Do work that matters, join our Step By Step Counseling family! At Step By Step Counseling, we are changing the lives of our local community, and lets not forget, at the center of all of this is our world-class, A+, rockstar awesome team!
Currently, we are recruiting for part-time and full-therapist positions. We are open to both provisional and licensed clinicians. Please scroll down for ways to apply, reasons why someone would want to work with us, and frequently asked questions. If you feel that you would be a good fit, we would love to hear from you!
Child IOP Therapist (Saint Charles)
We are looking for therapists to support our intensive out patient programming. Our IOP programming is for children ages 5-11 yrs old. Kids are with us on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 2-5pm. Looking for someone who can commit to IOP hours and to assessments for new IOP clients.
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
- Enjoys working with kids who have problems, behaviors and big feelings
- Ability to provide family therapy for children & their caregivers
- Effective group facilitation skills: The clinician facilitates a skills group effectively, creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can learn and practice new skills.
- Organizational skills: The clinician is well-organized and able to keep track of client progress, group materials, and schedules, ensuring that the groups run smoothly and effectively.
- Master’s or Doctorate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, marriage, and family and active, unrestricted professional license (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) in the State of Missouri (must be fully licensed). A color copy must be provided to Step By Step Counseling during the interview process.
- Open to working with PLPCs
- Comfortable working with technology including our Electronic Health Records and telehealth
- Afternoon hours are expected because of current client demand.
- Understanding of and using evidence-based mental health treatments, and evidence of mastering and practice of a consistent theory or modality.
- Cultural sensitivity and competence: The candidate should have a strong understanding of the importance of cultural sensitivity and competence in therapy and be able to work effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds.
Preferences:
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Collaboration and teamwork: The clinician should be able to work effectively with other treatment providers, including individual therapists, to provide comprehensive group treatment. Ability to collaborate with other professional team members including school personnel, medical providers, case managers, and others involved in the treatment of their clients.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships.
- Clinicians should have extensive experience working with clients who have complex and challenging issues
- Flexibility and adaptability: The clinician modifies their approach to meet the unique needs of individual clients or groups and be able to handle difficult situations in a skills group setting.
- Open-mindedness and willingness to learn: The clinician is open to ongoing learning and development, and is willing to seek out training and professional development opportunities.
- Empathy and compassion: The clinician should have the ability to understand and relate to the experiences of clients and be able to provide a non-judgmental and empathetic environment for skills group participants.
- Good communication skills: The clinician has excellent verbal and written communication skills and is able to clearly and effectively
- Positive attitude and energy: The clinician has a positive attitude and brings energy and enthusiasm to their work, helping to create a supportive and uplifting environment for clients.
- Active listening skills: The clinician actively listens to clients and attends to their needs and concerns, ensuring that each client has the opportunity to participate and get the most out of the skills group
Child & Adolescent Group Therapist (Saint Charles)
We understand the importance of having qualified and compassionate therapists to run groups for our clients. Groups can be a powerful tool for those seeking help and guidance, and the therapist leading the group plays a crucial role in creating a safe and supportive environment for all participants. We are actively recruiting for a child and adolescent therapist to run a few of our groups.
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
- Effective group facilitation skills: The clinician facilitates a skills group effectively, creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can learn and practice new skills.
- Organizational skills: The clinician is well-organized and able to keep track of client progress, group materials, and schedules, ensuring that the groups run smoothly and effectively.
- Master’s or Doctorate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, marriage, and family and active, unrestricted professional license (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) in the State of Missouri (must be fully licensed). A color copy must be provided to Step By Step Counseling during the interview process.
- Open to working with PLPCs
- Comfortable working with technology including our Electronic Health Records and telehealth
- Afternoon and evening hours are expected because of current client demand.
- Understanding of and using evidence-based mental health treatments, and evidence of mastering and practice of a consistent theory or modality.
- Cultural sensitivity and competence: The candidate should have a strong understanding of the importance of cultural sensitivity and competence in therapy and be able to work effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds.
Preferences:
-
Collaboration and teamwork: The clinician should be able to work effectively with other treatment providers, including individual therapists, to provide comprehensive group treatment. Ability to collaborate with other professional team members including school personnel, medical providers, case managers, and others involved in the treatment of their clients.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships.
- Clinicians should have extensive experience working with clients who have complex and challenging issues
- Flexibility and adaptability: The clinician modifies their approach to meet the unique needs of individual clients or groups and be able to handle difficult situations in a skills group setting.
- Open-mindedness and willingness to learn: The clinician is open to ongoing learning and development, and is willing to seek out training and professional development opportunities.
