Mental Health Clinician

Are you passionate about supporting individuals living with addiction and helping them navigate complex mental, physical, and social needs? If this speaks to you, we’d love to hear from you, apply now!

What We Do

Since 1973, The Alex has been a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing integrated primary health care, community support services, and housing-focused programs to individuals and families who experience barriers to accessing traditional health, housing, and social service systems. Services are grounded in principles of health equity, low-barrier access, trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, harm reduction, and person-centered care.

The RAAM Program provides rapid, low barrier access to medical assessment and treatment for individuals experiencing substance use concerns. The program operates in coordination with primary care, mental health services, and community partners to support stabilization and continuity of care.

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Mental Health Clinician works with clients with addiction as well as with mental, physical, and social complexities. This role works collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team.

This is a permanent, full-timeposition.

What You Will Do

• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to provide evidence-based therapies within the session guidelines.
• Move clients off caseloads within session guidelines and be receptive to taking new clients onto caseload.
• Provide four to five therapeutic encounters with clients daily as a minimum expectation.
• Offer culturally sensitive services.
• Complete required documentation with excellence, in accordance with agency policy and procedures, and be respective of professional college requirements.
• Conduct assessments as appropriate and contribute to individualized service plans.
• Use evidence-based treatments in the areas of mental health and substance abuse to address participant needs (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectal behaviour therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), solution-focused therapy (SFT), etc.).
• Work from a harm reduction, trauma informed, and recovery-based approaches, grounded on a client’s readiness for change.
• Work collaboratively with clients, families, and community partners to assist clients in achieving treatment and recovery goals.
• Facilitate group programming for clients, using principles of psychoeducation, CBT, and other evidence-based models, when appropriate.
• Provide access to clients with same-day therapy, when required, appropriate, and applicable to The Alex program.
• Assist in data collection and entry, as directed.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

What You Bring

• Master's degree in psychology, Social Work, or a related field.
• An active registration with a professional discipline in Alberta.
• Social Workers must be authorized to perform restricted psychosocial activities or be willing to qualify for this practice enhancement.
• Minimum two years of experience as a Mental Health Clinician.
• Awareness of FOIP, HIA, and HIPA and doctrines such as the Mature Minor.
• Knowledge working with suicidal individuals and how to handle such situations appropriately while considering confidentiality and client safety.
• Specialized training in evidenced-based therapies is an asset (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, dialectal behavior therapy, solution focused therapy, etc.).
• Experience with single session therapy is an asset.
• Ability to set goals and work with clients within appropriate timelines and refer to other agencies/programs if needed.
• Awareness of the importance of evidence-based treatments and flexibility to practice from different perspectives.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations with significant mental health and substance use disorders.
• Awareness of increased complexities in providing therapy virtually.
• Understanding of harm reduction and trauma informed care.
• Exceptional communication, organization, advocacy, teaching, and rapport-building skills.
• Commitment to contributing positively to team culture.
• Ability to work in high-stress situations with clear and open communication.
• Openness to a wide scope of practice with commitment to innovation and flexibility.
• Strong initiative in times of limited supervision.
• Awareness of the value that research and evaluation brings to therapy.
• First Aid (Basic or Intermediate) – Level C CPR & AED within 30 days of hire date; certification must be valid for a minimum of 6 months upon hire.
• A satisfactory vulnerable sector criminal record clearance and child welfare intervention check are required.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding and commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action is preferred.

Work Environment and Hours

• The Alex Community Health Centre: 2840 2 Ave SE, Calgary, AB.
• 1.0 FTE (37.5 hours/week)
• Standard hours are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday; some flexibility in schedule may be available and necessary.
  

This role is based in a clinical and community health setting, providing services to vulnerable individuals as part of a multidisciplinary team. The position involves a combination of sitting, standing, and walking, with occasional lifting of up to 25 lbs. Employees may encounter emotionally challenging situations and exposure to environmental factors such as noise, pests, second-hand smoke, bodily fluids, and related substances. Success in this role requires strong clinical judgment, critical thinking, documentation skills, emotional resilience, and the ability to build collaborative, trauma-informed relationships with clients, colleagues, and community partners.

What You Will Get

• Purpose-driven work that makes a tangible difference in people’s lives and helps redefine what healthcare can look like in Canada.
• Not-for-profit market-aligned salary reflective of experience.
• Excellent benefits package that supports health, wellness, and work/life balance.
• A supportive, inclusive team that values creativity and collaboration.
• Mentorship and guidance.
• A workplace that values learning, belonging, and balance.

How To Apply

If you are as passionate as we are about making a difference in people’s lives, please visit our career centre: Careers at The Alex | The Alex.

This position will remain open until a suitable candidate is selected. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for a phone screening or interview will be contacted. The Alex is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and will make every reasonable effort to accommodate candidates throughout all stages of hiring. If you require an accommodation, please contact us at [email protected].

The Alex is committed to embedding the principles of equity, inclusion, and diversity across the organization. We are committed to removing barriers to employment that are faced by equity-seeking groups and encourage (but not require) members of these groups to self-identify as such in their cover letters.

For further information about The Alex and its programs, we encourage you to visit our website atwww.thealex.ca.

At The Alex, we place a high value on strong, ethical, and professional relationships between clients and primary care providers. Clear boundaries are essential to ensuring safe, respectful, and effective care. To protect clients, medical professionals and staff, employees and contractors of The Alex are not permitted to access internal physicians, nurses, mental health clinicians, or other allied health professional services during their employment.

We recognize that some applicants may have had, or may currently have, meaningful care relationships with The Alex at the time of applying. If you are currently a client and wish to continue in our recruitment process, you are asked to disclose your service provider relationship. Should you be hired, you will be required to transition your care to an external provider within your first 90 days of employment and maintain this external care relationship for the duration of your employment. Reasonable extensions of the 90-day deadline may be considered where absolutely necessary and in the sole discretion of The Alex.

This approach helps us maintain clear boundaries, uphold professional standards, and protect our workers’ rights to privacy and confidentiality.

Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm