(Short-Term) Associate Psychotherapist/Trainer (Iraqi nationals only)

This is a short-term position for immediate hire.

Summary: The Associate Psychotherapist Trainer works as part of an interdisciplinary team to address the trauma rehabilitation needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, refugees and host community. Alongside Psychotherapist Trainer(s), the Associate Psychotherapist Trainer will oversee psychological interventions, including individual and group psychotherapy with adults and children who are survivors of torture and war trauma. This position also will provide supervision, coaching, and training to a team of psychosocial counselors and provide education, supervision, mentoring and support to partner organizations to meet the needs of torture and war survivors. The job description is the same as that of a Psychotherapist Trainer, however with a lower caseload of supervisees to ensure time for mentoring, extra training, and support to adequately build capacity to become a full Psychotherapist Trainer.

About CVT: The Center for Victims of Torture (CVT) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to provide trauma rehabilitative services to survivors of gross human rights abuses, including torture, and works toward a future in which gross human rights violations ceases to exist and its victims have hope for a new life. We are headquartered in Minnesota, USA with offices in Africa and the Middle East. We work locally, nationally and internationally through programs that provide trauma rehabilitative services, conduct technical assistance and capacity building to human rights activists, civil society organizations, and local service providers around the world who can prevent and treat gross human rights abuses, and advocate for human rights and an end to gross human rights violations.

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, 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, senior clinicians. Participate in hiring and orientation of physiotherapists, community mobilizers, and social workers as required.
• Clinical Management: Manage performance of supervisees and provide regular feedback both through formal and informal assessment. Manage day-to-day operations of the counseling department, including managing the counseling team that provides services across CVT Centers in Iraq. Track and ensure program objectives are met. Collaborate between disciplines of counseling, physiotherapy, protection and social work.
• Psychotherapy: Provide psychotherapy to individuals, families and groups impacted by torture and war, 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: Carry out need assessments in local communities to determine appropriate mental health interventions for people who have been tortured and/or traumatized by war. Produce reports as required by the clinical team.
• 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-governmatal organizations within Iraq. Provide training and coordination with other organizations to better address the needs of torture and war survivors. Provide mentoring, consultation, and clinical supervision to partner organization staff as agreed with project implementing partner organization(s). Develop therapeutic interventions and/or adapt CVT standard interventions to meet the cultural and contextal 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.

Qualifications

Required education, experience, certificates, licenses, or registration

• Advanced degree in Clinical Psychology, Counseling or related discipline. Master’s degree or equivalent required.
• Experience providing psychotherapy to children, adults, families and groups.
• Experience implementing culturally appropriate mental health interventions, including individual, group and community-based approaches for people who have suffered torture and war trauma.
• Experience working with individuals and families in situations of risk, including domestic violence, suicide ideation and/or attempts.
• Experience developing curriculum and providing training for psychosocial support and mental health professionals using interactive methodologies.
• Experience working as part of an interdisciplinary team desirable.
• Experience providing training and awareness raising on the effects of trauma and war.
• Experience or competencies in managing and supervising staff required. Experience supervising mental health counselors preferred.

Competencies

• Fluency in Kurdish Sorani, Arabic, and English required. Fluency in Kurdish Badini/Behdini desirable.
• Skilled at working as a member of a diverse team.
• Demonstrated flexibility to adapt to changing program requirements, beneficiary needs, and political climate.
• Adequate interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with individuals at all levels.
• Skilled at carrying out needs assessments and program evaluation desirable.
• 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 education, experience, certificates, licenses, or registrations

• Certification or licensure as a Psychologist or therapist preferred.
• Previous experience working with CVT in a clinical role an asset.

Work Environment:

• Work week is Sunday through Thursday.
• Work will be completed at a community center and typical office environment.
• This position is located in Erbil and requires regular travel by car to other CVT and partner locations within and outside of Erbil, including locations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Federal Iraq. Journeys may last between 30 minutes and 3 hours one-way.
• Remote working from home when necessary due to public health conditions.