- Empathy and compassion: The clinician should have the ability to understand and relate to the experiences of clients and be able to provide a non-judgmental and empathetic environment for skills group participants.
- Good communication skills: The clinician has excellent verbal and written communication skills and is able to clearly and effectively
- Positive attitude and energy: The clinician has a positive attitude and brings energy and enthusiasm to their work, helping to create a supportive and uplifting environment for clients.
- Active listening skills: The clinician actively listens to clients and attends to their needs and concerns, ensuring that each client has the opportunity to participate and get the most out of the skills group
Licensed In-Office Child & Adolescent Therapist
Minimum Qualification Requirements; here’s what you need to bring to the playroom!
- Superhero Training: You should have experience, CEUs, or training in saving the day for kids and teens. Experience, CEUs, or training specific to working with children & adolescents is needed
- Tech Savviness: Don’t worry; you won’t need a cape for this, but you should be comfortable with technology, like our Electronic Health Records and occasional telehealth adventures.
- Times: Expect either afternoon/evening hours (or weekend availability) because our young clients & families are available at those times. Ideal candidates are like elastic superheroes with either weekend and evening availability.
- Understanding of and using evidence-based mental health treatments, and evidence of mastering and practice of a consistent theory or modality
- Master’s or Doctorate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, marriage, and family and active, unrestricted professional license (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) in the State of Missouri (must be fully licensed). A color copy must be provided to Step By Step Counseling during the interview process.
- Open to PLPCs who are willing to work towards certification in EMDR, CPP, TF-CBT, EFT, or DBT – because even superheroes can use some extra training!
Preferences, ::ahem:: Super-Duper Wishlist for Our Child Whisperers
- Have at least one niche or specialty, Ideal candidates have a niche or a population they enjoy working with. It’s awesome if you’ve got a specialty or a favorite group of kids to work with. We’re looking for heroes who have a soft spot for a particular group.
- We value accessibility. Openness to being paneled in-network with insurance plans (office will take care of credentialling). Don’t worry, our office will help you with all the paperwork – no capes required.
- Ability to collaborate with other professional team members including school personnel, medical providers, case managers, and others involved in the treatment of their clients. Teamwork is key!
- Ability to establish rapport with families and maintain professional relationships. Ideal canidates should be a master of building and maintaining super-duper relationships with their young clients and the community.
Other details:
- We are open to part time playful pros and full time fun enthusiasts
In-Home Child & Adolescent Therapist
Minimum Qualification Requirements; here’s what you need to bring to the playroom!
- Superhero Training: You should have experience, CEUs, or training in saving the day for kids and teens. Experience, CEUs, or training specific to working with children & adolescents is needed
- Tech Savviness: Don’t worry; you won’t need a cape for this, but you should be comfortable with technology, like our Electronic Health Records and occasional telehealth adventures.
- Expect either afternoon/evening hours (or weekend availability) because our young clients & families are available at those times. Ideal candidates are like elastic superheroes with either weekend and evening availability.
- Understanding of and using evidence-based mental health treatments, and evidence of mastering and practice of a consistent theory or modality
- Master’s or Doctorate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, marriage, and family and active, unrestricted professional license (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) in the State of Missouri (must be fully licensed). A color copy must be provided to Step By Step Counseling during the interview process.
- Open to PLPCs who are willing to work towards certification in EMDR, CPP, TF-CBT, EFT, or DBT – because even superheroes can use some extra training!
Preferences, ::ahem:: Super-Duper Wishlist for Our Child Whisperers
- Have at least one niche or specialty, Ideal candidates have a niche or a population they enjoy working with. It’s awesome if you’ve got a specialty or a favorite group of kids to work with. We’re looking for heroes who have a soft spot for a particular group.
- We value accessibility. Openness to being paneled in-network with insurance plans (office will take care of credentialling). Don’t worry, our office will help you with all the paperwork – no capes required.
- Ability to collaborate with other professional team members including school personnel, medical providers, case managers, and others involved in the treatment of their clients. Teamwork is key!
- Ability to establish rapport with families and maintain professional relationships. Ideal canidates should be a master of building and maintaining super-duper relationships with their young clients and the community.
Other details:
- Open to someone who wants to do part time in office, part time in-home
- We are open to part time playful pros and full time fun enthusiasts
DBT Skills Groups & Individual Therapist (Saint Charles)
Minimum Qualification Requirements:
- Master’s or Doctorate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, marriage, and family and active, unrestricted professional license (LPC, LCSW, LMFT) in the State of Missouri (must be fully licensed). A color copy must be provided to Step By Step Counseling during the interview process.
