Family Advocacy Program (FAP) Clinical Counselor for Children

Summary

Serve as a Clinical Counselor within Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), Fleet and Family Readiness Department (N9), Family Readiness Division (N91), Fleet and Family Support Program (FFSP). The primary purpose of this position is to provide short-term, non-medical clinical counseling for separation, grief, deployment, relocation, relationship issues, parent-child interactions, interpersonal issues and other challenges. Applications reviewed every two weeks.

Duties

• Provide direct non-medical, short term solution focused counseling services to eligible children, parents, families and groups using psychotherapeutic services, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based therapies, acceptance and commitment therapy, solution-focused brief therapy, family systems therapy, expressive therapies, etc. Assess client's needs and the nature and scope of their problem(s) and behavior, explore basic personality structure in relation to behavior patterns, mechanisms and symptoms, and analyze information collected to develop a diagnostic impression and treatment plan, and/or provide treatment referrals, as appropriate, to other clinical agencies. Conduct clinical and psychosocial assessments of children in families referred to the FAP for child abuse/neglect and/ or domestic abuse allegations; which may include assessing children who are alleged victims of child abuse/neglect, other children in the home, and children who have witnessed domestic abuse. Conduct comprehensive and complex clinical assessments to identify crisis situations, e.g., suicide or homicide risk, danger of physical or sexual abuse to family members, and increased risk of further family violence. Provide crisis intervention and safety planning, as required Recognize symptoms in clients with diagnosable disorders falling outside of the authorized scope of practice such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, substance use disorders, major depression or other symptoms requiring specialized medical/psychiatric intervention and/or longer-term treatment. Assist individuals and families with finding satisfactory ways of coping with commonly occurring life stresses (e.g. career change, work-related stress), family dynamics (e.g. divorce, communication problems), parenting, crisis response (e.g. physical, sexual or emotional abuse), or other stressors. Identify crisis situations (e.g., suicide or homicide risk, danger of physical or sexual abuse to family members, increased risk of interfamilial or extra familial violence) when conducting clinical assessments, and provide immediate crisis intervention, conduct risk assessment, and prepare and/or coordinate safety planning IAW best practices in the mental health community. Educate military, civilians and families on suicide intervention and at-risk behavior. Comply with reporting protocols involving high-risk case when reporting risk of suicide, homicide, domestic abuse or child abuse, and high-visibility cases. Inform military and civilian agencies on scope of practice, how to engage in services, available counseling services (i.e., couples, individual, and children/family), and clinical issues and treatment related to children and adolescence; and train on clinical areas of interest (i.e., sleep hygiene, healthy communication, etc.) upon request and if availability allows. Consult and coordinate with other military and civilian service agencies on specific client cases (i.e., military treatment facility behavioral health, civilian military health providers, CPS, etc.), on an ad-hoc basis. Collaborate with civilian community service boards and organizations regarding issues unique to military children. Coordinate and/or provide in-service training on child abuse, neglect, and trauma to other FFSC staff. Serve as designated case manager and primary FAP point of contact for PSB-CY cases, ensuring all actions comply with Department of Defense (DoD) and Navy instructions and civilian reporting requirements. Receive initial reports of problematic sexual behaviors in children and youth (PSB-CY) from military and civilian representatives and take all steps required under the FAP PSB-CY. Complete all required assessments and documentation (clinical notes, collateral contacts, treatment plans, and required statistical data) in the DoD Military Community and Family Policy PSB-CY Case Management System, as required. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Expert knowledge of and skill in employing various counseling approaches, clinical treatment principles and practices, research methods, group dynamics, motivational interviewing, developmental psychology, and family systems therapy to counsel children, adolescents and families. Able to communicate effectively and professionally using a variety of methods and techniques. Knowledge of military lifestyle and demands to present sensitive, potentially controversial information to various groups; interview military family members; develop and maintain professional relationships with other treatment professionals; discuss cases, deliver presentations. In-depth knowledge of family systems related to childhood, adolescence and parenting, and skill in applying the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to recognize, identify, and assess mental disorders, personal and social problems, reach accurate conclusions and provide appropriate solutions.

Education

Applicant must have one of the following educational backgrounds (transcripts must be included in application to be considered for this position): Master's degree from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs or an equivalent degree. Master's degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education or an equivalent degree. Master's degree in social work from a graduate school of Social Work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education or an equivalent degree. Doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited university or professional school AND a 1-year APA accredited clinical internship. In order to meet the qualification requirements for Tier II clinical providers described in SECNAVINST 1754.8, an applicant must have a licensure/certification by a state or U.S. territory that provides legal authority to provide clinical services as an independent practitioner in the fields of Licensed Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Clinical Social Work, Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology. (A current license must be uploaded/included with your application to be considered for this position.) In order to meet the qualification requirements for Tier II clinical providers described in SECNAVINST 1754.8, an applicant must have two years full-time, post-masters supervised clinical experience. In order to meet the basic qualification requirements for this position, an applicant must have at least 4 years' specialized experience in applying various counseling approaches and techniques to counsel children, adolescents, and families.

How to apply

To be considered for this vacancy you must apply and complete the online questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. When building or uploading your resume, please note there is a two-page limit. The system will restrict any attempts to submit a longer document. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 09/30/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application. To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13030346 It is your responsibility to ensure your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) is complete, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. Additional information on how to complete the online application process and submit your online application may be found on the https://help.usastaffing.gov/Apply/index.php?title=Applicant To verify or check the status of your application, log into your USAJobs account. Once logged in, the Welcome screen lists your applications, your application status and the date it was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status DON is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, reprisal, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, or any other non-merit factor. The DON provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applicants with disabilities who believe they may require reasonable accommodation(s) should email their request to [email protected] to ensure proper consideration is given.