The clinical therapist provides urgent assessments and brief, solution-focused interventions for patients in crisis at the Urgent Care Clinic. They are responsible for stabilizing patients who do not require admission but need immediate support to prevent further decompensation.
Requirements summary
Requires a Master's degree in a clinical health-related discipline and current professional registration. Candidates must have at least two years of clinical experience in child and youth mental health, including proficiency in DSM V and crisis intervention.
postgraduate degreeConflict ResolutionCrisis InterventionCultural CompetenceTreatment PlanningInterprofessional CollaborationSubstance Use TreatmentDischarge PlanningClinical AssessmentMental Health TreatmentSuicide Risk AssessmentDSM VEvidence-Based TherapyMeasurement Based CareViolence Risk AssessmentChoice and Partnership Approach (CAPA)Family-Sensitive Services
June 22, 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)
IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region.
We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia.
People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities.
We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes.
We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values, and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs.
We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.
Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.The Opportunity Reporting to the Clinical Manager, the clinical therapist will treat patients in the Urgent Care Clinic that have presented to the IWK Emergency Department or central referral line in crisis but who did not require admission, but whose presentation was serious enough that the patient or family could not be fully stabilized within the brief time available during their emergency assessment. While presentation and symptoms will vary, those who will be seen in the Clinic will usually be individuals or families who have lost their ability to use effective problem-solving or coping skills , present as a significant but not imminent risk to themselves or others, or if not seen within a few days may decompensate further. The clinical therapist will complete an urgent choice appointment to determine next best steps of care. They may also be required to provide brief, solution focused interventions to de-escalate and stabilize the crisis through bridging appointments to support stabilization while waiting for treatment to begin. Hours of Work 7.5 hours, day and evening shiftsYour Qualifications Master’s Degree in a clinical health-related discipline (Master’s in Social Work, Psychology, Master’s in Counseling, Master’s in Nursing, or Master’s in Occupational Therapy) required.
Benefits
Wellness Programs
Training and Mentorship Opportunities
Enhanced Benefits
Current professional registration (in good standing) or eligible for registration with the appropriate association or regulatory body required.
Clinical training and skills in providing evidence based individual and group-based therapies in the treatment of child and youth with mental health and substance use challenges and or disorders, required.
Minimum two (2) years experience in providing clinical assessment, treatment planning, intervention, and discharge planning required.
Minimum two (2) years' clinical experience in child and youth mental health required.
Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of standard criteria used (DSM V) for the classification and diagnosis of mental health disorders.
Demonstrated competence in application of the Choice and Partnership approach (CAPA), required.
Knowledge and experience working with Measurement Based Care platforms and engaging clients in data collection within their practice.
Demonstrated cultural competence and a strong understanding of how the social determinants of health impact on mental/physical health, required.
Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, ability to take initiative, work independently with limited supervision and participate as a member of an interprofessional team.
Demonstrated knowledge and skills in crisis intervention, suicide and violence risk assessment/ intervention
Demonstrated knowledge and skills in collaborating and engaging with families in relation to sharing information and implementing family-sensitive services that involve families/caregivers in the care.
Excellent problem-solving, organizational and prioritization skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks.
High level of written/ oral/ interpersonal communication skills; experience with conflict resolution.
Ability to work effectively in multiple software applications.
Non-violent crisis intervention and Suicide Risk Assessment preferred.
Competencies in other languages an asset.Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.
Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.
This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.
An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.
If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
Clinical Therapist, Urgent Care Clinic
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