- Open to PLPCs who are willing to work towards certification in DBT
- Comfortable working with technology including our Electronic Health Records and telehealth
- Afternoon and evening hours are expected because of current client demand. Ideal candidates would have some weekend or evening availability.
- Understanding of and using evidence-based mental health treatments, and evidence of mastering and practice of a consistent theory or modality, in particular DBT for DBT Skills groups. We would expect comprehensive DBT knowledge: The clinician should have a strong understanding of the four modules of DBT (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness) and be able to articulate how they integrate these modules into their skills groups.
- Cultural sensitivity and competence: The candidate should have a strong understanding of the importance of cultural sensitivity and competence in therapy and be able to work effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds.
Preferences:
-
Collaboration and teamwork: The clinician should be able to work effectively with other treatment providers, including individual therapists, to provide comprehensive DBT treatment. Ability to collaborate with other professional team members including school personnel, medical providers, case managers, and others involved in the treatment of their clients.
-
Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships.
- Clinicians should have extensive experience working with clients who have complex and challenging issues and be able to demonstrate how they have used DBT to help clients make progress.
- Flexibility and adaptability: The clinician modifies their approach to meet the unique needs of individual clients or groups and be able to handle difficult situations in a skills group setting.
- Effective group facilitation skills: The clinician facilitates a skills group effectively, creating a safe and supportive environment where clients can learn and practice new skills.
- Open-mindedness and willingness to learn: The clinician is open to ongoing learning and development, and is willing to seek out training and professional development opportunities to stay current with the latest developments in DBT.
- Empathy and compassion: The clinician should have the ability to understand and relate to the experiences of clients and be able to provide a non-judgmental and empathetic environment for skills group participants.
- Good communication skills: The clinician has excellent verbal and written communication skills and is able to clearly and effectively explain DBT concepts and skills to clients.
- Organizational skills: The candidate is well-organized and able to keep track of client progress, group materials, and schedules, ensuring that the skills group runs smoothly and effectively.
- Positive attitude and energy: The clinician has a positive attitude and brings energy and enthusiasm to their work, helping to create a supportive and uplifting environment for clients.
- Active listening skills: The clinician actively listens to clients and attends to their needs and concerns, ensuring that each client has the opportunity to participate and get the most out of the skills group.
Other details:
- We have a DBT consult group once a week
- We have many DBT resources, manuals, and guides available to use
The ideal candidate will have a background in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and experience leading skills groups for individuals struggling with complex and challenging issues. The clinician we are looking to hire would need to be trained in DBT principles and techniques, this can be done through workshops, online courses, or certification programs. They would need a solid understanding of who would benefit from DBT and who would not. We would want them to regularly monitor the effectiveness of their DBT groups and make any necessary adjustments. This can be done through regular feedback from clients, staff, and supervisors.
If you are passionate about using DBT to help individuals make positive changes in their lives and have the skills and experience we are seeking, we encourage you to apply.
Please e-mail: info@StepByStepCounselingLLC.com
1. A cover letter highlighting what position you are applying to, why you want to work with our office, and what experiences, credentials, or certifications you have that would be helpful for our clients or to our office. What makes you stand out compared to other applicants?
2. Resume sharing some of your professional experiences that would be relevant to our open position.
When providing references, please include the person’s name, relation to you, and their e-mail address. Please know that we check all references. Please only give references that will be able to communicate with our office within a timely manner. Often we have applicants who provide references that will either not return our emails or phone calls, or references that state they only confirm employment but do not provide character or clinical references.
3. Acknowledgement or agreement in this statement.
Step By Step Counseling, as a Medicaid provider, is committed to upholding the highest standards of health and safety in compliance with federal guidelines. It is important to note that, as of the present moment, there is no mandate regarding COVID-19 vaccination or other health-related requirements. However, we acknowledge that the landscape of healthcare regulations can evolve. In the event that the government establishes any mandates that pertain to Medicaid providers or healthcare facilities, Step By Step Counseling will fully adhere to these directives.
As a current or prospective member of our staff, we kindly request your understanding and flexibility in the face of any potential changes that may arise. The health and well-being of our clients, staff, and the community we serve are of paramount importance to us, and we remain committed to providing the highest quality care while staying in compliance with all relevant regulations. We appreciate your ongoing commitment to the well-being of those we serve.
Please complete our get to know you form online. Click on the link below.
