Residential Counsellor

Residential Counsellor, Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society, Toronto

Job Title: Residential Counsellor

Location: Toronto (Annex)

Salary Range: $60,255 - $62,065.00

Starting Salary: Level 4 or 5 ($60,255 – $62,065) depending on skills and experience

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reports to: Lodge Managers

Organization Overview:

Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society (TWHLS) is an Indigenous-lead healing lodge that provides culturally grounded, trauma-informed supports to Indigenous women, especially those impacted by the justice system. While we adhere to the regulations and protocols required by federal and provincial bodies, as we work towards becoming an established Section 81 Healing Lodge.

All the TWHLS staff are expected to advance the work of the healing lodge through compassion, understanding, and care for all our relations. All staff are guided by the Seven Grandfather Teachings: Respect, Honesty, Truth, Humility, Courage, Wisdom, and Love.

Job Summary:

The Residential Counsellor provides client-centred counselling, therapeutic support, and healing-focused advocacy to Lodge Members. This role develops and delivers individual and group counselling programming and supports Lodge Members navigating complex systems, including the justice and child welfare systems, within a counselling and therapeutic scope of practice.

The Residential Counsellor is part of the Healing Lodge Team and works under the direct supervision of the Lodge Managers.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide client-centred, trauma-informed counselling and emotional support to Lodge Members.
• Develop and implement individual treatment and healing plans in collaboration with Lodge Members.
• Meet regularly with clients to review goals, progress, strengths, and challenges.
• Design and facilitate weekly individual and group counselling sessions, including therapeutic exercises, worksheets, and culturally grounded programming.
• Provide ongoing support across a continuum of services, including assessment, goal setting, counselling, group facilitation, and systems navigation.
• Provide supportive legal and systems advocacy for Lodge Members involved in the criminal justice and child welfare systems.
• Attend court proceedings with Lodge Members in a supportive, non-legal capacity to provide emotional support, advocacy, and continuity of care.
• Collaborate with lawyers, duty counsel, Crown counsel, probation/parole officers, bail supervisors, CAS workers, and community partners as part of a multidisciplinary support team.
• Prepare therapeutic progress summaries, narrative reports, and letters of support for courts, Crown, defence counsel, probation/parole, or CAS, as required.
• Support Lodge Members in understanding court processes, conditions, and child welfare involvement through counselling and psychoeducation.
• Participate in case conferences and inter-agency meetings, contributing therapeutic insight, cultural context, and client strengths.
• Complete required administrative and clinical documentation, including case notes, database entries, and service-related reports.
• Provide crisis intervention support as needed and complete follow-up documentation.
• Review client background information, conduct interviews, and prepare intake and assessment reports.
• Navigate community support services and make appropriate referrals.
• Provide off-site support to clients as part of regular programming.
• Participate actively in team meetings, case reviews, and organizational planning.
• Contribute to the orientation and training of new staff, students, and volunteers.
• Provide relief coverage and flexible/on-call support as required.
• Perform other organizational duties as assigned.

Addictions Counselling & Therapeutic Support Responsibilities

• Provide individual and group counselling related to substance use, trauma, mental health, and wellness.
• Deliver counselling related to the use and effects of alcohol and drugs, relapse prevention, and harm-reduction approaches.
• Prepare needs and risk assessments within a therapeutic framework.
• Maintain a strong understanding of crisis response and the impacts of trauma on mental health and addiction.
• Coordinate counselling supports with internal programs and external service providers.
• Document all client encounters accurately and in a timely manner using the CRM system.
• Develop and facilitate group counselling programs such as relapse prevention, CBT-informed, or DBT-informed sessions.
• Prepare aftercare and transition plans in collaboration with Lodge Members.
• Ensure comprehensive assessments are completed upon admission.
• Work collaboratively with the team to communicate client progress, appointments, and courtrelated dates as needed.
• Support a safe, respectful, and healing-centred residential environment.

Justice & Child Welfare Support (Therapeutic Focus)

• Provide counselling-informed support to Lodge Members involved with courts, probation/parole, and Children’s Aid Society (CAS).
• Participate in CAS meetings and planning processes, offering therapeutic insight and cultural advocacy.
• Support Lodge Members emotionally and therapeutically as they navigate child welfare involvement, family separation, and reunification processes.
• Advocate for culturally safe, Indigenous-led, healing-based approaches within justice and child welfare systems.
• Maintain accurate documentation related to court-requested or CAS-requested updates within the scope of the counselling role.

Referrals & Advocacy

• Assist Lodge Members in identifying treatment, healing, and community support needs.
• Complete referrals to appropriate healing, treatment, and support programs.
• Assist members with medical, psychiatric, educational, employment, and wellness referrals.
• Support Lodge Members in meeting referral requirements through counselling and advocacy.

Medication Support

• Coordinate with clinics to schedule appointments related to Methadone, Suboxone, or other medications.
• Accompany Lodge Members to clinics when required.
• Identify prescription coverage sources prior to medication pick-up.
• Maintain accurate medication logs and ensure secure storage in accordance with policy.

Other Responsibilities

• Comply with all agency health and safety policies and procedures.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding all client information.
• Participate in staff orientation, training, and professional development activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; preference for Social Work or related field.
• Training or certification in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and/or Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is considered an asset.
• Minimum five (5) years of relevant work experience.
• Certification in Addictions and Mental Health with 3–5 years of professional experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous women impacted by trauma, substance use, mental health challenges, and justice system involvement.
• Experience supporting justice-involved clients, including court support and legal documentation, is a strong asset.
• Experience working with child welfare systems (CAS) is an asset.
• Strong written skills, particularly in therapeutic and narrative report writing.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Understanding and application of trauma-informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive practices.
• Demonstrated competency in working with LGBTQIA2S+ communities.
• Valid Ontario G Driver’s License and clean driving record considered an asset.
• First Aid and CPR certification considered an asset.
• Valid CPIC and Vulnerable Sector Screening required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook).

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and cover letter to Lauren Lavallee at l.lavallee@twhls.ca.

Indigenous applicants will be considered first in accordance with our commitment to equitable and culturally safe hiring practices. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Deadline: Open until the position is filled.