) - Computer literacy, including effective working skills of MS Word, Excel, and e-mail (experience on
OWL Online Practice platform an asset) - Bilingualism is an asset
Job Duties
In collaboration with other team members, the INDIGENOUS THERAPIST will be responsible for
providing intake, on-going assessment, and therapeutic services in Abegweit and Lennox Island First
Nation Health Centres and the PEIRSAC Charlottetown office. In this role the therapist will:
- respond to requests and referrals for therapy;
- conduct initial consultation interviews with persons requesting service;
- maintain a caseload of clients for short- and long-term trauma informed, individual therapy;
- provide crisis, brief and/or extended person-centered, strength-based, culturally safe, clinical
trauma therapy to on-reserve and urban Indigenous women and gender diverse survivors (age 16+)
of sexual violence, fusing both western clinical and Indigenous healing modalities; - work in cooperation with other professionals when appropriate;
- maintain records and files on clients, for the purpose of facilitating the therapeutic process;
- maintain job-related statistics and timesheets as required;
- attend monthly staff meetings;
- attend monthly clinical peer meetings;
- meet regularly with clinical consultant (budget provided for this purpose);
- meet regularly with the Executive Director for supervision;
- keep current in professional development on trauma issues and counselling (budget provided);
- be familiar with and follow PEIRSAC Policies, especially Therapy Policies and Procedures;
- provide consultation with PEIRSAC board and clinical staff regarding the history and traumatic
intergenerational impacts of colonization, including: residential schools, the sixties scoop,
murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, and how to best respond organizationally and
therapeutically in a culturally appropriate and safe manner; - participate in knowledge and culture sharing events between PEIRSAC and AWAPEI;
- other activities requested by the Executive Director (time and workload permitting)


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