Clinician only: GET TO KNOW YOU (Clinicians)
Program Coordinator only GET TO KNOW YOU (PROGRAMS)
Office Operations Assistant: GET TO KNOW YOU (Staff)
Interview
Once application materials have been received, we will determine if the applicant seems to be a good fit for our office. If we feel as if the applicant may be a good fit, we’ll reach out and offer a phone or video interview. During this conversation, applicants have the opportunity to ask questions about our organization and share more about what they are looking for in a position.
Why would a therapist want to work for us instead of starting their own practice? We believe that’s a great question for therapists to ask themselves. We share with candidates in the interview process, working with us means that we have to be a good fit for YOUR career goals, and you need to be a good fit for OUR culture. It should always be a win-win! It can be intimidating to be in private practice, but you will find it is easier with a team to support you.
So why choose us? First, we celebrate and support each other, we stay connected, versus when independent you may not have that community to rally around you. Second, owning a business can take a lot of extra time and mental space. Our hard-working admin team takes care of the administrative part of private practice, including but not limited to billing, credentialing, paying bills, and answering phones so that our clinicians do not have to. Chances are if a clinician is on their own, they are spending additional unpaid hours each week completing those tasks on top of their clinical caseload. Clinicians will report that it’s a nice benefit where they can come in, work with their clients and then go home! This allows for a better work/home balance. The third reason is our clinician support. Our owner and clinical director want our clinicians to succeed. The office has removed the aspect of competition and built-in supports to allow clinicians to thrive.
Clinicians have shared that it’s a relief that working with us is a low-risk decision, having access to all the systems Step By Step Counseling has in place, EHR, website, paperwork, marketing, and billing all while the practice takes the bigger risk by footing the rent, building maintenance, utilities, business license, etc. And while an independent therapist may be making more in revenue at a first glance, when broken down – the take-home revenue goes down significantly. There are a lot more hours, expenses and of course, we can’t forget self-employment taxes! We look at and encourage clinicians to look at the value to the household.
Our practice supports our clinicians by:
- Furnishing HIPPA-compliant cloud storage, HIPAA-compliant/secure electronic health records for documentation, and as well as HIPAA compliant platforms for telehealth/virtual therapy
- Providing marketing support, client referrals in a preferred niche, in-house billing & insurance support (file claims, post payments, track down issues, etc)
- Friendly administrative team to schedule clients that match your clinical specialties, preferences, and availability.
- Consultation and supervision (free of charge for employees) We provide the following group consultation options in our office for our clinicians:
- As-needed support (Supervision)
- Weekly Licensure Supervision (for provisional therapists)
- As-needed support (Play therapy Supervision towards Registered Play Therapist credential)
- As-needed support (EMDR Consultation towards EMDRIA certification)
- A wealth of resources including but not limited to play therapy journals, professional books, treatment planning guides, therapeutic board games, art supplies for clinicians who use expressive arts, a lending library for clients, multiple shelves of books for child bibliotherapy (also available in our virtual playroom), and workbooks/intervention books for clinicians to use uploaded in our intranet. We also have a resource coordinator who keeps our private employee website up to date with worksheets, templates, treatment guides, etc.
- Encouraging and supporting clinicians in working towards their career goals
- Equipping staff to be connected to others including clinician group chat, and intraoffice website with additional resources as well as a clinical director and own availability for questions, consultation, and guidance when needed
- Removing the responsibility of general practice expenses, the practice covers costs including but not limited to: business taxes, business licenses, internet, phone, fax, office supplies, lawyer retainer fees
- Providing the opportunity for W2 employment, the practice covers hourly wage, payroll taxes, and self-employment taxes.
- Space to see clients! The practice covers property/building taxes, insurance, cleaning supplies, utilities (electricity, gas, water), general maintenance, snow/ice removal.
- Access to 401k with up to 4% match.
- Health/Dental insurance for full-time employees (Practice contributes a portion of the premium)
Finding somewhere to call home for your professional career is a huge decision. We don’t take that lightly. We are honored that you would consider working with us…Ask questions during the interview process, we encourage that dialogue!
Frequently asked questions
Can you tell me about the management style of the person I would be reporting to?
A supervisor or owner’s management style is how they accomplish their goals. It includes how they make decisions, delegate, and manage their staff. Supervisors in our office act in the best interests of their employees. They are personally invested in their employees’ well-being. Our owner will many times asks employees their feedback or opinions and views before making a decision. Prior to making a decision, they are able to analyze all internal and external options and provide explanations for their decisions. Employees are encouraged to express their opinions and ideas in person, by email, via Google forms, or through payroll surveys, resulting in better problem-solving and innovation. Our owner and leadership team want employees to feel that their ideas are valued.
Within our leadership team our director of compliance monitors documentation, HIPAA compliance, etc. while our director of clinician care, focuses on ensuring that your emotional needs, career goals are being met. Both of them come from a place of:
- Constructive: feedback is always constructive and focused on helping you improve, rather than tearing you down. They provide specific examples and actionable steps for how you can make progress.
- Supportive: supportive and encouraging, even when they’re providing critical feedback. They acknowledge your strengths and accomplishments and help you build on them, rather than focusing solely on your weaknesses.
- Respectful: always communicates with respect and professionalism, even when discussing difficult topics or challenging situations. They value your perspective and treat you with dignity and kindness.
- Collaborative: approaches feedback as a collaborative process, rather than a top-down directive. They listen to your perspective and work with you to develop solutions that work for everyone involved.
- Solution-focused: feedback is always focused on finding solutions and moving forward, rather than dwelling on past mistakes or problems. They help you identify actionable steps to address challenges and improve your performance.
Does this role come with a lot of structure in place, are you looking for someone more autonomous?
In our office, we have a combination of both. We have a balance of both structure and autonomy in place here at our practice. We do have certain office protocols and procedures that we ask all of our clinicians to follow to ensure the highest quality of care for our clients. This might include completing documentation. However, we also believe in giving our therapists the freedom to be autonomous in their approach to therapy. We recognize that every client is unique, and our therapists are encouraged to tailor their modality and interventions to best fit the needs of each individual client. So while there is some structure in place, there is also flexibility for clinicians to use their expertise and creativity in their work.
How will my success be measured if I'm hired?
In our office, the definition of success is very personal. While we want our clinicians to feel happy in the work they’re doing. What the office looks at is:
- Is the practice the right fit (Alignment with the values of the organization).
- Is your position/the clients that a clinician sees, a good fit? Are clinicians seeing the clients that they want to see?
- Client feedback is important. This helps us determine a good fit or not a good fit.
- Does the employee *understand* the job, * want* the job, and have *capacity* for the role or position
- Documentation, are clinicians completing the necessary documentation per Missouri Professional Registration Board
- Professionalism, are clinicians seeing clients (running on time, limited late cancels, etc)
- Team member, connecting with other therapists in the office, and collaborating when necessary
- Are clinicians reaching out and getting the support they need in whatever certification/credential they are working towards?
What makes Step By Step Counseling different?
We’re not just a small business.
We’re not just a counseling practice.
We’re not just another job.
We are making an impact, we are making a difference.
We are a group of master’s level clinicians providing high-quality, evidence-based services. By working with all populations, including those that are disadvantaged, together, we are part of the solution, part of the healing in our community. When asking colleagues in the field what makes us different, here is what is shared:
“Step By Step Counseling takes a holistic approach to therapy, which means they consider the whole person when providing treatment. This includes addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs to promote healing and growth. Many times therapists will work with doctors or other professionals to ensure that the client is being taken care of as a whole person, not just focusing on mental health. I have loved watching how my patients will report that many of the therapists will focus on the whole person not just the symptoms or problem areas.” – a primary care nurse practitioner
“Step By Step Counseling practice emphasizes the importance of healthy relationships and offers therapy for couples and families in addition to individual therapy. This focus on relationships sets them apart from other counseling practices that may only offer individual therapy. I know that when I send a family to their office, if they need more than one type of service, they can get everything under the same umbrella” – a licensed clinician
“I worked for Step By Step Counseling before I moved and I loved the overall team. The practice has a diverse team of therapists who have a variety of specialties and areas of expertise. This means that clients can find a therapist who they feel comfortable working with and who has experience addressing their specific needs. The team was also beneficial because I was offered team support, group consultations, and as needed 1:1 case consults whenever I needed it” – Former employee
“There was a focus on empowerment. The owner allowed me to dream about what I wanted to do in my career. She gave me opportunities and encouraged me, even if it was different than the practice vision. I love her phrase, about when employees leave, they move onto their next adventure” – Former employee
When interviewing what skills or qualities are you looking for?
When we are connecting with potential therapists, we look for a few key qualities:
- Knows our core values and feel’s it’s a good fit for them
- Team player: works well with others, jumps in when needed, and is accountable. Step By Step Counseling has an interdisciplinary team that is built on each other’s expertise and allows for collaboration and consultation.
- Unconditional and accepting: acknowledges diversity by being sensitive and honoring differences. Step by Step Counseling strives to be an inclusive practice, hiring staff and supporting clients of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, disabilities, racial and cultural groups, religions, and socioeconomic statuses.
- Growth mindset: strives to learn more, to continue to grow in their niche, while also providing evidence-based treatments.